As a avid purchaser of authentics I don't have a problem supporting those who make original works. Much like gaming, you can pirate all the PC/Console games you want but in the end, you don't support the developer. Steam sells games at a steep discount, with holiday sales etc. If you really check around you can find authentics at clone prices if you watch for sales. The Kato Hammer was being sold for 100 bux on one site, (authentic) and an Atom for 60 bux at another site. More and more designers are catching on and reducing the price for their mods like The Gentleman's Club Antigo 100 bux for his, or Colonial by Mad Industries for 100 bux as well. Most B&M around the San Antonio are sell clones for 70 bux+ CLONES! So 100 for an authentic should be a no brainer. Sure you can go to FastTech (I have) and buy a clone, but its much like a poster you have in your home, its cheap. and at the end of its life you "toss it". People who pirate games treat games much the same way, they don't care about gaming, if they could hack and cheat in the game, they would without any ethical constraints. Heck Joe, you even claimed to own an authentic Tugboat RDA, unlike Nitro who bought the clone.
CelticFury another member of VapeTV cashed in some of his clones for the authentic The Copper by Scottua. If people want to buy clones, fine, my income level is at no risk when I buy an authentic or two, you buy what is within your price range. But to "crap over authentics" is a bit disingenuous. Many (if not all) designers of authentics hate having their stuff clones. V3tronics is the most vocal about it, but all of them don't like seeing someone buy a clone then e-mail them about spare parts or issues with a "clone" of their authentic device. Heck GP Custom (friend of Jay Kim CEO of JK Vapes) is verifying everyone to see if they have an authentic Akuma before sending out replacement firing pins. They are doing this knowing that there are MANY shops trying to pass off clones as authentics. This pisses ME off, since I've had several stores try that crap on me.
Jon Tubig (from San Antonio) makes his own box mods, yet his designs on are being copied by another area vaper store. I asked him if it ticks him off, he said it does, but plans on making his box mods harder to clone, since he is trying to make it a business and not just a side hobby. Once you start making your own work and making your own twist on an idea then you know why some people hate clones or refuse to buy one. I do buy original works like The Gladiator by Youde, or The Seeker by EhPro, sub 50 dollar mods, but ORIGINAL. You don't need to buy a clone. there ARE options. Oh, but the clones fire better? Ha. Try a box mod.. any box mod, and you will throw that metal tube to the trash.
All anyone really needs is a box mod, anything else in the mechanical area is just collection. And would you rather have a collection of copies or a collection of authentics? I don't think people who collect art buy posters.
Might want to scratch off Mt Baker Vapor, UltraMist, Longhorn, hell even PBusardo since his feelings on clones is well established. Twisted I don't think cares either way. Although, he picked up a Darang at VapeBlast 2.0, and also was looking for an authentic Colonial. Between he n Phil, I think Phil will be more honest since he did tell someone they were an idiot when someone showed him a stacked battery mod.
I actually laughed when I heard him say that. + 1 for Phil!
As for my area of Texas, they seem to gravitate towards clones, but I believe they do so because of a lack of options. If the stores started selling original idea mods, like I mentioned, they may find more of a turn on to legit devices than carbon copies. Any store who just deals with authentics has to have an online site, if not they ARE history. B&M survive on clones. I understand that. Talked to several shop owners and they all say the same, clones DO DRIVE their business, I just wish there was more of an alternative in place by Chinese manufacturers. The Fuhattan is what I would call an "original mod" since it doesn't use the same engraving and has a fun box, not to mention poking fun at Chinese cloners!
