Cheap liquids are not worth it

[Dunkel]

I know everyone has a cheap go to flavor, as do I, but IMO buying cheap liquid isn't worth it. You've seen the threads here "blah blah's strawberry whipple dipple is the bestest flavor eva and it's only $20 for 120ml!" I'll tell you now it is most likely crap. If you see a thread touting a brand basically no one has heard of & people are acting like it's super amazing, proceed with caution. I have vaped alot of brands including the bargain basement price really a premium product, and the lite that keeps away the boogie man brands. IMO they are crap. I have found 1 flavor & 1 flavor only under 45 cents a ml when bought by the 30ml bottle that I will reorder. vape what you like, like what you vape, but beware of fanboy threads. Don't waste your money on 6 flavors to find 1 that's decent. It's better to just shell out a little extra & get something worth a damn.

 

[Tomthern]

I think what you're saying can be true. I have found a couple of inexpensive liquids I like and sometimes my funds dictate that I have to get cheaper liquids. I don't do DIY so I guess that is my fate. Though I do like when the places that I like have coupons I try to stock up then.

 

[bman1977]

True true. I widh I would have realized this sooner than later. I have 2 shelves full of liquid of which most is crap.

 

[Davey59]

I have vaped great juices that are kind of spendy, and bad juices that were spendy too

I have bought cheaper juices that are great (taste is subjective) and a some that too me are not vape able short of a vapocalypse.

Sorry, but premium shmemium. Not saying thy might not be "good" or even "great" but basically you have just three BASIC ingredients and then flavoring. I personal think some of the prices are ridiculous. Laughing all the way to the bank. Whatever floats your boat though, I don't have to like what some one else does, or them what I do.

I agree on fan club hype, man I bought some crap I do not like at all. I love a well aged single malt Scotch but I do not guzzle it daily.

 

[tvandal]

You definitely get what you pay for 90 percent of the time, that's for sure. With that said though, my current favorite is Gear spew from Mt. Baker Vapor, great flavor and price. Second place on the other hand is 5 pawns gambit. I guess take everything with a grain of salt.

 

[Spooky Mulder]

Guess what. There are plenty of expensive liquids that are worse that "cheap" e-liquid. It's all about what works for you to keep you off cigarettes. Just because you pay more for a liquid doesn't mean it's better. You sound like a troll.

And just because there are threads about a brand doesn't mean everyone's a "fanboy". Most e-liquid is overpriced considering the cheap cost of ingredients. And I could buy 6 different flavors of an expensive brand and only find 1 I like too. Your whole argument is flawed. And some people can't afford to shell out $20 plus dollars a 30ml bottle.

Bottom line is I've had good and bad liquids of both expensive and cheap liquids. Taste is Subjective. You might have heard that before.

 

[7th_syndicate]

They are out there! Like you said, you found one. Look how much bread it saves you per bottle. Vote with your wallet folks and we will see even the "premium" guys bring their prices down. I have my go-to guys. they are freakin awesome.

 

[Harlen]

That's why I DIY cheep and great

 

[Steamix]

Hm, as DIY'er that mixes also for others I think I've got a fairly good idea about what makes a liquid - from the most expensive to the cheapest:

Nicotine
Flavour
Bottle
PG / VG


As far as I can see, ready liquids go for the same price regardless of nic strength.
Means 0-mg vapers are either subsidizing the high-octane customers or feeding the vendor with the best profit margin.
Fully automated filling machinery cuts down on the labour costs. Makes one hell of a difference whether you painstakingly handcraft each vial or having them spewed out by the thousands by some fancy bottling machinery.

Can't scrimp on the nic . 18mg/ml means 18mg/ml ...

PG and VG - you know the retail prices. Shave off a few for wholesale rate and you talking a few cents per bottle.

Leaves the flavouring. And that's where you do have some possibilites. You can use synthesized vanillin which costs a fraction of a cent per bottle, or you can use flavours that have been extracted from the real thing. Hi-end extracts can put a dent in your wallet. Or you make a blend of both. A littlle of this a lot of that or vice versa. Some are so used to all that artificial flavouring in our food that they plumb forgot what the real thing tastes like...

But in the end, it boils down to what your taste buds make of it. And that's a highly subjective matter..

 

[defdock]

But in the end, it boils down to what your taste buds make of it. And that's a highly subjective matter..

exactly.


i personaly have not have any problems with cheap juice, besides certain vendors with certain flavors. out of 20+ flavors from one vendor, i can GUARANTEE there is atleast 1 flavor from EVERY vendor that has a "problem"


but as quoted above, its "what your taste buds make of it"

 

[Lynn Miller]

In the short time that I have been doing this I think trying different flavors is part of the fun of vaping. I don't mind taking a chance on some of the cheaper suppliers, I get to try out a new juice, maybe I'll like it and maybe I won't. So far I have 3 liquids in my daily rotation that cost $5 for a 15 ml bottle, not too shabby. I not only quit smoking for my health but also to save some money. I am fine with spending a little money to start...on equipment and also on juice that I like and enjoy.

I will also add that I went to a vape shop the other day and tried about 6 or 7 liquids that cost over $20 for a 30 ml bottle (some of them were nearly $30). I have heard about these juices on this forum many, many times and they should have been a no-brainer right? These are premium liquids from established vendors with a great reputation and following so I should have liked them. Wrong!!! I liked two out of the 6 or 7 that I tried. Now I did end up with a bottle of the high dollar stuff but if I had ordered one of these flavors without trying them I probably would have ended up with a few bottles that I didn't like plus spent a ton money to boot!

 

[nyiddle]

I'd say Mount Baker Vapor is an exception to this rule. A lot of their juices are fantastic.

 

[Lessifer]

I've tried a lot of cheap juices, and quite a few of the more "premium" ones, and the only constant I've found is that most juices are just so-so to me, regardless of the price tag. I've got a good dozen juices so far that I like, some cost $7 per 30ml, some cost $24 per 30ml, some were made for me by a friend that does his own NET.

I'm glad I have a few shops around me where I can try juices out, I'd hate to spend premium money and still not like the juice.

ETA: I have noticed that certain juice vendors do well with much lower power systems, MBV does not hold up to high power, but at 15w and under it's usually pretty good.

 

[xxJollyRogerxx]

Hm, as DIY'er that mixes also for others I think I've got a fairly good idea about what makes a liquid - from the most expensive to the cheapest:

Nicotine
Flavour
Bottle
PG / VG

Actually the list should look like this:

Bottle
Flavor
PG / VG
Nicotine

 

[nyiddle]

ETA: I have noticed that certain juice vendors do well with much lower power systems, MBV does not hold up to high power, but at 15w and under it's usually pretty good.

Hm. I disagree whole-heartedly. My most recent MBV order was all Max VG, 0-3mg nic. Ordered about 500 mL of liquid (total order cost came to about $110).

Been vaping only my MBV liquid since I received my order, all on a regulated box mod @ about 40-70 watts (.4-.8 ohm coils)

 

[LMS62]

I know everyone has a cheap go to flavor, as do I, but IMO buying cheap liquid isn't worth it. You've seen the threads here "blah blah's strawberry whipple dipple is the bestest flavor eva and it's only $20 for 120ml!" I'll tell you now it is most likely crap. If you see a thread touting a brand basically no one has heard of & people are acting like it's super amazing, proceed with caution. I have vaped alot of brands including the bargain basement price really a premium product, and the lite that keeps away the boogie man brands. IMO they are crap. I have found 1 flavor & 1 flavor only under 45 cents a ml when bought by the 30ml bottle that I will reorder. Vape what you like, like what you vape, but beware of fanboy threads. Don't waste your money on 6 flavors to find 1 that's decent. It's better to just shell out a little extra & get something worth a damn.

The fanboy comment is interesting. I guess if there is a thread touting a certain brand and flavor of juice, and I chime in because I like it also....I'm considered a fanboy? Hmmm...
On a side note, I have tried higher dollar juices (Five Pawns comes to mind) and didn't think much of some of them, and I have also tried the cheaper (or crap as you call it) juices that I liked.

 

[dwarfcat]

I would love to conduct a taste test. In one test group have "premium" flavors and in one test group have "cheap junk" and then turn you lose on them. Vape them and create two piles as you go. I think it would be hilarious to see how much "cheap junk" ends up in the premium pile

 

[Lessifer]

Hm. I disagree whole-heartedly. My most recent MBV order was all Max VG, 0-3mg nic. Ordered about 500 mL of liquid (total order cost came to about $110).

Been vaping only my MBV liquid since I received my order, all on a regulated box mod @ about 40-70 watts (.4-.8 ohm coils)

Sorry, should have added YMMV. I was only using them as an example, my point being that some juice tastes better in a clearo at 2.0ohms, and some tastes better at .4ohm in a dripper, there are a lot of variables.

 

[eyerhere]

Alot of the hype on a juice can sometimes just come from packaging. If you put goat wizz in a fancy glass bottle maybe even throw in a little pouch and you will find a few that say it is great.
Price means nothing I have vaped good cheap and bad expensive juices.

And or those of you wondering I am talking about free range, organic, goat wizz

 

[a wandering soul]

i like a lot of 'high end' juices. but there are 'cheap' juices i like just as much.. or close enough.

not all 'cheap' vendors make inferior juice.


for example killer juice. they are definitely on the low end of the price scale.. especially if you catch one of their 'blitz' sales... sure there are some flavors that dont hit/work.. but there are some true winners there as well.. (pure michigan, pineapple orange frozen custard, bobolos island vanilla custard, blue raspberry cotton candy, anti-venom, bomb pop, any and all of his 'dew' line, shamrock shake, strawberry shake, jamocha shake to name a few)