First Exposure to E-cigarettes

[Petrodus]

What was you first exposure to e-cigarettes ??

My first exposure (5 yeas ago) was when I was surfing YouTube
and saw an "Electronic Cigarette" video.

My reaction was WOW ... If those work, I can continue the habit
(which I really enjoy) and stop smoking cigarettes.

Long story short...I researched to find the best e-cig at the time
and ordered it along with samples of all levels of nicotine. I knew
nicotine would be a "key" and wanted to have on-hand all levels
to experience the differences.

The cost of the e-cig and supplies was No Big Deal since I had
been smoking at least 1 carton of cigarettes a week for 40 years.
You do the math.

When I took my first vape...I remember saying to myself...
"WOW, I just stopped smoking cigarettes"

Hopefully, some will post their first exposure to e-cigs was
when they saw someone vaping and asked the big question.

 

[DietSalem]

Quite a few years ago. That video of the news report on them, the kids vaping in the restaurant. Took much longer for me to get involved, though.

A friend bought a blu. It tasted like ..., and I basically said "I'm going to let them work on that tech, then I'll revisit".

Two or so years later my wife had to stop smoking for work, so I decided we'd both get ecigs just to use while we couldn't smoke. I intended to keep smoking. Turns out, once I had a VV Saber Touch I never wanted to smoke again.

 

[erictho]

in early 2008 the tobacconist i always went to started carrying pvs. i was pretty confused about the topic at first, and didn't understand how "water vapor" was supposed to be analogous to smoke. the fact it had no nicotine and cost $120 (my monthly expense on cigarettes per month at the time) made me scoff and buy a pack of my $8 smokes.
in 2009 a friend and i went to vegas and there were kiosks selling pvs. i was really excited because to me "electronic cigarette" suggests the unit was a (another) vaporizer that was intended for tobacco. again, confusion when i heard that it involved no tobacco at all. the kits being sold there had nicotine (unlike any retailer in my city), they were way more reasonably priced, and i was more interested in them as an alternative. i just had no idea what i would do when i got back home for restocking everything, so i continued puffing stinkies.
i don't know why, but i group those two experiences as my first "exposure" to vaping.

in august 2011 i decided i needed to quit smoking RIGHT NOW. after only 5 years of smoking. 2 years smoking tailor mades, 3 years smoking "cowboy" smokes (hand rolled, unfiltered). even though i really ended up hating my ego-t i pretty much quit cold turkey. one smoke in the morning and evening, just to finish off my pouch of tobacco. if i had access to pvs as they are now when i started smoking, i probably would have just vaped.
i know that's a controversial viewpoint on this forum, but i personally have no issue with it.

 

[nansc]

I started when we had a repairman in and I apoligized for the smoke smell.The guy said he quit with e cigs so I started researching them.I thought they were too expensive but my husband kept nagging me so I switched over.Took me awhile but I made it.

 

[tamarahvt]

I had first heard about them 5-6 years ago and all I really remember about that was hearing they didn't work very well. A little over a month ago I was telling my 14 year old son that I had to quit smoking and he told me that a British gamer he follows on youtube uses an e-cig and suggested I give them a try. I've been analog-free since day 2 of vaping.
I repaid the boy with a new gaming computer.

 

[enchantedwonder]

I have tried vaping off an on, and for emergency situations, (planes, long times when I couldn't smoke). Being a 1-2 PAD smoker for over thirty years (with Asthma) I have been getting Bronchitis regularly (I saw the Dr put down COPD even though he didn't say it outloud) and I have had some bouts of Pneumonia. The last round of Bronchitis was the kicker.

I had tried a Prosmoke a year and a half ago.. bleh. This time I bought a Greensmoke. Not bad actually, but not enough vapor and throat hit... I thought, "if I could get this nailed down, it just might work". That led me to find this forum. This community is awesome, and it's saving lives. One person recommended a Provari, another said get a KGO, and spend the extra money you save on Cartos, and Juice trying different kinds... that is what I did. I am still smoking an analog in the morning but that is it, and most of the time it's just a couple of puffs. I think once my new shipment of juice comes in I can quit that too... To eliminate 25+ cigs a day has been an amazing feat for me, mind blowing really. At first I ordered the wrong nic level, and wasn't getting enough. The Dekang I'm using is okay but really leaves an aftertaste. A kind board member paid forward some BWB which I really enjoy, and I'm waiting on my shipment. I also ordered some Nhaler Newport so that will be exciting. This really works.... really does.

PS I tried Chantix... OMG don't do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have tried three times and that stuff is NUTS!

 

[mudheadmackerel]

a few years ago my family bought me a shopping mall ecig kit - "Gold" or something like that.
It was not terrible but it didn't impress me enough to think that I could transition from cigarettes to that.
A few months later an acquaintance from another board mailed me an Ego kit from Totally Wicked. That was ten times better, and I thought it would be something I'd use as an occasional break from smoking.
Then, a few months following that, I was done with cigarettes.
That was a year and a half ago.

I started smoking at age 12, at the end I was stuffing my own cigarettes with a machine and tubes and loose tobacco but still smoking about 2 packs a day. Didn't think it'd be possible for me to even cut down.

Amazing.

 

[Bamboo]

I seen a commercial on TV, then googled for days, I ordered SafeCig took my first puff from it and never looked back. Then I found ECF and the rest is history.

 

[katann23]

I first heard about them probably 4 or 5 years ago. But when it was explained to me, I wasn't thinking about health benefits, I was thinking about money, and it sounded terribly expensive.

A couple years later a few friends switched over, so I got a little more interested. My mom ordered one of those free kits, and I could see how it could work, but I had one battery and it didn't last long, and the cartridges kind of sucked.

Finally, a combination of research, finances, and health concerns made me finally give it another go. Started with some little 808s from V4L, moved to an Inferno, and now am happily vaping away on my Provari.

 

[versaden]

I was first exposed to e-cigs from podcasts that I listened to. One of the vendors on this site was a sponsor, and I'd heard stories that the cohosts who used the tech had gone from a pack a day to maybe a cigarette here or there. I was immediately intrigued, as these guys aren't the type to lie to their listeners.

I started dating a woman (who smokes cloves) and, offhand, I'd mentioned to her that I was interested in trying the tech. She pitched the idea: "I won't judge you either way, but why don't you *try* to have the tech in house by your birthday?" (It was about three weeks away at that point.) Once a week, she'd ask if I'd bothered to order anything. By the time she asked the last time, I'd ordered a KR808 kit from V2 Cigs.

But, KR808s being what they are, the battery life wasn't nearly enough. I'd also received a bad batch of batteries, which left me with a lone USB passthrough to smoke: so I'd essentially bounce between computers, a slave to electricity sources AND nicotine.

Then I discovered the eGo system and it seemed like a nice balance between battery life and customization. I've had a few issues with minor leaks from my tanks--and I'm considering maybe a carto/tank system heading forward--but since I've acquired my eGo, I might have 2-3 cigarettes a week. When I cave and have one, I don't feel bad... but I'm noticing that I enjoy them less and less--and that I usually only have one when drinking with my pals. Outside of that, I haven't looked back and I don't plan to.

Big Tobacco, you'll never receive another penny of mine again. And, if you were smart, you'd be wise to start brewing your own juices. This tech isn't going away and now that smokers have an alternative to your poison, your days and market share are numbered. And this delights me to no end.

Regards,
V.

 

[Caelius Felix]

My first e-cig was an 808 with pre-filled cartos, and it was an awful experience. But I wanted to give vaping another shot, started googling the topic, found ECF, and quickly got some good advice about the right devices and juices that has led me to vaping satisfaction, although at a good bit of expense due to trial and error.

 

[MickeyRat]

The first time I heard about PVs was on an ask the doctor radio show. It sounded interesting but, at the time they weren't very available in the US. The next time it came up, my sister in-law had bought a kit at a smoke shop. I tried it and decided...maybe. I went and got my own kit. Like most retail kits it was overpriced and underperformed. I really hated the way the batteries went to nothing after 30 minutes. It was enough to get me looking for something better though. Then I found this forum. The rest is history.

 

[hallucinoJEN]

I had quit smoking cold turkey for 4 years during my marriage, but when we divorced, I started back up. About a year later in 2006, I saw a commercial on TV for e-cigs stating that I could smoke anywhere....I thought this was too good to be true, so I dismissed it.

I quit cold turkey again for a few months, and ended up smoking again for a few more months off and on. I was having such a hard time quitting, so I looked up e-cigs online (around 2009??). I saw a lot of negative reviews on e-cigs...mostly about how they leak nicotine and people have been known to get nicotine poisoning from them, and being afraid of this, I dismissed the e-cig again.

I continued to smoke off and on (always trying to quit cold turkey). Cheated on my quit on St. Patty's day by buying a pack of smokes after drinking a few rounds. I felt so bad, I gave my leftover cigs to another smoker, and started over again. I saw my little bro vape at my parents house (as well as seeing a post from a friend on Facebook a few months prior), and it convinced me to give e-cigs a try.

I ended up getting an e-cig from a kiosk at a mall. Although I regret actually paying for a starter kit at the kiosk, I don't regret talking to the lady. She was very helpful in telling me how the e-cig worked and how to refill a cartomizer. I went online and found the vaping guides website (Vaping Guides to the Electronic Cigarette), and my world changed forever!

There is a huge learning curve with e-cigs, but I feel it has been worth it. I wanted to quit smoking, but I didn't want to actually quit the act of smoking. And, e-cigs allows me to do just that.

Jen

 

[rak3rs]

a friend got me a 510 kit. that was my first exposure about 10 months ago.

 

[E Cool]

What was you first exposure to e-cigarettes ??

_______________________________________________________________________

I got very sick and could not breathe well and saw some in a drugstore.
Then I got well and was breathing better than I had in years but I could not stick with them not enough kick.
But I mix it up now and smoke E-Cigs and real cigarettes and I am still breathing and feeling better physically. .

 

[Extraunordinary]

My Sister-In-Law was using them, and my Sister being a doctor bought me one to try. I was the guy who said he would never quit smoking because I love my tobacco. I rolled my own (for 19 years) using a perique blend from another state that I would purchase online. When the US made it illegal to buy cig tobacco online I almost quit because I couldn't find good tobacco locally. Anyways I took a puff of the 36mg ecig, and said, "Wow, this tastes and feels just like a real cig!" So I jumped on board. Having a newborn helped in my decision. The ecig was from a mall kiosk, and I went through the constantly charging batteries nightmare. My Wife still allowed me to smoke a pipe, because she loves the smell, so that helped with the initial frustration. Then I found you guys, bought a VV, and I don't even touch my pipe anymore! 3 months in, and I have already lowered my nic to 12mg.

 

[DC2]

My first exposure was someone who passed by our table in a restaurant on his way out.

He was puffing on a Blu and as he passed by I saw the little blue light on the end and asked him what it was.
He briefly explained and left a business card for Blu.

After he walked away I told my wife the whole concept had to be one of the stupidest things I had ever heard of.

Fast forward about a year and my sister was in town for Father's Day.
We all went out to eat, as we were leaving the restaurant my sister pulled out an NJoy and started puffing on it.

She let me try it and I knew I was going to quit smoking as soon as I bought one.

 

[Stormlark]

I can't remember where or when I first heard about them. It was before the exploding battery incident. When that happened, I remember thinking it was silly that it got so much media coverage. How many people die every year from smoking? One guy gets injured using an E-Cig, and suddenly they're being portrayed as highly dangerous.

Even then I didn't know what they were or how they worked. I thought they were just fancy cigarettes. Maybe something rich people used. The first time I actually saw one being used was in the movie, "Fright Night." The first time I heard them explained was in the movie, "The Tourist." The night after watching that movie I looked them up online and ordered a Blu starter kit. I really wish I'd found ECF first and asked about reputable vendors. Woulda saved me some money.

 

[MaxUT]

In June of 2009 they jacked up the cigarette tax-- again. Grrrrrr... after 40 years of smoking they'd gotten a lot of my money and now they wanted even more!

Heard a radio ad for NJOY electronic cigarettes while driving one day, changed course and stopped at a Pilot station to see if they carried them.

They did. I bought a kit and pack of cartridges. Tried it out-- wow, this thing actually does make "smoke". But not a lot, and it doesn't seem to have much nicotine. And it sure doesn't hold much liquid. And it doesn't really taste like tobacco. Wondered if there was a better model out there.

And there was. After buying a succession of PVs, juices, atomizers, cartomisers, etc. over time I eventually got to a place where I didn't need to smoke cigarettes anymore.

(you kids today got it easy... Provaris and artisan juice makers and tanks and what-not... why, I had to walk ten miles through chest-deep snow, uphill both ways, zombies dogging my tracks, just to get a decent throat hit!)