Some versions of the Vapor Buddy are contaminated with hazardous lead paint.

The paint on some versions of the VaporBuddy contain lead. We had a sample of the paint from the Vapor Buddy tested and the lead content was found to be 7500 mg/kg. This level is not safe for consumer products and vastly exceeds the federal limit of 600 mg/kg. Click here for the laboratory results.

By comparison, all the finishes, paints and materials used in the VaporGenie are completely lead-free.

The VaporBuddy is a knockoff imitation of the VaporGenie.

We started selling the VaporGenie in 2003.
The VaporBuddy appeared on the market in 2006.

I started making VaporGenie vaporizing pipes back in 2002. At the time, I discovered that certain porous ceramic materials reduce the temperature of an applied flame, and that this effect could be used to create a portable, inexpensive vaporizing pipe. In 2002 I filed patent applications on my discovery and took big financial risks to develop the VaporGenie product. The VaporGenie patent is now issued and enforceable (US Pat 7,434,584).

In 2006 I discovered that the VaporGenie technology had been copied by people selling the VaporBuddy. The people behind the VaporBuddy copied literature from the VG website, cut-and-paste style, and used it to describe their own product! They copied the VaporGenie design and technology, and passed it off as their own creation. They are dishonest copycats. We are now enforcing our patent against Vapor Buddy distributors and resellers. Please do not sell the Vapor Buddy product, or any other vaporizing pipe that copies our technology. We will do business with anyone that honors the VaporGenie patent.

There are two versions of the Vapor Buddy on the market. They look very similar and both are made of aluminum. One version does not vaporize properly and is nearly non-functional. The ceramic filter used in this version uses a cheap, poor quality imitation of the VaporGenie filter that does not produce adequate heat mixing and distribution. This version is an absolute a ripoff. There is another look-alike version that copies our technology more precisely, and works better.

We have recently located the VaporBuddy rip-off artists. They are located in China, and that makes it challenging (but not impossible) for us to stop them. We would like to warmly thank the VaporGenie customers who located the VaporBuddy manufacturer for us.

Please consider these reasons why you should choose VaporGenie instead of the VaporBuddy:

* We are honest, reliable and provide kind, quick customer service. We treat our customers and employees fairly and with respect. We are easy to contact through the website, and guarantee VaporGenie products for life.

*VaporBuddy has no website or contact information, aside from an email in China. How will you ever get warranty service or replacement parts? We provide (some) replacement parts for free.

*We are located in the United States and pay our workers a living wage. Most of our components (80% on a dollar cost basis) come from the US. I dont know anything specific about the working conditions of the people making the VaporBuddy, but China has a horrible reputation for mistreating workers.

* The VaporGenie is made of superior materials. All the metal parts of the VaporGenie (except the filter liner, which is chrome-plated) are stainless steel, including the bowl. The VaporGenie is lightweight. By comparison, the Vapor Buddy is much heavier because it is made of solid aluminum. The Vapor Buddy has a poor quality bowl, made from cheap brass lamp parts.

*The filter unit on the VaporBuddy becomes very hot with use, because it is made of aluminum. This is why the VaporGenie is made of wood. Wood is a good thermal insulator and so does not become hot.

* The VaporGenie has a recessed filter, which is an important design feature necessary for avoiding soot deposition on the ceramic filter. The VaporBuddy ceramic filter is not as deeply recessed, which makes it difficult to keep the flame off the ceramic; soot deposition and dirty vapor are the result.

* We were first, and went through the work and expense to obtain a patent. If you support independent inventors and entrepreneurs, and don't like dishonest scammers that steal other people's ideas, then buy the VaporGenie.

Thank you for your support!