Whenever a product becomes wildly successful, it’s only a matter of time before someone tries to profit off a fake version of that product. Vapes are no exception, and there are more of them flooding the market every time you turn around. It’s not always easy to identify counterfeit vapes, but with these tips for spotting fake vapes, hopefully, it will be easier and you won’t waste your money on a knock-off product.
Purchase Only From Regulated Dispensaries
While it can be tempting to purchase that vape from your friend or from that guy you found on Craigslist because they’re offering you such a great deal, you’re playing with fire when it comes to buying a fake vape. You just don’t know what you’re going to get, even if they say it’s real or it seems like it’s a legitimate brand. A regulated dispensary is required to reveal where they sourced the vape and exactly what it contains so you know that what you’re putting in your body is safe.
Put a Non-Disposable Vape Through a Stress Test
The best way to determine if a non-disposable vape is legitimate is to test it out before you vape. Fully charge the battery, turn the temperature to its maximum setting, then turn it on and allow the battery to fully drain. Remember: don’t vape while it’s on in case it contains dangerous chemicals. While it’s on take note of any chemical smell emitted from the vape. You may smell a light chemical odour at first, but this should dissipate quickly. If you’re still smelling chemicals after 20 or 30 minutes, you should not use the vape.
Monitor the battery as it depletes to match its actual life with the advertised life. Some counterfeiters use lower quality batteries that simply don’t last as long as those put in authentic vapes. If the battery life is significantly lower than what is on the packaging or what the retailer advertised, it’s likely a fake. Either that, or the battery is defective, but in either case, you should get your money back.
The Price is Too Good to Be True
You know the old adage that you get what you pay for? It’s just as true for vapes as it is for anything else you buy. If you’ve come across a vape that is significantly cheaper than what reputable dispensaries are charging for the “same” product, it is likely a fake. Authentic vapes aren’t priced to gouge the customer. They’re priced to cover the cost of authentic ingredients and the regulation that goes with selling the real product. If someone is selling a vape at a cheap price, there’s a reason for that, and it’s not because they want to lose money.
Rather than containing 100% cannabis, the fake vape could contain solvents, heavy metals, and even synthetic cannabis. These are not good for your health or for the public’s perception of marijuana’s safety. It’s important that you not try to find the cheapest vape possible, but instead understand that your cost is directly related to the quality of the product.
Conclusion
The best advice you can get for avoiding counterfeit vapes is to never buy them off the street and to only make purchases directly from the manufacturer or an authorized retailer. All stores are required to have licencing information available to their consumers, so if you’re ever in doubt, just ask to see that information. Learning how to tell a fake vape from an authentic one will help keep you safe and the industry legal.
One of the Editors for Tech on the Go, I love covering mobile tech and social media. I also manage the reviews we cover so all the writers stay on my good side!
