Ecig from Big Tobacco

[Darrigaaz]

So I had the opportunity to try out an e-cigarette shipped to our Marketing Department from one of the Big tobacco companies... It was a one piece design, and completely disposable. Each one is sealed in it's own little baggie, and they are kind of big compared to what I'm used to. It was very plain looking. All white with a red circle about where a 'filter' would start. No led light to signify that it was on, and it was an automatic.

I opened the bag and took out this tampon-looking tube, stuck it in my mouth, and tried to take a draw... Thing was dead on arrival. Tried another, also dead.. 3rd was dead... Thought maybe the internal switch was harder than what I was used to, so REALLY sucked on the 3rd one, and got a mouthful of juice that I literally spat out onto the wall (it was THAT disgusting tasting). I've gotten some juice in my mouth before from ecigs, and this made those experiences taste like I was eating icecream.

Was told we couldn't put these in our stores yet, but when they are officially released, suggested retail would be approx $18 EACH! There is NO way to fill them and no way to charge them. I peeled the flimsy wrap off one, and it was a metal tube that was completely one piece.

I can't put any pictures up because, if found out that I was here, I would get into big trouble with the company I work for. But if this is any indication of what we might be forced to buy instead of what we are currently purchasing, NOBODY will enjoy the experience.

 

[Haytoni]

So I had the opportunity to try out an e-cigarette shipped to our Marketing Department from one of the Big Tobacco companies... It was a one piece design, and completely disposable. Each one is sealed in it's own little baggie, and they are kind of big compared to what I'm used to. It was very plain looking. All white with a red circle about where a 'filter' would start. No led light to signify that it was on, and it was an automatic.

I opened the bag and took out this tampon-looking tube, stuck it in my mouth, and tried to take a draw... Thing was dead on arrival. Tried another, also dead.. 3rd was dead... Thought maybe the internal switch was harder than what I was used to, so REALLY sucked on the 3rd one, and got a mouthful of juice that I literally spat out onto the wall (it was THAT disgusting tasting). I've gotten some juice in my mouth before from ecigs, and this made those experiences taste like I was eating icecream.

Was told we couldn't put these in our stores yet, but when they are officially released, suggested retail would be approx $18 EACH! There is NO way to fill them and no way to charge them. I peeled the flimsy wrap off one, and it was a metal tube that was completely one piece.

I can't put any pictures up because, if found out that I was here, I would get into big trouble with the company I work for. But if this is any indication of what we might be forced to buy instead of what we are currently purchasing, NOBODY will enjoy the experience.

Thought the e cig was coming off the market, yea when Pigs Fly, thought the tobacco companies would start making the things. Sure they want to stop out little distributors, so they can cash in. Don't let it happen. Dang this country.

 

[Kimmy]

Ah I see, so it's okay for big tobacco companies to sell ecigarettes, but not other online companies. Absolutely ridiculous. Money whores.

I knew they would decide to get in on the action. No one is going to pay THAT much for ecigs. That's just plain highway robbery and another way to say, smoke smoke smoke.

 

[Darrigaaz]

Just to clarify... The company that I received this from doesn't SELL ecigs... yet! They are just sending out samples for us retailers to try so that when they can sell them, they'll already have a foot in the door.

Also to clarify... None of the 3 samples I opened worked at all. When I got a mouthful of liquid, it was not vaporized at all. My guess is that all 3 batteries were dead right out of the package, with no way to charge them.

 

[xdunlapx]

Dang sounds like an awful experience. I'm happy with my VK so I don't plan on buying way overpriced ecigs even if they are from big tobacco. I don't want to support big tobacco anymore, so it's no deal.

Thanks for sharing your info darr. I appreciate it.

 

[schaedj]

Hey, if they do actually come up with something (that functions and is tolerable), it may end up being better for us...
1) Mass marketing / production will lower the price of supplies
2) They have the government / FDA influence to get the stuff legalized and complete the required studies.
3) Even though their product will be expensive for what it is, it lowers the entry level cost for vapers and increases the likelihood of conversions because of their market penetration.
4) It will be harder to ban a product the government allows the big T companies to sell.
5) Existing / Knowledgable vapers may become the equivalent of the cigar smokers of the tobacco world (advanced users who understand the product and sources better) and will represent a small enough portion of the reenue stream that the government wil leave them alone.

Maybe we should be encouraging big T to come up with something as a health friendly marketing move.

Well, Somebody's got to be an optimist. Every time I read this forum, I end up buying another liter of e-juice, just in case...

 

[keyzygirl]

I sure hope Steve has something up his sleeve,and figures out how to keep us supplied.I cannot imagine loosing my VK.Theres got to be a way to do this.

 

[Gamer]

Yes Big tobacco is for E-Cigs... Or at least they want to dip their toes into the market.

Forum Link: Big Tobacco For Ecig

 

[Skyler]

Very interesting Dar. Thanks for the heads up. For me, I refuse to put another dime their pocket(s).

 

[Belletrist]

somehow i am not at allll surprised. by absolutely anything in your post dar. *sigh*

 

[Mary Kay]

BT has been making protypes for a long time. Don't expect then to make good flavors though..the FDA won't get behind that...THINK of the CHILDREN..

 

[Stephra]

Hey, if they do actually come up with something (that functions and is tolerable), it may end up being better for us...
1) Mass marketing / production will lower the price of supplies
2) They have the government / FDA influence to get the stuff legalized and complete the required studies.
3) Even though their product will be expensive for what it is, it lowers the entry level cost for vapers and increases the likelihood of conversions because of their market penetration.
4) It will be harder to ban a product the government allows the big T companies to sell.
5) Existing / Knowledgeable vapers may become the equivalent of the cigar smokers of the tobacco world (advanced users who understand the product and sources better) and will represent a small enough portion of the revenue stream that the government will leave them alone.

Maybe we should be encouraging big T to come up with something as a health friendly marketing move.

Well, Somebody's got to be an optimist. Every time I read this forum, I end up buying another liter of e-juice, just in case...

You make some good points here. There's a lot of talk about e-cigs needing a wider audience to achieve mass appeal, and for better or worse, this is one way to do it. It might not be the best of all possible scenarios, but if anyone has the money to get it marketed to the masses, it's big tobacco. Could be a rocky few years though...

 

[Adrenalynn]

Naw, mass market won't drive the price down. Look at the pricing on gum, patches, etc. They're insanely priced by fiat, not by necessity.

 

[Stephra]

I wouldn't LIKE my vape prices to go up for inferior product, true, but if it meant that people weren't trying to ban left and right that wouldn't necessarily be a BAD thing, at least not completely bad.

 

[VapingRulz]

I think the voting public needs to get outraged - and make sure their local politicians know exactly how they feel.

It's ok for Big T to produce an e-cig, but it's not ok for smaller startups to do so?

It's anti-American.

It really is all about the tax revenue. In my mind, they have no business using tobacco taxes to prop up all sort of social programs in the first place. Let everyone pay their fair share - not just smokers.

 

[Adrenalynn]

Less choice, more law, more government interference = not bad?

Alas - not in my personal dictionary...

 

[Belletrist]

yeah, if i thought they were just going to enter the business... k. competition is good (in the long run, at least). but they won't just enter; they'll enter, and use their lobbyists to manipulate the law so they're the only option.

 

[xdunlapx]

And that's what I'm afraid of.

 

[Stephra]

It just doesn't seem terribly likely that PVs will continue to just glide under the radar for much longer. I did say it would be some rough years, to be fair. What would be worse is being turned into a criminal for trying to buy a PV.

I don't have health insurance, so I sure won't be able to get a prescription for a medical style NRT vaporizer, and I definitely don't want to see them banned outright. Seeing as these are both options on the table, I'd prefer to take the option that affects me the LEAST.

What I'd really prefer is to continue buying my goods free and legal from the supplier I choose without a bunch of interference. But I'm also realistic enough to recognize that my druthers don't rule the world. Big Tobacco is not my first choice by a long shot, but I'd rather that than Big Pharma. And I'd prefer ANY of those options to complete ban!

 

[Dkrom68]

Its all about the "All Mighty Dollar" and how BT and the GOVT can get there hands on it. It wouldnt matter to either of them if there were even more harmful chemicals and carcinogens in them they would still dip there hand in the cookie jar.