Disposable e-cigarettes are all the rage. Millions of e-cigarette enthusiasts around the world love these small e-cigarettes because they are convenient and stylish. They are easy to use and you don't have to worry about losing one when you go out.
But the success of disposable products has not gone unnoticed by counterfeiters. You don’t have to look far to find counterfeit Elf Bars, Geek Bars, SKE Crystal Bars, Relx or any of the popular disposable brands.
What’s the problem with counterfeit disposables?
Counterfeiters don't care about quality or safety. Fake disposables are not tested. Using them can be dangerous and put your health at risk.
Many e-cigarette users who mistakenly bought counterfeit e-cigarettes reported feeling nauseous or suffering migraines after using the devices. Others experienced blurred vision and breathing problems.
Even worse, counterfeit e-cigarettes taste terrible and may contain more nicotine than stated on the packaging. You may find that the nicotine level is not enough to relieve your cravings, or that the nicotine level is much higher than stated on the label.
Substandard devices could leave a bad impression on new vapers and cause them to return to smoking.
How to identify counterfeit disposable products?
Unfortunately, disposable e-cigarettes are relatively simple, making them easier and cheaper to copy than more complex devices. However, it is possible to spot counterfeit e-cigarettes.
Check the packaging
Most counterfeit e-cigarettes come in very poor quality packaging, making them easy to spot. For example, Geek Bar boxes are laminated, while counterfeit Geek Bar boxes are not. In addition, there are strict regulations for the packaging of e-cigarette products, which counterfeit products often do not adhere to. The packaging must be printed with a clear ingredient list, best before date, and nicotine warning. If any or all of this required information is missing, the disposable e-cigarette is counterfeit.
You should also check the packaging for spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, and translation errors. Reputable brands will ensure that their packaging is error-free.
Serial number and barcode
All genuine products have serial numbers. If you have any questions about your e-cigarette, you can email the manufacturer to verify the product.
Authentic disposable e-cigarettes will have at least one barcode on their packaging. For example, Elf Bar products have an EAN barcode (International Article Number) located on the side of the box. Geek Bar products have multiple barcodes. On the newest packaging, the EAN barcode is printed on the bottom cover. Counterfeit Geek Bar products may have an EAN barcode, but will often lack the adjacent expiration date and serial number barcodes.
The EAN barcodes printed on disposable e-cigarette packs are EAN-8 barcodes. These barcodes are shorter than the standard EAN-13 barcodes and were developed for use on small packages.
Holographic stickers
Leading brands strive to stay ahead of counterfeiters and therefore incorporate various features into their packaging to allow users to verify the authenticity of their products. These features vary from brand to brand. Always check the brand website to determine what forms of verification should appear on the packaging and how to use them.
Many brands, including Elf Bar and Geek Bar, offer disposables with authentication stickers on their packaging. These stickers may have a QR code on them that you can scan to access the brand's verification page. Many stickers will have holograms and/or parts on them that you can scratch off to reveal a security code that you can then enter on the brand's verification page.
Counterfeiters may try to replicate holographic stickers, but the actual hologram often does not exist.
While the security features employed vary from brand to brand, it is quick and easy to determine what they are by searching online, thus identifying a counterfeit product.
Take a closer look at the equipment
If you've already thrown away the device's packaging before you start to become suspicious of the product, you can still inspect the disposable product itself.
At first glance, counterfeit disposable e-cigarettes may look identical to the real thing. But if you look closely, you should be able to spot the difference. Find pictures of the real thing online and compare them to the e-cigarette you purchased.
If your device looks poorly assembled or has incomplete lettering and faded colors, it could be a fake.
Beware of strange noises
Genuine devices operate smoothly and make very little noise. Any sound will sound like a deep breath through open lips. Counterfeit disposable devices, on the other hand, will sound much harsher and make a clicking sound.
Think about the taste
If you notice a strange smell on a disposable e-cigarette, it may be a fake. Fake e-cigarettes may taste bitter or even disgusting. You may feel nauseous or dizzy after just a few puffs. If you feel the taste is wrong, stop using the e-cigarette immediately.
Don’t Ignore Bad Odors
Counterfeit e-cigarettes often have an unpleasant odor. If you smell burning plastic or smoke, stop using disposable e-cigarettes. These unpleasant odors are often caused by poor e-cigarette construction causing the coil to burn through the plastic casing of the e-cigarette pen. A burnt smell can also be the result of substandard e-liquid quality.
How to avoid buying counterfeit disposable e-cigarettes?
It can be seen that it is relatively easy to identify counterfeit products after purchasing disposable sanitary napkins. But how can you avoid wasting money?
Buy from a legitimate retailer
Always buy e-cigarette products directly from an authorized dealer. Check that the legal address and contact information on the store's website are true. Determine if the retailer offers a warranty on the products it sells. Check reviews for the store.
Consider the price
A low price can be a telltale sign of a counterfeit product, so if you see a price on a disposable that seems too low to be true, you should be cautious about investing in an e-cigarette. There may be a legitimate reason for the low price, and it is always worth checking what this may be. But generally speaking, a very cheap price means a poor quality item that could be dangerous.
Can any e-cigarette hardware be counterfeit?
Yes! You may find counterfeit versions of any vaping hardware, including tanks, mods, and cartridge systems. Fortunately, you can verify the authenticity of branded hardware by visiting the manufacturer's verification page.
While all e-cigarette hardware is susceptible to counterfeiting, disposable e-cigarettes are a popular choice for counterfeiters due to their ease of use and popularity. Disposable e-cigarettes are an expensive option for e-cigarette users in the long run because you need to buy a large number of them. This also makes them a prime target for counterfeiters.
Counterfeit e-cigarettes are common, but they can be easily avoided as long as you choose a trusted e-cigarette retailer. At Vapekit, we only offer genuine brand disposable e-cigarettes. If you are looking to buy e-cigarettes at the lowest price, please check out our multi-buy offers and specials.