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How much do you worry about counterfeit items online?

Lambreau21

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I just picked up a Subox Mini and have been extremely pleased with it. I then came across a few posts on cloned vapes and a popular one was the Kanger Subox Mini. I dug a little deeper to find that these clones are made very well down to the packaging and everything so most people cant tell. I then went on to the site and checked the authenticity and it said that my code had been checked 8 times already. I dont see or have any issues, it all seems to check out from the forums I've read but how concerned are people with purchasing online? I understand buying from a reputable source is key but sometimes cost drivers can be appealing. Is this just with Kanger products or is it seen around the market?
 

Vapin4Joy

Diamond Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Anything and everything is cloned, do your homework and check out the online vendor you plan on using the best you can. Even after due diligence there is always the chance of being hit with the unintentional purchase of a clone.
 

freemind

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Only unscrupulous sellers will pass off clones as authentic knowingly.

Most times, IMO, the pass off occurs in B&M stores. You hear about more of it there, then you do online.
 

Lambreau21

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Only unscrupulous sellers will pass off clones as authentic knowingly.

Most times, IMO, the pass off occurs in B&M stores. You hear about more of it there, then you do online.

Thats really interesting to know because I would think the complete opposite because you are able to see the product before you purchase whereas online you have already purchased it and have to wait to see what you got. It does make sense thought that you are probably more trusting of a person that is selling you something face to face hoping they wouldnt screw you. Appreciate that insight.
 

freemind

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Thats really interesting to know because I would think the complete opposite because you are able to see the product before you purchase whereas online you have already purchased it and have to wait to see what you got. It does make sense thought that you are probably more trusting of a person that is selling you something face to face hoping they wouldnt screw you. Appreciate that insight.
The nuances and very slight cosmetic differences between clones and authentics are hard to spot. Even in the packaging.
 

Vapin4Joy

Diamond Contributor
Member For 4 Years
The big difference between a clone and genuine, genuine a warranty, clone good luck!
 

stevegmu

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Not worried at all. All my mods, batteries, coil heads and attys come from the manufacturer or authorized re-sellers...
 

pulsevape

Diamond Contributor
Member For 4 Years
if I'm spending 50.00 I don't worry about it to much...if I'm dropping 150.00, or more then I buy from the modder or his resellers.
 

robot zombie

Silver Contributor
Member For 4 Years
A little. I usually snoop out my vendors and dig up every little thing I can find, every little negative review, etc. I especially look for testimonials from people who have bought what I'm looking at from that exact vendor. The market is big enough and the distro on most things, wide enough that you can do that.

And in general, I find that most internet sellers are on their game. They are big time. The internet is where the money is made. They have the weight to toss at distributors and get the hook-up on resale deals because they can guarantee the sales. Manufacturers generally seem to try and hook up with as many big internet vendors as they can. They want the real thing to be easy to find and purchase online, and most have gotten VERY good at making that a reality.

And on the other side of that, the largest scale productions are the most cloned. They are the things everyone wants to buy. And if you want a clone, you can find it easily. There is enough of a market for them that sellers generally do not see fit to lie about it. You can make really good money just selling clones as clones. They don't have to lie to make their money.

So on one hand, if you want to buy big-name, it will usually be clear whether or not it's a clone. And if you buy small-time brands, you can rest assured that the cloners can't be assed. That's not where the money is for them.

What this means is that you can buy with a reasonable degree of confidence that what you are getting is as advertised... ...if you buy domestically, that is (China really DGAF, though even they know where their bread is buttered.) Most vendors are smart enough to know that the community loves a good witch-burning and will run the reputation of your business into the ground overnight for lesser sins than simply selling clones as authentics.

And yeah, every now and then, clones slip into the authentic market, big time, but on the internet, word travels faster, so the issue is usually put to bed pretty quickly. When clones that even the vendors can't tell are fakes hit the market hard, they usually get found out quickly.

B&M's, not so much. I had been sold a clone or two that were supposed to be authentic. Many times, the people at the counter just don't know, or they are told not to tell you. A lot of these little boutique shops cannot afford to become authorized re-sellers for everything they carry. It costs them significantly more money to stock genuine gear because they buy in lower quantities and sales are limited to a fixed, local demographic. Those are the places where you're going to see clones a-plenty. In literally every B&M I've been in, I have been pitched clones of this and clones of that... ...it's about 50/50 as to whether or not they tell me its a clone off of the bat, though I generally find that if you can show that you know what you're looking at and what you're looking for, they will tell you its a clone when asked.

You really do have to sort of shake it out of them, though. I've gotten into the habit, whenever looking at a display, of asking what are clones and what are not. And sometimes I can see in their faces that they're thinking I'm a dick... ...that I'm basically calling them liars, but at the same time, I have yet to get the "None of them are clones." answer. While not a question that anyone likes asking, it's a legitimate inquiry, as there is a real need for concern.


Semi-related, I was looking at atties in a B&M back when the velocity was just becoming the hot new RDA on the block. I had some store credit to burn through (it was a gift,) so I was shopping for atties. The dude at the counter actually had the nerve to try and pitch me a velocity clone that he said they would be stocking in two weeks. But the thing is... ...even their clones were ridiculously overpriced. At the end of the day, I only bought an atty because it wasn't all my money going into it. I was so amused by this that I ordered the very same clone online for nearly half of the price he gave me and had it in my mailbox a full week before that shop rolled them out.

I just don't know about some of these B&M's... ...I just think that when it comes to clones, they're doing it wrong.
 
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Discobob

Silver Contributor
Member For 4 Years
I got spoiled on a couple good vendors and stick with them, I'm sure some places have what I need for cheaper but I'm not a penny pincher so the extra is worth knowing.....even if I suspected something wasn't legit a return would be as easy as an email, not a 2 month quest like some vendors.
 

Barbara E.

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I just picked up a Subox Mini and have been extremely pleased with it. <snip> I then went on to the site and checked the authenticity and it said that my code had been checked 8 times already. <snip>

Your mini is definitely a clone. The clone manufacturers buy an authentic one, get the authenticity number and use it on all the clones they manufacture. Authentic mods have unique codes - they won't have been checked multiple times.

I understand the appeal of clones (price) but there are problems with them.

One, you have no idea what quality you're getting. It might be great or it might be terrible. (The biggest problem I've seen is that quite a few seem to just *stop working* after a month or so. Inferior batteries? Inferior workmanship?? Who knows? )

Two, genuine parts (like coils) might not fit properly. A few months ago, we had a spate of people coming in for Aspire Atlantis coils and then complain that they didn't work. Turns out they had clone tanks all bought at the same store for an incredibly good price. (A gas station - need I say more?) Anyway, they were out of luck because it was impossible to find replacement coils that fit.
 

BigNasty

Diamond Contributor
Member For 4 Years
ECF Refugee
Internet rules.
Somewhere there is a clone of it, same with there is a porn of it.
 

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