I've Got A Bone To Pick With Km

[Bookworm]

The KM ultimate hose, as many of you know, is one of the best pulling and best feeling hoses that one can obtain. However, I've recent;y been having problems with my KMU, where the "handle" near the base was sagging and crimping, causing MAJOR airflow restriction. The problem compounded quickly, and the hose soon became unusable, so I decided to cut the problem handle off.

My first impression was that the handle was made of cardboard, however, I found out that it was made of ROLLED UP SCRAP PAPER. Sea turtles, starfish, random advertisements were rolled up together to make one of the "best" hoses around! On top of that, the hose handle, more than 24 hours after disassembly was still moist, which means that for a regular user, their hose is likely continuously damp and therefore degrading.

Inside, the hose was in fact made of some VERY thin leather, lined with something that looks like gold mylar and a metal spring.

Overall, I am VERY disappointed with this hose, and will NOT be purchasing another, despite how nicely it smoked. At this point I may even become a third HF member to produce their own line of hoses, simply to make a well handled hose that's got a handle that won't fall apart. I may reuse the hose in the construction of prototypes, but that was the best part of the hose by far.

Pics:

[Nikon1323]

holy crap man that sucks..... i just got my first km and the hose on it is awesome its so wide i get awesome hits....but things like this make me feel better that i have 4 nammor hoses

[mattarios2]

nice on the post, but this is old news ...

http://www.hookahforum.com/?showtopic=23017

i didnt quite show the pics of the newspaper and what not, but the materials used from km and what not has been discussed before on the forum.

[Bookworm]

nice on the post, but this is old news ...

http://www.hookahforum.com/?showtopic=23017

i didnt quite show the pics of the newspaper and what not, but the materials used from km and what not has been discussed before on the forum.

you didn't read my post at all. I knew the hose wasn't washable and never once tried to wash it. The hose quality is perfect and doesn't need to be washed. It's the HANDLE that's bullshit. SCRAP PAPER is rolled up to make the handles. Scraps of random paper? I'm sorry but NO commercial product should be made of material that poor.

[mattarios2]

i did read your post, my link wasn't to show that the hose isn't washable, it was just to show u that i took mine apart, and found it to be made of the same bullshit newspaper and what not.

if u see in my first pic, the inner wrapping is something like a coca cola ad or some other company. The third pic shows the end of the handle to be made of cardboard (the white handle)

They are made in egypt ... they use whatever they can find or get a-hold of.

[MechAnt]

You have to consider this. The people making this are relatively poor and cannot afford the best materials all the time. They use whatever they can find and make something of it to make a living. An old member here reported their KM or whatever egyptian was actually made from an old gas line.

Don't blame the makers, blame the vendors and their price gouging

[Bookworm]

that's the only picture of the handle in your post, in which it actually looks nice. There's not a single mention of the handle material in your thread once. Maybe you made a different thread about the handle, but it's not discussed in the link you posted.

[Scalliwag]

Damn... well, nobody can say they are not trying to do their part in recycling

[mattarios2]

that's the only picture of the handle in your post, in which it actually looks nice. There's not a single mention of the handle material in your thread once. Maybe you made a different thread about the handle, but it's not discussed in the link you posted.

I beleive i said in my OG post that i didn't quite show the newspaper or anything ... that pic just shows that the handle is made of cardboard ... like i said originally.

On topic ... the newspaper and all that dealio is not new, like mechant said ... these people are relatively poor, they use what they can find.

and i referred u 2 my post just to show that other materials are used, even though the ad for coca cola or whatever wasn't in the handle it was in the hose, was just showing that they use that shit on all of their hoses in many parts of their hoses.

[Bookworm]

that's the only picture of the handle in your post, in which it actually looks nice. There's not a single mention of the handle material in your thread once. Maybe you made a different thread about the handle, but it's not discussed in the link you posted.

I beleive i said in my OG post that i didn't quite show the newspaper or anything ... that pic just shows that the handle is made of cardboard ... like i said originally.

On topic ... the newspaper and all that dealio is not new, like mechant said ... these people are relatively poor, they use what they can find.

and i referred u 2 my post just to show that other materials are used, even though the ad for coca cola or whatever wasn't in the handle it was in the hose, was just showing that they use that shit on all of their hoses in many parts of their hoses.

That is true, I just feel that the top of the line product from a top of the line company shouldn't be made from scraps. I wouldn't consider this a "quality" product, and will probably never buy a KM product, certainly not a hose, because of this.

[4d1ct3d]

I have to say this is terrible! Hoses that are sold at a 20 usd mark which are made of cardbord and random advertising paper?!

I understand that the people who make them might be poor and all but the truth is that they are advertised as "true leather hoses" and not "cardbord with a little bit of leather hoses".

I think the consumer should be protected from false advertising and people who notice this problem in their hoses should be compensated by whoever sold them.

[mattarios2]

that's the only picture of the handle in your post, in which it actually looks nice. There's not a single mention of the handle material in your thread once. Maybe you made a different thread about the handle, but it's not discussed in the link you posted.

I beleive i said in my OG post that i didn't quite show the newspaper or anything ... that pic just shows that the handle is made of cardboard ... like i said originally.

On topic ... the newspaper and all that dealio is not new, like mechant said ... these people are relatively poor, they use what they can find.

and i referred u 2 my post just to show that other materials are used, even though the ad for coca cola or whatever wasn't in the handle it was in the hose, was just showing that they use that shit on all of their hoses in many parts of their hoses.

That is true, I just feel that the top of the line product from a top of the line company shouldn't be made from scraps. I wouldn't consider this a "quality" product, and will probably never buy a KM product, certainly not a hose, because of this.

i feel you, i know what you mean.

I have to say this is terrible! Hoses that are sold at a 20 usd mark which are made of cardbord and random advertising paper?!

I understand that the people who make them might be poor and all but the truth is that they are advertised as "true leather hoses" and not "cardbord with a little bit of leather hoses".

I think the consumer should be protected from false advertising and people who notice this problem in their hoses should be compensated by whoever sold them.

yah, like mechant said once again, yell at the people who import these products, jack up the prices, sells them to vendors, and causes the vendors to raise the prices even more so they can profit.

[mustang_steve]

The spring/mylar inner hose is normal....my H-S Syrian hose was made this way, my friend's China hose was made this way...and a Mya hose was made this way.

Thin leather over the hose itself is normal as well.

The paper....not normal...that's a bit of B.S.

My KM standard (rainbow thread wrapped) is made of a hollow metal tube with the hose running inside of it to the mouthpiece. It may be dent-prone, but it works nicely. The plastic ends have the hose pushed over the ends of them and then glued into place...that's what the "wristbands" on the base KMs are for, to cover that mess up.

[shisharob777]

made in egypt, one of the poorest countries in the world, nothing made there is the best quality

[ammoura1]

If you guys see any somewhat aluminum rapping, its candy bar wrapping! Its arabic candy bar wrapping. I was chocked when I saw that. Seriously, a 30$ hose with paper and candy bar wrapping....I am just not sold anymore. I stick to my nammor. I usually rework the fittings and it ends up working perfectly.

[erufiku]

Lighten up... it's just the handle. When I opened my KMU I actually found it hilarious that they'd use newspaper to make the handles. Anyway I agree with you, it's a dick move of KM to charge that much for their hoses, cause they probably pay pennies to the people who make them.

[delSol_si]

I have to say this is terrible! Hoses that are sold at a 20 usd mark which are made of cardbord and random advertising paper?!

I understand that the people who make them might be poor and all but the truth is that they are advertised as "true leather hoses" and not "cardbord with a little bit of leather hoses".

I think the consumer should be protected from false advertising and people who notice this problem in their hoses should be compensated by whoever sold them.

+1
I am all for recycling, but this is taking it a bit too far. I don't mind them making them out of trash, but at least let the people buying them know ahead of time what they are buying, that way they can decide whether it is worth the $20 or not.

I have one of the leather wrapped KM Supreme hoses(I am assuming that is what it is, it came with my hookah buy looks identical). It has been a super hose until just recently. I was doing my routine air tight check on my hookah to make sure there were no leaks. I had already put my hose on the hookah and didn't feel like taking it back off, so I just sucked through the hose while putting my finger over the bowl hole. It was leaking. I took the hose off and sucked on the port itself and it was air tight.

I then took the hose and put one finger on one end and sucked in on the other, to my disappointment, the hose has a leak somewhere and it is not washable so I have no idea how to figure out where it is leaking. Plus, the leather is starting to come apart, and I've had some issues with my KM hookah as well. Even though I still get AMAZING sessions out of both of them, my opinion of KM is going down fast.

I think the next hoses I will purchase will probably be the new Roka introduced by cotsi and NarghileNights and Scallis new hose.

[speel]

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[ilikemyusername]

Damn... well, nobody can say they are not trying to do their part in recycling

no doubt, this is the most heartfelt "+1" i've ever given...+1 scalli.

that's the only picture of the handle in your post, in which it actually looks nice. There's not a single mention of the handle material in your thread once. Maybe you made a different thread about the handle, but it's not discussed in the link you posted.

I beleive i said in my OG post that i didn't quite show the newspaper or anything ... that pic just shows that the handle is made of cardboard ... like i said originally.

On topic ... the newspaper and all that dealio is not new, like mechant said ... these people are relatively poor, they use what they can find.

and i referred u 2 my post just to show that other materials are used, even though the ad for coca cola or whatever wasn't in the handle it was in the hose, was just showing that they use that shit on all of their hoses in many parts of their hoses.

That is true, I just feel that the top of the line product from a top of the line company shouldn't be made from scraps. I wouldn't consider this a "quality" product, and will probably never buy a KM product, certainly not a hose, because of this.

umm... where did the rumor of km being a top of the line hookah company start? i remember someone on here who's pipe was made out of a beer keg, and still had the label that was stamped into the keg on the tray.
yeah, sure they're good... but i wonder what will i see when i pull apart my MZ hose?

[shisharob777]

KM isnt charging 30 dollars for it, compare the prices with the ones in egypt, 110$ KM in US would only be like 20$ in Egypt, same thing for hose, importing them costs allot of money.

[Capt. Morgan]

Damn... well, nobody can say they are not trying to do their part in recycling

no doubt, this is the most heartfelt "+1" i've ever given...+1 scalli.

that's the only picture of the handle in your post, in which it actually looks nice. There's not a single mention of the handle material in your thread once. Maybe you made a different thread about the handle, but it's not discussed in the link you posted.

I beleive i said in my OG post that i didn't quite show the newspaper or anything ... that pic just shows that the handle is made of cardboard ... like i said originally.

On topic ... the newspaper and all that dealio is not new, like mechant said ... these people are relatively poor, they use what they can find.

and i referred u 2 my post just to show that other materials are used, even though the ad for coca cola or whatever wasn't in the handle it was in the hose, was just showing that they use that shit on all of their hoses in many parts of their hoses.

That is true, I just feel that the top of the line product from a top of the line company shouldn't be made from scraps. I wouldn't consider this a "quality" product, and will probably never buy a KM product, certainly not a hose, because of this.

umm... where did the rumor of km being a top of the line hookah company start? i remember someone on here who's pipe was made out of a beer keg, and still had the label that was stamped into the keg on the tray.
yeah, sure they're good... but i wonder what will i see when i pull apart my MZ hose?

Pulled my MZ hose apart to use the tips for a homemade hose. Just a standard hose, nothing humorous inside.

I can understand and respect using the materials you have to make something work. But when you are a company and selling a product, that's just ridiculous and unacceptable to me. Edited May 15, 2009 by Capt. Morgan

[Giant Ninja Robot]

Don't blame the makers, blame the vendors and their price gouging

Truest statement in this thread. Now stop reading this and go buy some expensive name brand shoes for 150 dollars that cost pennies to make So long as we pay for it, they'll charge for it.

KM isnt charging 30 dollars for it, compare the prices with the ones in egypt, 110$ KM in US would only be like 20$ in Egypt, same thing for hose, importing them costs allot of money.

I HIGHLY doubt it costs much of anything to import them. It's, again, because we'll pay so damn much. Why charge less?

On the other hand when things are expensive, miserly cheapos like me feel way cool when we find deals

[4d1ct3d]

Well, maybe people pay that much for them because they are supposed to be "leather, high quality hoses".

I, for instance, was thinking about getting myself a km hose, as I thought I would be getting a good quality lasting product. After seeing they are actually made of paper I doubt I ever will.

[MechAnt]

From what I've gathered in all my experience on the forum, after importing costs and the like, a curretly $100 KM is something like $50. So with a fairly hefty markup, our prices today!

[ammoura1]

I forgot to mention: The candy bar wrapping I was talking about, well, its the wrapping around the metal coil INSIDE the hose. Feel free to open a hose to see it. I did....3 times...