no longer welcome Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 [color=#333333][font=tahoma][size=4]What do you guys think of knock off's? I don't really like them so let's give some examples. Chinese phunnels, whichever brand, knock off. 60% off the shisha out there, starbuzz knock offs. The MYA QT has been knocked off. Now the thing with many of these knock off's is that if you are going to knock off a product, why do it cheaply? Why not do it the same if not better. All the knock offs I have seen have been a ripoff to not only the originator but to the consumer. I'll tell you where I am going with this. There has been and is going to be another price increase to everything made in China, in our case here, Chinese hookahs, name brand or not. I came across a couple of hookahs that are similar to the chic and the razo, if you are familiar with MYA hookahs. However, these are the same if not better in quality. I thought for a bit and then got my pricing, significantly lower than their MYA counterparts. So, I decided what the heck, I'll try them out. They will be up on the site tomorrow, maybe even a video later. I was impressed, not so much with the hookah for personal use as they are not my style, but for the market they are aimed for. A small table top hookah with a carrying case. I, just like the next guy, dislike copies. It hurts many parts of the industry, but then it gives the consumer more options. And the people manufacturing these products could very well be one in the same. Who is at fault? Is there fault? Is it healthy competition?[/size][/font][/color] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coleman Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 I understand your being general here but we (Americans) are a society built around mimicing other nations. Now im not just talking hookah related im also talking almost everything in our society. But more on topic I have no issue with the chinese phunnel, I got mine to work great. just my 0.02 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chreees Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 If you really think about it, mostly everything is a knock-off. Every phunnel-style bowl made after the original Tangiers one is technically a knock-off, yet a majority of hookah smokers still perceive a lot of these bowls as good quality and don't even really think of them as knock-offs ( Alien phunnel, Crown phunnels). Following this logic, it's very likely that the knock-off Myas are just as good as the real deal. As Coleman said, this goes outside of the hookah market as well. Sometimes the knock-off is better than the original. I also think there will always be those people that go for the brand name. I'm kinda guilty of it myself. Tapatalk'd via iPhone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peaceman27 Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 I think a high quality knock-off can be just as good as the original. I have an off-brand eygption (actually, a no name brand) and it smokes just as well as any other hookah i've tried. It makes sense that there will be bad knock-offs, but I don't think its possible to lump them all together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Epoch Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 Quality knock offs are a pleasant rarity. If something looks and smokes as nice as another while being more affordable, then I'd want it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom1 Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 I don't agree with knock-off phunnels mainly because Eric thought of them and made them and the quality of the chinese ones are crappy. As for pipes, I don't really care as long as they don't fall apart and smoke well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheScotsman Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 When an overpriced prod gets knocked-off, I find it hard to have much sympathy for the mfgr. If someone can do it cheaper, and at a similar quality, why waste money on buying a name. Brand loyalty is cool, and all... but when it starts digging in my billfold I loose that brand loyalty fast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HookahLover25 Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 [quote name='Epoch' timestamp='1301596239' post='503671'] Quality knock offs are a pleasant rarity. If something looks and smokes as nice as another while being more affordable, then I'd want it. [/quote] I totally agree with Epoch. If the quality of the knock off product is better than the OG, then off course I'll get the knock off. I like quality products even if its extra $$ wither it's a knock off or OG as long as it's works great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Jester Posted March 31, 2011 Share Posted March 31, 2011 I have nothing against knock off's if they are good...also these hookahs you found seem good when you describe them But I learned that the more you pay, the more you get (usually) Dont attack me with Ed Hardy stuff now but getting a MYA over a cheap chinese whatever is always better Also my experience is limited to 6 hookahs but this theory should have some ground... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drozdoff Posted April 1, 2011 Share Posted April 1, 2011 For example: Ager washable hose no worse than the narbish or namoor. Ager Inhale more better in my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joytron Posted April 1, 2011 Share Posted April 1, 2011 This thread seems like an advertisement masqueraded as a discussion topic. It brings up an interesting debate but is marred by the fact the focus seems to be on the quality of two new hookahs you assumed would not sell without persuading us they were mya equivalents at a lower price. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IainUM Posted April 1, 2011 Share Posted April 1, 2011 jess, you bring up an interesting idea..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcane Posted April 1, 2011 Share Posted April 1, 2011 I'll buy whatever is better quality. Knockoff or not. Even if the ratio of price:performace is in favor of the knockoff, I'd rather have a better overall products (i.e. Golden Canary Charcoal) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilikemyusername Posted April 1, 2011 Share Posted April 1, 2011 I have absolutely no brand loyalty. There is however something to be said about thiefing someones idea. As far as I'm concerned ultimately, if it's high quality and isn't made of nickel or lead or radium I'm fine with it. Of course you should take my .02 with a grain of salt as I'm not buying any pipes any time soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rani Posted April 2, 2011 Share Posted April 2, 2011 It depends on what you consider a knock-off. If you have something unique in either form or function, patent it, copyright it, trademark it, whatever applies to your product. Then infringement is a true violation or knock-off. Patent's run out in the US after 7 years, although I believe you can renew them twice, each time for another 7 years. So if your product is reproduced after 21 years, it's not a knock-off. It's a mass produced product based on your expired patent. I would never buy a true knock off of a patented or otherwise protected item, but if it's unprotected, whether expired or just never protected in the first place, then all bets are off. 'Rani Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheScotsman Posted April 2, 2011 Share Posted April 2, 2011 [quote name='Rani' timestamp='1301712428' post='503866'] It depends on what you consider a knock-off. If you have something unique in either form or function, patent it, copyright it, trademark it, whatever applies to your product. Then infringement is a true violation or knock-off. Patent's run out in the US after 7 years, although I believe you can renew them twice, each time for another 7 years. So if your product is reproduced after 21 years, it's not a knock-off. It's a mass produced product based on your expired patent. I would never buy a true knock off of a patented or otherwise protected item, but if it's unprotected, whether expired or just never protected in the first place, then all bets are off. 'Rani [/quote] Term of patent is generally 20 years, UM will be 6-10 years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilikemyusername Posted April 2, 2011 Share Posted April 2, 2011 Drug patents are 7 years. Are generics knock offs? interesting... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antouwan Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 i'm not a fan of knockoffs simply because the companies pour money into R&D and then for other companies who didn't spend the time and money researching the techniques and technology to make the products work for another company to come and profit simply by deconstruct a product. lame, imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rj_skillz Posted April 3, 2011 Share Posted April 3, 2011 (edited) Hmm..the Alien can be seen as a Knock Off of the original Tangiers Phunnel... but you still see people using them ..same with CH NATS? I agree with Jay(arcane) here to say that I will use something because of it's quality..whether its a knock off or not depending on price:performance ratio Edited April 3, 2011 by rj_skillz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HubertLovesMagdyZidan Posted April 4, 2011 Share Posted April 4, 2011 [quote name='rj_skillz' timestamp='1301848716' post='503999'] Hmm..the Alien can be seen as a Knock Off of the original Tangiers Phunnel... but you still see people using them ..same with CH NATS? I agree with Jay(arcane) here to say that I will use something because of it's quality..whether its a knock off or not depending on price:performance ratio [/quote] I also don't see the Alien as a knockoff because it was approved by the original creator on top of its quality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
king_lunchb0x Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 quality is better the brand loyalty for me. most of the time the quality one is the better brand and will cost more. good knock-offs are few and far between. So most of us who try out a knock off product get those shitty ones that are floating around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
no longer welcome Posted April 11, 2011 Author Share Posted April 11, 2011 [quote name='joytron' timestamp='1301674423' post='503781'] This thread seems like an advertisement masqueraded as a discussion topic. It brings up an interesting debate but is marred by the fact the focus seems to be on the quality of two new hookahs you assumed would not sell without persuading us they were mya equivalents at a lower price. [/quote] good point. i was going to bring more feedback since i have used it for the past week, but DO NOT want to be perceived as this above. i'll keep quiet in this thread since it's a real grey area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
no longer welcome Posted April 11, 2011 Author Share Posted April 11, 2011 [quote name='HookahJohn' timestamp='1302527157' post='504973'] [quote name='joytron' timestamp='1301674423' post='503781'] This thread seems like an advertisement masqueraded as a discussion topic. It brings up an interesting debate but is marred by the fact the focus seems to be on the quality of two new hookahs you assumed would not sell without persuading us they were mya equivalents at a lower price. [/quote] good point. i was going to bring more feedback since i have used it for the past week, but DO NOT want to be perceived as this above. i'll keep quiet in this thread since it's a real grey area. [/quote] i would like to add that it's not purposeful advertising. i have 3 other new products added in the last month that i never mentioned in any thread, even in appropriate advertising sections. this product however is one that caught my eye that i could share on a personal level. you guys know i'm a km or syrian hookah person, but just got back from a week long vacation and tested out this hookah on a daily/nightly basis. i won't review it since the comment was made above, and i know joytron isn't flat out accusing me of anything, he just brought up a good point. i did take some video footage of it and may put it online later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jordan Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 Copying an "Original" design or a patent idea (invention) specially by other countries' manufacturers is illegal and unethical. Having said that I really doubt MYA's hookahs are original ideas or a patent design. IMO, and somebody here can correct me if I'm wrong, they are OEM products and from the looks of it a very popular design in machine-made Chinese mass produced hookahs. Yeah, I know the quality is better than the average chinese but selling them for $150+ in the US is BS given the fact that the same products sells for around $20-25 in the MiddleEast.. So my point is if another company decides to take the same product from the same Chinese factory , slap their name on it and sell it for half price then I would have no problem buying it.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UltimateHookah Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 It does seem like alot of hookahs from China have already done this in the past. It's just many of them aren't as recognizable as names. Some like mitsuba, and habibi, and others I can't remember off the top of my head. Many of those brands have a "junior" hookah that they call just that. imagine if you could do that with the ipad, it just doesn't work that way in other industries. there have been other mya copies in the past that actually would use the name "QT", however, they were alot inferior. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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