Are the more expensive ejuices worth the price?

[aubergine]

Don't know what you mean by expensive. @$17/30ml seems mid-priced to me, right? For me there's a big difference between some of those and the real "bargain" stuff - I haven't liked anything cheaper than that for some time (I'm not snooty; I've tried). I also find a real disparity in quality in that mid-range.
The really expensive ones - $27+/30ml - I don't know, haven't pulled that trigger yet. Hard to imagine what would justify those prices.

I think there are some truly fake "artisinals" recently out there for a lot. I say fake because if there's no disclosure at all of ingredient quality (except "we use quality ingredients!"), little or no customization or options, zero anything except upscale sounding flavor descriptions and very cool packaging, I'm not gonna bite.
There's nothing at all that you can do with e-liquid to make it "artisinal" except extract your own flavorings/NETS - recipe development is important and a skill but hey, we're usually talking about dripping pre-made flavorings into glycol here.

A few people are saying good things about five pawns, which at least covers the basic requisites to be considered high-grade, conscientious and innovative (IMHO).
But there's some real BS, too - like aging e-liquid in small wooden barrels... seriously? It's PG, not wine, and doesn't have any properties that would benefit from that. That's clever marketing.

 

[Altaire Versailles]

Hmmm... I'm wondering what flavors you tried from MBV based on your statements, and if you steeped them long enough. Yeah, some of the flavors there I'm not too crazy about myself, but most of them can be avoided by reading the reviews. However, they have made some of the best tasting multi-dimensional flavors I have tried (like 555... Zinger, Dream Tea, and most of their other tea flavors... their RY4, though not the standard formula, is great too if you like licorice and anise... I also love their more complicated sours like Razzle Dazzle), and as a note, their flavoring is all natural, no artificial... and due to that, most of their flavors have to be steeped for a minimum of 1-2 weeks. Some of the really complicated flavors (like RY4) have to be steeped for an entire month before they taste the way they should since they're freshly mixed.

For me, price has been no indicator in the quality of juice. I've had some really nasty expensive juices, and some absolutely phenomenal cheap juices. I have learned however that QUANTITY OF AVAILABLE FLAVORS is a pretty good indicator of how good the overall juices are in terms of flavor. Usually vendors that offer a huge variety of flavors are hit or miss with their formulas, while vendors that focus on a smaller selection of flavors usually make sure that every one they do offer is a major hit with the majority of their customers.

For example, VaporBeast offers some moderately priced juices. I have yet to try a flavor from them I did not love. They only offer about a dozen flavors, though.

In contrast, MBV offers cheaply priced juices. I usually have to carefully read the reviews to figure out whether or not I'm going to like a flavor before I buy it. They offer hundreds of flavors, though, so I imagine it's probably a bit difficult for them to make sure all those flavors are going to be a hit with anyone that tries them.

Then of course you have to consider that taste is subjective anyways, and what is great to one person may be nasty to the next.

Personally I tend to aim for vendors that allow you to customize your order options a lot more than vendors that don't. This lends some flexibility... if I find their juice isn't the kind of formulation I like, I can adjust the ratio... if I find the flavor isn't strong enough, I can add a shot or two of extra flavor on the next order. And I always buy samples of the flavors I want to try BEFORE I go for larger sized bottles. This saves me from wasting much money on flavors I don't like. Price is not a huge deal to me in terms of determining how good the juice is. Only trying it will tell me if I want to buy more.

Of course, vendors that list what's actually in their juices get a huge thumbs up from me, as well do vendors that set up a customer reviewing system for each flavor. Anything that helps me determine if a juice is worth purchasing.

I also like to know the "born on" date for a juice... which helps me determine if it should be steeped as well as its shelf life if I'm not particularly crazy about it.

Overall, the only way you will know what you prefer is just to simply try whatever catches your eye... and make note of what qualities you like about it, so you can better determine in the future the likelihood of liking other juices from other vendors.

I bought absinthe, pina colada, ecto cooler, and dream tea... they all steeped a good month or two and were still trash. Only one I even vaped a whole tank of was ecto cooler, and then I said to myself, "self, why are you vaping something you cant stand just because you have it?" And so I didnt, I stopped and put it in the closet with the rest of mbv's fine juices to collect dust which is where they continue to reside. But Im glad you like them. For me the price thing isnt really a selling point. Doesnt matter if its 2 dollars a bottle, I cant vape their juices, they were all horrible and tasted like inhaling comet cleanser. If we were talking about 50 dollars a bottle vs 5 dollars, the price may make more of a difference. Were talking about 6 dollars for what I consider trash vs maybe 10-15 for quality juice. Its still super cheap.

 

[bunker0617]

IMO yes. Every time I order from mtbaker or try a friends dekang it reminds why I buy from another vendor who is more expensive.

Amen!!!!!!!

 

[benbritain]

Thanks all for you replies. I guess I will just have to blow some money to find out for myself

 

[Dj tank]

Thanks all for you replies. I guess I will just have to blow some money to find out for myself

Some of the less expensive vendors do have some great tasting juices. MBV's Banana Cream Pie is great. There's a reason why Roar, Fuzion, Heathers can charge more...

 

[Hulamoon]

I think the best way to find out for yourself by purchasing sampler sizes from vendors you are curious about.

Me personally - I LOVE Ahlusion, House of Liquid and Heathers Heavenly Vapes.....AND! .....

I also LOVE Rob's Blackjack (formerly known as Bluemist Vaping and now called Azure) and Mom n Pop's Vapor Shop. Sometimes I have gotta have naturally extracted tobaccos. Other times I need some good ol' Tobacco Absolute.

 

[basylica]

I figure its probably like food. Is organic all natural vegan whatever better for you? yes. do some people think they can taste diff between organic and non organic? yes....
but "worth it" is really subjective.

I figure as long as its cheaper than smoking i'm OK. heck, even if it isn't...i'm still OK.
long as its under 100 for 30mils its still cheaper. GACK!

my ubercheap skinflinty side had no trouble splashing out for AIV juice @ 16.00/30 mil, but i'm having trouble justifying wanting to try "the standard vape" and jamesons at 22-25 per 30mil.

more because I'm not sure if i'll like it and i've been VERY VERY picky. to the point where i still can't come up with a ADV...right now it's AIV's mystic mandalime with interludes of a fruit (twas brillig right now)
I just ordered some fuzion to try.

if I could get a sampler of either of those brands and found one I actually liked i'd pay it though....

 

[shatner]

Only you can answer that question.

This. Buy some MTBaker, Copper Creek House Blend and some Ahlusion liquid. Taste back to back when you have all 3, assess, put away for a month and try again. Your answer will be clear.

 

[Hulamoon]

lolol - assess Shatner, assess! jus' ribbin' ya, bud.

This. Buy some MTBaker, Copper Creek House Blend and some Ahlusion liquid. Taste back to back when you have all 3, asses, put away for a month and try again. Your answer will be clear.

 

[Mr.Mann]

"$4.99-$5.99" for a 15 mL? You are paying waaaaaaaaay too much for Dekang! j/k

 

[Cyia]

I love ECBlends stuff so far, and just ordered from MTbaker Vapor so I'll get back to you on that. I also get BWB and hubs love his stuff and I'm partial on it. I also am a big fan of Velvet vapors as well.

I haven't gotten to the uber expensive vendors yet but so far the mid range and lower priced range ones are doing pretty well for me! I think in all honesty it's subjective as everyone else says.

 

[shatner]

lolol - assess Shatner, assess! jus' ribbin' ya, bud.

LOL!! fixed.

 

[daleron]

You're right OP, you will have to try them for yourself
I keep a file of purchases that I can refer back to & see who I keep going back to for orders, so far I'm on both ends of the deal. Some are higher & some are cheaper. I don't think "price" is a good indicator here, just MHO.

 

[MsComptrtchr]

I've seen fire and I've seen rain, I've tried pricey juice that were awesome and some that were meh. I've tried juices that everybody raved about and also, meh. I actually like MBV to cut the good stuff (Five Pawns). It adds a punch of flavor, but you still get that good clean vape. I am not all that impressed with Boba's - it's really not that different from Vapetrik's Dorky Stud. I also have a lot of expensive stuff from trades in the classies- that's a good way to save.

Having said all of that, I just pulled the trigger on some Grant's Vanilla Custard. Right now, I am indulging myself because I am so proud not to be smoking. When I find myself in this for the long haul, I will have a better idea which juices are my faves (pricey or not) and pay accordingly. It's a lot cheaper than an expensive wine that you finish in one sitting (or a pricey meal at that.)

I think you also have to consider how MUCH juice do you go through? I only go through maybe one EVOD tank a day, so a pricey juice can last a long time. It's just WORTH it to me if I like it. YMMV.

 

[Mr.Mann]

We're all familiar with DIY, right? We're all familair with why DIY is so cheap, yes? Well, the flip side to DIY is DIFY. DIFY? Yes, DIFY (pronounced diff-E). DIFY is Do-It-For-You. A DIFY vendor is one that makes eliquid using the same flavorings that anyone can buy and sells it for what is supposed to be great prices. But here's the catch: if you are buying DIFY juices, trust me, it's going to be overpriced; even at what feels like a low cost.

FYI, soon I am going to become a beverage vendor. My plan is to start selling really awesome, premade, bottled Kool-Aid. My prices will be lower than that fancy-shmancy Naked Juice!

 

[_more_]

I mainly make my own juice BUT I do buy one coffee flavor every month. It tastes exactly like the coffee i drink. Perfect for me and that is all that matters. Also i don't buy the juice just the prefilled carto's.

Another thing that people can do is give away juice they don't like because there is always people having hard times that need juice. Or get verified and sell it in the classifieds I will try to find the give away/PIF threads and post them.

Got the PIF for anyone interested: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/pay-forward-pif/

 

[VAP0R_LUSH_KC]

I mainly make my own juice BUT I do buy one coffee flavor every month. It tastes exactly like the coffee i drink. Perfect for me and that is all that matters. Also i don't buy the juice just the prefilled carto's.

Another thing that people can do is give away juice they don't like because there is always people having hard times that need juice. Or get verified and sell it in the classifieds I will try to find the give away/PIF threads and post them.

Got the PIF for anyone interested: Pay It Forward - PIF

Well don't hold out on us what is it ? I'm always looking for good coffee

 

[_more_]

Well don't hold out on us what is it ? I'm always looking for good coffee

It is Coffee from v2cigs. It tastes like coffee with cream and sugar.

 

[rebgold]

I think every single juice is different for every person. I'm a food snob with a very developed palate. There is a juice from FSUSA that I love. Wish I could find something similar somewhere else where I could chose the pg/vg ratio and know what's in it, but I still order it. Everything else I tried from them was total garbage to my palate.
I've gotten the sampler from AIV and disliked every single flavor except one. I've ordered from Highbrow, meh, HHV, yucky, Ecblends, 4 no's out of 4 juices, Maha Ras from Mad Murdock, yes please, I'd drip in on my food if I could.
It's like food, try them all and find what you like.

 

[MsComptrtchr]

I think every single juice is different for every person. I'm a food snob with a very developed palate. There is a juice from FSUSA that I love. .

What is it? I'm curious because FSUSA is here in Tucson. They have white truffle juice ya know Course, I'd never try it, but it is a foodie thing (of course, only a foodie noob would put truffle oil on their food, heh heh!)

Do you think asparagus juice makes your pee smell like asparagus too? LOL