Nazamataz's LoonGTotem Review - Page 8 - e-cigarette-forum.com • The place for electronic cigarette reviews, news and chat

Mr.Darcy · 08-20-2008, 04:36 AM

yeah,youve gone beyond the call of duty on the totem Naz and Ned,good work mates,much appreciated and valuable information.

i just dont think its worth buying this generation of disposables...they need to iron out lots of problems before i'll part with my hard earned...

theyre far too expensive,you gotta deal directly with China,little taste,small nicotine doses,extortionate shipping,chance of dodgy batteries-and expensive replacements,inconsistent and overheating cart/atomisers...

i know there are some plus points too,but for me the benefits are in the minority...

i'll wait and see what comes next,i think...cheers fellas.

ned Zeppelin · 08-20-2008, 04:47 AM

Emp if you want a high-strength in cartridges they told me I would have to buy 5000 of the blighters.
As for the batteries they still have not got these right yet and the quality of the new USB Chargers is disgraceful.
So when I ordered these I also ordered 2 of their new mains USB chargers.
They sent me one of these and another which don't exist for sale on their website.
So I am miffed what the hell I'm supposed to do with this one as it will probably cost me £40 in shipping it back because they only replace but you have to pay for shipping costs.

Mr.Darcy · 08-20-2008, 04:53 AM

hmmm...i rest my case...

TheEmperorOfIceCream · 08-20-2008, 04:57 AM

Hi Ned and Mr D. What the hell are we doing up at this time of the morning? I'm gonna have to revisit that Nicotine/Insomnia thread...

Darcy, I think you're right. I want what this promises, but all the good stuff's in the cart. The rest of the kit seems to be crap.

Ned, good points also. I just won't pay to ship **** back to source. Too much of a gamble at this price point. Why can't these clowns get the basics right? We'd bite their hands off...

Emp

Nazareth · 08-20-2008, 05:50 AM

Emp I dunno- my experience is quite different than Ned's for sure. My batteries have been holding up good now for 12 days already- 100? I doubt they'll go that long- i can't even get any SmartFixx penstyle batteries to go that long

IF you get workign batteries, you can definately go 5 hours heavy smoking without refilling or messing with the carts- beleive me, I smoked the snot out of the first few cartridges I tested ,and am still smoking quite heavily- tripple-drawing all day long. For pubbin- I'd say this woudl be a great device (Unless ya pub for 20 hours straight lol)

DC said he was speaking with someone at loongtotem and they said the carts can be ordered in higher strnegths without having to buy the 5000- he's waiting for reconfiormation of htis as we speak.

The battery issue is the one big issue- kinda a crap shoot I guess, and being propritary batteries, we're stuck buyign from them

If you're not in hurry for a mini cigg- I'd wait for Greencig to come out and see how htey perform- they too are goign to be expensive, but htey just might outperform the loong, and have cheaper batteries- just wish they'd hurry up and start posting their prices so we have an idea what kind of $$ we're talkign about- Greencig claimed 200-250 puffs off one cart I beleive which would be about 1 pack worth of real ciggs vaporwise, but I'm findign I smoke about 2-3 times as much vaporwise with eciggs as I would with real ciggs, maybe even more- not sure the greencigg will keep up with me for just one cartridge per day.- will be ok if I can refill it though.

tough Call Emp- The battery crapshoot issue beign the only real downside- dunno if I and Mixos just got lucky, and Ned got unlucky, or if what Ned experienced is about 'normal' with loongtotem, and we were the exception or what. Their shipping costs just further aggravate the battery crapshoot issue.

If you were good at soldering- could always take the battery threads out and solder them onto a bigger battery lol (Which incidetly I just might try as soon as one of my batteries starts to not take a charge anymore)

Ned- Is there anyone you could talk to about trying this with one of your bad batteries? Know any mechanics or folks who can solder? Basically, it's just a matter of soldering the red wire to the middle part (the one that has hte hole through it) and the blue wire to the threaded part- the two parts are seperated by a silicon-like seperator to keep them from touching and shortign hte battery out. The hard part will be taking the threads out of the aluminum tube of both batteries without destroying hte tubes- the rest is easy enough if you can solder.

mixos · 08-20-2008, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nazareth

Emp I dunno- my experience is quite different than Ned's for sure. My batteries have been holding up good now for 12 days already- 100? I doubt they'll go that long- i can't even get any SmartFixx penstyle batteries to go that long

IF you get workign batteries, you can definately go 5 hours heavy smoking without refilling or messing with the carts- beleive me, I smoked the snot out of the first few cartridges I tested ,and am still smoking quite heavily- tripple-drawing all day long. For pubbin- I'd say this woudl be a great device (Unless ya pub for 20 hours straight lol)

DC said he was speaking with someone at loongtotem and they said the carts can be ordered in higher strnegths without having to buy the 5000- he's waiting for reconfiormation of htis as we speak.

The battery issue is the one big issue- kinda a crap shoot I guess, and being propritary batteries, we're stuck buyign from them

If you're not in hurry for a mini cigg- I'd wait for Greencig to come out and see how htey perform- they too are goign to be expensive, but htey just might outperform the loong, and have cheaper batteries- just wish they'd hurry up and start posting their prices so we have an idea what kind of $$ we're talkign about- Greencig claimed 200-250 puffs off one cart I beleive which would be about 1 pack worth of real ciggs vaporwise, but I'm findign I smoke about 2-3 times as much vaporwise with eciggs as I would with real ciggs, maybe even more- not sure the greencigg will keep up with me for just one cartridge per day.- will be ok if I can refill it though.

tough Call Emp- The battery crapshoot issue beign the only real downside- dunno if I and Mixos just got lucky, and Ned got unlucky, or if what Ned experienced is about 'normal' with loongtotem, and we were the exception or what. Their shipping costs just further aggravate the battery crapshoot issue.

If you were good at soldering- could always take the battery threads out and solder them onto a bigger battery lol (Which incidetly I just might try as soon as one of my batteries starts to not take a charge anymore)

Ned- Is there anyone you could talk to about trying this with one of your bad batteries? Know any mechanics or folks who can solder? Basically, it's just a matter of soldering the red wire to the middle part (the one that has hte hole through it) and the blue wire to the threaded part- the two parts are seperated by a silicon-like seperator to keep them from touching and shortign hte battery out. The hard part will be taking the threads out of the aluminum tube of both batteries without destroying hte tubes- the rest is easy enough if you can solder.

Naz, I gotta say im abit jealous that you are getting that type of usage out of the batteries, i get 3 Hour MAX and thats not with heavy smoking! I have overcome my crappy taste issue by adding a few drops of coffee flavouring to the cartridges, seems to make a big difference. I havent done anything about the V10 battery, because frankly i cant be bothered anymore, it seems everytime i get something i get a new problems. Im hoping that they fix the issues with the batteries. If they do i will be ordering up big!

jdrancor · 08-20-2008, 06:11 PM

Allright, I got mine in the mail. I ordered two batteries, so as to have a backup. One of the batteries did not work at ALL - not a bit!!! The other battery is working fine so far. As for the carts, the first one I tried was a dud, but the second, I got SMOKE GALORE!! it was truly spectacular. I got nicotine too, for the first hour or so. The nicotine seemed to leave, but the smoke kept coming, and it was very satisfying. Dragging on these is just like a real cigarette - you can take small little puffs, without even having to do a primer puff, and get lots of rich smoke. Flavor-wise, not so great, but I don't really like much these days for flavor. The only good flavor is Jane's 555 juice. JC juice takes second place, it's allright, but there's not a great throat hit, and the flavor just isn't strong enough. I'm rooting for JC, but they're not ready for prime time yet.

Anyhow. These loongtotems seem to be a step in the right direction, but they're too buggy still. If they were more reliable, I'd be fine with paying their prices, even with the not-so-great taste. But as it is.. I talked to them about returning the battery, and they said that they'd replace it, but that I'd have to pay there-and-back shipping. Which, at that rate, I may as well just buy a new battery from them. So that's crappy.

So, I'm waiting for the next version. OR, in a perfect world, somebody would take the design of the cartridge, make it MORE disposable, maybe with a cardboard shell rather than a stainless steel one, put a better wadding in there so that the nicotine gets used at the same rate as the PG, and pair it with a reliable battery. Regardless, I won't be ordering again until the quality control is better on these. It's a great idea, and when it works, it's a great product, but it just doesn't work as reliably as I'd like it.

For the time being, I'm sticking with my trusty rn4801. I get replacement atomizers for $7 and the batteries for $10 and both of them work consistently. It produces good smoke, has an easy draw, and I can drip whatever juice I want to in it. The main drawback is that it requires fiddling around, and that "roll your own" mentality. The loongtotem is PERFECT for somebody like my wife, who can't stand the fiddling around, and just wants to smoke a cigarette. I will be very happy when the LT model gets perfected so that she will be able to easily have a satisfying smoke.

dc2k08 · 08-20-2008, 07:15 PM

thanks for that JD. what flavour/s and strengths did you choose?

missed all the talk on the forum last night as i dropped out early but i recieved the confirmation that 'jack' will provide me with extra-high carts along with high carts. whether this proves true, who knows. From the experiences of others, customer service and integrity seem to have little attraction for loong. though i cannot choose this combination on the site, i am to let him know in an accompanying mail.

Quote:

about returning the battery, and they said that they'd replace it, but that I'd have to pay there-and-back shipping. Which, at that rate, I may as well just buy a new battery from them. So that's crappy

I asked jack what percentage of batteries are returned (he is very proud of his batteries), .09% was the answer...and i know now why this is..he rarely sees a returned battery because they come with a catch 22 return policy.

their web-site is catastrophic by the way. some prices are in euro, some in dollars and placed randomly. what makes me vomit though is that alot of links open their own new tab...(i have 10 open right now). but ranting aside, though i do not wish to deal with loong, and i get nauseous visiting their site, i really want to try the product...so it getting close to confirmation time. i just looked at the total though; $257..with $79 of that for shipping!..does it get its own air-conditioned cabin?.....im gonna have to get drunk first.

also anyone know what this does.?.its called a Mini E-cigarette Europe folding USB Adapter. there is one for US also..Do i need one for what?

Nazareth · 08-20-2008, 07:25 PM

Quote:

i just looked at the total though $257..with $79 for shipping!...im really gonna have to get drunk first

For a basic kit and 50 cartridges? Why so much? I paid $240 total- shipping included, and I ordered before their 35% off olymipcs sale- if anyone is goign to try these- now would be the time- not tryign to talk anyone into it, but I wish I'd have not learned abotu them until this months- sure coudla used the 35% off.

Anyone want to send me hteir dead batteries?

I'm goign to try to solder the threads fro mthe battery onto another battery- on paper I think this will work and should prove much easier than tryign to tap and die and machine pieces to step down or up to fit better batteries. I just need the threaded part fro mthe batteries. I still think this could work if anyoen wants to try this.

Nazareth · 08-20-2008, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Naz, I gotta say im abit jealous that you are getting that type of usage out of the batteries, i get 3 Hour MAX and thats not with heavy smoking!

Mixos, I should clarify- abotu 90% of the itme this is what I am getting- about 10% of the time, a battery will come off the charger, and even htrough the light is strong green, it only lasts for abotu 2 hours- but then the next charge, it'll be back up there in the 3+ range- not sure what is goign on there. The battery I have in right now, I stuck in the cartridge at 11:00 a.m (yes, this is what tiem I get up from sleeping lol) and it is still goign strong. I take the cigg with me to the resteraunt, and smoke it light and discretely for abotu 1/2 hour, then I start smoking much heavier after I leave hte resteraunt- so far this battery is holdign out for 3 1/2 hours- I think it might go another hour judgign by past performance- soemtimes I get one off hte charger, and it just seems to be strong for quite awhile, and again, abotu 10% of time, it just seems weak right off the charger, and makes me think "OK, battery is goign to die completely on me" but hten I'll recharge it and it seems ot work fine again. It's a wierd situation.

08-20-2008, 04:57 AM	#74
TheEmperorOfIceCream Super Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: London, UK Posts: 910	Hi Ned and Mr D. What the hell are we doing up at this time of the morning? I'm gonna have to revisit that Nicotine/Insomnia thread... Darcy, I think you're right. I want what this promises, but all the good stuff's in the cart. The rest of the kit seems to be crap. Ned, good points also. I just won't pay to ship **** back to source. Too much of a gamble at this price point. Why can't these clowns get the basics right? We'd bite their hands off... Emp __________________ Forgotten but not gone...

08-20-2008, 06:11 PM	#77
jdrancor Full Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 43	got mine.. mixed results Allright, I got mine in the mail. I ordered two batteries, so as to have a backup. One of the batteries did not work at ALL - not a bit!!! The other battery is working fine so far. As for the carts, the first one I tried was a dud, but the second, I got SMOKE GALORE!! it was truly spectacular. I got nicotine too, for the first hour or so. The nicotine seemed to leave, but the smoke kept coming, and it was very satisfying. Dragging on these is just like a real cigarette - you can take small little puffs, without even having to do a primer puff, and get lots of rich smoke. Flavor-wise, not so great, but I don't really like much these days for flavor. The only good flavor is Jane's 555 juice. JC juice takes second place, it's allright, but there's not a great throat hit, and the flavor just isn't strong enough. I'm rooting for JC, but they're not ready for prime time yet. Anyhow. These loongtotems seem to be a step in the right direction, but they're too buggy still. If they were more reliable, I'd be fine with paying their prices, even with the not-so-great taste. But as it is.. I talked to them about returning the battery, and they said that they'd replace it, but that I'd have to pay there-and-back shipping. Which, at that rate, I may as well just buy a new battery from them. So that's crappy. So, I'm waiting for the next version. OR, in a perfect world, somebody would take the design of the cartridge, make it MORE disposable, maybe with a cardboard shell rather than a stainless steel one, put a better wadding in there so that the nicotine gets used at the same rate as the PG, and pair it with a reliable battery. Regardless, I won't be ordering again until the quality control is better on these. It's a great idea, and when it works, it's a great product, but it just doesn't work as reliably as I'd like it. For the time being, I'm sticking with my trusty rn4801. I get replacement atomizers for $7 and the batteries for $10 and both of them work consistently. It produces good smoke, has an easy draw, and I can drip whatever juice I want to in it. The main drawback is that it requires fiddling around, and that "roll your own" mentality. The loongtotem is PERFECT for somebody like my wife, who can't stand the fiddling around, and just wants to smoke a cigarette. I will be very happy when the LT model gets perfected so that she will be able to easily have a satisfying smoke.

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08-20-2008, 04:36 AM	#71
Mr.Darcy Super Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: UK Posts: 1,392	yeah,youve gone beyond the call of duty on the totem Naz and Ned,good work mates,much appreciated and valuable information. i just dont think its worth buying this generation of disposables...they need to iron out lots of problems before i'll part with my hard earned... theyre far too expensive,you gotta deal directly with China,little taste,small nicotine doses,extortionate shipping,chance of dodgy batteries-and expensive replacements,inconsistent and overheating cart/atomisers... i know there are some plus points too,but for me the benefits are in the minority... i'll wait and see what comes next,i think...cheers fellas.

08-20-2008, 04:47 AM	#72
ned Zeppelin Super Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: uk Posts: 613	Emp if you want a high-strength in cartridges they told me I would have to buy 5000 of the blighters. As for the batteries they still have not got these right yet and the quality of the new USB Chargers is disgraceful. So when I ordered these I also ordered 2 of their new mains USB chargers. They sent me one of these and another which don't exist for sale on their website. So I am miffed what the hell I'm supposed to do with this one as it will probably cost me £40 in shipping it back because they only replace but you have to pay for shipping costs.

08-20-2008, 04:53 AM	#73
Mr.Darcy Super Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: UK Posts: 1,392	hmmm...i rest my case...

08-20-2008, 05:50 AM	#75
Nazareth Super Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: USA Posts: 1,302	Emp I dunno- my experience is quite different than Ned's for sure. My batteries have been holding up good now for 12 days already- 100? I doubt they'll go that long- i can't even get any SmartFixx penstyle batteries to go that long IF you get workign batteries, you can definately go 5 hours heavy smoking without refilling or messing with the carts- beleive me, I smoked the snot out of the first few cartridges I tested ,and am still smoking quite heavily- tripple-drawing all day long. For pubbin- I'd say this woudl be a great device (Unless ya pub for 20 hours straight lol) DC said he was speaking with someone at loongtotem and they said the carts can be ordered in higher strnegths without having to buy the 5000- he's waiting for reconfiormation of htis as we speak. The battery issue is the one big issue- kinda a crap shoot I guess, and being propritary batteries, we're stuck buyign from them If you're not in hurry for a mini cigg- I'd wait for Greencig to come out and see how htey perform- they too are goign to be expensive, but htey just might outperform the loong, and have cheaper batteries- just wish they'd hurry up and start posting their prices so we have an idea what kind of $$ we're talkign about- Greencig claimed 200-250 puffs off one cart I beleive which would be about 1 pack worth of real ciggs vaporwise, but I'm findign I smoke about 2-3 times as much vaporwise with eciggs as I would with real ciggs, maybe even more- not sure the greencigg will keep up with me for just one cartridge per day.- will be ok if I can refill it though. tough Call Emp- The battery crapshoot issue beign the only real downside- dunno if I and Mixos just got lucky, and Ned got unlucky, or if what Ned experienced is about 'normal' with loongtotem, and we were the exception or what. Their shipping costs just further aggravate the battery crapshoot issue. If you were good at soldering- could always take the battery threads out and solder them onto a bigger battery lol (Which incidetly I just might try as soon as one of my batteries starts to not take a charge anymore) Ned- Is there anyone you could talk to about trying this with one of your bad batteries? Know any mechanics or folks who can solder? Basically, it's just a matter of soldering the red wire to the middle part (the one that has hte hole through it) and the blue wire to the threaded part- the two parts are seperated by a silicon-like seperator to keep them from touching and shortign hte battery out. The hard part will be taking the threads out of the aluminum tube of both batteries without destroying hte tubes- the rest is easy enough if you can solder.