Oddy Clones and Clones In General

[Numpty]

What has a serial number just to hype the product?

Quite a bit of stuff from the USA does this..

The Bagga Mod from Wu Tang:
MAdz Modz does it
Titan do it

I see the sense when a company like Atmizoo serial their kit as they offer lifetime guarantees and price reasonable for the quality of product and they don't make the serial nuber a selling point but some 'high end' kit from the states seems to be playing the inflate the price for boasting rights, that's fine if someone wants to pay 3 times the money to feel great about owning Bunga Bunga Vape #69 I just think it makes them a bigger target for the clone brigade..

Anyone here feel bad about owning a Sigelei #20 ?
Should I be pissed or boastful that I have a roller ?
It's all bollox, just get what works for you and keep off the cigs and don't knowingly crap on the small guy having a go....

 

[jeffhds]

When certian "clones" attract condemnation it seems to be the manufacture and not the vendors. There are a number of very well respected vendors that stock "clones". In these as in other cases the vendors do seem to be judged only on there service and price, and not wether they stock the chinese stuff.

 

[Dopey]

Clones are actually a good affordable gateway for the real McCoy, for instance I own a rsst and a sigelei #20 and I am soo impressed with the clones that I am now gearing up to get the originals.
My opinion on clones is that you either buy the clone and save money or you invest in someone's time and quality of the original.

 

[stealthvape]

Yeah, I imagine there are a good number of people that go on to buy the original after getting a clone. I expect materials and attention to detail are what separates them in the end.

 

[ZT]

What has a serial number just to hype the product?

Everything that has a serial Number ?

surely you realise they are there to make it feel more exclusive?

Dont get me wrong .. Im not above having a few serialed up things myself .. but make no mistake .. they are there to create a feeling of exclusivity and bump the price ... I thought everyone knew that

 

[ZT]

I agree with what Andy says RE: lists and serials ... thats not to say I dont think its a good thing, or that I wouldnt own one (I own a few in fact)

In regards to Clones : Competition can only drive innovators to bigger and better things, while at the same time providing an affordable way of getting new users into rebuildables etc .. and eventually onto the real thing .. win win IMO

In regards to the Oddy clone, I seem to remember @igetcha69 making a blog post about how he got one coz parts were like unicorn spunk for the original ...
seems as good a reason to stock em as any to me

What I do think is bad .. is when someone directly clones and then attempts to sell it as the original .. like recently happened with the Cobra

 

[DocVape]

I find this debate a fascinating one - and I don't think there is a right or wrong answer. In principal, I have an issue with clones, because they are a blatant rip off of someone's original idea. However, the reality is that most clones are pretty inferior copies- the chobra was so bad it was a joke. It didn't even resemble the real deal. What is ironic is that when the Chinese companies produce their own models rather than clones they are actually bloody good (the AGA series)...

The ody and Penelope clones are a more difficult one. I believe Imeo has said stated that both of these are not going to be produced anymore. But demand still exists... So the clones in this instance are meeting a demand. In addition they don't carry the gg logo etc. I don't necessarily have a problem with these clones.

As for serial numbers and lists. I am on lists and will continue to be. The genuinely innovative ideas come from these small list runs. The Pandora atomiser from sturm looks like it has some genuinely novel ideas and I am waiting patiently on that list. I am also on the list for a windrose mod which is atctaully pretty cheap (76 euros with a choice of finishes and two tube sizes) and that has serial numbers - but they are there for a reason as there are only 333 of them being made ever. (I don't actually care about the serial number personally).

It's a difficult one!

 

[Purplefowler]

It is a tricky one and nobody wants the innovators to be out of pocket. On the other hand the clones are are great gateway into the bigger world. When I started out I didn't want and couldn't afford to take a risky punt on something that I might not like, might not be able to use correctly and couldn't afford. I really wanted to try a genny style atty but heard all the horror stories about the steep leaning curve so instead of making a risky mistake I bought an aga-s. I learnt how to coil and wick it and got a feel for what I liked and expected out of the vape. Now I'm comfortable with it and have tried a few more, I am happy to shell out for better quality stuff that I know will last the distance. I haven't tried any straight clones but if there had been one that I fancied trying I would have done and if I liked it I would now be looking at buying the real deal. It's the same as mods. I tried lavatubes first as I was curious about vv and didn't want to jump straight in at the provari end. I tried, I liked and now own a couple of the big boys. Without the cheaper alternatives I wouldn't have found what I liked. As usual with vaping though, we are all different and all have our own styles and, as I've said before, that's one of the things I live about vaping and the community

 

[ZT]

Agreed, and there is nothing wrong with wanting the exclusive stuff (I have a couple myself)- I will stand by what I say tho, the lists, small release batches and serials etc are a form of marketing and branding ... Part of the purpose is to drive up desire for the object and bump the price, nothing wrong with that, but that's what it is... It's a good business model actually.

 

[Numpty]

Everything we touch is a copy of someone's idea, who owns a Hoover ?
Dyson run with it and made something quite special.

Every one here drive something by Gottlieb Daimler or Karl Benz ?

Sometimes the copies lead to innovation and affordable versions and other times nothing more than a polished turd, but for sites like this and the internet in general we would all have draws full of polished turds !!
DocVape You make some very valid and interesting points but so few people will avoid copies and clones on moral grounds it will make no difference, we live in a time of disposable quick turn over products and rapid innovation so buying a recommended clone to see what fits and then buying the original to have the quality and support structure for parts etc seems like a smart option.

I got a sig #19 and #20 , preferred the top button and bought the Roller, I would not have risked the high end option going in cold as it was my first mech, I believe there is a place for clones and sometimes a price to pay when it crumbles in your hand..