Blu ecig buyout--boycott??

[mg7454]

Has anyone considered a boycott of Blu as they have recently been bought out by our arch enemy-big tobacco. With their powerful lobby in DC, it seems likely to me that any moves they make might not be in the best interest of small manufacturers and retail outlets and might really damage the inovators who have done so much to shape the e-cig industry.
let me know what you think?

I have read that for now BT is "just sitting" on Blu.
AND
That they have enough money to buy out the "competition".

Read more at:

http://www.ecigarettedirect.co.uk/ashtray-blog/2012/04/will-tobacco-industry-crush-electronic-cigarette.html

Under the heading:What are tobacco companies aims?

As for me, I have joined CASAA and I hope you will.
CASAA is a united front fighting for vapers!
I feel it is our best hope for now and for the future.
If we are to be effective, I feel we must join together and support what is OUR organization Yours, Mine, and Ours!

CASAA - The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association

In the meanwhile, I intend to purchase as many PV supplies as I can; because, if and when these big companies gain total control of the market, it will probably be just as expensive to vape as it is to smoke tobacco cigarettes, whether purchasing from BT or black-market.

 

[mg7454]

I agree with what you say here.
There's a great thread on this topic posted in the news section that discusses almost every angle to this development.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/media-general-news/290817-lorillard-purchases-blu-e-cigs-13.html#post5926840

I for one am hoping this is a good thing as it brings vaping into the mainstream.

To me, the more backing, knowledge and muscle to combat the anti-vaping community and their laws trying to restrict or stamp out vaping the better.
Yes, it spells the beginning of the end to vaping as an underground industry, but with the dollars that BT can bring to the table, I look for massive R&D and innovation to make even better, more reliable and consistent products. We can now expect real studies on the effects of vaping, and standards for the ingredients.

I didn’t get into vaping to join an exclusive underground movement, nor was I looking for a new hobby. I wanted to quit analogs, and live a healthier (and hopefully longer) life. Blu did this for me, and introduced me to the world of vaping. It is the first product that enabled me to actually quit analogs, and did a fine job in doing so.

Since then I have moved on to better devices, and will continue my quest for the best PV and juice that will satisfy me. Is Blu a great product? That depends on your perspective. There are certainly better products out there, but it has helped many quit analogs, is generally consistent and reliable, extremely portable, and a fantastic transition product. So in my eyes it is a good product. I’m happy to see them do well and wish them success in bringing vaping to the masses.

While my Kgo is my mainstay vaping device today and I will most likely continue to experiment and graduate to VV and other nifty things, I never leave home without an “emergency Blu” in my pocket for those times when the battery unexpectedly dies on me or I want to vape in a more stealthy mode that doesn’t make people think I’m pulling out some sort of (Other Item)

This is the kind of dumb, idiotic comment that we do not need in the vaping community. You obviously have no clue what that kind of device looks like. What we do need is PV's that look NOTHING like a cigarette so we can clearly and visably separate ourselves in the publics mind from smoking.

I think that you both have a good point!
Unfortunately, most people who do not smoke make no distinction between analogs and PVs.
Hopefully, with the dedicated help of CASAA, and a bit of time to educate the "masses" this will change in favor of PVs and Vapers.
As to the "other items" most people have no idea what they look like either, and will assume the worst!
So, I certainly can identify with someone not wanting people to think they are doing something illegitimate!

 

[Harplayr]

I think that you both have a good point!
Unfortunately, most people who do not smoke make no distinction between analogs and PVs.
Hopefully, with the dedicated help of CASAA, and a bit of time to educate the "masses" this will change in favor of PVs and Vapers.
As to the "other items" most people have no idea what they look like either, and will assume the worst!
So, I certainly can identify with someone not wanting people to think they are doing something illegitimate!

Once Blu takes their $$$ and starts an advertising blitz the masses will begin to know what an E-Cig is. I would imagine that day is coming very soon.

 

[mg7454]

Once Blu takes their $$$ and starts an advertising blitz the masses will begin to know what an E-Cig is. I would imagine that day is coming very soon.

Yes, but the $$$ Blu takes will be ours!
AND
I'd much rather donate to CASAA!

 

[chad]

I boycotted blu from day one just on general principle. Their ads were flashy, dumb and cheesy. Everyone I know who ordered from them when they first started years ago ended up having their orders lost, cancelled, or delayed for a few months. Once people got their orders, the e-cigs we're cheap and lame. Screw blu.

 

[mechanus]

I wanted to poke my eyes out with that advert. Seriously? That's the best they could do? *facepalm*

 

[mg7454]

I wanted to poke my eyes out with that advert. Seriously? That's the best they could do? *facepalm*

Yes, so did I!
Awful commercial!
Big Tobacco doesn't make commercials like they used to:

Link to old Flintstones/Winston Commercial:

Banned Cartoon- Flinstones and Winston cigarettes commercial - YouTube

 

[Harplayr]

I know its high fashion to bash Blu, but remember that the target market is smokers and the unenlightened, not vapors.

I’d rather look at a pretty girl looking stylish taking a puff off her mini-cig than the brown tooth chubby guy blowing massive clouds of vapor in his bedroom at his mom’s house like many of the YouTube videos I see out there. That commercial hit many of the points…no-smoke, easy to use, blah blah blah..

While I sympathize with those hobbyists that want the world of vaping to stay the underground cottage industry it currently is, I’m one of those people that WANT e-cigs to go mainstream.

 

[elfstone]

I know its high fashion to bash Blu, but remember that the target market is smokers and the unenlightened, not vapors.

I’d rather look at a pretty girl looking stylish taking a puff off her mini-cig than the brown tooth chubby guy blowing massive clouds of vapor in his bedroom at his mom’s house like many of the YouTube videos I see out there. That commercial hit many of the points…no-smoke, easy to use, blah blah blah..

While I sympathize with those hobbyists that want the world of vaping to stay the underground cottage industry it currently is, I’m one of those people that WANT e-cigs to go mainstream.

Hear, hear!...

BUT I'd point out that the smoking anywhere line is either wishful thinking or a straight out lie, depending on how you look at it.

One can hope that with more money pumped into this industry vaping will become more mainstream and we'll get rid of the vaping bans. I reserve my right to be pessimistic and think that with BT behind vaping, the antis will have in fact more ammo in proposing more pieces of legislation that equate vaping to smoking...

Is there an echo in here? Does anyone feel we're rehashing the same point over and over again?

 

[zoiDman]

...

I’d rather look at a pretty girl looking stylish taking a puff off her mini-cig than the brown tooth chubby guy blowing massive clouds of vapor in his bedroom at his mom’s house like many of the YouTube videos I see out there. That commercial hit many of the points…no-smoke, easy to use, blah blah blah..

...

LOL

If it wasn't True. It Wouldn't be so Funny.

 

[mg7454]

Blu is not my every-day choice for vaping; however, when I first started vaping and needed an e-cig in a pinch, I could go to Walgreen's and buy a Blu instead of a pack of cigarettes!

It's also a great way to get a smoker to try e-cigs; because, when a smoker first tries e-cigs they want something that tastes like a cigarette, and Blu does come close with the Johnson Creek flavors.

Blu was certainly better than the pre-filled cartridges that I started with!

It's not Blu that I am worried about; instead, what the BT company intends to do with all e-cigs in the future is what concerns me.

 

[sherid]

Bought a disposable Blu today simply to see what all the fuss was about. It tastes pretty great...have no idea of how long it will last, but altogether a nice alternative.

 

[ShogaNinja]

Totally boycott. Not only are their products inferior, if we let Big Tobacco infiltrate our midst who knows how they will corrupt it? They could influence other companies to put god know what in their juice etc... We must be rid of Blu.

 

[sherid]

Totally boycott. Not only are their products inferior, if we let Big Tobacco infiltrate our midst who knows how they will corrupt it? They could influence other companies to put god know what in their juice etc... We must be rid of Blu.

Seriously, why would you want to be rid of Blu? If you don't like their products, don't buy them. As for BT putting God knows what into juice, are you kidding me? They are, at least, regulated to the ends of the earth. Meanwhile, you buy products from someone's basement lab and have no concerns what they might put in them????

 

[Rule62]

Totally boycott. Not only are their products inferior, if we let Big Tobacco infiltrate our midst who knows how they will corrupt it? They could influence other companies to put god know what in their juice etc... We must be rid of Blu.

What would Blu put in their juice; and why? Blu is popular with the cig look alike vapers partially because of their flavors, which are made by an American juice company. Why would they change?