Blu let me down

[Digitalsabre]

This thing looked so cool. I hadn't even heard of electronic cigarettes or 'vaping' six months ago, so when I saw Blu, I was dazzled.

Smooth, sleek black body, shiny blue LED on the end, smokers (or ex-smokers?) producing full-bodied vapor with a delicious flavor, but none of the nasty smells, and a significant reduction in the number of chemical intake...

Yeah, this was for me.

But when I decided to order it... it took nearly three weeks to arrive. Two weeks was waiting for them to ship it, and then they used the cheapest mail option (without any option on my end to expedite for additional money). By the time I got it, I'd gone through another carton of cigarettes.

When I got it, I was overjoyed. For all of a day. And then I started doing research. My Blu wasn't working quite as I'd expected. Barely any vapor, and the cartridges didn't last as long as I thought they should. Was I doing something wrong?

Nope. It's just that Blu sucks. So now I'm torn. Do I want to keep this Blu hardware and try the Volcano cartridges, or do I want to pack it all up, send it back and try something else?

TGWTF looks like he's doing what I want to be doing with that nice 510... Should I go for the 510 or maybe another one? What kind of PV will satisfy me? Okay, let's say I go with a manual PV; I know I want to fill my own carts; what flavors should I choose?

So many questions. Let me see if I can boil it down.

1. Does anyone have any experience with both Blu and Volcano L88b e-cig systems, and can you tell me if Volcano's carts are of higher quality or if they suck as bad as Blu's?
   
2. (consider that Blu cartridges are still half-full when they stop working, and are almost consistently inconsistent in the amount of vapor they produce)?
   
3. Should I drop the L88b form factor altogether in favor of something bigger like a 510? If I do, I already know I want a manual.
   
4. If I drop the L88b, what PV should I go after? I don't trust my instincts after jumping right for the Blu.
   
5. If I drop the L88b, I'm going to want a good selection of my favorite flavors. Of all the e-liquids you've tried, what's your favorite -
   
   • Clove flavor
   • Mint flavor (strong mint, like Marlboro Smooth, not mentolyptus like Marlboro Menthol or Halls)
   • Vanilla flavor
   • Coffee flavor (not cappuccino)
   • Fruit flavor

 

[Greg558]

i started about 2 weeks ago.. and i started on the joye 510... and so far im loving it.. havnt had any problems yet... it has a good throat-hit, and makes it feel almost like a real cigarette, except you get a better taste..

 

[PriestSLC]

So many questions. Let me see if I can boil it down.

1. Does anyone have any experience with both Blu and Volcano L88b e-cig systems, and can you tell me if Volcano's carts are of higher quality or if they suck as bad as Blu's?
   
2. (consider that Blu cartridges are still half-full when they stop working, and are almost consistently inconsistent in the amount of vapor they produce)?
   
3. Should I drop the L88b form factor altogether in favor of something bigger like a 510? If I do, I already know I want a manual.
   
4. If I drop the L88b, what PV should I go after? I don't trust my instincts after jumping right for the Blu.
   
5. If I drop the L88b, I'm going to want a good selection of my favorite flavors. Of all the e-liquids you've tried, what's your favorite -
   
   • Clove flavor
   • Mint flavor (strong mint, like Marlboro Smooth, not mentolyptus like Marlboro Menthol or Halls)
   • Vanilla flavor
   • Coffee flavor (not cappuccino)
   • Fruit flavor

Well l have been vaping since Oct of 2009, and I have learned allot of lessons along the way, let me see if I can give you some good advice.

I have not heard much positive feedback on Blu's products, I would send it packing if you have the option.

Most cartridges will start to give that dry & burnt taste even if they seem to have a decent amount of fluid left, as the fluid is drawn from the cartridge, it produces what I can only guess is a kind of vacuum effect, Janty is working on a filter called the Tesla, allot of people are very excited for it's release.

If you look under the mods section there are allot of cartridge mods out to counteract this effect and give better juice flow, I am using the Blue foam, and cutting 3/4 of the polly out and using it to wick the reservoir of fluid, so far so good for me, I liked the spring mod and the straw mod as well.

I alternate them & combine them, always looking for the perfect vape

If you are looking for a good PV, I would forget all others and go for a eGo, you can get one from Jantyusa.com or Dietsmokes.com they are bot good suppliers, Ethan & Parker both give awesome support, Batteries have a 3 month warranty and atty's come with a 6 month warranty.

Plan to spend 86.00 or so, that is better then a 510 because the battery life is SO much better, the price of a 510 is around 50.00 so you will spend 30 more on a kit that has batteries that last me all day when the 510's lasted 2 to 3 hours at best.

There are many other PV's that you can get, I just ordered my PV1 from Provape.com, with the AW batteries, and both caps and the 901 to 801 adapter, I spent almost 160.00 on everything I got there this weekend, but 1 year warranty, replaceable, rechargeable, double protected batteries, massive vapor, and the option to use the most common threads for the majority of the atomizers out there!!! I was all for that!

When it comes to PV's you really have to decide what you want, there are allot of really awesome Mod's out there, I am thinking of going for a precise next because of it's slim and small size, plus they look sexy as hell too.

I would look for a few things the next time you purchase a PV...

Warranty, Support, & Service...

I can tell you JantyUSA, Dietsmokes & David over at Provape have all been awesome to deal with, I am sure that allot of people can recommend allot of awesome sites to deal with... the longest I have ever waited to receive a PV order I have placed is 1 week.

As far as Juice, Wow... there are ALLOT of options here, I have dealt with Electronicstix.com, Jason has always been really awesome to deal with, and the Rath USA made Juices he sell are so good, BUT! Primarily I have been dealing with Tastyvapor.us, I really knew nothing about juice before I talked to him, he took the time to educate me on what PG was, what VG was and how they affect the vapor that you get... other then some odd's and ends here and there I have not purchased anywhere else since finding him.

I hope that gives you some information to get started with, your best bet is to read the forums, get opinions, find what you like, and then watch reviews on it, get opinions on it from others, and then buy it.

Also youtube.com has many video reviews of actual people reviewing PV's and you can see their real world performance, and make a opinion based on what you see there.

There are allot of very knowledgeable people on this board, and they all have some good advice to give.

Welcome to ECF, and welcome to vaping!

P.S.

Over the last 6 months I have spent over $600.00 on PV gear, I honestly think unless getting a mod everyone should start with a eGo

 

[KeepNitReel]

I think most newbies like the cool look of the Blu, I was one of them myself. However I was lucky to find this site first and found that Blu only looked good and that was all. I was torn on what I could get that looked like the Blu but actually worked, that's when I ran across the Sidesho from Modern Vapor. I've had the sidesho for three weeks so far and I am very satisfied with my purchase. Since my initial starter kit purchase I have ordered & received additional atty's & batteries in various colors. The only problem I have had is finding the right cart mod which I did find last week (simple cart mod) now am vapping without leaks or juice in the mouth! !!!!

I really like the sidesho for going out but for home I'm going to order a tornado because of its long battery life, I could just buy the USB passthru for the sidesho but I don't want to be tied down to a PC or wall socket.

Good luck

 

[wv2win]

Return it and get a 510 or a good mod. Stick with manual batteries.

 

[PriestSLC]

The eGo is the same thing as a tornado, but it has a better warranty tied to it. I think you have a month on a tornado, vs. the eGo's 3/6 month warranty.


From Wicked's website:

Guarantee

All our products come with a 28-Day Guarantee. Purchasers should be aware that our Electronic Cigarette Atomizers and E.Cigarette Rechargeable Batteries, although made to the highest quality are functional devices that may fail or degrade over a period of time, especially if in constant use (An Electric Cigarette Atomizers natural lifespan is around 14-60 days and an Electronic Cigarette batteries expected lifespan is 2-3 months).

 

[Steelie211]

This thing looked so cool. I hadn't even heard of electronic cigarettes or 'vaping' six months ago, so when I saw Blu, I was dazzled.

Smooth, sleek black body, shiny blue LED on the end, smokers (or ex-smokers?) producing full-bodied vapor with a delicious flavor, but none of the nasty smells, and a significant reduction in the number of chemical intake...

Yeah, this was for me.

But when I decided to order it... it took nearly three weeks to arrive. Two weeks was waiting for them to ship it, and then they used the cheapest mail option (without any option on my end to expedite for additional money). By the time I got it, I'd gone through another carton of cigarettes.

When I got it, I was overjoyed. For all of a day. And then I started doing research. My Blu wasn't working quite as I'd expected. Barely any vapor, and the cartridges didn't last as long as I thought they should. Was I doing something wrong?

Nope. It's just that Blu sucks. So now I'm torn. Do I want to keep this Blu hardware and try the Volcano cartridges, or do I want to pack it all up, send it back and try something else?

TGWTF looks like he's doing what I want to be doing with that nice 510... Should I go for the 510 or maybe another one? What kind of PV will satisfy me? Okay, let's say I go with a manual PV; I know I want to fill my own carts; what flavors should I choose?

So many questions. Let me see if I can boil it down.

1. Does anyone have any experience with both Blu and Volcano L88b e-cig systems, and can you tell me if Volcano's carts are of higher quality or if they suck as bad as Blu's?
   
2. (consider that Blu cartridges are still half-full when they stop working, and are almost consistently inconsistent in the amount of vapor they produce)?
   
3. Should I drop the L88b form factor altogether in favor of something bigger like a 510? If I do, I already know I want a manual.
   
4. If I drop the L88b, what PV should I go after? I don't trust my instincts after jumping right for the Blu.
   
5. If I drop the L88b, I'm going to want a good selection of my favorite flavors. Of all the e-liquids you've tried, what's your favorite -
   
   • Clove flavor
   • Mint flavor (strong mint, like Marlboro Smooth, not mentolyptus like Marlboro Menthol or Halls)
   • Vanilla flavor
   • Coffee flavor (not cappuccino)
   • Fruit flavor

I have only been vaping for a little over a month now using the Volcano products. I started with the volcano L88b, but I just received the Volcano MAGMA and it is awesome!!! Produces awesome vapor and the battery last a lot longer.

Hope this helps.

 

[gerudothief]

Return it and get a 510 or a good mod. Stick with manual batteries.

I agree. I too was not too bright and was told that the blu would work for me. It did not. My 510 with the manual battery is a lot better and is working for me just fine.

 

[pdssoft]

If you absolutely hate the blu then return it and move on... your next logical step would be the 510 or KR808, however, keep in mind that both of these units are slightly bigger than the blue (longer and thicker).

If you prefer the L88B form factor, try Volcano, their carts are a bit better than blu (I believe they use a slightly different filler).

blu/Volcano/L88B Tips:

When putting on a new cart, DO NOT spin it around 180 degrees to get rid of the foil. Do as blu's video says and turn the cart about a quarter turn. Too much spinning causes damage to the atty mesh; once the mesh is damaged the atty is useless.

DO NOT pull the cart off immediately to tear off the foil. Under the foil is a "plastic wrap" material that surrounds the atty to prevent leakage. Only clear off the foil if you feel the liquid flow is restricted by it. (You’ll know).

If the atty is clean and you've just placed a new cart on it, let it sit for about 5 minutes so the atty can prime. Alternatively, use some e-liquid to prime the atty before putting a new cart on.

Do a "primer puff"; take a quick puff to get the atty warmed before taking your intended puff.

When puffing on the e-cig, wrap your index finger around the brass ring (where the atty and battery connect), use your thumb on the underside to complete the circle around the e-cig... The objective is to decrease (not eliminate) the airflow and make the vapor thicker. Some have said this causes the atty to overheat, but that can only happen if you're vaping constantly.

Use the Thermometer trick, shake the e-cig like a thermometer to force the liquid from the back of the cart to the atty. (this will work with almost any cartridge model e-cig). Be careful not to have the battery fly across the room when you do this; also, don't shake it so much that liquid goes into the battery.

Good Luck!

 

[Xiphion]

I first started out with Blu cigs because they seemed so cool looking and appealing. After almost a month of waiting to get the damned thing, I was extremely disappointed in its performance, inconsistent vapor, cartridges don't last at all near as long as advertised, short battery life. After that, I did more research on E-cigs and learned that Blu wasn't the only ones out there (I wish I done more research at the time, but the blu instructional video pretty much did it for me). I learned that 510 was extremely popular, and for very good reason. I bought a starter kit from Innovapor and was hooked. Amazing vapor, throat hit, and great flavor. My only gripe was the short battery lifes. I bought another kit from Totally Wicked after my initial one had died. They have great selection of flavored E liquid, but it is actually very pricey. I then got the Tornado starter kit from that website and I couldn't be any happier.

IMO, I would say ditch the Blu and never look back at them again. I would recommend that you get the Tornado starter kit from Totally Wicked; comes with 2 batteries, 2 atomizers, 10 cartridges, and a charging kit. You can find discount codes that will give you 7.5% off your orders around this forum. The Tornado batteries last me 2 days before I have to recharge.

For juice, I would recommend Halo Cigs. They have the best Tobacco flavors ever, Harley 56 is my favorite vape so far. For sweeter flavors, I would recommend Tasty Vapor, Totally Wicked(if you don't mind the price), and vapor4life.

 

[Gut]

Unfortunately I did the exact same thing as you. I have had my Blu-cigs for about 3 weeks now and I am already having all sorts of problems. My atty's seem to not be working right, my battery life has decreased to maybe an hour after a full charge and the cartridges absolutely suck!!!! I actually spoke to a Blu customer service rep yesterday about the atty's not working correctly and I was told to print out the RMA form and send the defective units back in. Of course I would be without my Blu cigs for about a month or more so what good does that do me. They should send out some replacements and then let me send back the screwed up ones. That would be good customer service. Luckily I ordered a joyce 510 from VaporKings.com last week and they are being delivered today.
Overall the Blu-cigs look great and perform descent for a while but judging from my own experience and the other reviews I have read, they won't last very long. Very discouraging!!!

My Two Cents!

Brian

 

[wv2win]

If you absolutely hate the blu then return it and move on... your next logical step would be the 510 or KR808, however, keep in mind that both of these units are slightly bigger than the blue (longer and thicker).

If you prefer the L88B form factor, try Volcano, their carts are a bit better than blu (I believe they use a slightly different filler).

blu/Volcano/L88B Tips:

When putting on a new cart, DO NOT spin it around 180 degrees to get rid of the foil. Do as blu's video says and turn the cart about a quarter turn. Too much spinning causes damage to the atty mesh; once the mesh is damaged the atty is useless.

DO NOT pull the cart off immediately to tear off the foil. Under the foil is a "plastic wrap" material that surrounds the atty to prevent leakage. Only clear off the foil if you feel the liquid flow is restricted by it. (You’ll know).

If the atty is clean and you've just placed a new cart on it, let it sit for about 5 minutes so the atty can prime. Alternatively, use some e-liquid to prime the atty before putting a new cart on.

Do a "primer puff"; take a quick puff to get the atty warmed before taking your intended puff.

When puffing on the e-cig, wrap your index finger around the brass ring (where the atty and battery connect), use your thumb on the underside to complete the circle around the e-cig... The objective is to decrease (not eliminate) the airflow and make the vapor thicker. Some have said this causes the atty to overheat, but that can only happen if you're vaping constantly.

Use the Thermometer trick, shake the e-cig like a thermometer to force the liquid from the back of the cart to the atty. (this will work with almost any cartridge model e-cig). Be careful not to have the battery fly across the room when you do this; also, don't shake it so much that liquid goes into the battery.

Good Luck!

I just can't figure out why anyone would want this much hassle in order to vape. The 510 is the best of the analog size PV's with the biggest drawback being the very short battery life. A good mod gives you 6-8 hours on one battery, good throat hit and no hassles. Life is too short to jump through hoops to vape IMO.

 

[pdssoft]

I just can't figure out why anyone would want this much hassle in order to vape. The 510 is the best of the analog size PV's with the biggest drawback being the very short battery life. A good mod gives you 6-8 hours on one battery, good throat hit and no hassles. Life is too short to jump through hoops to vape IMO.

Well, I re-read over my post a couple of times because I can't quite place the "hassle" part.

Of the 6 suggestions, the first two focused primarily on the cartridge. Perhaps breaking the foil on pre-filled carts and turning a quarter turn may be excessive work for some; but it's no hassle at all for me.

Priming a cleaned atty is pretty much a common practice for many PVs.

Primer puff, again, not too uncommon a practice.

The finger wrap to restrict air-flow... that just seems "natural" to me now in the way I hold the PV. Works for the 510 as well.

Thermometer trick... works pretty well for any PV that has a cartridge.

I realize all of this is a personal preference, and to each his own. But I found the "novelty" of filling carts and cart modding soon wore off and now I prefer a simple solution to vaping. Pre-filled carts. So when I'm "on the move" it's a simple matter of grabbing a PCC and some fresh carts and I'm on my way. (Yes, I know, cartomizers exist... but they just taste funny to me.)

I will agree that the 510 is a great unit, especially now that Volcano offers the Magma with pre-filled carts (multi-flavor). But still, it's just a little bigger than I like.

And as for battery life... I usually get between 1 and 2 hours. I do admit, that's not constant vaping. But with the PCC, I really don't have an issue.


So, if you have found the PV that's right for you and has allowed you to move away from analogs; then that's fantastic and congratulations on finding your solution.

The blu is my solution and works for me... so there's no need to diss it.

 

[wv2win]

The blu is my solution and works for me... so there's no need to diss it.

You are the rare exception. And I "dis" it because I have talked to too many current smokers who tried to quit by using the Blu and found it way too inconsistent, mediocre in performance and too much of a hassle and went back to analogs because they thought all PV's were like this. When I let some of them try my 5 volt PV, that you didn't have to do the "pain in the ...." primer puff, they were like amazed at the difference, especially the throat hit. They all decided to give PV's another try with a good manual PV.

I think I can safely estimate that 95% of people who started vaping with a Blu go in one of two directions after about the first week or two: either they get a different PV or they go back to analogs.

 

[ChuckB]

I can't really address the Blu directly as my only contact with them has been one that a friend has, but I have the Volcano which is very similar. Most of the time the Volcano works just fine for me. I do re-fill some carts but also use factory carts and I top off the carts from time to time, so I guess I'm one of those that that don't mind the "hassle".

The factory carts do have less vapor, I think they are just PG, no VG. What I top off with is 30% VG and gives me clouds of vapor.

I also have a 510 (Magma) which works better for those times that I would be chain smoking, and I do tend to chain vape with it. It does have better vapor, about the same TH, but a little less flavor with some juices.

Overall I like both, I carry both most of the time. The Volcano is a little more convenient at my desk at work where I just want one or two puffs. Very handy, can't beat the size. But when I get in the car I need a little more, so I grab the Magma. Both required a bit of learning and they don't work the same.

Personal preference, I want both of these and this wouldn't work for me with just one or the other. For me so far, the hardest part was learning that they vape differently and to get the best performance from them, you have to use them the way they work the best.

 

[Toni22]

Yeah, I ordered the Blu also, right now I'm using it because I have to, I'm trying to save up for something much better though.

 

[pdssoft]

I "dis" it because I have talked to too many current smokers who tried to quit by using the Blu and found it way too inconsistent, mediocre in performance and too much of a hassle and went back to analogs

That's exactly why I offered up some suggestions to make their experience a bit better.

I think I can safely estimate that 95% of people who started vaping with a Blu go in one of two directions after about the first week or two: either they get a different PV or they go back to analogs.

I think I saw this information before, I find it interesting how one can arbitrarily pull such figures out of the air.

Here's one for you...

This forum has about 30,000 members (active/inactive) of those, 29,999 hate blu (I'm the rare exception).

Since introduction, blu has sold over 100,000 units (posted on their website). So then I should be able to safely say 2 out of 3 PV users prefer blu...

Yes, I realize that's absurd, however... you get my point.

 

[UntamedRose]

Eh 'shrug'..Return the Blu back they do have a money back guarantee (which funny enough they are faster about then shipping)

Thankful towards Blu for getting you interested and then buy your self a decent PV

 

[Prof G]

I had the same experience. I started with the blu. Looking back I realized its because their marketing is majestic. However their product and customer service is.... well.... I don't think there's a word for crap that bad. For the first little while it was great. But then I noticed how must juice was left in the carts, how often I was recharging and how little vapor I was getting. The wicking with the blu is a bloody joke! I switched up to the 510, which I love, when I found a deal with Americas Best Buys for a starter kit for $36 (ish?) with a 10% discount with the coupon code ECF. I even milked my left over Cherry Crave carts for the juice to put in the 510. Now I just use my blu as a back up and use it as a dripper. I used a razor to cut off the end of the cart and removed the reservoir. Works really well as a dripper IMO because it will actually use the juice it's given.

 

[pandur]

I first started out with Blu cigs because they seemed so cool looking and appealing. After almost a month of waiting to get the damned thing, I was extremely disappointed in its performance, inconsistent vapor, cartridges don't last at all near as long as advertised, short battery life. After that, I did more research on E-cigs and learned that Blu wasn't the only ones out there (I wish I done more research at the time, but the blu instructional video pretty much did it for me). I learned that 510 was extremely popular, and for very good reason. I bought a starter kit from Innovapor and was hooked. Amazing vapor, throat hit, and great flavor. My only gripe was the short battery lifes. I bought another kit from Totally Wicked after my initial one had died. They have great selection of flavored E liquid, but it is actually very pricey. I then got the Tornado starter kit from that website and I couldn't be any happier.

IMO, I would say ditch the Blu and never look back at them again. I would recommend that you get the Tornado starter kit from Totally Wicked; comes with 2 batteries, 2 atomizers, 10 cartridges, and a charging kit. You can find discount codes that will give you 7.5% off your orders around this forum. The Tornado batteries last me 2 days before I have to recharge.

For juice, I would recommend Halo Cigs. They have the best Tobacco flavors ever, Harley 56 is my favorite vape so far. For sweeter flavors, I would recommend Tasty Vapor, Totally Wicked(if you don't mind the price), and vapor4life.

Thx for the hint, i will have to check if the deliver to germany