djslik Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 (edited) I bought the X-large Polaris 3 hose hookah from Social Smoke and am pleased with the customer service and quality of all the parts for the most part. The base was not as impressive as I would have liked but I can live with it. The part that I am not happy about is the bottom of the stem that sits in the water arrived with a discoloration straight from the box. The first thing I did was clean the stem with the provided brushes and the brush was snagged on a bronze colored or rust colored sliver of metal at the base of the stem. Here is a picture of the stem after only 4 bowls smoked through it. I don't even know if Social Smoke has a warranty of any sort. I was really excited about getting this hookah but am now a little disappointed in the quality. Let me know if you guys have any advice and I am sending an email to Social Smoke as we speak. Click on the picture below to see a better version but I don't think this is right for a so called stainless steel premium egyptian hookah. If I would have known this I don't think I would have gotten this model. Edited October 19, 2007 by djslik Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZenSilk Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 What am i looking at exactly? From what i see theres not much wrong. I guess it looks like calcium build up but i don't really see any rust... csn you point it out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwistedCat Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 QUOTE (ZenSilk @ Oct 19 2007, 07:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>What am i looking at exactly? From what i see theres not much wrong. I guess it looks like calcium build up but i don't really see any rust... csn you point it out?hmmm.looks like excess solder when it was made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZenSilk Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 (edited) I don't think that would effect it too much. Just a little because of smoke constriction. All Egyptians are not created equal.It looks like you keep your stem really clean though (but maybe you havnt used it ) Edited October 19, 2007 by ZenSilk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Social Smoke Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 1. The manufacturer of the stem djslik received is Magdy Zidan, there has been previous discussion about this manufacturer and they are known for quality stems. However for whatever reason the last container of Magdy Zidan hookahs we purchased did were not all 100% stainless steel downstem hookahs.2. Most likely from what I can tell in the picture, the bottom of the stem has some excess solder like TwistedCat said. In this post you'll see a similar discussion from earlier this year.http://www.hookahforum.com/index.php?showtopic=7415&hl=Anyways, djsilk I just sent you a reply email back. Please let me know what you would like to do.Ali Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allia22 Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 ...? Looks just fine to me. If you want, I can definitely show you pics of "junk" stems, although in reality they're still perfectly functional. I wouldn't suggest them at work otherwise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djslik Posted October 25, 2007 Author Share Posted October 25, 2007 Well Social Smoke does have great customer service and is willing to trade my plated stem for a non-plated steel stem. I also am getting a bunch of accessories from Social Smoke but wanted some advice on a single hose hookah for personal use. I am thinking about an Orion single hose for single quick sessions. Does anyone have any experience with that hookah. I also had a question about the bohemian bases. I want to know if the bases are frosted behind the gold paint because it looks like it is somewhat on their website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZenSilk Posted October 25, 2007 Share Posted October 25, 2007 I prefer something like a QT or Hobohookah for personal use, there's an easy cleanup, and when your buzzed carrying around a 24" or above hookah it sucks... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New2Hookah Posted October 25, 2007 Share Posted October 25, 2007 ...a little picky aren\'t we? You should read Mushrat\'s topic on \"Egyptian Quality\" or whatever it was called. He basically explains exactly what most people should understand about egyptian pieces; they are hand made so do not expect \"perfection\". You want that, go get a POS mya....seriously.Mush, maybe you can link that topic to this one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZenSilk Posted October 25, 2007 Share Posted October 25, 2007 Haha, ohh i bought an Amer actually, one hosed, but i never use it because either theres always 4 or more people over, or i am too lazy to set the huge thing all up just for myself. Preference thing. Ohh and yes, i'm picky... believe me.. i've been told. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaara Posted October 25, 2007 Share Posted October 25, 2007 Most Egyptians esp. at my local shop are like that since they're not made equal. Nothing wrong with it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterboi Posted October 25, 2007 Share Posted October 25, 2007 I really want to add an egyptian to my collection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djslik Posted October 25, 2007 Author Share Posted October 25, 2007 I'm sorry if I am picky but when I read the posts here on hookah forum about the quality of their last shipment of stainless stems being plated versus a full steel version I was immediately aware of which one I received. Here is what Social Smoke posted on this forum:Quote:We recieved the plated down stems hookahs unknowingly it as we orderedand paid for fully stainless hookah stems. To make a long story short,we have changed manufacturers to enusre that all future orders have thestainless downstems.It is very apparent which version I received and that is why I started this thread. I don't think that expecting premium quality from a "premium" hookah is too much to ask for, especially for a hookah that costs more than $100. The fact of the matter is that "stainless steel" is used in food grade washdown facilities due to its anti-rust and washdown attributes. I have seen facilities with true stainless steel that have been washed daily with caustic fluids and have not corroded or discolored. I'm sorry but the term stainless steel is very deceiving in the hookah industry and I was unaware of this until I received my hookah. Now I am perfectly fine with the hookahs from Social Smoke but I don't want a plated hookah. I didn't pay for a plated hookah. If I wanted a plated hookah I would go buy one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bushbr Posted October 25, 2007 Share Posted October 25, 2007 I'm sure they can send ya one, any company with a little respect for their customers would Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djslik Posted October 25, 2007 Author Share Posted October 25, 2007 They are a very reputable company and I am sending my stem back this week and I am also ordering the Orion as we speak. I am requesting the non plated version which I'm sure they will look for. I will be ordering more products from Social Smoke because I appreciate their customer service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bushbr Posted October 25, 2007 Share Posted October 25, 2007 QUOTE (djslik @ Oct 24 2007, 11:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>They are a very reputable company and I am sending my stem back this week and I am also ordering the Orion as we speak. I am requesting the non plated version which I'm sure they will look for. I will be ordering more products from Social Smoke because I appreciate their customer service.i've heard good and bad things about their CS, havn't had any personal experience yet, but if you want high class grade A CS... hookah-shisha.com can't be beat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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