• Do NOT click on any vaporpedia.com links. The domain has been compromised and will attempt to infect your system. See https://fuckcombustion.com/threads/warning-vaporpedia-com-has-been-compromised.54960/.

Cheap High Quality Bubbler

BoogerMan

Well-Known Member
Yeah I just sent him a nasty little message. I'm totally on the same page as you though mate. From the start if it is going to be 4-6 weeks or something then that is fine. Most of us would still buy it. Its just these silly and unnecessary lies that bother me. All it does is reveal their true character and turns off buying.
Yep I'm feeling the same way. I would have no problem waiting a month for it. We all have enough glass to hold us over until it would get here. Just doesn't make sense to me why lying and issue fake tracking is necessary. I even told him Kathy used to do that and thats why people stopped buying from her, but now she doesn't do that anymore and many more people buy from her. It is like he wants to copy exactly what she did :bang::doh::shrug:

Let us know what he says. I wonder if we will get the truth or more lies… Maybe he will send you some "expensive" chinese tea with your order since you are so upset hahahaha :rofl:
 

flotntoke

thoroughly vaped
It does suck, and I've been wondering about actual production too. Knowing what we do about these Chinese glass vendors, I think it was a given that he would have a few ready to go - then order more as he got orders from us. This no matter what he said. I never really thought he had 100 ready to go. Kind of wonder if he had any more than the sample we saw pictures of.

So no surprises, and honestly would anyone really expect anything different in this game? Lying and making up for it (with tea, if at all) seems to be a cultural difference we just have to live with. Or, guess we could write to mobius and submit a sidecar design, beg, plead, and pre-order 100 or so at about $400/each (if they even agreed to produce - which is doubtful) - then sit and wait for the 6 - 8 weeks they would tell us about up front. Think I prefer to pay the $40, be lied to about pieces already produced and ready to ship, then wait a week or 2 more than the 10 days and expected shipping time we were told.

Think if we're really expecting anything different, we're lying to ourselves as much as Steven is. Such is life. As long as it gets here as promised within a month of expected time, I can live with it. Not like I don't have 4 or 5 other pieces to use in the meantime - all purchased for a total of less than 1/2 of what one mobius would cost.

How's that old saying go? You get what you pay for. Just glad I can get one of these instead real Mobius that functions about the same and may be of cleaner work. IMO, $350 is a hell of a price to pay for better quality control, less lies and a real Mobius label.

For what it's worth, seems like sunshinestore is the only one who doesn't play this game, and we waited how long for them to come up with this piece? Thanks again to @blankrider for setting this up, and hope no one has any ill-will towards him. Think this is all Steven and cultural differences we have to live with or pay 10x as much for our glass. OR... there is always this option, without a sidecar - when it is back in stock that is.
 

EverythingsHazy

Well-Known Member
It does suck, and I've been wondering about actual production too. Knowing what we do about these Chinese glass vendors, I think it was a given that he would have a few ready to go - then order more as he got orders from us. This no matter what he said. I never really thought he had 100 ready to go. Kind of wonder if he had any more than the sample we saw pictures of.

So no surprises, and honestly would anyone really expect anything different in this game? Lying and making up for it (with tea, if at all) seems to be a cultural difference we just have to live with. Or, guess we could write to mobius and submit a sidecar design, beg, plead, and pre-order 100 or so at about $400/each (if they even agreed to produce - which is doubtful) - then sit and wait for the 6 - 8 weeks they would tell us about up front. Think I prefer to pay the $40, be lied to about pieces already produced and ready to ship, then wait a week or 2 more than the 10 days and expected shipping time we were told.

Think if we're really expecting anything different, we're lying to ourselves as much as Steven is. Such is life. As long as it gets here as promised within a month of expected time, I can live with it. Not like I don't have 4 or 5 other pieces to use in the meantime - all purchased for a total of less than 1/2 of what one mobius would cost.

How's that old saying go? You get what you pay for. Just glad I can get one of these instead real Mobius that functions about the same and may be of cleaner work. IMO, $350 is a hell of a price to pay for better quality control, less lies and a real Mobius label.

For what it's worth, seems like sunshinestore is the only one who doesn't play this game, and we waited how long for them to come up with this piece? Thanks again to @blankrider for setting this up, and hope no one has any ill-will towards him. Think this is all Steven and cultural differences we have to live with or pay 10x as much for our glass. OR... there is always this option, without a sidecar - when it is back in stock that is.
Nobody HAS to do anything. Other sellers will pick up on custom pieces quickly and either copy them, or start taking out requests as well. No need to "settle" for anything as a consumer.
 
EverythingsHazy,
@flotntoke Yeah totally agree man. The price is still great and that is what it is all about at the end of the day. I often get next day delivery from Sunshine Store so perhaps they spoilt me. Although I did have a bad experience with them recently (communication issue). imo what we truly need to do is locate the actual glassblowers in China and not the middle man. I can go to Shenzhen pretty much any weekend and do that but I have had no luck sourcing the glassblowers and cutting out the middleman. Perhaps that is a project we can work on? We find a glassblower and I will go and meet them and see if we can do business. I don't know :shrug:
 

flotntoke

thoroughly vaped
Nobody HAS to do anything. Other sellers will pick up on custom pieces quickly and either copy them, or start taking out requests as well. No need to "settle" for anything as a consumer.

Dude... don't take this the wrong way, but if I can get a piece of glass - albeit with a few imperfections, some lies and slow shipping - for 10% of what traditional would cost me, I'm NOT settling for anything. 10% of cost - not 10% off. What I'm saying is if you want perfect shit, no lies, and instant gratification, go for it! But, be ready to pay for it. The $330 Mobius that the GB-187 is a knock off of on ALT (when in stock), would cost even more at any LHS. If anyone has issues with how the FC-187 is going so far, they should take their $400 (or more) to their LHS and pick up what they need. I'll go even one better and offer this to anyone on FC. Shop on dhGate, find what you like, and let me know. I'll gladly handle all the headaches and waiting. Just send me triple the price. I'll give a realistic arrival date and get it there on time or discount accordingly. Or, go to an LHS, find a nice Chinese piece (often labeled as made in USA), and pay the 4x dhGate price to walk out the door with it. Sorry.... I just don't see where "settle" comes into the equation here. $40 for a custom requested piece like this is unheard of.

And to be fair, I'm jumping in on the cynical (realistic?) bandwagon here. For all we know my piece (and many others) will be at the shipping point within the listed 2 days. Just saying I won't be surprised at all if it doesn't ship for another 10 or so days. What really worries me (and is bound to happen sooner or later, tho hopefully not here), is that no piece ever gets shipped. Then we may have to hire a mercenary (Mr. Gwello?) to go get our refund in person!

@flotntoke Yeah totally agree man. The price is still great and that is what it is all about at the end of the day. I often get next day delivery from Sunshine Store so perhaps they spoilt me. Although I did have a bad experience with them recently (communication issue). imo what we truly need to do is locate the actual glassblowers in China and not the middle man. I can go to Shenzhen pretty much any weekend and do that but I have had no luck sourcing the glassblowers and cutting out the middleman. Perhaps that is a project we can work on? We find a glassblower and I will go and meet them and see if we can do business. I don't know :shrug:

Man.... that would be great! But, with the way business is done there it probably wouldn't be worth it for you unless you charge the same prices (or even more) than what we're getting from dhGate. Then again, would love to see you get the profits, and am sure all would rather deal with you than some of the vendors we have now.
 

cybrguy

Putin is a War Criminal
We are all different on this stuff as we have seen. I don't buy expensive glass. The only piece I have that I've spent more than $75 for is my CGD Recycler. I wouldn't be buying the Mobius if the copy were not available. I would be buying some other inexpensive piece or I wouldn't be buying anything.

Cultural norms or not I don't respond well to being lied to. If he gives me a fake tracking number my order will probably get canceled. He can easily avoid that by not giving me a tracking number until he has a real one. This isn't something I need, it is something I want. I will wait for it as I don't have to have it now, but if he lies to me than I will need to be talked down or just go back to waiting for @yingmin5. :|
 

Mister G

Deceptively Old Fart
Isn't there some kind of DHgate rule or something that a vendor has to provide tracking info within a certain timeframe or they are penalized somehow (i thought I read that here once). Maybe I have that wrong. If that were the case, then the actual problem would be listing it way too early before they have stock, but maybe that's the only way they could judge the actual demand? Just thinking out loud. :shrug:
 

EverythingsHazy

Well-Known Member
Dude... don't take this the wrong way, but if I can get a piece of glass - albeit with a few imperfections, some lies and slow shipping - for 10% of what traditional would cost me, I'm NOT settling for anything. 10% of cost - not 10% off. What I'm saying is if you want perfect shit, no lies, and instant gratification, go for it! But, be ready to pay for it. The $330 Mobius that the GB-187 is a knock off of on ALT (when in stock), would cost even more at any LHS. If anyone has issues with how the FC-187 is going so far, they should take their $400 (or more) to their LHS and pick up what they need. I'll go even one better and offer this to anyone on FC. Shop on dhGate, find what you like, and let me know. I'll gladly handle all the headaches and waiting. Just send me triple the price. I'll give a realistic arrival date and get it there on time or discount accordingly. Or, go to an LHS, find a nice Chinese piece (often labeled as made in USA), and pay the 4x dhGate price to walk out the door with it. Sorry.... I just don't see where "settle" comes into the equation here. $40 for a custom requested piece like this is unheard of.

And to be fair, I'm jumping in on the cynical (realistic?) bandwagon here. For all we know my piece (and many others) will be at the shipping point within the listed 2 days. Just saying I won't be surprised at all if it doesn't ship for another 10 or so days. What really worries me (and is bound to happen sooner or later, tho hopefully not here), is that no piece ever gets shipped. Then we may have to hire a mercenary (Mr. Gwello?) to go get our refund in person!



Man.... that would be great! But, with the way business is done there it probably wouldn't be worth it for you unless you charge the same prices (or even more) than what we're getting from dhGate. Then again, would love to see you get the profits, and am sure all would rather deal with you than some of the vendors we have now.


To start off, I'd like to say that I wasn't directing my post towards Steven's store, but rather all sellers of anything in general. Lying is a shady business practice. Once you know someone is willing to be deceptive in one aspect, what is to say they are being honest or upfront about anything, including the quality of their pieces, and the accuracy of their customer service responses. Nobody likes to have $50+ of theirs just floating around somewhere between China and the US, regardless if the original creator of the piece is scamming people by charging several hundred when bought in the states. There is a reason the saying "the customer is always right" has come to be so popular. Sure the customer is sometimes a dumbass, but without happy customers, a vendor is nothing. Sellers only uphold themselves to the level of quality that their buyers demand.
 

tennstrong

Well-Known Member
On another note: newness? http://www.dhgate.com/store/product/new-design-bong-glass-water-pipe-have-honeycomb/215173905.html
http://www.dhgate.com/store/product/big-size-glass-water-pipe-have-two-percolater/215173353.html
This second one seems promising
big%20size%20Glass%20water%20pipe%20have%20two%20percolater%20two%20function%20for%20oil%20and%20tobacco%20best%20quality%20glass%20bong%20free%20shipping.jpg
 

flotntoke

thoroughly vaped
If you don't want to be lied to, deal with fake tracking numbers, and the rest of it, don't buy from China. This is the same whether you are buying a bubbler or Christmas lights or damned near anything else. These things, like the lesser quality control and waiting for the slow boat from China, are part of the whole deal. Not all the time - or even most of the time when you are relying on the wealth of info and experience here on FC. But, this is why things are so cheap. When you buy other crap from China - from US vendor, or even Walmart - they are jacking up the price 200-500% (and more) while dealing with the headaches and bullshit for you.

If you want that "customer is always right" experience, you have to pay for it. And, not just for stuff made in China. And, lying is not a shady business practice all over the world. In many places it is called being business-smart (often even here in US). And as for being deceptive, do you mean like making counterfeit copies of US designs and selling them for 10% of the price? I thought that's why we're all here! :lol:

There are other options. You can head over to ALT and pay hundreds, or you can go back to the first 75 or so pages of this thread before the Chinese Glass Connections were researched and chanced by a few courageous FC'ers (so thankful for them!!). There are plenty of almost as cheap pieces available that aren't nearly as elaborate (and many with thinner glass).

AFIK, buying glass like this directly from China is a fairly new thing (1 1/2 years?). There have always been other places to buy some Chinese glass, but prices weren't nearly as good. It did usually come from US vendors (who purchased in bulk from China and re-sold).

And, you can still go to iOffer or Etsy and find US sellers who are now selling many of the same pieces here. They have them in stock in US, generally don't lie or send bad tracking numbers, and get them to you quickly. Think most of them even accept PayPal. And, their stuff is still cheap - only about 2x what we pay on DHgate. Here's a nice D020 on iOffer for $55.71 that should be in stock and get to you from US to US in 3 - 5 days. Exact same piece on DHgate (ss store) is $29.13, but you won't have it for 3 weeks or so. Hell, you could probably even pick it up with an offer on iOffer of $50.

Beyond that there are still some reasonably priced US blowers you can deal with. Quality will almost always be better, and headaches usually less. One of my favorite pieces - jhanpixel UFO sidecar - is very similar to the FC-187 and can be had for less than $150. Check it out here. He is an FC member and will usually take an offer for 10% off (maybe even a little more if you mention FC). And, I'm glad to testify that it is an awesome piece!

But if you want to get decent glass at really low prices, China is the way to go. Just keep in mind you're dealing with Chinese vendors who live in a different culture and have different accepted business practices. If not, you might as well be pulling into the McD's drive thru wherever you are and tell them you want Grade A Japanese Kobe beef on your $1 double cheeseburger. You find one where they'll do that, please let us all know. And, I'm already sure everyone will share where to get solid glass with no lies or bullshit for $30 - 50 a piece. That's how this thread moves as fast as it does!
 

NickDlow

Log Hog
Well I can confirm some unfortunate news. Our man Steven has issued me a FAKE tracking number. That was 2 days ago. I just confirmed with the carrier that the number is bogus. Fuck this guy.

I've recieved two different tracking numbers for the same order before, not saying this is what's happened but give it a check. The email with the tracking number and the tracking number off the Dhgate site were different. I forgot which was correct.
 
NickDlow,
  • Like
Reactions: nihil

oli

Well-Known Member
@flotntoke Yeah totally agree man. The price is still great and that is what it is all about at the end of the day. I often get next day delivery from Sunshine Store so perhaps they spoilt me. Although I did have a bad experience with them recently (communication issue). imo what we truly need to do is locate the actual glassblowers in China and not the middle man. I can go to Shenzhen pretty much any weekend and do that but I have had no luck sourcing the glassblowers and cutting out the middleman. Perhaps that is a project we can work on? We find a glassblower and I will go and meet them and see if we can do business. I don't know :shrug:

Be interesting to know what would be the reaction of one of our vendors if you did inquire about arranging a visit of their the premises/factory in view of future deals/customs/partnership of some kind...

Just to see how they would react to the idea!
 
oli,

stickstones

Vapor concierge
@Mr. Gweilo 420 -- what an interesting idea! You may like that better than what you are currently doing for work, if you're like me.

@flotntoke -- I think your perspective is right on. Thanks for taking the time to thoroughly type out a convincing argument for it. To expect US style customer service from Chinese blowers is setting yourself up for disappointment. 'Fuhget about it' is what I did last time with the DO-20 and instead of disappointment I got a nice surprise about a month later.
 

*plainlazy*

Well-Known Member
hi guys
ive just got a e nano vape and I have a ssv and solo.
been using the ssv and enano with a d020 from dh gate which a nice little combo but looking to upgrade my WP to something maybe bigger and better. if the d020 is beginners then im looking for mid range WP.

any ideas which ones to look into from dh gate and good sellers?

would prefer a 18mm female joint.

any ideas and tips appreciated.
 
*plainlazy*,

oli

Well-Known Member
hi guys
ive just got a e nano vape and I have a ssv and solo.
been using the ssv and enano with a d020 from dh gate which a nice little combo but looking to upgrade my WP to something maybe bigger and better. if the d020 is beginners then im looking for mid range WP.

any ideas which ones to look into from dh gate and good sellers?

would prefer a 18mm female joint.

any ideas and tips appreciated.
This thread was created for that exact purpose ;)

http://fuckcombustion.com/threads/d...-you-must-post-a-review-see-first-post.15709/
 

flotntoke

thoroughly vaped
Got my shipping notice on FC-187, too! No tracking, yet.

Marsellus: You ain't got no problem, Jules. I'm on the motherfucker. Go back in there, chill them niggers out and wait for the FC-187 which should be coming directly - on a slow boat from China. :)

Might not see it by Christmas, but if we're on the up and up, I know what will be under my nano for New Year's Eve. Keeping my fingers crossed - except when checking tracking.

hi guys
ive just got a e nano vape and I have a ssv and solo.
been using the ssv and enano with a d020 from dh gate which a nice little combo but looking to upgrade my WP to something maybe bigger and better. if the d020 is beginners then im looking for mid range WP.

any ideas which ones to look into from dh gate and good sellers?

would prefer a 18mm female joint.

any ideas and tips appreciated.

Like @oli said. Plus... the GB-187 would go well with any. If you want a sidecar, I'd suggest you wait a week or so for reviews of the new FC-187 and go with it. Depending on what you're looking for, PLENTY of other options too!
 

grdwaste

Glass Psycho
Kathy straight lied to me as well but I honestly don't mind. She provided tracking info for a package the day after the order. That night I messaged her asking is she could change something or if I could purchase another adapter because I had told her male instead of female and she said yea because she hasn't shipped anything out yet! Worked out for me because she just swapped thee adapters but still. I thought it was already on the way
 
grdwaste,
  • Like
Reactions: flotntoke

snamuh

ghost
I got my shipping notice too...
It does say in the email that it will probably take 3-5 days for the tracking number to start working.
 
snamuh,
Top Bottom