Best "opener" for striking up a conversation about vaping with a smoker?

[nasti]

I agree with people who say not to push the pitch. With good intentions but using the wrong methods, people can get the wrong message.

and people are naturally skeptical when they are being sold to... by a stranger no less...

I think what an earlier poster said works better.
just do your business and behave in a way that infers that vaping is a big secret and you are of a select few with the privilege to enjoy this new mysterious technology.

it appeals to the sense of greed. and curiosity.
having said that, I am no communication expert at practice. I just observe a lot.

if communication is 80% non-verbal then it doesnt matter what you say anyway.

 

[JDSupreme]

I don't usually bring it up out of the blue, but if I do, it's something along the lines of "How much they charging for a pack now?" They tell me the price, and I follow up with, "I don't miss that part of it at all!" as I blow out a cloud. I point to the ecig and say "I saved so much after switching to this bad boy" Its a great way to decide if the explanation is worth your time.

 

[justsomeguy]

I had an interesting night last night - I've only have my PV for a few days, and took it with me last night to see how it felt out in public while hanging out with my other smoker friends. Well, I was naively thinking they were all going to oooo and ahhhh and ask me a bunch of questions about it. Instead I felt like they were about to laugh at the idea. One of my friends literally rolled his eyes when I told him what it was. I was a bit let down, but thought to myself 'whatever... I'm happy with it' and kept vaping away.

Anyhow - fast forward to this morning.
I got two seperate emails from two of them today asking me questions about where I bought it, and how much it costs, etc....

Point is - it's easier for smokers to dismiss the idea without really considering it (hell, I should know, I'm STILL a smoker...only been vaping for a couple of days).

If they don't take it seriously, then they can't feel bad when they fail at quitting yet again. But so far, I've found that my friends have all shown interest individually (talking on the phone one on one, etc).... just not in public in groups.

Honestly, looking back - I realize I was the same way.
A buddy of mine mentioned it at a party... all I said was 'huh, sounds interesting.'
The next day I called him to ask him a lot more about it....

and a few weeks later here we are - puffing away on my 510 with a Tornado on the way.

 

[Katattack]

But so far, I've found that my friends have all shown interest individually (talking on the phone one on one, etc).... just not in public in groups.

Honestly, looking back - I realize I was the same way.
A buddy of mine mentioned it at a party... all I said was 'huh, sounds interesting.'
The next day I called him to ask him a lot more about it....

and a few weeks later here we are - puffing away on my 510 with a Tornado on the way.

Considering how much anti-smoking sentiment is out there it's an understandable knee-jerk reaction to dismiss someone mentioning vaping. Letting them come to you is probably the best bet. Who in a group wants to be seen as betraying the solidarity?


on a side note: My hubby has shown NO interest in vaping and I believe that despite all the reasons *I* would like him to quit he's an adult and the choice, time, and how have to be his.

 

[JCUNITED]

no i am from Dearborn Heights area

 

[JCUNITED]

Ty very much for your reply.

 

[vinterchaos]

i don't try and start convos with random people about it, if they wanna ask me about it cool... but pushy/preachy people are annoying as hell, especially when I don't know them, or when I'm out having fun it is even worse

some of you all remind me of jehovah witnesses, even though you mean well... well you get the picture

 

[JEFFM]

Try " Want to see a magic trick?"

 

[traderblue]

I have not try but already failed! Because I just could not stand & vape beside a smoker, smoking his/her stinking analogs. My nose nowadays have "turned" anti-smoke smell. Such ironic really, especially I am an ex-smoker of 22 years 15-20 sticks-a-day.

 

[maureengill]

I find that I get noticed at the bar when I'm shooting pool the most...I'll sit it on the table to shoot then pick it up between shots. Most people that like to shoot pool tend to pay attention to the table even when they aren't playing themselves. I tend to get people that will come over to put quarters down for the table and ask me about it....I tend to try to have my blue, purple, or green led e-cigs when i go to the bar.

Maureen

 

[DC2]

I always ask them if they've ever heard of electronic cigarettes.

 

[umop apisdn]

Idk, but saying "damn i need some air" and taking a drag from my PV outside of a party usually does the trick. Once you say something like that, or something small, you have their attention, and then the ice is broken to their curiosity and you got a conversation started.

 

[GoodDog]

I think it depends on your personality. I'm outgoing and can talk to anyone about anything so I don't seem to have problems coming up with something to say.

When my friend, a non-smoker, and I are out she usually tells people that they should have what I have. I vape on it and say, "Yea, I use a German Chocolate Cake flavored nicotine and it sure tastes better than tobacco."

People I've run into have always been interested... if not for themselves for someone they know that smokes. I'm older than many here so most smokers my age have tried many times to quit smoking. I'll always try to help someone if I know something they need to know! LOL

 

[USinchains]

"Is that a real cigarette? I did that before it was cool."

 

[DC2]

"Is that a real cigarette? I did that before it was cool."

Nice, and if said with complete and utter disbelief, it should come across really well.

 

[gebie]

hi !
E-cig rules supremely that comes to style and sophistication. Thus, e-cigarette is a better substitute than cigarettes that leaves stinks to your atmosphere.It is a fact here in the Philippines that per stick of cigarette cost cheaper than e-cig, even a person with or without a job can buy a pack of two each day but for those who can't afford the e-cig refers to use cigarette or tobacco.



But still stop smoking is the best solution for a better and healthy lifestyle.

 

[gebie]

hi !
E-cig rules supremely that comes to style and sophistication. Thus, e-cigarette is a better substitute than cigarettes that leaves stinks to your atmosphere.It is a fact here in the Philippines that per stick of cigarette cost cheaper than e-cig, even a person with or without a job can buy a pack of two each day but for those who can't afford the e-cig refers to use cigarette or tobaco.



But still stop smoking is the best solution for a better and healthy lifestyle.

 

[justsomeguy]

I had an interesting night last night - I've only have my PV for a few days, and took it with me last night to see how it felt out in public while hanging out with my other smoker friends. Well, I was naively thinking they were all going to oooo and ahhhh and ask me a bunch of questions about it. Instead I felt like they were about to laugh at the idea. One of my friends literally rolled his eyes when I told him what it was. I was a bit let down, but thought to myself 'whatever... I'm happy with it' and kept vaping away.

Anyhow - fast forward to this morning.
I got two seperate emails from two of them today asking me questions about where I bought it, and how much it costs, etc....

Yeah - probably bad form to quote myself...but I have an interesting update to my previous post from only a few days ago....

So I just came back from hanging out with a couple of the same friends I wrote about above - and guess what they had with them? A greensmoke. Apparently they really got into the idea after they saw my 510. They ordered it earlier this week and got it in the mail today. Having only had it for a few short hours, one of my friends told me "I'm never smoking a cigarette again," with a big smile on his face.

I couldn't be happier about that!

Point is - I think the best way to approach a current smoker about vaping is to just vape... and let them come to you with questions when they're ready. If I had really pushed this on them, I'm not sure they would have tried it out quite as quickly.

Anyhow - thanks to ECF now not only are my wife and I off analogs...but a couple of other friends are making the switch as well.

This place rocks.

 

[Scott EE]

Don't tell them within the first month you went crazy and spent near a grand on stuff. Not that I know anyone who would do such a thing. ;-)

 

[JCUNITED]

I'm pretty sure you need a minimum of 15 posts before you can edit your signature with a counter, but once you can, just click on mine (or one you like) and it will take you to the website to get your own, then come back and go to User CP at the top left side of this page, and you can insert the link (url) in your signature line.

I tried and I have 19 posts and it still will not let me, i tried clicking on the puresmoker one and it took me to the website, i can't find the counter but will keep looking. I clicked on your and it won't do anyting.