Fake vapes are commonplace on the market these days, so you need to know how to spot them and why it’s important to buy from a reputable vape store instead.

Fake Vapes – Why Buy from a Reputable Vape Store?

Vaping has seen a huge rise in popularity in recent years, and there’s no denying its range of fantastic health benefits. In fact, it has been estimated to be 95% less harmful than smoking by Public Health England, and studies have found that vaping is a great way to kick the cigarette habit once and for all. 

However, along with anything that garners attention and popularity, it is soon followed by fake counterparts. Unfortunately, vapes are no exception to this rule as fake vapes have popped up on the market. Many of these devices may be low-cost and might even look legitimate, but they come with a significant risk: you can’t easily know what’s inside or where it comes from.

Elf Bar and Geek Bar are two types of disposable vapes that are copied the most, and due to the sheer popularity of these devices it’s important to be on the lookout for any nasty counterfeit disposables. So, how can you tell the difference between a genuine vape, and a counterfeit or illegal vape, and why is it important to make sure yours is legitimate? Here are some things to look out for. 

Real vapes have bigger and better flavour

A big tell-tale sign that you’re purchasing a fake Elf Bar or Geek Bar is the lack of flavour as you vape. Authenticity means a better vaping experience overall, and flavour is a big part of this experience. You may even get vapes that taste strange due to the fact that there is no regulation over the ingredients that are used in the e-liquid. 

Fake devices can make strange noises when vaping

Vape products that are counterfeit will often make strange noises once you begin vaping. This is due to improper design standards, and illegal devices can make a rattling or gurgling sound fresh out of the packet. If your new disposable sounds different to ones you’ve vaped before, this might be a sign that it’s not genuine. 

Counterfeit disposables can be dangerous

One of the biggest reasons to make sure you’re using real disposable vapes is the danger that fake ones pose. TPD regulations are in place to ensure the safety of vapers, however fake devices have not been put through any form of regulation which means that they may not be designed correctly as well as there being no checks on the ingredients used. These can pose potential health risks and dangers. 

Counterfeit Elf Bars have commonly been reported to smell like burning when being vaped. This is due to the poor design of the fake product, and this smell may be caused by a variety of things. The coil may not be wicked properly, causing the coil to burn as you drag on the vape or the coil may be burning against the plastic case of the disposable. This burning can be very harmful to inhale and should be absolutely avoided if you experience even a slight burning taste. 

Save your money

Disposable vapes are great, and the range of flavours means there’s always something new to try. If you were a heavy smoker, chances are you could be getting through 2-3 disposables a week which can amount to a fair bit of money after a while. If this money is being spent on knock-off disposable vapes it means you’re not getting the vaping experience that you deserve and your money isn’t being spent right. Purchasing real devices from authentic, trusted stores means you can guarantee you’re getting the most bang for your buck.

How do I verify whether my vape is real or fake?

Packaging

The packaging is a very big indicator of whether the vape is fake or real. All authentic disposable vapes including Elf Bar and Geek Bars come in packaging that have nicotine health warning in big bold writing – you can’t miss it. This is due to the UK TPD regulations. If your packaging doesn’t have any kind of nicotine warning on it, it’s a dud. As well as this, there should be a long ingredients list printed on the packaging. If there’s no list of ingredients, do not use the vape – there could be anything in there! 

E-liquid capacity 

UK regulations require all vape devices to have an e-liquid capacity of no more than 2ml. A key indicator that you’ve stumbled upon a fake disposable vape is that it has a 4ml tank or more, which follows regulations in different countries. As well as this, the UK regulations state that e-liquid must not contain more than 2% nicotine (20mg). While it may be tempting to opt for an illegal vape with a bigger tank capacity because this will last you longer or with a higher nicotine strength, it’s important not to do this. These illegal vapes have not undergone the rigorous safety checks that TPD compliant vapes have to undergo and you may be exposing yourself to harm by using this unchecked vape.

Design

Due to most disposables having a relatively simplistic design, it is one of the harder ways to spot a fake device. However, keep an eye out for any writing that wouldn’t normally be on the device or scratches on the body of the device. Any text that seems partially rubbed off or colour that aren’t typical of Elf Bar or Geek Bar are also signs that it may be a counterfeit vape. 

Security codes and ECID codes

You can check the authenticity of your Elf Bar or Geek Bar using the security code that comes on each box. The Elf Bar packaging has a QR code on it which can be simply scanned which will automatically take you to a page confirming its authenticity. For Geek Bars, the authenticity code is found underneath the hologram. Scratch the scratch and check part to reveal the security code. Then, simply go to Geek Bar’s website and enter this code to verify whether it is a genuine or fake disposable vape. 

You can also check what is known as an ECID code which all vaping products in the UK and EU come with. The ECID code is found on the back of the Geek Bar box whereas on the Elf Bar box it is found on the side. The MHRA is the regulatory body for everything vape related in the UK. Enter these codes on the MHRA website to check if it is a genuine product or not. 

Keep it simple – buy from a trusted vape store

Whilst trading standards are clamping down and attempting to seize as many fake devices as possible, the easiest way to ensure that you are not using any illegal devices is to purchase your vapes from a trusted vape store. Head over to Vaping 101 who sell a range of genuine vape products that promise delicious, safe vaping all round.