Helping a non-geek friend get started with e-cigs

[pixiedust]

I convinced one of my friends to try e-cigs, but she is not someone who would do well with anything complex and would probably not even bother trying to use it if it had complex instructions. I started with a KR-808 and found it an easy way to switch from analogs (sort of looked like a cigarette, wasn't complex, and worked pretty much out of the box) but I knew NOTHING when I ordered mine and probably way over-paid by ordering from smoke-tip ($59 starter kit). Is there a website that I can direct my friend to where she can order a reasonably priced starter kit and prefilled cartomizers? It doesn't have to be a KR-808, just something 'user friendly' and fairly priced. I just want to make the experience easy for her, if she likes it as much as I did then I will direct her to the forum and she can continue her education here

 

[Sandpit]

There's tons on the forum in the supplier section. I bought my first kit from vapor4life. It was a simple kit and I just bought a few more batteries from myvaporstore. They are both pretty standard in prices and their products have always been high quality in my opinion.

 

[keyzygirl]

I use Vapor4Life and they have a huge selection of prefilled cartos,all kinds of color and sizes of batteries and great cases.Everything is 808 so it all goes together,nothing confusing just easy to deal with.

 

[markfm]

For non tech the 808 with prefilled really is solid. Go to xl or mega 380 mah batteries of they are anything other than fairly light smokers.
Vapor4 life often has pretty healthy sales, decent batts, huge selection of pre filled cartos. Their vaporking units are 808.
Nhaler is another shop with good 808 gear and solid customer service.

 

[Stosh]

........ I started with a KR-808 and found it an easy way to switch from analogs (sort of looked like a cigarette, wasn't complex, and worked pretty much out of the box) but I knew NOTHING when I ordered mine .....

You pretty much answered your own question, don't mess with success.
Seriously, a KR-808 is a good starter kit, simple, good vaper, and you can
bum vapes off of each other. "got a spare carto"

Regarding the price, you can check the registered suppliers listed on the
front page of the forum, just find your best price, if they weren't good
they wouldn't last long here without being criticized.

 

[No Brag]

Your friend has something that you didn't have when you started. She has a friend that has been through this and can help her. It would be fun to learn together and have each other for support.

 

[dormouse]

Cartos are sort of wasted if you don't refill them. Probably still the best way to go but teach them how to refill them.

Cheaper plain kits at Vaporleaf.com and LiteCigUSA.net

Pretty kits at Vapor4Life.com and BloogPlanet.com

Most prefilled cartos at Vapor4Life.com - have them get some of the samplers to find flavors they like, then you could get separate packs or those and some of the same juice.

And I recommend the standard batteries for good charge life even though the shorties are more the length of a cig. And MANUAL batteries regardless of what kind of technophobe they are. Manuals are less work and more consistent drag.

I love my KR8 - been adding juice to the same carto for 4 days so far and if it lives long enough, when it starts tasting bad or performing worse, I will try washing it.

 

[Drenkhahn]

I should probably upgrade eventually, but I am using a Joy 510. It was said its a very reputable, reliable "starter" kit...

 

[pixiedust]

Thanks much, that's good information. I refill mine, but somehow I just don't see my friend doing that..unfortunately we don't live near each other or I would just fill hers too.

 

[lordthree]

I should probably upgrade eventually, but I am using a Joy 510. It was said its a very reputable, reliable "starter" kit...

From what I've gathered, being a 3 piece, the 510 is actually a slightly more advanced build than the 808... You might 'downgrade' if u get a two-piece. The 510 is renowned for huge vapor right? If it ain't broke...

 

[lordthree]

Thanks much, that's good information. I refill mine, but somehow I just don't see my friend doing that..unfortunately we don't live near each other or I would just fill hers too.

I'm kind of in the same boat as you. I'm going to try and get my lawyer and his wife on ecigs, but Im not sure it's possible. My lawyer is a curmudgeonly old chunk of coal in his 80's... He's smoked two packs a day of Pall Mall no filters his entire life. His wife is in her 70s and was bemoaning not being able to quit smoking. I mentioned ecigs and told them I'd bring them over some to try out.

I understand that the biggest reason people don't stay with ecigs is the hassle...

I've got no problem filling cartos, but it takes about as long as rolling a cig... It's messier too. I'm going to bring them a bunch of prefilled carts, but what then? I figure they'll be smoking 4 carts a day... It will take 3 days before they get the hang of it... That's 24 carts between the two of them.

They prolly wouldn't mind paying retail for prefilled carts, but ordering them online might be a headache for them. The only other thing I can think of is to refill their carts for them every 3 days which is insane...

I dunno... If they decide to try and seriously do this... Uhhgg

 

[juicejunky]

Lordthree, Get the sampler packs from V4L to see what flavors/strength they like. Then wait for the 30%-33% off sales and order online for/with them in ample supply so you don't have to do it too often. Prefilleds compared to smokes it still less expensive.

If they do email you can sign them up so they get the sale notices.

So nice of you to turn them on to e-cigs. Your lawyer is a lucky man smoking 2 packs of no filter Pall Malls and living to his 80s.

 

[lordthree]

hmmm. Haven't heard of Eco T and google isn't helping. Is it like the eGo? I hadn't considered that... Something bigger that they'd have to refill less often might be perfect.

 

[lordthree]

So nice of you to turn them on to e-cigs. Your lawyer is a lucky man smoking 2 packs of no filter Pall Malls and living to his 80s.

Well, I'm more than a little concerned that the shock of quiting might kill him. I mean.... In all honesty, what if the tar and crud build up is the only thing holding his lungs together? lol I know that's a gibberish theory, but he's just sooooo ingrained in this way of life I don't know if he could handle anything drastic.

Has anyone heard of anything like that happening?

 

[jbs]

The other day i have managed to convince my boss (55-60 years old fella with no diy skills) to get ego/tornado tank. I have warned him that he will have to use syringe and needle to refil tank and guess what... he didn't mind
@ lordthree - i have not heard of trauma caused by quitting smoking but i just got my first post quitting cold/flue symptoms

 

[Bootsand]

If you're looking for a very simple option, I've seen great reviews on the Bloog Maxxfusion. I've never tried one myself because they use auto-batteries, but from the sound of the review, it has among the best performance of any simple, hassle-free starter kit I've seen.



Downside would be the cost, as it's more expensive than the 510 kit I began with... it may not be an option for your friend, but I figured you might want to check the review out anyway as other than the cost, it would probably be ideal for what your friend needs.

On another note, I think as long as you can get your friend interested in vaping long enough to make an initial switch, they may be interested in mods that turn them off now. From what I've seen and experienced firsthand, many people want a simple cig-looking, cig-feeling device that's as simple as can be at first, but soon move on to big battery mods no problem after a while... embracing fondly the very things that they would have said NO WAY to a month or two back. You'd be surprised