Don't Believe The Hype

[Midnight Toker]

First off, I want to state that this is not directed at anyone in particular. This is a general observation.

Also, I would also like to thank everyone that takes the time and reviews products. There is good and bad stuff out there and it's great to have a heads up, but...

Lately I've noticed there seems to be a lot of hype surrounding products. Good and bad. Both liquid and hardware, but I've really been noticing it with liquid.

I can understand that taste is subjective. Throat hit, maybe, but not as much. Especially if you're using the same hardware. I bought a lot of product lately, some on recommendation from reviews. Some because I'm new and want to try different things. I'm just not getting it. I can understand that there might be some excitement over a new flavor, brand, or model, etc. Initial excitement wears off pretty fast for me though. Within a couple minutes I realize the flavor, for example, is not as good as I thought or wanted it to be.

I just don't understand how people can have such different experiences with liquids. Aside from flavor. If a review says... "This is the best stuff ever!!! Great throat hit, flavor, blah, blah, blah, ect, etc." And I get the exact same brand, strength and flavor, and my opinion is very different. No throat hit at all, and it tastes just alright. Was I mislead? Did I buy into the hype?

It also goes for the bad reviews too. I just don't get how anyone can have such bad reviews for a product that other people, including myself, just don't feel the same way about. Why do we think it's not as bad as some people make it seem? A lot of people don't want to find out for them selves and stay away from a product that might not be as bad as it was made out to be. Negative hype?

Is it just me? Has anyone else been noticing this? What's going on here?

From now on, I'm going try to take Chuck D and Flavor Flav's advice and... "Don't Believe The Hype!"

-Midnight Toker

 

[CandyGirl]

big difference between a commercial and your best friend telling what they think about something.

ever watch a soft drink commercial while your drinking the same thing they're advertising? girls in bikini's and hot guys playing volleyball on the beach while their friends land in the background after a twenty foot airborn jump from a sand dune to spin into view with a cooler full of product.

i always look at the can and think, wow i must have bought a bad one.

on the other hand, my friends like things i don't and vice-versa.
you're right about the hype, buyer beware.
i trust some reviewers here, others are doing commercials. imho.

 

[ejfan1977]

Good point Midnight... I think some of peoples judgement comes because they are using different equipment and therefore changes the effects such as vapor and throat hit.

Just my 2 cents

 

[LuckySevens4U]

I am beginning to agree with you also. I have been ordering a lot of liquids from a lot of different sources. I do feel one stands out above all the others and that is Totally Wicked, but they never have it plus it costs more. HOWEVER, with the exception of ONE company so far and maybe one other today when I get my addiction juice LOL, all the other liquids have been comparable and none of them really stand out more. I do think there IS some hype out there. I really do.

 

[ZambucaLu]

As a general rule, I don't even watch the eliquid reviews anymore....mainly for that reason. We do all have different tastes so what works for one might not work for another. I learned this lesson the hard way when about 50 members on here ranted and raved about the Cash Cola. I tried it and just wasn't crazy about it.

True enough that if 50 people raved about another flavor, I might try it...but I certainly wouldn't buy something based on one person's review. I might also ask what someone thought of a flavor but wouldn't necessarily buy based on that either.

Lu

 

[TheEmperorOfIceCream]

Is it just me?

yup. There's a ton of difference between Janty, Sedansa, Njoy, TW, JC and generic e-liquid.

But that could be just me...

 

[CandyGirl]

I learned this lesson the hard way when about 50 members on here ranted and raved about the Cash Cola. I tried it and just wasn't crazy about it.

True enough that if 50 people raved about another flavor, I might try it...but I certainly wouldn't buy something based on one person's review. I might also ask what someone thought of a flavor but wouldn't necessarily buy based on that either.

Lu

good example Lu.
Cash Cola = Pepsi Clear. lol

don't get me wrong, i don't hate it, kind of a fun novelty.
i just remember it being hyped into a "must try" for some reason.

lesson learned - sample packs - try before you buy.

 

[Hangar]

I'm glad this subject was brought up because as a new user who's interested in making my first purchase I've learned over the years from reading other forums that "reviews" are always subjective and its typically a 50/50 shot whether or not you get what you thought you were getting in the first place.

I was going to start a new thread but apparently im so new here that im still awaiting an admin to allow me to post a new thread...so Ill just ask here:

I think I may be interested in something like an NjoyPro partly because it looks and feels most like a real cigarette from what Ive been reading so far...however, I'm extremely turned off by folks who have said it is pluaged with technical problems such as constant cartridge leaks. It also seems that the carts are more costly than other products. What id like to know is, could someone reccomend a similar alternative to an NjoyPro that is perhaps built better and wont leak? and has cheaper carts? (not sure if any 4081 would do or if i need to purchase from someone specifically to insure no major problems)...so would a 4081 make sense? I'd really like something that vapes well enough to feel as close to a real cigarette as possible as ive been smoking Newport's for 25 years now and a "lite" throat experience probably wont make the cut...and I also want something very light-weight so i can hold it and smoke with 1 hand in a natural way that im used to.

...and who locally (in the USA) can i count on to deliver the goods with great customer service and a website which actually has a phone number (answered by a person and not a machine) and lists a real address instead of a PO Box? I looked at Puresmoker but after 25 years on the internet I thought the site and how he represents himself is laughable, nothing personal but i mean its obvious he's either never had to deal with a website business before OR he just doesnt care because from my point of view its a disfunctional site (bad page coding, a lack of important product information) and offers first time consumers little reason to feel secure/trusting due to the lack of personal contact information for his business. I just cant do business with a site like that. Who is GOOD and can be easily contacted and has stock so my shipment wont delay? (im in NY).

Lastly...SUPPLIES...if im trying to replace my real smokes with e-cigs and I currently have "a pack to a pack and a half per day habbit" how much liquid and carts should i get to at least last me a full 30 days? and how long do atomizers last, will i need more than 1 for 30 days? Im currently spending about $100-$120/month on real cigs and am trying to figure out if e-cigs will really be alot cheaper than this or not...and since you have to order online i want to make sure i have a full months suppliy of everything ill need to get started.

I just want as pleasant of a first experience as possible so I'm asking for your thoughts and perhaps to help me avoid making the same mistakes you might have made in the beginning.

Thanks so much!
Dave

 

[K.P.]

This isn't unusual. There are people that love bluegrass, reggae, or opera and write CD-reviews extolling the virtues and uncovering the subtle nuances that they genuinely hear and appreciate--while most of the world thinks they all sound the same. There are wine tasters and foodies that can recall a taste from years ago while most people can barely remember what they ate or drank last night.

People who write (or film) reviews--for no money--will necessarily be the subset of people who are most enthused about the product and have a palate (or ear) most attuned to the subtle differences. Regular people who simply think "mmmm, good, I'll have to order that again" have other things to do with their time.

 

[ZambucaLu]

good example Lu.
Cash Cola = Pepsi Clear. lol

don't get me wrong, i don't hate it, kind of a fun novelty.
i just remember it being hyped into a "must try" for some reason.

lesson learned - sample packs - try before you buy.

I doubt this will ever happen but I wish they sold sample packs where you can pick your own flavors. The only thing that turns me away from them is that I usually don't want a couple of the included flavors. On the other hand, I guess you can always sell the ones you don't want for a reasonable price. Afterall, people are always looking for a good bargain.

Lu

 

[taz3cat]

There is a lot of good information on this forum and then there is a lot of BS. Just have to watch for the shills and front persons.

 

[GrimmGreen]

maybe i'm just miss-reading your post but it... almost sounds like you're blaming the reviewer for YOU not liking a e-liquid. I personally try to be objective as possible but i do realize that flavor is a subjective thing. That is exactly why i said the Flu-Cured is a 10 for me , but for the average person it might only be a 5 or 6

and i know from experience that the device you are using plays a HUGE role in how good/bad or how much throat hit you get from any given juice. i can put the same juice in my 901 and my penstyle and get 2 completely different experiences. Which again is why i do most of my liquid reviews on a 901 because it seems more people have that model

i think its up to the person to make a decision weather to buy not not to buy any given product based on multiple reviews and who's judgment you trust. i feel Rob aka "Terraphon" has great taste in juice , and i trust his judgment on what tastes good or bad. It' doesn't mean i will like everything he does , but i can make up my mind based on how much i trust his judment

i agree , don't believe the hype , decide for yourself. if you really like a juice , then throw together a review so other people can be informed and maybe try it out also

 

[LuckySevens4U]

GimmGreen, I think you do awesome reviews!! Thank you for your efforts!

 

[GrimmGreen]

GimmGreen, I think you do awesome reviews!! Thank you for your efforts!

Thank you Lucky that's good to hear , I'm just here to help. Id love to say that if the OP purchased a bottle of juice at my recommendations , and doesn't like it , i will GLADLY purchase it from him... chances are i already like it

 

[LuckySevens4U]

You got it! I think you are a very fair and awesome reviewer, one of my favs. I bought Phil's watermelon cuz of you and I didn't put it down all afternoon and evening yesterday. hehe

 

[surbitonPete]

I usually only ever try something when there are a lot of people raving over it anyway...but when it comes to juice...so far I have found that it doesn't matter what flavour I get, it doesn't really 'taste' much of anything after a very short while. It just satisfies my 'smoking' needs.

 

[Wolf]

Hangar,
As a new vaper myself, I've been using a DSE901 (purchased from AltSmoke) and loving it. I didn't care for the 0mg carts that came with it, so I rinsed them and filled them with the 18mg liquid I'm testing from a US supplier. I added the flavor myself and am loving it. I really like being able to determine the strength of flavor for myself. Not to bad for a noob. I have a DSE801 on the way and hubby will probably start using the 901. He's been smoking for close to 40 years so this could prove interesting. I would say the 901 is close to a analog regular cigarette, but maybe closer to a cigarillo. Definitely can be done one handed. The 801 is supposed to hold more liquid and have a better battery life, but I can't say yet. Hope that helps.

 

[Midnight Toker]

Thank you Lucky that's good to hear , I'm just here to help. Id love to say that if the OP purchased a bottle of juice at my recommendations , and doesn't like it , i will GLADLY purchase it from him... chances are i already like it

That's not the case at all. I do appreciate your offer though. My comments were not based on a single review or person. I hope you don't think I was directing anything at you.

 

[dawnmarie]

hi all

IM new and i read these forums and have found some great info on juice and bottles and ecigs and when i see a lot of people reviews are good then go with it .. better than BLIND... so I thank you moderator and forum hosters

love ya
d

 

[strayling]

I doubt this will ever happen but I wish they sold sample packs where you can pick your own flavors. The only thing that turns me away from them is that I usually don't want a couple of the included flavors. On the other hand, I guess you can always sell the ones you don't want for a reasonable price. Afterall, people are always looking for a good bargain.

Lu

Lu, there's a sampler set like that from Addiction Ejuice (horrid name but the prices look good), where you email them what flavours you want in the set. They're out of stock at the moment, but it seems like a good deal.

On the general topic of this thread, I think a lot of the variation in reviews is down to inconsistency - quality control, pure and simple. For example, atomiser performance varies wildly even within one model type. I can't speak from personal experience of the liquids but I wouldn't be surprised if there's variation between batches of the same flavour.

These are all signs of a young industry which is still getting its act together, so I think it's likely to get better soon. Heck, the increasing scrutiny from the FDA could even help with this, concentrating a few minds on quality control and standards.