Original products

[Mrsmac]

Feeling a bit of a numpty with all the threads I got going on but had to ask. Do you bother about having original products? I mean if you are buying an ego or riva battery for instance, does it worry you if it is a copy and not from the original manufacturer? Is there a difference in performance for example?

[jerryrm]

Hmmmmm....good question. In general I prefer the original product, because I feel that it's a better product. Truthfully though, the copies are probably just as good as the original.

[Anne (fuzzy)]

I don't bother if they're not original. It's a bit like buying Kelloggs cornflakes or a shops own brand. They don't taste any difference. Not to me anyway!

[Mrsmac]

So how do you find out if they are or not take for instance how do you know you have a genuine riva battery. For example if you type riva battery into google you will come across some trade sights with the same thing repeatedly all claiming the product

[Anne (fuzzy)]

I only buy from reputable sites. Like the ones Chrissie lists on here.

If you've found something you're not sure of, PM Chrissie or one of the moderators the URL to check it out.

[steve386]

It gets a bit complicated when talking about products from China. From what I understand, the only genuine version of the ego/riva style battery is the Joytech one. All the rest (including the Riva) are copies. The Riva is probably the best known copy.

These days the terms EGO and RIVA tend to represent the size and shape of the battery.

There was a thread on another forum about this. A lot of the copies are actually genuine as well. The factories resell them without the original branding. Sometimes to get around existing exclusive trade agreements.

Not sure if it is still going on, but at one point I think Joytech were going legal against the makers of the Riva.

[jerryrm]

I don't know who makes the Riva, but Joyetech makes it's cousin the eGo. If a website states the manufacturer of the product, then you are able to tell if it's original or not.

Sorry Steve, I was typing as you were posting.

[PeeKay]

Some choice will depend on the 'features' you might want on it - for example, the eGO batteries have a '5 press' feature which turns it on or off - useful for when carrying in a pocket.

Khromm has purchased a couple of different batteries - both eGO copies - and has had no problem. He particularly liked the USB passthru model which let him 'charge and go'. Quite a nice feature, and it has an LED meter on it too.

As someone else has said, stick to the better known suppliers noted on the forums, and you won't go far wrong.

Good luck in finding the one you want!

[Mrsmac]

Thanks all that helps, off to bed now and my battery straight out the box has outlasted me!

[Anne (fuzzy)]

Night, sleep well

[VE Jason]

The 'genuine' Riva will have Riva etched onto the top of the battery.



But, it's not what's on the outside that counts, it's the battery inside the casing.

I now insist that the batteries for the Riva's I stock come from only one certain factory, because in my experience they have been far more reliable.

That's not to say that you never get a problem, but compared with the earlier models the fail rate has been massively reduced.

A lot of the Ego VV batteries that area available at the moment are actually made by Joyetech - it just doesn't say it on the box.

My own experience has led me to believe that there are now 2-3 manufacturers in China who are at least equal to Joyetech in the quality stakes.

So things are improving, even if it is slowly

[ken]

Jan 15, 2012 7:18:49 GMT VE Jason said:

The 'genuine' Riva will have Riva etched onto the top of the battery.



But, it's not what's on the outside that counts, it's the battery inside the casing.

I now insist that the batteries for the Riva's I stock come from only one certain factory, because in my experience they have been far more reliable.

That's not to say that you never get a problem, but compared with the earlier models the fail rate has been massively reduced.

A lot of the Ego VV batteries that area available at the moment are actually made by Joyetech - it just doesn't say it on the box.

My own experience has led me to believe that there are now 2-3 manufacturers in China who are at least equal to Joyetech in the quality stakes.

So things are improving, even if it is slowly

If you forgive me for saying so a Riva marked or not is merely a clone of the Ego and they do have issues.

[VE Jason]

Jan 15, 2012 15:23:25 GMT ken said:

If you forgive me for saying so a Riva marked or not is merely a clone of the Ego and they do have issues.

If anything Ken, the Riva is a clone of the eGo as are the many Ego variants.

I have Ego batteries here, made by Smoktech which have a lower return rate than the eGo batteries made by Joyetech.

Ditto the starter kits and ditto the pass throughs.

Just because some products are copied from others does not necessarily make them inferior.

The definite advantage to the Joye eGo is that it is regulated, something that neither the Riva or many of the Ego's are.

They all have their merits depending on the customers requirements and price scale.

[foxy9212]

Jan 15, 2012 15:23:25 GMT ken said:

Jan 15, 2012 7:18:49 GMT VE Jason said:

The 'genuine' Riva will have Riva etched onto the top of the battery.


If you forgive me for saying so a Riva marked or not is merely a clone of the Ego and they do have issues.

I've had many Tornado (eGo) batteries and every one of them has died of old age - I've lost three 'riva' batteries within two weeks of purchase, however none had RIVA engraved on them.

Fox