First AD in a National Publication?

[wv2win]

I saw a half page ad in USA Weekly that comes in our Sunday paper for this company:

American Blue Tip Electronic Smokes | The Classically Hip Smoke

I wasn't impressed since it looks like a subscription site that provides a free PV that looks like an SE type 4081 which is pretty bad IMO. I didn't delve into their site but did notice they used the term "damaging nicotine" on the front page and came close to making medical claims in their newspaper ad. Who has the money to place ads at a national level?

 

[Vocalek]

I saw a half page ad in USA Weekly that comes in our Sunday paper for this company:

American Blue Tip Electronic Smokes | The Classically Hip Smoke

I wasn't impressed since it looks like a subscription site that provides a free PV that looks like an SE type 4081 which is pretty bad IMO. I didn't delve into their site but did notice they used the term "damaging nicotine" on the front page and came close to making medical claims in their newspaper ad. Who has the money to place ads at a national level?

Answer: Companies that use the "Free Trial" scam.

Are they really selling nothing but a "fake cigarette"? No nic? Sheesh! That might actually work for a small percentage of the smoking public, but not for the vast majority. I just hope that people don't give up on e-cigarettes if they have a disappointing experience with this product.

 

[rothenbj]

I didn't delve into their site but did notice they used the term "damaging nicotine" on the front page and came close to making medical claims in their newspaper ad. Who has the money to place ads at a national level?

Interesting thought about making medical claims. Since there is no nicotine, if they added some nutrients/vitamines to the e liquid, would the FDA be able to challenge their claims as a smoking cessation device?

 

[Bill Godshall]

The ad stated that the products are nicotine-free.

I've corresponded with many vapers who claim to use nicotine-free e-cigarettes, and claim that the products satisfy their cigarette cravings.

We should support nicotine-free e-cigarettes just as much as e-cigarettes and e-liquid that contains/emits nicotine.

 

[rothenbj]

The ad stated that the products are nicotine-free.

I've corresponded with many vapers who claim to use nicotine-free e-cigarettes, and claim that the products satisfy their cigarette cravings.

We should support nicotine-free e-cigarettes just as much as e-cigarettes and e-liquid that contains/emits nicotine.

Totally agree with you on that Bill. I really believe a portion of the smoking public is more addicted to the hand to mouth aspects of smoking than the nicotine or the other tobacco alkaloids.

Unfortunately, I can see some that would otherwise move to a more suitable solution, picking these up and not getting what they need, then writing off E-cig effectiveness altogether.

 

[Vocalek]

The ad stated that the products are nicotine-free.

I've corresponded with many vapers who claim to use nicotine-free e-cigarettes, and claim that the products satisfy their cigarette cravings.

We should support nicotine-free e-cigarettes just as much as e-cigarettes and e-liquid that contains/emits nicotine.

Not if they don't make it very clear up-front that their product doesn't contain nicotine.

And not if their "free trial" is a scam.

 

[wv2win]

The ad stated that the products are nicotine-free.

I've corresponded with many vapers who claim to use nicotine-free e-cigarettes, and claim that the products satisfy their cigarette cravings.

We should support nicotine-free e-cigarettes just as much as e-cigarettes and e-liquid that contains/emits nicotine.

Bill, I have no problem supporting the use of non-nicotine PV's. Most suppliers offer zero nicotine e-liquid. I think this particular companies' marketing approach is bad. They appear to provide an inferior device and want you to be contractually bound to buying their cartridges. They also infer that nicotine is in the same category as the carcenogentic substances in tobacco. This type of marketing and set-up will give personal vaporizers a bad reputation.

 

[kevbow]

The ad stated that the products are nicotine-free.

I've corresponded with many vapers who claim to use nicotine-free e-cigarettes, and claim that the products satisfy their cigarette cravings.

We should support nicotine-free e-cigarettes just as much as e-cigarettes and e-liquid that contains/emits nicotine.

I also agree with you Bill, but what happens with companies who market like this is that the customer signs up for the so called "free trial" which usually ends up in the customer getting charged an outrageous amount of money for a 30 or 40 dollar starter kit at which point the customer becomes very upset which in the end gives the customer a bad impression of e-cigarettes. I feel that companies like these are harmful to e-cigarettes and the community.

 

[Bill Godshall]

While I share the concerns of others about companies that contract with consumers to buy several months or years worth of products/services in order to get the first shipment/service, that's also called buyer beware or caveat emptor.

This type of marketing and contracting is common in many sectors of the economy (e.g. housing/personal/corporate loans, landlord/tenant contracts, automobile sales, furniture sales, telephone services, book/record/dvd clubs, magazine/newspaper subscriptions, etc.).

 

[ezmoose]

Thanks for posting!