Authentic from fasttech is it authentic

[browzer]

Was looking to get a RX200 form the fasttech sale but noticed that fasttech remove the authenticity sticker anyone know why they do this.

[chykensa]

If it says 'authentic', it really is; 'styled' means it is a clone, probably from the same factory with no logos.
They remove stickers because some manufacturers are a bit picky about who sells their wares, but rest assured that 'authentic' means just that.

[Lee]

Sometimes fasttech remove the authenticity sticker to stop the manufacturers tracking down their source

[calnorth]

Its an interesting topic, and I have experiened China faking.

My son gave me an istick 30w in its sealed box with verification sticker stuff on the back (16 awkward digits). I opened up and tested. It was all there and a quality piece I thought. So thrashed it for 3 days...no problem at all. And its gone on for the last 4 weeks perfectly. I have no backup vaping brick.

Decided to verify it and went to the eleaf site. It reported it as a non original, recorded my IP address along with 5 others. Thats 5 others using the same 16 digit verification code. Checked 4 days later and 10 IP addresses were amassed.

I think it is an eleaf istick and made by eleaf. I cannot imagine anybody going to great lengths of faking something that appears so good. I likely won't know fully till I goto battery surgery?

I am thinking repaired rejects?

It has one minor problem:

On USB power thru, when the battery fully charges it presents "atomiser error". Unplug USB and thats gone and all functions. That likely may go away when the battery fails to fully charge..as they do.

[pancser]

I have checked couple of Aspire,Joyetech, Eleaf products (tanks, coils) on Fasttech and as I remember correctly they put this note next to every item

"The security sticker on the product is removed so that this product can be offered to customers like you at the lowest price possible."

So after this how we can figure out which is authentic and which is clone?

[calnorth]

Feb 8, 2016 20:30:03 GMT pancser said:

I have checked couple of Aspire,Joyetech, Eleaf products (tanks, coils) on Fasttech and as I remember correctly they put this note next to every item

"The security sticker on the product is removed so that this product can be offered to customers like you at the lowest price possible."

So after this how we can figure out which is authentic and which is clone?

If I was very forgiving I'd say that they were selling into countries where they are not allowed to. They are not official outlets. However, whats coming though from FT (perhaps others) is quality items. It then comes down to adequate support in the end, which at long distance is a bit awkward?

[car147]

Authentic does mean its genuine, i have had numerous orders from them never had an issue. to throw a spanner in the works i ordered 2 Subtank Mini (Style) which are supposed to be clones, they came with the scratch cards and checked out as genuine, but this was early last year and they have since been removing the security sticker's etc for the reasons given above.

[phatfil]

in my limited experience with Fasttech, stuff they list as authentic appears to be so. Items listed with the key word "styled" are numerous and generally while can prove equally functional do bear tell tale signs, the subtank mini 'styled' bases and i guess atomisers have only the single air in slot on the the afc and not the two that the original has.

I have had 2 experiences with Fasttech orders arriving in less than satisfactory condition, 1 x perspex/plastic atty stand (base snapped in 2) and a 14mm dripper atty which was incomplete, in both cases replacements were sent after i provided photographic evidence of the goods..

They may not conform to UK or EU trading standards with respect to warranty length and distance selling regs but they appear to treat their customers with basic respect and wish to foster good relations.

there is also an active customer forum and the reviews and comments left by other customers can be very enlightening.

I would suggest its a safe to buy with confidence from them. but if in doubt email customer services and voice your concerns..

However the RX200 has had a mixed bag of reviews, some rate it while others seem wary regarding its build quality and wire ratting iirc.. a clone could well be a better quality option???



Afaik the removal of authenticity cards is due to manufacturers exclusive rights deals, folk like Totally Wicked tend to buy the exclusive distribution rights for the UK for kit they like to stock and re-brand. you will find that some items cant be bought using paypal for similar reasons, (the transaction can be traced to a licensed area)


happy shopping

[monty]

Feb 8, 2016 22:43:28 GMT phatfil said:

...
I have had 2 experiences with Fasttech orders arriving in less than satisfactory condition, 1 x perspex/plastic atty stand (base snapped in 2) and a 14mm dripper atty which was incomplete, in both cases replacements were sent after i provided photographic evidence of the goods..

They may not conform to UK or EU trading standards with respect to warranty length and distance selling regs but they appear to treat their customers with basic respect and wish to foster good relations.

Which is more than can be said for a lot of UK retailers.

[djs]

I never bother to check anything.

Think about it. If FT got busted for selling fakes, it's safe to say the whole world would stop buying and that would be millions $$ down the swanny.

They remove stuff because some of the major 'names' in all sorts of tech do not want to be associated with FT. It's nice that Joyetech and Aspire want to protect their re-sellers in domestic markets (which is part of it) but bottom line it's about protecting price and reputation.

The status quo suits all, I guess. I still remember my first ever "Authentic" product. It came with stickers removed and half the manual cut out. It was genuine and I got it for £30 instead of £70. Those were the days.

[Perpetua]

Feb 8, 2016 23:23:11 GMT djs said:

I never bother to check anything.

Me neither . . . . largely because I won't buy anything from China, that I wouldn't be prepared to bin if it's defective and/or doesn't work very well.

Couldn't be doing with the faff of sending something back, for me it's the trade off for having the opportunity to buy equipment at very attractive prices.

By the law of averages, every so often I might buy a pup . . . . heigh ho.

[mxethey]

Does this mean you can still download firmware upgrades ?

[gill2009]

Feb 9, 2016 7:11:45 GMT Perpetua said:

Feb 8, 2016 23:23:11 GMT djs said:

I never bother to check anything.

Me neither . . . . largely because I won't buy anything from China, that I wouldn't be prepared to bin if it's defective and/or doesn't work very well.

Couldn't be doing with the faff of sending something back, for me it's the trade off for having the opportunity to buy equipment at very attractive prices.

By the law of averages, every so often I might buy a pup . . . . heigh ho.

  My sentiments exactly ^^^^

[browzer]

Feb 8, 2016 23:23:11 GMT djs said:

I never bother to check anything.

Think about it. If FT got busted for selling fakes, it's safe to say the whole world would stop buying and that would be millions $$ down the swanny.

Its the fake capital of the world even BMW couldnt stop them selling clones of the X5, I dont mind getting non authentic stuff but dont trust them now because of the removal of said stickers. If it were to protect them from being tracked for supposedly not being allowed to sell the items then surely other sites like gearbest would follow suit but ive bought stuff from elsewhere that has had the stickers in tact and genuine.

[calnorth]

On BMW:

Some years back I went to a local BMW agency/franchise to get new windscreen wipers (+other stuff). Bloke in spares dept handed me the wiper boxes and I took a look at country of origin on the back. Belgium. I said I wanted German made at this price. He said if you must know they are from China....take it or leave it more or less!