They're actually an Ohio based company. I actually scored mine when they initially came out and I got it for a lot cheaper than that. I would say it's definitely one of the smoothest pipes I've sit. The ease of cleaning also is a plus since it keeps the flavor tastier rather than the resin buildup taste pipes usually have. Although, if you don't clean this one, it'll happen as well. My wife seems to cough a lot from a regular glass pipe, so that's another reason I gave this one a try. She definitely noticed that it didn't hit her as hard and she definitely didn't cough like she had before. I've pulled some huge rips from this thing though and choked myself out haha.