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Does your mod defined u? Is it a status symbol?

Ruppy_bear

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recently I overheard I was called a poor homeless guy by a few guys that I don't even know, cuz I had a pack of cheap cigarettes that mostly homeless ppl smoke. I wasnt really mad or what not (can't really be mad if they are sort of right), but then when I started pulling out my v200 out with bunch of my e juice on the table, this guy started questioning me In person. He ask me how much my v200 cost and I straight up told him 1st gen when they were still doing exclusive per orders only was $600 rmb here in China without the tank. My quad flex was almost $400 rmb (ya I bought it over priced).

Then they started asking me why I have a $1000 rmb mod but choose to smoke homeless cigarettes and wear knock off nikes. I couldn't explain why I would over pay for vape mods but I wouldn't over pay for sneakers and I love shoes too. I did explain why I have homeless cigarettes, reason is cuz I don't smoke often now and I mostly hand out cigarettes over smoking. So no point in buying my favorite pack if I'm not going to fully enjoy it.

After that experience I thought to myself, why did I over pay for my quad flex? Was my mod a status symbol? Did it define me as a person?

Now I got the v200 in red cuz I grew up loving cars and I loved Hondas. Love the whole mod and tuner scene. So ya it does define me a bit as a person and shows a bit of what I like.

One of my friends had a $3000 rmb (close to 450 usd) mod. It broke and he just threw it away instead of fixing it. I never knew why cuz he didn't know why either, but he just it. This did reflect on his ballen status lol and sort of did define who he kinda was.

Is mod really a status symbol and does it define someone or reflect on a persons character?
 

JuicyLucy

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Is mod really a status symbol and does it define someone or reflect on a persons character?

It can if you buy into the "vape culture" crap

I just like to vape the highest quality I can afford - but my daily mods I take to work are just cheap iSticks and I don't want anything else when I use RTAs

I do have a weakness for very expensive custom made squonkers - which do out-perform off the shelf stuff, but I'm only impressing myself - few people vape where I live and no one I know in person can really tell the difference by appearance, lol

When I vape in public in places like Seattle or Las Vegas, I have noticed that smokers are impressed by the size of the mod, the bigger the better (in their eye at least)

As a side not, Todd, my favorite reviewer who has a reputation of vaping only the finest mods loved the V200 - and told anyone who laughed to stuff it
 

Rooster Cogburn

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I just want a mod that performs and doesn’t look ridiculous. So looks sorta matter to me but not so much. Just don’t want bright colored plastics in the shape of a ray gun or with a big wolf coming off the side. I don’t have the funds to buy mods that cost several hundred dollars and besides my $50 mods do a fine job. I have lusted after some high end squonkers and rda’s just never pulled the trigger. In my fantasy I have a Rebel squonker with the Karma rda, but alas, it remains a fantasy.
 

Train

Gold Contributor
Member For 5 Years
I was wondering "what does it have to do with Honda" til I saw this. LOL.
You need a "VTEC Kicked In" sticker for your mod...
:D

upload_2018-12-5_19-10-58.png


Hey, people like nice things. Nicer than "necessary" in certain categories that vary person-to-person, and depending on the ability to pay.
I can't afford the very nicest anything really - but I also don't the get cheapest car that runs...or the cheapest mod that vapes.
In fact - with vapes, it's a hobby - and I have a BUNCH - many of them fairly nice, all of them chosen because I like the design, and enjoy using them. No one SEES me using them - or ALMOST nobody - it's just "for me".

But certainly, for many people - they ALSO like to "show off" their nice things. They might want them even if no one ever knew...but the folks driving Lambo's usually do want you to notice their nice Lambo. It makes them feel good. And that's OK, as long as they aren't assholes who think they are better than you because they have a Lambo.

Also, Honda fan, that's me on the right, lol...:D
smallwlambo.jpg
 

MannyScoot

Diamond Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Yeah.... It's not a status symbol for me... I saw it.... I liked it..... I bought it......
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SteveS45

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When some Vape Snob wants to think he is hot shit I just pull out my Hand Made Custom Order Golem and shut them the fuck up.............

upload_2018-12-6_18-41-50.jpeg

That's right MoFo you can't buy one retail they are special order only and this is Serial Number 002
 

wildgypsy70

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Nah. I have semi expensive mods, squonkers, rdas.....and ones as cheap as dirt. I just get what I like. As long as it works and gets me through the day. I’m the only one I know around here that vapes....I know there are more, but I don’t see them. Lol!
 

MannyScoot

Diamond Contributor
Member For 4 Years
When some Vape Snob wants to think he is hot shit I just pull out my Hand Made Custom Order Golem and shut them the fuck up.............

View attachment 125937

That's right MoFo you can't buy one retail they are special order only and this is Serial Number 002
Yeah it's good to have something special..... I work hard for my money and I save money..... When I have money saved up I get a new toy.....

Some get pinball machines for their man caves......

Some get expensive cars......

Some get cheap hookers and some get high class hoes.......

I saw a mod and an RTA that was going to cost me $950 bucks....

So I saved and bought it...... It's the only one that cost anything....... Well maybe another that's worth $500 or more.....

But it's not to show off that I'm Richie Rich Or have Boosters millions......

I saw it and fell in love..... Just like when I met my ex wifes...... These are my babies.......
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zephyr

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recently I overheard I was called a poor homeless guy by a few guys that I don't even know, cuz I had a pack of cheap cigarettes that mostly homeless ppl smoke. I wasnt really mad or what not (can't really be mad if they are sort of right), but then when I started pulling out my v200 out with bunch of my e juice on the table, this guy started questioning me In person. He ask me how much my v200 cost and I straight up told him 1st gen when they were still doing exclusive per orders only was $600 rmb here in China without the tank. My quad flex was almost $400 rmb (ya I bought it over priced).

Then they started asking me why I have a $1000 rmb mod but choose to smoke homeless cigarettes and wear knock off nikes. I couldn't explain why I would over pay for vape mods but I wouldn't over pay for sneakers and I love shoes too. I did explain why I have homeless cigarettes, reason is cuz I don't smoke often now and I mostly hand out cigarettes over smoking. So no point in buying my favorite pack if I'm not going to fully enjoy it.

After that experience I thought to myself, why did I over pay for my quad flex? Was my mod a status symbol? Did it define me as a person?

Now I got the v200 in red cuz I grew up loving cars and I loved Hondas. Love the whole mod and tuner scene. So ya it does define me a bit as a person and shows a bit of what I like.

One of my friends had a $3000 rmb (close to 450 usd) mod. It broke and he just threw it away instead of fixing it. I never knew why cuz he didn't know why either, but he just it. This did reflect on his ballen status lol and sort of did define who he kinda was.

Is mod really a status symbol and does it define someone or reflect on a persons character?


I went all in on spending for vape gear the first year I vaped - my idea Was that the more I spent on vaping, the more motivated I would be to stick with it and not spend on cigarettes. I believe this idea helped me quit smoking.

Like, "I've sunk $500 into vaping the past 3 months, no way I'm gonna start buying smokes again with all this gear I've already invested in"

Now my mods are cheap and simple - like me haha
 
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The Cromwell

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Vape gear a status symbol for me?
Naah.
For most of this past year I have vaped with Kbox mini mods with either a OG Merlin RTA or Kanger STM on top.
Or a Pico Squeeze with a wasp on top.
A Kanger Kbox mini mod has been a daily user for over 3 years and the Pico for a year or more with zero problems from either.
And I have several of both mods in reserve.

All my more expensive mods are in my vapocalypse stash.

And like Lucy very few around here vape and 'don't I Know that that vape is worse than smoking'. Said as they smoke their cigs...
I just smile and vape on.
 

SteveS45

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I went all in on spending for vape gear the first year I vaped - my idea Was that the more I spent on vaping, the more motivated I would be to stick with it and not spend on cigarettes. I believe this idea helped me quit smoking.

I was the polar opposite in that thinking IMO because I spent the equivalent of one weeks worth of smokes for my first MOD which is still firing and functioning as my Back Up Carry MOD 4 years later. Even if you add in the price of buying coils it still works out to about 5 cents a day for what that MOD cost me.
 

Carambrda

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When some Vape Snob wants to think he is hot shit I just pull out my Hand Made Custom Order Golem and shut them the fuck up.............

View attachment 125937

That's right MoFo you can't buy one retail they are special order only and this is Serial Number 002
I don't think I'm hot shit. But anyway... for the sake of shutting someone the fuck up, I just wanted to let you know that I'm still the one and only real owner of the Suicide King with serial number 001............. (Sorry. I did it on purpose.)

SK1.jpg
 

lak611

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Member For 4 Years
No, my mods aren't a status symbol at all. I have mods that work well, but are not expensive. Same with my tanks. The mods I have were around the $50-70 price range. I picked colours that I liked, but I didn't spend lots of money. I'm more interested in function, rather than style.

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Grandpa

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I buy good gear and I don't buy the real expensive stuff. I'm starting to slow down on new acquisitions. I get kind of embarrassed when someone comments on my vape, so I'm not trying to impress anybody. Mostly I care about how well something works, not what anybody else thinks about it.
 

The Cromwell

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I buy good gear and I don't buy the real expensive stuff. I'm starting to slow down on new acquisitions. I get kind of embarrassed when someone comments on my vape, so I'm not trying to impress anybody. Mostly I care about how well something works, not what anybody else thinks about it.

Yep no one to impress here either. No vapers for miles around.
Plus I have never been motivated to buy expensive for impressions anyway.
Nor felt pressured to buy the latest and greatest.
found what I like and am sticking with it.
Kind of the same way with women.
 

dropin_biking

Member For 2 Years
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In some ways, yes my vape hardware defines me. I like to put a personal touch on everything I own, and my vaping is no exception. I've gone through the trouble of disassembling and painting various cases, buttons, caps, and plates on my mods to colour match them the way I like. I also go through the trouble of getting coloured glass and O-rings to also match. It's the little extra things that make my setups unique.
 

SteveS45

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Some people are so cheap their MOD's may not define them but are a reflection. Not making this up, just going by the posts from former threads that they are cheap.
 

CactusFanaticus

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This is my mod, their are many like it but this one is mine. Without me my mod is nothing, without my mod I am nothing.

Lol, seriously though, as others have said vapers are few and far between here. I am not defined by my possessions, nor do I care if anyone likes my gear, I do it for me. I do appreciate nice beautiful things, but I don’t care for loud colorful mods. I enjoy sleek, minimalist, well functioning devices. Nothing better to me than a stainless or black device with little to no markings that works beautifully time after time.
 

Ruppy_bear

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i was really interested in getting a tube mech mod that was fully customized with a lotus flower and Buddhist saying. It was pretty pointless for me to get it cuz it's a clot hand made mod. So I'm not sure if it's a good thing or a bad one cuz it wasn't trying to replicate any other brand made mod.

I wanted to buy it cuz I'm a Buddhist growing up and it was very cool being able to put something like this one a mod as it like defined me. This was the same thing when I saw the hello kitty mech mod, as I'm a bit of a hello kitty fan growing up. (I had a bit of their stuff and started liking it)

Now the hello kitty mod was just over priced and the Buddhist mod was a unsure for me. I thought about this for a while cuz I'm a shoe guy but I can't say I'm a real sneaker head cuz i a lot of fakes. But shoes that I buy and really wear them (that's what shoe guys do) and I didn't want to have with vaping (I had a feeling that I would have a bunch of mods I just keep for looks and not use).

So a friend said BRO THIS IS CHINA, U CAN GET ANYTHING DONE WITH A PRICE. Which I totally forgot about, so I was thinking of getting a cheap genuine mod and have a guy do some nice cheap carving on it. I have not picked out a design yet, but I'm leaning towards Buddhist design for grown up look. (I really want a sailor moon, hello kitty or some other cute anime character but I wanna be more sophisticated lol)
 

Zohmbiebuilds

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Performance is all I'm after. Looks and everything else are an added bonus. I have been getting into hydro dipping and to be honest i really love the look of certain colors, but nothing vibrant.

I actually don't really like when people ask me about my vape, or come up. I'm glad to help anyone out, I just have mental issues that make it extremely uncomfortable to talk to people I don't know. However I do try to treat people as good or better than I would like to be treated so comfortable or not I'm down to help if the need comes my way..

That being said, I generally take out a plain Hammond box dual parallel I built a while back. Lasts all day, feels pretty good, and I don't have to worry about it screwing up when I'm out and about. I built it, I know damn well it can take some abuse.

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SteveS45

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Performance is all I'm after.

This is why my EDV is a beat up scratched RX200s.................. But when I need to have something that looks good it is like a piece of jewelry I hardly wear I break out a nice pretty MOD. Right accoutrements for the occasion you know? Like I hardly wear my Rolex but when I do people notice.
 

Zohmbiebuilds

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The Moto I live by nowadays... The price it costs to get a decent mod I can usually build much better quality mods that won't crap out on me. Lol, the only mod that's come out recently that really was an eye grabber is the new pico. Looks pretty nice as a beater mod.

I've never been in a situation where I can really splurge. And I'm actually thankful. Because it's ingrained and Lazer etched in my brain the importance of doing your research.

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Zohmbiebuilds

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This is why my EDV is a beat up scratched RX200s.................. But when I need to have something that looks good it is like a piece of jewelry I hardly wear I break out a nice pretty MOD. Right accoutrements for the occasion you know? Like I hardly wear my Rolex but when I do people notice.
Yup. I totally understand

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randallpiz

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Vaping is a safer alternative to smoking...
The vaping "community" is dumb as dirt.
 

Jenn F

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My mods fit me. But then again, I like shiny. Whether cheap or expensive. Non vapors usually think the cheaper ones are expensive and I get jokes on why I have cheap ones from cliche vapors. I do not care, at all. Period.:blah:

Same people ask me why or how I can afford a $150k (whenever it was new) Mercedes but I'm retired. Uhm, they get floored whenever I tell them it was given to me by my 93 yr of gfather. He gave up driving and my Jeep stays under recall. Then there's those haters on bikes. Nothing pleases others, always somebody wants to know when I'm trading in. I'm not, that's just it. I'm happy with what I have and while old, I've got low miles. Paid in full. :facepalm:

Now back to vaping....Go with whatever your heart feels. If it's you, then it's you. You're able to spend and feel good about a higher dollar vape then cheap cigarettes these days. Who's paying your bills? Ask them. I certainly crack that one back. With a beautiful smile back. ;-)

Live for you and buy another shiny one if you want. It's your money, your business and they are probably just jealous.

I do like the Honda thing. They do match up pretty good! I tend to go for red/black to match my bike myself. :):D:cheers:
 

Jenn F

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This is why my EDV is a beat up scratched RX200s.................. But when I need to have something that looks good it is like a piece of jewelry I hardly wear I break out a nice pretty MOD. Right accoutrements for the occasion you know? Like I hardly wear my Rolex but when I do people notice.
Loo

My daily watch is a Movado...Funny! My watches that I hardly wear are either Seiko, Protek or some form of pink. I'm so different! My Nana's Rolex was her daily. Wear them, that's what they are made for. I'm the same with jewelry. Enjoy those things! :)
Although I'm holding my head down in shame about being nitty about my mods and going out. Cheap ones are more disposable at that thought. :confused:
 

Smiling Ogre

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Interesting questions. I'll try to explain it with analogies.

I have ridden a motorcycle for 50 years now and I'm not a "biker". I don't consider it something I would use to describe myself. Similarly, I vape but would not describe myself as a "vapor" in describing myself to others. So to the question regarding "defining" I would say no.

Do my choices in mods say something about my character? I would say yes. Much as my choices in motorcycles, I will pay for performance. Is there a sense of pride in that? I would have to say yes. I am seasoned enough at both endeavors to appreciate a fine performing device.
 

Just Frank

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Is mod really a status symbol and does it define someone or reflect on a persons character?
I don't take this stuff too seriously. I don't care what people think about my mods. Hardly anyone vapes here. I use beat up mods in public and sometimes new ones too. If someone wants to judge my character beacuse of whic mod, then whatever. I'm not trying to impress anybody.

All of my mods are tools. I use them like tools. They will get banged up. I have no interest in getting any fancy or really expensive ones. That's just me. If that's your thing then go for it. It's your money. If it makes you happy (And you can afford it), get it.

"Don't worry about my shit, I'm happy with it :)."
- Just Frank
 

SteveS45

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All of my mods are tools. I use them like tools. They will get banged up. I have no interest in getting any fancy or really expensive ones. That's just me. If that's your thing then go for it. It's your money. If it makes you happy (And you can afford it), get it.

While I agree with the Tool reference 1,000%, using a beat up MOD in certain social situations doesn't reflect on Vaping the way I would like it to. What I mean is if you are at a fancy restaurant or like an event or party like an Anniversary you want to look good. Not like I could give two shits during everyday life but there are times I want my vape gear to impress just like you dress.
 

nadalama

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Whoever was talking about folks being "cheap" was probably talking about me, because I am cheap, but I do try not to buy junk. What I like (can't figure out why everyone wouldn't like this) is to have decent stuff and not have to pay a bunch of money for it. I tend to buy what I hope is well-functioning stuff when it has a little age on it and the price has dropped. That means I lag behind you innovative folks by a few years. I'll let you pay full retail for stuff when it first hits the market, and I'll step up and buy it for 1/4 of the price when Breazy puts it on clearance. Or I'll buy clones. And if I get something that's colorful, it's only a little bit colorful. Understated and well made is more attractive to me.

Totally understand @SteveS45 's remark about gear reflecting on vaping. People are judgmental enough about vaping without adding in gear that looks like it came out of some kid's Star Wars play set. It isn't about "status" but it is about having a sense of suitability for different occasions.
 

SteveS45

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Totally understand @SteveS45 's remark about gear reflecting on vaping. People are judgmental enough about vaping without adding in gear that looks like it came out of some kid's Star Wars play set. It isn't about "status" but it is about having a sense of suitability for different occasions.

I will give you a perfect example of what I mean. While Christmas shopping I blow clouds out the window while driving to the stores with my beat up ratty looking RX200S, but bring my iStick TC40W with a Nautilus X tank on top. Sort of stealthy and inconspicuous, enough I can sneak a vape while shopping. Now when I am in an environment where my vaping will draw attention I want something classy or flashy like this.

upload_2018-12-17_18-49-17.png

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joha_wa_alhimar

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Member For 4 Years
Not status symbols for me. Granted, I do spend a lot and have a small collection, but none of the people I see daily are in the vape "community" so they wouldn't know DNA from YiHi or any model names or anything. I mostly buy nicer mods because they tend to be more solidly built and last longer (and have the chip I'm looking for).

Stabwood would be a different story because it's pretty as all hell.

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MannyScoot

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Well if the size of the battery determines the size of anything.....
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MannyScoot

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Well.... I buy something that after researching it sounds like something I would enjoy playing and Vaping......
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f1r3b1rd

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Is mod really a status symbol and does it define someone or reflect on a persons character?

No, it definitely does not!
Some people think it makes them superior to others; however, it is not a status symbol and does not make them any better.
 
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Huckleberried

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No, it definitely does not!
Some people think it makes them superior to others; however, it is not a status symbol and does not make them any better.
LOL, that's very true. If one's character were weighed by the mods they own, wow. I don't personally care what kind of gear someone owns. There are more things about people that measure their character. Humility is one of those things, IMO.

Sure, many of us have turned vaping into a hobby, but it seems that most of it stemmed from the desire to stop smoking. Them's the guts of it. :D
 

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