Frustrated with my 'converts'

[Rickajho]

If you ask me it all comes down to motivation. You have to first want to quit smoking before you can find any motivation to switch to vaping. If any of us here didn't really want to quit to begin with, we wouldn't be here talking about this right now. There might be a few happy accidents who trip over e-cigs and then just quit analogs, even if "we" are the cause of the happy accidents. But I really don't think that speaks to the majority.

Health reasons, financial reasons, all the hassles smokers are put through in public and at the work place, even smoking being prohibited in lease agreements and condo rules more and more often... Until someone finds their own reason to quit analogs is there that strong an appeal to switch and only vape instead? Sadly, it appears not. Don't get me wrong - I love my vaping. But I had to have a reason to quit smoking to begin with.

I will continue to put the info out there. Not so sure about how often I will be putting the equipment out there to back it up though.

 

[The Yeti]

My new plan is recommend mods I want so if they don't stick with it I get discounted gear!

I've been doing the same thing! But, no takers as of yet.

 

[Baldr]

The majority of smokers I've introduced to vaping have not switched to vaping - they just supplement their smoking habit with vaping!

It took me over 2 months to quit smoking cigs when I started vaping.

There is a learning curve. You have to learn about equipment, and how to refill a cartomizer or tank, what flavors you like, what nicotine level you need, etc. You even have to learn to "smoke" differently. If you take a hit off of a PV the same way you do off of a cig, you'll cough up a storm.

Until you find juice that's right for you (a taste you like, and the right nic level) then you are going to keep smoking. For some people, they like a lot of flavors and that's quick and easy. Others have to order a bunch of small trial bottles to find what they want.

Vaping isn't as easy as just lighting a cig. Give them some time, answer their questions.

No matter what, if they don't really want to quit smoking, they aren't going to, and you can't make them.

 

[Str8V8ping]

It took me over 2 months to quit smoking cigs when I started vaping.

There is a learning curve. You have to learn about equipment, and how to refill a cartomizer or tank, what flavors you like, what nicotine level you need, etc. You even have to learn to "smoke" differently. If you take a hit off of a PV the same way you do off of a cig, you'll cough up a storm.

Until you find juice that's right for you (a taste you like, and the right nic level) then you are going to keep smoking. For some people, they like a lot of flavors and that's quick and easy. Others have to order a bunch of small trial bottles to find what they want.

Vaping isn't as easy as just lighting a cig. Give them some time, answer their questions.

No matter what, if they don't really want to quit smoking, they aren't going to, and you can't make them.

A little over 2 months seems about where im at . I am still smoking analogs even though i dont like them . I was a 2.5 PAD smoker before vaping and now im down to 2-3 analogs a day and should be completly analog free by next month . Iv been vaping for about 2.5months now . The 2-3 analogs i smoke still are the hardest to break which is when i wake up , after dinner and another random time . The majority of the day im vaping though and dont really consider my self a smoker anymore as much as i cut down .

 

[Baldr]

I am still smoking analogs even though i dont like them .

Oh, I still like them. I still feel minor "I'd like a cig" stuff pretty much all the time. But it's not bad, and I can resist. I don't enjoy vaping nearly as much as I enjoyed smoking, but it's a better alternative. I vape because it's the closest I can come to just plain quitting. Over time, maybe I can gradually lower my nic level, and eventually quit.

 

[osirisorion]

Haven't come across this problem yet! My buddy switched to vaping but still smokes 1-2 a day, which is cool with me! He used to be a 2 pack a day smoker like me!

The only thing that gets on my nerves is people I work with ask so many questions seem interested but when I tell them what they need to get and where to get it they write it off like its too much work.. Oh well

 

[Baldr]

I was a 2.5 PAD smoker before vaping and now im down to 2-3 analogs a day and should be completly analog free by next month . Iv been vaping for about 2.5months now . The 2-3 analogs i smoke still are the hardest to break which is when i wake up , after dinner and another random time . The majority of the day im vaping though and dont really consider my self a smoker anymore as much as i cut down .

I consider myself a smoker who isn't smoking. Sort of like an alcoholic who doesn't drink is still an alcoholic.

I don't know what nic level you are using, or if you've tried this, but you might consider getting some juice a level higher than your normal, and using it just for those times when you are having trouble. That's what worked for me.

I started with 24mg nic juice. That was good advice, based on the fact that I was a 3PPD (sometimes more) smoker. That worked pretty good, but not completely. Mostly after meals I would get cravings. I got some 30mg nic juice, and an atomizer/drip tip setup. Once I started using that when I would get those after-meal cravings, it was fairly easy to quit. I don't need the 30mg nic very often anymore, and sooner or later, I expect to get some juice in a much lower level and mix the 30 with the low-nic juice so it comes out at 20 or 24mg. For now, even though I don't use it often, I keep it as a "just in case".

 

[nanovapr]

Frustrating for me, as well. I have introduced 10 true addict smokers to vaping, 5 of them are 100% vaping, 3 are back and forth, the other 2 don't touch it anymore. I provided mucho support as well. I got them good devices with little maintaince, good juice (like you, ski, whatever they wanted), better cartos. I am still quite enthusiastic, six months since my last cig, I will never smoke again. Er, unless the Zombie Vaping FDA Shutdown occurs and I can't get nic. Then it may be time for the tobacco patch in the back yard.... Like others mentioned, I also researched heavily and learned before I lept. You can't do it for them, they have to want to. The best we can do is just that, the best we can.

 

[MegaBee]

I think my so far successful switch to vaping was because I wanted to quit and was already on patches, I still felt like something was missing even though my craving were under control with the patch I was continually sucking on lollies or chewing gum after trying a Blu type cig I knew this would work for me. I have spent a month and a few hundred $$$ trying to find the right gear and liquid. I think if I didn't want this to work so bad I would have went back to smoking. Your head definitely has to be in the right place.


Last cigarette 16th October, 2011. Forever grateful for the support and advice from ECF.

 

[Str8V8ping]

I consider myself a smoker who isn't smoking. Sort of like an alcoholic who doesn't drink is still an alcoholic.

I don't know what nic level you are using, or if you've tried this, but you might consider getting some juice a level higher than your normal, and using it just for those times when you are having trouble. That's what worked for me.

I started with 24mg nic juice. That was good advice, based on the fact that I was a 3PPD (sometimes more) smoker. That worked pretty good, but not completely. Mostly after meals I would get cravings. I got some 30mg nic juice, and an atomizer/drip tip setup. Once I started using that when I would get those after-meal cravings, it was fairly easy to quit. I don't need the 30mg nic very often anymore, and sooner or later, I expect to get some juice in a much lower level and mix the 30 with the low-nic juice so it comes out at 20 or 24mg. For now, even though I don't use it often, I keep it as a "just in case".

Its a good idea . I vape 18mg . When i started vaping i was using 24mg and even tried 36mg but both of them made me like tired evertime i vaped them like i was getting too much nic .

 

[Rhapsodies Fire]

Of the 10 people I have introduced to vaping, 3 are vaping exclusively, one is back and forth and 6 are smoking exclusively. I agree that they have to want to quit. I'll tell ya...it took me 6 months of vaping pv after pv after pv before I let the cigarettes go. And honestly, I would be one of the failures for sure if it wasn't for the support and hand holding my husband gave me. And I'm sure that many of those who gave up and went back to cigarettes need just that kind of attention. And I don't blame them. Once I was able to quit smoking, I thought back to those first 6 months and discovered what it was that was holding me back besides a wicked strong addiction. It was all too much fuss. I needed the whole process to be easier than smoking. I didn't want to become a hobbyist, a collector, a DIYer either. I just wanted to quit smoking. Now I simply hand out the ECF business cards, and a couple other vaping related cards and my own business card telling folks that the information is there if they're interested....and that they are welcome to contact me if they have any questions or need support. I don't feel badly that only 3 of our friends quit....I feel proud! Because that is something right there! My only goal was to help just one person quit. And I know, given more time, more of our friends will do the same. I'm just hanging on for the ride like my husband did for me.

 

[orachel]

I've gotten 4 of my friends started on vaping, and thusfar two have given up cigs entirely, and two remain holdouts. But you know... like others have said, all you can do is introduce it to them. I'd look at it as, well... maybe this person won't quit today, but if they have some other experience in their lives down the road that motivates them to quit, then they'll have the info, knowhow and experience to switch to vaping entirely at that point, which gives them a better chance of success of staying off the butts. Either way, you did your part, and should be proud of that.

 

[Trilly]

I have lost count of the people I have told about vaping but of them all I know of are 5 that now vape exclusively and a further 8 that are still smoking and vaping (but have cut down the analogues), I have a kit with tobacco cartos for people to use when they visit since I now don't allow smoking at all on my property (not even in the garden). The fact is you have given them the idea, if they want to, and I mean really want to quit smoking they now know there is another way and if they make that step then great. Don't be disheartened, just be there when they have questions but ultimately it is down to them.
The person, other than myself that I wanted desperately to quit was my mum, everyone else, including her brother is a bonus.

 

[ScottinSoCal]

I know many smokers and I've given some kits and loaned some kits. The two people I loaned kits wound up buying their own and they've switched to vaping. The people I gave kits used them for a little while and went back to cigarettes. I've decided that from now on I'll loan kits. If they're interested enough to buy their own, they tend to stick with it. If they're not, they'll return the kit and no harm done. I can't get frustrated with them for not being ready to switch - I wasn't ready for years. I still answer questions when people ask, and I still keep an eGo-T kit to loan out when people want to try it. I also keep some menthol juice for those who don't want to think about a dessert-type vape - that's all I use these days.

 

[Tallmaan84]

The people i have converted have completely quit, but thats only about 3-4. They hated smoking and wanted a better way to get their nic fix. They were so happy they had me and that i had you guys to help them get started with a good kit and good quality juice. One actually told me she would do this till she dies lol. My wife has convereted a couple of her friends too and they are weening off the analog quickly. We chose to leave the option open for them and show them what they are. We only "try" those that want to quit smoking but can't.

 

[The Yeti]

What really gets me upset is when people I'm semi-close to have serious health issues directly related to smoking, I turn them on to vaping to try and save their life, but they just continue smoking and use vaping as a supplement - makes me very sad.

 

[StotheK]

Most of the people I know ended going back to cigarettes at some point. I understand that, this works differently for people. The only problem is when I give people kits or whatever and then they fall of the wagon, they never seem to give the stuff back so others might have the chance to use it.

 

[rolygate]

I've come to the conclusion that about 50% of people will switch and remain vapers successfully.

You probably have to want to do it, because it's too difficult, for various reasons, to just pick it up easily. The best guide is what has gone before: 40% of smokers in Sweden changed to Snus. Initially I thought that a lot more people would switch with e-cigs because they are a better solution, but now I'm not so sure - to me it now seems more likely that 50% is the percentage who will change and succeed long-term. The other 50% don't want to quit, and prefer smoking to anything else.

There is no doubt that success is far more likely if you have a mentor. It's just too difficult to find an equipment and refill combination that works, for everyone, over the long term, otherwise.

Another factor is the WTA issue. One of the experienced members here thinks that 75% of people probably need WTAs to do the job properly. I can't really argue as it took me a year to finally ditch the cigs, and most likely it only worked because I used a DIY version of WTA liquid.

Perhaps if you can arrange the ideal situation: a good mentor available as needed, a full choice of e-cigs, end fittings, and refills, and access to WTA liquid - then it may be possible to exceed 50%. That set of circumstances doesn't seem to be widely available though. People are so different that one set solution might only work for 10% of them.

 

[Iffy]

Ya know what? This thread is actually encouraging!

Most responding here have helped at least one other person to start vaping; some even more. That's not counting those have missed this thread. That's pretty day-um impressive! Now, how many of these converts will, in turn, convert others?

Great job, ya'll!

 

[Baldr]

Of the 10 people I have introduced to vaping, 3 are vaping exclusively, one is back and forth and 6 are smoking exclusively.

That's a 30% success rate so far, and if the one that is "back and forth" manages to quit smoking in favor of vaping, it goes to 40%.

I've gotten 4 of my friends started on vaping, and thusfar two have given up cigs entirely, and two remain holdouts.

And that's a 50% rate.

That's incredible. Most methods of quitting have success rates under 10% (usually well under), and these people you've converted to vaping have almost certainly tried to quit before.

I'd look at it as, well... maybe this person won't quit today, but if they have some other experience in their lives down the road that motivates them to quit, then they'll have the info, knowhow and experience to switch to vaping entirely at that point, which gives them a better chance of success of staying off the butts. Either way, you did your part, and should be proud of that.

That part about "maybe not today, but sometime down the road", I think that's very important. Nobody quits until they want to quit. Some of the failures now may be more motivated to quit later on, and you've given them some info on how to do it.