Buying fake goods is now easier than ever. Websites listing fake merchandise, fake branded clothing and even fake vaporizers are making their way onto the black market. Vaping has soared in popularity over the past few years, which has inevitably led to counterfeit units. Those who are duplicating already established brands are finding shortcuts to fool consumers into purchasing cheaply made products that could potentially harm the consumer with continued use. 

Cheaply-made vaporizers

Knock-offs might be cheaper, but they use cheap parts to mimic the appearance and operational parts of their authentic counterparts. Unfortunately, due to the nature of these products, unit failure doesn’t just lead to the standard warranty-related inconvenience; it may be harmful to your health.

But health-related issues aside, inferior quality electronics can be dangerous in all manner of ways, especially when they’re designed to generate heat. Faulty heat regulators, LED screens and of course lithium batteries are nothing to poke fun at!

How to spot the fakes?

Spotting unauthourised vaporisers is getting trickier and trickier. They can look and in some cases even seem to function similarly to other dry herb vaporizers, so how can you navigate your way through all of this nonsense? Here’s a list of things to keep an eye out for:

Price - If the price is drastically cheaper than the average recommended retail price of the product then it’s best to investigate further. This isn’t always the case, but it can be a handy precursor.

Packaging – Fake products tend to always have slightly different packaging than the real deal. Examine the box carefully, comparing it to photos from the manufacturer’s website or even unboxing videos on YouTube can be helpful. To watch some popular Vaporizer unboxing videos, take a look at Australian Vaporizers YouTube Channel. 

Warranty – Sellers of counterfeit vapes very rarely offer a warranty, and if they do, it will only be covered for a short period of time. Always check that the advertised warranty period matches that of the manufacturer.

Serial Number – Thankfully, some vape manufacturers actually include an authenticity code on the unit’s packaging which can be checked on the official website. Even if this isn’t the case though, you can always contact the manufacturer directly with the serial number (or even some photos) to confirm its authenticity.

Bluetooth Compatibility – For units like the PAX 3 or the Crafty+, you can always try connecting the vape to your smartphone using the manufacturer’s app. In most cases, counterfeit units simply won’t connect.

Trading websites like Amazon, eBay and Gumtree are not authorized by the manufacturer. While they may let you return your item for a refund, they cannot refund your precious time. To always ensure you are getting legitimate, authentic products, buy from authourised vendors – like us – Australian Vaporizers! Explore our amazing range of authentic vapes here.