Bad batch of Cotton Bacon v2? Hmmm

[Ishkabibble]

So I've experienced something interesting today. I opened a new bag of cotton bacon v2 and wicked the same atty I've been using for a few months. Same methods, same procedures. Flavor I was getting was bitter as hell.

And yes my hands are clean and I actually wear nitrile gloves when I wick (have for a while with no bitterness).

So my process of elimination began with no luck:

1. New coils
2. Different wire
3. Different juice
4. More cotton / less cotton

Then I remember I had some Native Wicks Platinum left over and wicked er up, and what do you know, no bitterness!

Anyone else ever have a bad bag with Cotton Bacon v2? This is the first time I've experienced this with it as I've used it forever. Puzzling.

 

[entropy1049]

Haven’t experienced the phenomenon with CB severely enough to make me think anything was awry, but it’s certainly within the realm of possibility. When we’ve eliminated all the other possibilities, our conclusions are limited to what remains...sounds like a shite batch of CB.

 

[zephyr]

So I've experienced something interesting today. I opened a new bag of cotton bacon v2 and wicked the same atty I've been using for a few months. Same methods, same procedures. Flavor I was getting was bitter as hell.

And yes my hands are clean and I actually wear nitrile gloves when I wick (have for a while with no bitterness).

So my process of elimination began with no luck:

1. New coils
2. Different wire
3. Different juice
4. More cotton / less cotton

Then I remember I had some Native Wicks Platinum left over and wicked er up, and what do you know, no bitterness!

Anyone else ever have a bad bag with Cotton Bacon v2? This is the first time I've experienced this with it as I've used it forever. Puzzling.

Where did you get that batch?

 

[Danimal77]

So I've experienced something interesting today. I opened a new bag of cotton bacon v2 and wicked the same atty I've been using for a few months. Same methods, same procedures. Flavor I was getting was bitter as hell.

And yes my hands are clean and I actually wear nitrile gloves when I wick (have for a while with no bitterness).

So my process of elimination began with no luck:

1. New coils
2. Different wire
3. Different juice
4. More cotton / less cotton

Then I remember I had some Native Wicks Platinum left over and wicked er up, and what do you know, no bitterness!

Anyone else ever have a bad bag with Cotton Bacon v2? This is the first time I've experienced this with it as I've used it forever. Puzzling.

My last batch was funky too. I just switched to kendo gold

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[skt239]

I've never had a bad bag of CB and I used it for a while. I only stopped using it because I waste a tremendous amount of cotton when I re-wick, which I do often, so it just didn't last. Now I just use the stuff from japan on amazon.

 

[Danimal77]

I've never had a bad bag of CB and I used it for a while. I only stopped using it because I waste a tremendous amount of cotton when I re-wick, which I do often, so it just didn't last. Now I just use the stuff from japan on amazon.

Ok one of those giant bags i see people with

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[skt239]

Ok one of those giant bags i see people with

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[Ishkabibble]

My last batch was funky too. I just switched to kendo gold

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Glad I'm not the only one who noticed!

 

[Danimal77]

Glad I'm not the only one who noticed!

Try the kendo gold I'm really liking it

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[Ishkabibble]

Try the kendo gold I'm really liking it

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Yeah I have some, I mainly use it when I'm not in a hurry or I feel like stabbing something legally

 

[mjag]

You gotta watch out, there are clone CB out there. I ordered some from wish and when I opened it it looked odd, the more I messed with it I was sure it was different. I then got my other bag of CB and that is when I noticed a spot on the packaging that was different. Now I am sure I got a clone CB, it was so different that I threw it out.

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[bobnat]

You gotta watch out, there are clone CB out there. I ordered some from wish and when I opened it it looked odd, the more I messed with it I was sure it was different. I then got my other bag of CB and that is when I noticed a spot on the packaging that was different. Now I am sure I got a clone CB, it was so different that I threw it out.

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What was it on the bag that tipped you off? I asked because a few of us just ordered some from ebay at a $1 a bag, which as we know is probably too good to be true.

 

[Ishkabibble]

What was it on the bag that tipped you off? I asked because a few of us just ordered some from ebay at a $1 a bag, which as we know is probably too good to be true.

Well shit balls that's where I got mine from! I got like an 8 pack!

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[Ishkabibble]

My pack has a sticker that says made in China. Hmm

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[Ishkabibble]

What was it on the bag that tipped you off? I asked because a few of us just ordered some from ebay at a $1 a bag, which as we know is probably too good to be true.

I just read a few forums that the counterfeit ones have some red markings on it and the font is off. I guess WnV now has authenticator QRs on the backs of them. Mine does seem off, overly waxy texture but I'll need to buy legit stuff and compare the packaging.

Stop fakin' bacon!

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[mjag]

What was it on the bag that tipped you off? I asked because a few of us just ordered some from ebay at a $1 a bag, which as we know is probably too good to be true.

The original is on the right, fake on the left. Might be hard to see from my pic but the one on the left has the red color on the fonts to the far left, the original does not.

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[bobnat]

Thanks for that. I've got a pack of original, I think, at home. It'll be interesting to see what the $1 bacon looks like.

 

[KingPin!]

The original is on the right, fake on the left. Might be hard to see from my pic but the one on the left has the red color on the fonts to the far left, the original does not.

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Thanks for this mate I recently bought a load of bacon I’ll have to check the packets when I get home

 

[entropy1049]

Thanks for that. I've got a pack of original, I think, at home. It'll be interesting to see what the $1 bacon looks like.

If it’s the 99 cent CB from eBay, I can tell you that the packages I received from the seller appear to be authentic. I’m guessing yours will be fine as well.

EDIT- OH SHIT! See my post #22 below...

 

[The Cromwell]

What was it on the bag that tipped you off? I asked because a few of us just ordered some from ebay at a $1 a bag, which as we know is probably too good to be true.

Yep just what I was thinking....
will see when it gets here.

 

[zephyr]

Well shit balls that's where I got mine from! I got like an 8 pack!

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Was it the $1 deal others are talking about, or a different seller?

 

[entropy1049]

I just A-B’d the CB from the eBay seller with a pack of known authentic. The eBay CB has the dominant red striping seen in the photo above. The cotton sticks also appear to be a bit unkempt compaired to the authentic sticks. That’s the bad news. The good news is, it vapes and performs identically to all the other CB I’ve been using over the last two or three years, so much so that I wasn’t sure of the origins of the current pack I have open in my rebuilding kit and had to grab two new unopened packages to make a comparison.

The dominant red could be a simple variation in packaging. Or it could be a flag to serve as an indicator that the suspect package is counterfeit.

So for what it’s worth, the eBay seller may well be selling the counterfeit packs (insert discussion about the relative merits of going through the start up process of cloning packaging and product for pennies profit here) but the performance and vape is the same as the stuff I’ve been using for years.

TL;DR - If the idea of using a possible clone of a product turns you off, best to avoid the deal. If your into saving pennies where you can, you won’t be disappointed

As always, caveat emptor.

 

[Ishkabibble]

Was it the $1 deal others are talking about, or a different seller?

Sorry I got a 5 pack for like $15 from eBay. It did come from China. Guess I didn't realize that fakes were even a thing so I didn't even think about it.

 

[The Cromwell]

The CBV2 I get from FT for a bit under $8 for 2 10 stick packs seems fine.
But I was concerned about it being sold for .99 for a 10 stick pack.
Being the cheapskate that I am I ordered 4 packs.
Will see if I toss it or not when it gets in.

 

[entropy1049]

The CBV2 I get from FT for a bit under $8 for 2 10 stick packs seems fine.
But I was concerned about it being sold for .99 for a 10 stick pack.
Being the cheapskate that I am I ordered 4 packs.
Will see if I toss it or not when it gets in.

Try it before you toss. I honestly can’t tell a vaping/performance/handling difference from the authentic, but it is suspect. I’m into it for 20 packs, so I’ve got a pile of it to get through...

 

[The Cromwell]

Try it before you toss. I honestly can’t tell a vaping/performance/handling difference from the authentic, but it is suspect. I’m into it for 20 packs, so I’ve got a pile of it to get through...

Ohh I will try before tossing.
I am after all a cheapskate

 

[KingPin!]

Ohh I will try before tossing.
I am after all a cheapskate

LOL

 

[Just Frank]

Try it before you toss. I honestly can’t tell a vaping/performance/handling difference from the authentic, but it is suspect. I’m into it for 20 packs, so I’ve got a pile of it to get through...

Op has already stated it tastes bitter.

 

[Just Frank]

The original is on the right, fake on the left. Might be hard to see from my pic but the one on the left has the red color on the fonts to the far left, the original does not.

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The one on the left looks like a darker shade of black too. I dont see the little cut out for tearing on it either. This-

 

[The Cromwell]

Anyone tried the scratch off authentication code thingy on the suspected clone packs?

 

[bobnat]

The original is on the right, fake on the left. Might be hard to see from my pic but the one on the left has the red color on the fonts to the far left, the original does not.

Hey, which version are those bags? I have a 10 gm that says Version 2.0 and as an authentication sticker. I just checked and it's the real deal. The bag is printed differently from yours.

 

[mjag]

Hey, which version are those bags? I have a 10 gm that says Version 2.0 and as an authentication sticker. I just checked and it's the real deal. The bag is printed differently from yours.

There both CBv2

 

[entropy1049]

Op has already stated it tastes bitter.

Mine has no tangible taste. A little break in, 10 pulls maybe. Same as every other CB I’ve used.

 

[entropy1049]

Anyone tried the scratch off authentication code thingy on the suspected clone packs?

Hey, which version are those bags? I have a 10 gm that says Version 2.0 and as an authentication sticker. I just checked and it's the real deal. The bag is printed differently from yours.

I have two different versions of authentic. One package has a scratch off verification code, one does not. The auth code is probably a later version of the packaging. The counterfeit suspect does not have the scratch off. It does have the relief cut outs for tearing the pack open however.

 

[entropy1049]

Old pack authentic on top, new pack authentic in middle, suspect counterfeit on bottom.

I don’t know why it’s just now tumbled to me, but if the authentic is made in the US, it’s bloody unlikely that it could be sold cheaper coming from China. Wtf was I thinking

 

[KingPin!]

Crop the pic slightly

 

[entropy1049]

Let’s play a game! Guess the authentic. Spoiler: easy question. This is not the Fast Money Round...

 

[bobnat]

View attachment 103635 Old pack authentic on top, new pack authentic in middle, suspect counterfeit on bottom.

I don’t know why it’s just now tumbled to me, but if the authentic is made in the US, it’s bloody unlikely that it could be sold cheaper coming from China. Wtf was I thinking

I've got the middle one as well. Unless you ordered 100 bags of the stuff, it's not a big loss. I ordered 10 of them and I'll give away at least half whether it's authentic or not.

 

[KingPin!]

Left looks like it’s just come out the pack ....the right one looks like what’s left after you’ve peeled off a few Layers already it’s what mine ends using looking like anyway haha

 

[entropy1049]

Left looks like it’s just come out the pack ....the right one looks like what’s left after you’ve peeled off a few Layers already it’s what mine ends using looking like anyway haha

Two sticks exactly as they came out of their packs. Known authentic on left, suspect counterfeit on right.

As I said, I’m not having any flavor problems yet (I’m about a pack and a half into the counterfeit), so I’ll hope that continues. Through the next 18.5 packs...

 

[Brad Mitchell]

View attachment 103636 Let’s play a game! Guess the authentic. Spoiler: easy question. This is not the Fast Money Round...

The one on the right almost looks like an unrolled cotton ball. One of the selling points of cotton bacon I think was the longer fibers of the cotton. Does the counterfet version have long fibers or short ones like a cotton ball?

 

[entropy1049]

The one on the right almost looks like an unrolled cotton ball. One of the selling points of cotton bacon I think was the longer fibers of the cotton. Does the counterfet version have long fibers or short ones like a cotton ball?

They appear to be long fibers, but are clearly pretty unruly in appearance. Also the stick may be smaller than the authentic. There are 10 sticks in a pack, but I should probably get a mass by mass comparison with the authentic...

Edit: I don’t have access to a precision balence, but on my kitchen scale masses are the same. Different size is probably a relic of having been shipped to me in a tightly compressed package.

 

[zephyr]

View attachment 103635 Old pack authentic on top, new pack authentic in middle, suspect counterfeit on bottom.

I don’t know why it’s just now tumbled to me, but if the authentic is made in the US, it’s bloody unlikely that it could be sold cheaper coming from China. Wtf was I thinking

The one in the middle looks most different, different camera icon at the bottom left and smaller, unbolded font above the UPC label

 

[Brad Mitchell]

They appear to be long fibers, but are clearly pretty unruly in appearance. Also the stick may be smaller than the authentic. There are 10 sticks in a pack, but I should probably get a mass by mass comparison with the authentic...

Edit: I don’t have access to a precision balence, but on my kitchen scale masses are the same. Different size is probably a relic of having been shipped to me in a tightly compressed package.

Hey if it works it works. Not sure why the op cb tastes funny. I'd probably return it unless I paid $1 for it.

 

[Brad Mitchell]

View attachment 103635 Old pack authentic on top, new pack authentic in middle, suspect counterfeit on bottom.

I don’t know why it’s just now tumbled to me, but if the authentic is made in the US, it’s bloody unlikely that it could be sold cheaper coming from China. Wtf was I thinking

I think yours is authentic. I just looked at mine and they are the same. I think the new package has an updated scratch to verify and they changed the camera icon. I too have both of those versions. Now the one posted above with red in the white lettering seems to be faked plus he stated it didn't taste right either.

 

[Brad Mitchell]

Does anyone know how much a box of the cb v2 is? I wonder if someone bought some boxes and then they sell them for $1 and still make a profit?

 

[Ishkabibble]

I have two different versions of authentic. One package has a scratch off verification code, one does not. The auth code is probably a later version of the packaging. The counterfeit suspect does not have the scratch off. It does have the relief cut outs for tearing the pack open however.

Yeah I think they added the QR codes recently.

And yes my original problem was that it was indeed bitter and tasted off. It could very well be authentic and I just got a bad batch. I've been using a different cotton for now. Today I'm going to grab some CB2 from my local B&M and see if it is better.

 

[Brad Mitchell]

Another thought is that they're unloading the old inventory for the new scratch off Authentication

 

[Just Frank]

View attachment 103635 Old pack authentic on top, new pack authentic in middle, suspect counterfeit on bottom.

I don’t know why it’s just now tumbled to me, but if the authentic is made in the US, it’s bloody unlikely that it could be sold cheaper coming from China. Wtf was I thinking

The "Made in the USA" seal on the bottom one looks off. It looks thicker and the letters dont match.

 

[KingPin!]

Here’s my lot think these all look ok