Is The FT Party Over?

[BrenD]

I haven't bought much over the last year or so, but the couple of things I've pulled the trigger on have been cheaper at the going rate over here than on FT.

The OFRF Nexmesh sub tank (a really juicy, tasty vape at 65W, coils that handle 200ml+ of juice before I think about a change. An awesome bit of kit!) is $35 on FT at the moment but was $45 when I bought my first of two for £25 from a UK vendor. It can be had for £20-30 from many places.

Admittedly I got a good deal paying just shy of £50 for the limited edition version of the GeekVape Aegis Legend just now, Vape Club are flogging them at the same price as the original version, but I've seen them at the £60-70 sort of price over here, $75 for the mod or $95 for the kit (do one!) on FT.

Not that I'm complaining about paying less, getting next day delivery and supporting vendors based over here, mind.

Is it GeekVape and OFRF not playing ball with FT or has the time finally come to stop checking the prices with our Chinese friends before buying something?

[Bob]

Tanks are probably the best buys direct from China, due to the stoopid EU 2ml law, but other than that I tend to agree with you.

[BrenD]

I had the bubble glass thrown in with both, I'm not even sure the 2ml plastic section is even usable and it certainly doesn't look like it holds 2ml.

But anything you can buy a bubble glass for and still pay less than the Chinese sites charge puts them out of the game for that as well.

At least they are still of use for the odd bargain on older gear, but this feels like the end of an era.

[Perpetua]

My days of wild unadulterated spending on hardware ended with the TPD BrenD - the bargains there were to be had then stocked me up for several lifetimes - it bothers me not that it's ' old ' equipment, I don't need to keep up with the latest vaping ' must have ' as what I've got is sufficient to keep me from smoking, happily.

FT I mainly use for stock coils - then when there's a discount code going, although recently I have bought a couple of mods from them going cheap for under a tenner, to replace my worn out istick 20's for work, which have lasted incredibly well.

I had been toying with the idea of getting a couple more 80w IPower's but the price difference ( by the time you take into account FT's creative currency conversion ) was negligible.

[thebishman]

Sept 25, 2019 17:06:30 GMT Perpetua said:

My days of wild unadulterated spending on hardware ended with the TPD BrenD - the bargains there were to be had then stocked me up for several lifetimes - it bothers me not that it's ' old ' equipment, I don't need to keep up with the latest vaping ' must have ' as what I've got is sufficient to keep me from smoking, happily.

FT I mainly use for stock coils - then when there's a discount code going, although recently I have bought a couple of mods from them going cheap for under a tenner, to replace my worn out istick 20's for work, which have lasted incredibly well.

I had been toying with the idea of getting a couple more 80w IPower's but the price difference ( by the time you take into account FT's creative currency conversion ) was negligible.

...still waiting for you to open your own shop with what you bought in tpd sales lol

[striker42]

These are freely available from UK vendors. Holds a little more than 2ml.................28ml more to be exact. Tell me again about the TPD.

[monty]

For basic non-vaping stuff, if I'm not in too much of a hurry, I check FT first much better than Argos, eBay or Amazon. I've pretty much given up buying vape kit, got spares for my spares - I mostly use stuff I bought 5 years ago.

[BrenD]

I really didn't set out to buy less gear, I still love shiny new things, the right stuff just isn't out there.

I do most of my vaping heading to and from or at work so don't want to be fiddling with a squonker and the whole pod trend came along a good five years too late for most of us.

I still watch vids from certain reviewers and keep an eye on what's out there, it just hasn't been for me. I'm hoping the next twelve months or so will see a dual 21700 mod catch my eye, but I'm yet to see anything I like enough to buy

[BrenD]

I'm rather fond of the Aegis Legend I treated myself to for an early birthday present. It looks good with a gold Nexmesh on top (I fancied a change from rainbow!), feels ok to hold and is obviously up to taking a beating.

It doesn't like me. I've had more issues with the thing in a few hours of use than I've had with any other mod. Including a pretty ropey Hana clone back in t'day.

VapeClub are sound so I'm not anticipating any problems there, but I hope this isn't a sign that I should stop buying mods. Oh and that they've got more of the gold ones in stock!

[buggritt]

Sept 26, 2019 8:59:49 GMT BrenD said:

I do most of my vaping heading to and from or at work so don't want to be fiddling with a squonker and the whole pod trend came along a good five years too late for most of us.

My little squonker is for the car. No fiddling needed.

As to your OP, I've noticed that FT are really just useful for clones, to see if you like the atomiser. Originals are mostly cheaper, or nowt in it, on ebay.The problem for them is they have somehow lost their standing with some manufacturers, Vandy Vape in particular. That means having to stock from other wholesalers.

[VapingBad]

The poor exchange rate is obviously part of the issue, but going forward the delivery cost is likely to go up significantly www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-49833914

[thebishman]

Sept 28, 2019 16:44:33 GMT VapingBad said:

The poor exchange rate is obviously part of the issue, but going forward the delivery cost is likely to go up significantly www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-49833914

I stopped using them because of the pricing due to the exchange rate...with the added bonus of the poor handling of a warrenty issue

[smarties]

Must admit I only use them for older gear now, I have also noticed the prices of other Chinese goods such as smartphones from China, silver and kids clothing which were all significantly cheaper are mostly all similar prices through Ebay, Amazon etc, I think it's the exchange rate partly but also sellers over here dropping their prices because they can get goods in bulk cheaper than we can get one offs from China.
I like it but it has spoilt the fun a bit.

[Postmodern Smoking]

Well, with a few members recently trying to get genuine iStick Picos via ebay/Amazon? ....and ending up with poor copies, I've just placed a FT order for a backup one using the 15% discount code posted by kermitthefog

At least when FT says something is authentic ... it is!

[unclegromit]

What he said. ^^^^^