Anyone notice the convenience store e-cig stuff is improving?

[sofarsogood]

In the year I've been vaping the several vape shops I've visited recently say they start a lot fewer newbies than they used to and make their money selling e liquid to regulars. Are the newbies finding more to buy at the convenience stores? The vape shops don't like to sell starter rigs for less than $100. May be that's why they see fewer newbies.

In the mean time started DIY last August. It costs 1 cent per ml plus flavor and may be the flavor costs another penny per ml or less. How long can the pre mix business stand up to that?

 

[JMarca]

From 2012 the year I started vaping to now 2016 I've seen very little if any innovation in convenience store / gas station cigalikes.

However if I look back from then till now from de-bridging cartomizers, to lipton tea bag mods, to genesis style atomizers,to drippers, and RTAs (could go on and on) of today... I know where I want to be.

 

[crxess]

For the person to lazy to fill a Carto or press a button.

At least it might make a slightly better stepping of point for Smokers looking ot transition. That is about where it ends.
Proprietary Always = more expensive, limited Choice.

 

[sincerelysasquatch]

For the person to lazy to fill a Carto or press a button.

At least it might make a slightly better stepping of point for Smokers looking ot transition. That is about where it ends.
Proprietary Always = more expensive, limited Choice.

I think there is something neat about this thing. I think the draw instead of manual operation might satisfy some people who are fresh from cigs, and the tank gives them the option to customize with different liquids. The other cool thing that is smart on mistic's end is that the tank works on other cig-a-like batteries, currently blu and one other, and they are increasing compatibility this year. So if you aren't really into the hobby end and have a blu or whatever, you can just buy the mistic bridge tank and try some other liquids.
I think it's a neat little gadget. Walgreens' sale ends tonight but the bridge "kit" is on mistic's website on sale for $10, tanks for $5. I really dig how it looks, real sleek and cute. haha

 

[sincerelysasquatch]

In the year I've been vaping the several vape shops I've visited recently say they start a lot fewer newbies than they used to and make their money selling e liquid to regulars. Are the newbies finding more to buy at the convenience stores? The vape shops don't like to sell starter rigs for less than $100. May be that's why they see fewer newbies.

In the mean time started DIY last August. It costs 1 cent per ml plus flavor and may be the flavor costs another penny per ml or less. How long can the pre mix business stand up to that?

Yeah I've noticed most vape shops have gone kind of higher-end in recent years and don't tend to offer cheaper stuff anymore.

 

[sincerelysasquatch]

I bought these awhile back and really enjoyed the butter crunch flavor......View attachment 519647

what's the butter crunch like? I am low on cash so I was only able to pick up a backup bridge kit, but I'd like to grab another Njoy flavor soon to swap out with my current one. I dig that this is all at walgreens because I don't drive and the store is right across the street from me, and it's a nice, simple starting point rather than trying to navigate all the billions of liquid companies. I think that is part of the appeal for the simpler stuff available at a regular store. NJoy also now has some "premium artist collection" and the flavors sound pretty tasty. Saw them at walgreens, too.
Artist Collection | NJOY | E-Liquids
-Also, Njoy has a "first time buyer's special" going on right now where you get 50% off your purchase plus free shipping with code NJOY50. I'd like to order one or two of their artist collection liquids, $10 for 30 ml with free shipping after the code. I'll try that!

Oh also, I noticed the walgreens around me didn't have sale tags on the bridge kit or tanks even though they rang up as on sale. Maybe the stores aren't as good at keeping up with tagging this stuff? I don't know. For those of you interested in picking one up, they might be on sale even if they don't have a sale tag.

 

[Yiana]

In the year I've been vaping the several vape shops I've visited recently say they start a lot fewer newbies than they used to and make their money selling e liquid to regulars. Are the newbies finding more to buy at the convenience stores? The vape shops don't like to sell starter rigs for less than $100. May be that's why they see fewer newbies.

In the mean time started DIY last August. It costs 1 cent per ml plus flavor and may be the flavor costs another penny per ml or less. How long can the pre mix business stand up to that?

I diy and love it. But I think there are a lot of people who just don't care to or think it is too much of a hassle so yeah, I don't think the premix is going anywhere. At least until the fda has their way that is.

 

[Yiana]

Okay, I know you guys are going to laugh at my dorky little post here, but here it goes. I vaped off and on for about a year (aerotank and nautilus on a vv eGo or digital stick style) then I quit nicotine totally for about 6 months, got rid of my gear, then... I went back to cigarettes (bad, I know). I have been struggling with quitting the cigs for a couple of months now and I honestly miss the flavor of vaping, and I love the smell when I am around people vaping. I have been tempted by the supplies at my local Walgreens lately but avoided because I am sure it is over-priced (like $45 for a kit that is probably comparable to a crappy generic one I could pick up for like $15 at a vape store? No thanks).

However, tonight I grabbed the Mistic Bridge and I have to say, I am impressed for $10. Has anyone else tried this? It's a tiny little refillable tank that goes on a cigalike battery... I got the tank, battery and charger for $10. Apparently it is bottom-wick and does not have cotton, it looks like a little ceramic wick? But it is very small and I think kinda sleek and classy looking, and hits on draw instead of by button. And the hits are pretty flavorful and smooth. I really dig it. I also picked up some Njoy liquid while I was there, the black/blueberry. I actually dig it A LOT. What I picked up tonight was way better than anything I could find in convenience stores/pharmacies a year or two ago. The downside with the bridge is that you can't replace the coils, you have to buy a whole new tank when the old one quits. Tanks are $10, although they are on sale now for $5 so I may pick up a couple. Has anyone heard much about the stuff that is coming out in these kind of stores now? What do you think of the increase in variety and probably quality in these kind of stores? And what do you think of the mistic bridge and njoy liquids?

pic of the mistic bridge:

I would have been all over this if they had it when I started vaping in May 2013. I used to pop the tops off the cartos and drip liquid in them. I had a mystic too.

 

[sofarsogood]

I diy and love it. But I think there are a lot of people who just don't care to or think it is too much of a hassle so yeah, I don't think the premix is going anywhere. At least until the fda has their way that is.

My brother vapes 2 ml per day which costs him $125 a year mail order. He's got a full time job, 4 apartements to rent, a teenage daughter. He says DIY isn't worth his time and I can't argue. I vape 6 ml so the money works a little better. Mostly I'm concerned about the government and I'll mix for him if I have to. I call it liquid liberty.

I have no problem with the tobacco companies getting their share of the vape market so long as the rest of the market is free to operate. In a free market I'd let them use their tobacco logos on vape products because I think that would get a lot more people vaping and that could only be good.

 

[Yiana]

I'm mixing for my mother in law now.

 

[Str8vision]

.......tonight I grabbed the Mistic Bridge and I have to say, I am impressed for $10. Has anyone else tried this? It's a tiny little refillable tank that goes on a cigalike battery... I got the tank, battery and charger for $10.

What impresses me is that it suits you and that's what's really important. I like the style of it especially the "drip tip", looks something like a cigarillo. My wife has a similar style preference and uses old ego twist style batteries with a Kanger Mini protank 2 atty on top. Slim, simple and discreet it's great for tootlepuffing, refillable, and you can just change the coil heads which are like a $1 ea. I'm more of a "Modwhomper" with a dual coil Goblin RTA and Kato mech mod, that's what works best for me. One of the benefits/pleasures of vaping is that people can have it their own way, however and whatever suits them.

I'm mixing for my mother in law now.

I've been extracting/making NET for several years and supply the needs for a growing number of friends and acquaintances, a labor of love. I also mix for my wife and two of her friends, they prefer fruit and bakery flavored juice. Now my 92 year old Mother-in-law (who smoked for 70 years), wants to give it a try. Not for her health mind you, but just to see if she likes it.

 

[Douggro]

If the juice they're putting in it isn't laden with crap additives like in the other BT cigalikes and it gets people off of cigarettes, more power to the Mystic. Fittingly, it may be a 'bridge' for the smokers to get the taste of vaping and swell the ranks a bit more.

 

[crxess]

The retail price for a 30mL bottle of Samba Sun is $23.

Regular Pricing

I DIY and have a couple of flavors Perfect for my needs.

Average under $1 for 30ml
$3 Bucks for 100ml and cash left over for a new Mod/Tank or building supplies

 

[EvilZoe]

For the person to lazy to fill a Carto or press a button.

At least it might make a slightly better stepping of point for Smokers looking ot transition. That is about where it ends.
Proprietary Always = more expensive, limited Choice.

Still, the better quality of the proprietary stuff, the more it will actually WORK to keep someone from smoking cigarettes. What will lead them to better vaping gear and supplies will be where their continued interest takes them (HERE, perhaps) and how far their pocketbooks will cover their costs.

In short, if it's better, they won't try it, fail, and then make the final judgment that vaping is useless.

 

[sincerelysasquatch]

Still, the better quality of the proprietary stuff, the more it will actually WORK to keep someone from smoking cigarettes. What will lead them to better vaping gear and supplies will be where their continued interest takes them (HERE, perhaps) and how far their pocketbooks will cover their costs.

In short, if it's better, they won't try it, fail, and then make the final judgment that vaping is useless.

That's my thoughts, too.

 

[Susan~S]

I am low on cash so I was only able to pick up a backup bridge kit, but I'd like to grab another Njoy flavor soon to swap out with my current one.

Check out this thread: Best Budget but Decent Juice Makers & Vendors Part 1

 

[EvilZoe]

Yeah I've noticed most vape shops have gone kind of higher-end in recent years and don't tend to offer cheaper stuff anymore.

There are a lot of vape shops that ONLY cater to the beginner market. To one of us, even an intermediate level user will find those shops to be depressingly useless but for a newbie, they have some heavily decorated cheapo Chinese Ego stuff and clearomizers all at a good markup. I've found - at least around here - they're populated with gorgeous Asian women.

It all LOOKS really cool to someone who doesn't know what's out there.

I'm pretty sure these shops wouldn't make the cut on the ECF brick and mortar vendor list which is likely why people only hear of them when they're out and about looking for emergency kanthal or something....lol

 

[Vaslovik]

i'm unfortunately still forced into purchasing "BUCK NAKED" e-liquid at 18mg in either $15/30ml bottles, or $8 10/ml bottles. NOT very cool, if you ask me. IF and WHEN I run out of juice at a time when my vape shop is closed, I'm forced into buying fruit mix, or blueberry BUCK NAKED e-liquid, n it is NOT good, lol. I really wish our gas-stations would stock better e-liquids.... how is anybody going to quit when all they can find for tobacco flavors is Buck Naked US-mix, which literally tastes like a mix of rotten pears, and fermented prunes.

An excellent case for DIY

 

[EvilZoe]

An excellent case for DIY

It really is.

Except if you're like me and cannot find a flavor I like for more than a day, if that much. I've bought so many flavors that I've never opened and will never use I could open my own shop...lol Okay, I exaggerate a WEE tad but it's still a ridiculous amount. I have a metric ton of nicotine, too, that remains in my freezer - completely unopened and still packed with the original shipping bubblewrap around it - because I stopped using nicotine within the first few months of vaping. Now I'm trying to push my friend and my daughter-in-law into vaping and ultimately DIY so I can give it all a good home and save people I care about more money.

 

[thetrucker]

what's the butter crunch like? I am low on cash so I was only able to pick up a backup bridge kit, but I'd like to grab another Njoy flavor soon to swap out with my current one. I dig that this is all at walgreens because I don't drive and the store is right across the street from me, and it's a nice, simple starting point rather than trying to navigate all the billions of liquid companies. .

I got this bottle --butter crunch---about 2 years ago and never took the time to get another one as I was busy trying all the other 9,000,000,000 different brands

and flavors. Butter crunch is a sugary---butterscotch like---type sweet maple syrup like flavor that is hard to describe but tastes very good.

I saw the Enjoy signature ads but never got around to buying a bottle.......