A question of quality?

[Smoke_too_much]

Maybe some of you DIY folks could answer something that I've been wondering about. A lot of ejuice is sold in the $20+ range for 15ml compared to other suppliers selling it in the $5 to $12 range. Having tried both premium (expensive) juice and the cheaper stuff I have noticed a difference in quality. The components in juice VG, flavorings, and nic (I avoid PG) is pretty simple, and I would think, not have the options of too many quality variances, but obviously they do. Can anyone tell me what it is (are?) that changes from premium to cheap juice that makes the difference in quality and how much of a cost factor that is to the overall cost of a bottle of juice?

 

[subwayaznm]

Just a couple of considerations are where those products come from; two are the bases being used Kosher, and as stated earlier do your flavors come from the US or?
Just initial food for thought

 

[sofarsogood]

Maybe some of you DIY folks could answer something that I've been wondering about. A lot of ejuice is sold in the $20+ range for 15ml compared to other suppliers selling it in the $5 to $12 range. Having tried both premium (expensive) juice and the cheaper stuff I have noticed a difference in quality. The components in juice VG, flavorings, and nic (I avoid PG) is pretty simple, and I would think, not have the options of too many quality variances, but obviously they do. Can anyone tell me what it is (are?) that changes from premium to cheap juice that makes the difference in quality and how much of a cost factor that is to the overall cost of a bottle of juice?

Regardless of quality you are talking about $1 per ml in round numbers. I vape 7ml per day, 2555 ml per year. At $1 per ml that's $2555 per year. Smoking a carton a week cost me $3,000 a year. My DIY cost of ingredients is less than $30 per year, about 7 cents a day. The money saved is important. I might need it just in case I live longer.

 

[KentA]

A dead fish served by a cook would have less value than the same fish prepared by a skilled chef.

 

[Jdurand]

As a DIY guy I'll hazard a guess. It would be the flavorings, not only the origin, but the amount. Without a doubt the flavoring is the most expensive component of DIY. It would only make sense the discount juices are made with inferior or less flavoring, or both.

 

[SteveS45]

Also location plays a part in cost for e-Liquids as commercial property price ranges are a big consideration. If it is a large facility with many workers requiring insurance and operating costs are a big consideration. Yes the materials are also a factor in the cost as others have stated here.

 

[sketchness]

Maybe some of you DIY folks could answer something that I've been wondering about. A lot of ejuice is sold in the $20+ range for 15ml compared to other suppliers selling it in the $5 to $12 range. Having tried both premium (expensive) juice and the cheaper stuff I have noticed a difference in quality. The components in juice VG, flavorings, and nic (I avoid PG) is pretty simple, and I would think, not have the options of too many quality variances, but obviously they do. Can anyone tell me what it is (are?) that changes from premium to cheap juice that makes the difference in quality and how much of a cost factor that is to the overall cost of a bottle of juice?

The skill of the person compiling the recipe is the difference. The big 6 flavor makers all have quality offering and duds. The VG is all pretty similar, the nic is a consideration at higher concentrations, at 6 and lower nic is only marginally important. But not unimportant. Old stale dog smelling nic would be a problem. The three base ingredients pg/VG/nic are fairly easy to get and be nearly flavorless, which is the goal for your bases. Then it comes down to your mixing skills.

 

[Alien Traveler]

Just a couple of considerations are where those products come from; two are the bases being used Kosher, and as stated earlier do your flavors come from the US or?
Just initial food for thought

Just kosher and not halal?

 

[Alien Traveler]

Maybe some of you DIY folks could answer something that I've been wondering about. A lot of ejuice is sold in the $20+ range for 15ml compared to other suppliers selling it in the $5 to $12 range. Having tried both premium (expensive) juice and the cheaper stuff I have noticed a difference in quality. The components in juice VG, flavorings, and nic (I avoid PG) is pretty simple, and I would think, not have the options of too many quality variances, but obviously they do. Can anyone tell me what it is (are?) that changes from premium to cheap juice that makes the difference in quality and how much of a cost factor that is to the overall cost of a bottle of juice?

The main thing is packaging. Glass bottle. Nice label. Hefty price. What else a vaper needs to enjoy a ride?

 

[dannyv45]

All answers are good one's but I don't think it's a question of quality as much as business sense and charging the maximum price that the market will bear. If a business invests in successful advertising and marketing they can convince the buying public chuck steak is filet Megon.

Take flavorings for instance. I've bought expensive flavoring that were packaged in fancy bottles with extensive development and formulation information and hyped in major advertizing that I found to be weak, thin and disgusting.
But on the other hand I've bought flavoring so cheap that I think to my self "How can they even make it for that price" and it turns out to be some of the best tasting flavorings I've ever used. Those flavors come in a non discript bottle and you don't see there brand plastered all over every aspect of media advertizing likely due to a low or non existant advertizing budget. So because of that low non premium profile they know they can't get the price for there product like that big business with deep advertizing and marketing pockets.

Now don't get me wrong I'm not knocking any of this. It's just the nature of a free enterprise enviornment.

 

[Ed_C]

I've tried the "high-end" juices and I really don't see a relationship between cost and taste. I like as many, if not more of the budget juices, as compared to the expensive products and some of the latter are not to my taste at all. As sofarsogood alluded to, the cost of ingredients is not high. Yes, some people may be better at combining flavors, but I don't think it's the same a creating a fine meal. I think it's more about presentation and expectations than a real difference in quality. IMHO

 

[sofarsogood]

When I started vaping I couldn't find a store bought liquid I liked but found some I could tolerate. When I started DIY I figured out why. There was way too much flavoring in the pre mix. I put only enough flavoring in my DIY to cover the taste of the other ingredients. At that level the flavoring taste still comes through but it's never overwhelming or over done and I don't tire of it. I avoid restaurant food because it's usually overdone and it doesn't seem to matter what it cost. There is a similarity between home cooking and ecig DIY. Then DIY demolishes pre mix on price the same as it does to tobacco. Ecigs are a disruptive technology like microprocessors and the internet and cost is the main driver, not health.