For all you e-cigar users

**garyl43** · 05-23-2008, 04:22 PM

How do the e-cigars fare as compared to the smaller pen style e-cigs? Seems that battery and cartridge life on the smaller e-cigs is pretty dismal (along with the failure rate :o ). Are e-cigars more reliable? Do the cartridges and batteries (mainly batteries) last significantly longer? I like the idea of being able to buy some decent batteries (that aren't part of the device) and a charger that I won't have to baby sit. I'm not concerned with the size, I just want something that I won't have to plan my day around

. I've been looking at the Ruyan and the Crown7 and they look the same (maybe even compatible cartridges?) but I don't know if they are the same. I would prefer to buy locallly in the US but if the Ruyan is higher quality then I'm willing to deal with customs 8-) . Also, what size batteries do the cigars use? Thanks in advance guys and gals!

**TropicalBob** · 05-23-2008, 04:52 PM

The more you read here, Gary, the more you'll realize how difficult it is to make a flat statement. No one can say, with assurance, that the e-cigar you order is going to fit your use and needs. The quality is so variable -- even from vaunted Ruyan -- that you're best buying something close to home, something that is backed by a seller you trust. Odds are almost even you'll get a dud no matter where you buy.

That said, my second e-device purchase last January was a $34 automatic e-cigar from DealExtreme -- shipping included. I've used it daily, nearly constantly, for four months. I like it. I experiment with it, and it continues to pump out vapor. It's no more trouble than a cell phone. Just about the last thing I do each night is plug in my cell phone to its charger. I do the same with an e-cigar battery. One battery easily lasts all day. I switch out each night and let one recharge overnight. I've never had a battery issue.

I have recently acquired a pen style e-cig from Meltrex, however, that blows away everything I've tried or even seen on video. It's the one RatindaHat demos in his videos. Fantastic vapor production. Good battery life and good cartridge life (although I'm a flavor mixer and refill guy, so I don't expect to be buying cartridges). This is light years ahead of my first e-pipe, and better than the e-cigar (I had a complete failure with a mini cig; the thing is worthless junk).

I do wish I could tell you flatly: Go buy a fill-in-the-blank. Can't do it. Can say I've been blessed with good usage and customer service with my e-cigar from DealExtreme. Good luck.

**garyl43** · 05-23-2008, 05:09 PM

Thanks TB! I almost PM'd you 'cause I saw in another thread that you used an e-cigar. Yeah,I know from what I've researched so far that this habit/hobby

is pretty much hit and miss, I'm just trying to turn the odds my way as much as possible

. The battery life and batteries being seperate from the device seems like it would be a big plus with the e-cigars.

**trog100** · 05-23-2008, 09:27 PM

the cheap c-cig cigarillos work nice from china.. i have just recieved four of them plus the obligatory if u have any sense spare atomizers and batteries..

they still caught me out thow.. both cheapo chargers died on me the first day.. he he

think no after sales service.. china is too far away.. shipping costs too much to replace the odd failed part.. the cheap slow boat from china takes way to long..

i have ordered a decent charger from china (cost more than the entire cigarillo kit) but all way around except they dont look like a cigarette the cigarillos win out.. cheaper but still not powerfull enough batteries.. cheaper carts.. the same as the basic e cig ones.. they hold twice as much as the mini cigs and cost the same..

i have some pipes plus spare atomizers and batteries coming.. if u can tolerate being seen smoking a pipe they are the best option.. bigger batteries and bigger (twice the size) carts.. ultimately tho i will end up making my own that dosnt need to look at all like tobacco product.. just a box with tube to suck thru..

trog

ps.. there is no real gain from the cigar.. they use the same (cheap chinese rubbish) batteries as the smaller cigarillos.. and the carts hold about the same..

**TropicalBob** · 05-24-2008, 02:56 AM

Have you ever tried the e-pipe? I've had an E-Cig pipe since early Janaury .. and it sucks. It never has produced decent vapor. You can pour the whole bottle of liquid on the atomizer and it still doesn't do diddly. Full battery charge, wet atomizer and soaked cartridge = teensy weensy puff of vapor. Ever watched the YouTube video of knutselpeter or whatever his name is smoking an e-pipe? He turns blue producing that itsy-bitsy vapor puff. I do NOT recommend the e-pipe. It might work if I jump start it from my car battery. Otherwise, forget it.

You want something that works? Shell out the money to buy a pen style like the one Meltrex sells on myecig.com. Now, that works. Or buy an Njoy. Or a Crown 7. In four months of e-smoking, I've had my fill of failed parts and sellers on the other side of the globe. What kind of philosophy is "buy spare parts"? How about, give me a working unit that I paid for!

My e-pipe is second fiddle in all respects to the rock bottom cheapo e-cigar sold by DealExtreme. Great American company to deal with, too, when things go wrong. And things will go wrong. BYW: I'll never deal with E-Cig again because of being robbed on an order of a 50ml liquid bottle last time around. They have ZERO customer service skills. Order from them and your time will come ...

**garyl43** · 05-24-2008, 05:01 PM

I haven't tried the e-pipe yet, I just sarted yesterday. I got my first e-cig (Crown7 pen-type) Thursday and it was pretty much DOA. I charged 1 battery and got about 2 hours very light use. I charged the second battery and got 1 drag off it and all the lights went out...no nothing (Friday morning). I charged the first battery again for 3 hours figuring the other was just a bad unit.....nothing. Dead as a doornail

. That's when I started this thread. I had my back-up e-cig from e-cig-sales Ebay show up yesterday shortly after. The battery is still going strong this morning and I haven't charged it yet! So far I am very happy with it

! I will get hold of Ron at Crown7 and see if he will exchange the faulty unit for one of his e-cigars. I'll keep you posted!

**trog100** · 05-25-2008, 02:21 AM

i have two e-pipe kits coming from e-cig.. with four spare atomizers.. and four spare batteries.. thats six atomizers in all and eight batteries.. to be split over three heavy smoking users.. so i will soon be in a position to pass genuine judgment.. trying one isnt enough..

ruyan pipe 330 dollars.. e-cig pipe 40 dollars.. praps the extra 290 dollars helps with the good after sales service.. he he he

i will soon know how good the e-cig pipes really are..

the very cheap cigarillos work nicely.. the mini-cigs dont work very well smoke wise.. thats from testing four seperate cigarillos.. and four seperate mini-cigs..

tho the guy i sold my (not enough smoke for me) e-cig minies to is happy with them.. he is trying to kick the habit and dosnt want tons of smoke like i do.. he says they have cut his twenty a day habit down to five..

but i think they will change the design of their mini-cig.. it isnt very good.. but then again its fairly recent..

passing judgment on one kit dosnt really mean all that much.. but i only buy from china cos for me there really isnt any other sensible option as yet..

as for after sales.. well paying super cheap chinese prices and when shipping costs more than the spare part it has to be allowed for in the initial purchase.. in other words dont expect any.. unless of course one pays six times the price in the first place.. then expect ass kissingly good after sales.. after all it has been paid for up front needed or not..

actually charging rip-off prices and giving good after sales service for a not entirely reliable product seems the safest option.. odd to me bit it seems to be true..

trog