is Big Tobacco worried yet?

[shakey ceasefire]

Hey All:

I'm curious... I just discovered vaping 2 weeks ago, after wanting/trying to quit for years. I can't believe it's so easy... I've got several friends, my brother and my mom going on e-cigs now. Everyone I know who smokes wants to quit. The thing about fogging is you get all the pleasure and rituals (plus some new ones) and no cancer. It's really more fun than smoking, guilt free, and a fun toy to boot. blah blah preaching to the converted here I know.

In short, I predict that this is going to be huge. I can't help but wonder when the big tobacco lobby is going to start trying to crush this tiny industry...

 

[surbitonPete]

Hey All:

I'm curious... I just discovered vaping 2 weeks ago, after wanting/trying to quit for years. I can't believe it's so easy... I've got several friends, my brother and my mom going on e-cigs now. Everyone I know who smokes wants to quit. The thing about fogging is you get all the pleasure and rituals (plus some new ones) and no cancer. It's really more fun than smoking, guilt free, and a fun toy to boot. blah blah preaching to the converted here I know.

In short, I predict that this is going to be huge. I can't help but wonder when the big tobacco lobby is going to start trying to crush this tiny industry...

I think we all expect 'someone' is going to do everything they can to crush e-cigarettes ....we are just not sure 'who or when'.

 

[wv2win]

I think we all expect 'someone' is going to do everything they can to crush e-cigarettes ....we are just not sure 'who or when'.

Let's think positive. Maybe insteaf of crushing it, they may decide to embrace it and improve the product, imagine and availability.

 

[surbitonPete]

Let's think positive. Maybe insteaf of crushing it, they may decide to embrace it and improve the product, imagine and availability.

I think I just saw a pig fly past my window........lol... but I am all for 'thinking' positive.

 

[CssReb]

Hey All:

The thing about fogging is you get all the pleasure and rituals (plus some new ones) and no cancer. It's really more fun than smoking, guilt free....

That's a bold statement considering no one knows yet the effects of propolyne glycol and its prolonged use along with the other chemicals found in e-liquid.

Congratulations on quitting analogs.

 

[wv2win]

I think I just saw a pig fly past my window........lol... but I am all for 'thinking' positive.

You may be right. But it sure seems to make sense to me. The tobacco companies are losing customers every year and have a very negative imagine. This would seem like a "win-win" for them, to me. Just think if they embraced the idea and built a manufacturing planet in the West to compete with the Chinese. If they actually could make a better product, even if it cost more, we would probably buy it. Probably won't happen because it seems too logical.

 

[HDBanger]

Well right now, I spend about 50 a month to vape. I was spending at least 160 a month on cigs. Id say if they do get ahold of it they will tax the living **** out of it and make it cost about the same as cigs. One way or the other the Govt. is going to want that revenue back, they may let on like they care for you and want you to quit, but they know better, and they would like nothing more than for you to smoke till you die, more money for them. Big tobacco, Big Brother, one or the other or both, are going to make vapers lives hell very soon.. Stock up my brothers, on ammo and juice and atomizers, a SD with lots of extra batteries and a solar panel..

 

[surbitonPete]

I get so angry with the idea of 'taxing' something in an attempt to make us stop doing it......it's only picking on the poorer people ... . It's the same with all the pollution taxes.....it's Ok to pollute the world as long you can pay the government to do it. Why should a rich person be able to pollute my world any more than I can.

 

[RatPack]

With the economy the way it is, and people losing their job every day, and China making just about everything we use, I wish for some one to start manufacturing these things in the US. Create some jobs, get people off analogs, save people's lives (maybe), and get the economy going.

I just hate being beholding to China for everything we buy! At least Grog is trying to improve our
e-cigs. How difficult can these things be to make? Are any of them patend? (sp) I don't think so, at least not in the US.

The big tobacco companies will probably come up with something, then we'll be beholding to them and probably have to pay big bucks for these things.Very depressing.

I'm not even vaping yet. My Pilot should arrive tomorrow. I ordered an Evo about week ago and it's still in processing. I just couldn't wait anymore and ordered the Pilot.

 

[fsu1dolfan]

I think I just saw a pig fly past my window........lol... but I am all for 'thinking' positive.

Yeah i would love to see this embraced by big tobacco too...hard to think it but just imagine walking into a store and see packs of cartidges or liquid with parliment, newport, camel....it would be amazing to see big tobacco with there resources to develop millions of flavors and still use the name Marlboro to sell it. Marlboro Carmel Banana and Newport Vanilla Menthol it would be crazy.....I to hope for big things and i have helped a few family members move to the e-cig. Change takes time...i just hope it keeps moving forward!

 

[surbitonPete]

At the moment I can't help thinking that hoping they will give vaping a green light is about the same thing as wishing for world peace.....but still....my fingers and toes are crossed.

 

[Momof3]

I'm sure they're watching, but I doubt they are all that worried. At this time they have too many points in their favor. I'm a smoker. Not only am I addicted, but I enjoy it. Everything else aside, I don't want to give it up. Therefore no matter how many times I try to quit, I'm not likely to succeed. I found out about e-cigs purely by chance. While I like my penstyle, it is not identical to smoking an analog and has it's own drawbacks.

Many people won't go the extra mile to research and will only find over-priced and/or inferior e-cigs. They either won't/can't buy or won't be happy with it and case closed, they stick with analogs and tell many people how crappy e-cigs are. Score one for big tobacco.

For those who buy/use/like their e-cig, what happens when they're out of juice/catridges, misplace their e-cig, atomizer/battery craps out and they don't have a spare, trusted suppliers out of stock, waiting on shipping, etc. Most won't tough out the 3-4 days or whatever. They will go buy some analogs. Then the whole analog to e-cig adaptation has to be done again.

While e-cigs can get around some smoking bans, they don't get around them all and are prompting new ones. Depending on the situation, I may not have to go outside to smoke but so long as most people do, I'm likely to be found with them.

In 4mnths I have yet to meet anyone who's even heard of e-cigs much less tried them. E-cigs will have to become much closer to analogs, more user friendly, readily and cheaply available before it will worry big tobacco too much. They've been at the game so long and have so many ways easily available to throw a wrench in it at this point. E-smoking has a long way to go to even compete. With their resources they could also decide to take the market and make what they want of it. An addict is always going to need the fix.

 

[BBuzzard]

With the economy the way it is, and people losing their job every day, and China making just about everything we use, I wish for some one to start manufacturing these things in the US. Create some jobs, get people off analogs, save people's lives (maybe), and get the economy going.

I just hate being beholding to China for everything we buy! At least Grog is trying to improve our
e-cigs. How difficult can these things be to make? Are any of them patend? (sp) I don't think so, at least not in the US.

The big tobacco companies will probably come up with something, then we'll be beholding to them and probably have to pay big bucks for these things.Very depressing.

I'm not even vaping yet. My Pilot should arrive tomorrow. I ordered an Evo about week ago and it's still in processing. I just couldn't wait anymore and ordered the Pilot.

Well are you going to work for a $1/hour or less like the Chinese do? Why do you think we import so much? I'll tell you because it is too expensive to us make here with the salaries, taxes, etc...

Create jobs by making E-Cigs? Wow, how about all of the millions of acres of farmers with tobacco? Where would they go?

Lets hope they just don't ban these e-cigs here. I think all of us are hoping we can vape and get juice in peace without any problems.

 

[TropicalBob]

In 4mnths I have yet to meet anyone who's even heard of e-cigs much less tried them.

Same for me, and I've been e-smoking 13 months.

Everything you wrote in your concluding paragraph is true, Momof3. It's laughable to think today's e-smoking products will worry Big Tobacco. Lawsuits, yes. Smoking restrictions, yes. Taxes, yes. E-smoking .. are you kidding?

A Wall Street analyst said the most optimistic market for e-cigs is 1% of smokers. That would be HUGE. But even that will be possible only if a massive switch to disposable and inexpensive e-cigs happens. Then comes taxes ....

Big Tobacco wants to market tobacco products. Camel Snus rolls out nationwide in five days. RJR rolls out dissolvable tobacco tablets, strips and "toothpicks" in April. Tobacco products. That's what tobacco companies want to sell.

 

[surbitonPete]

Personally I do think vaping has the potential to almost completely take over from tobacco if it was marketed in a high profile way and if the things could be made more reliable and consistent. Especially if people are allowed to vape everywhere that tobacco smoking is banned........but I think it would probably be banned or something long before that could happen.

 

[CssReb]

Wow, how about all of the millions of acres of farmers with tobacco? Where would they go?

Plant corn and soy for bio fuels. Solar farms

 

[4130cowboy]

I have a hard time believing that anything could seriously inhibit our freedom to vape. I understand comprehensive studies are/have been conducted regarding health issues. There is no doubt it my mind that standard cigarettes, the leading killer in our society, are substantially worse for the body; they dont have a leg to stand on. If anything, there should be tax breaks available for e-smokers due to the fact that it will create a healthier population - which is especially important amidst a health-care 'crisis'.

 

[wv2win]

Same for me, and I've been e-smoking 13 months.

Everything you wrote in your concluding paragraph is true, Momof3. It's laughable to think today's e-smoking products will worry Big Tobacco. Lawsuits, yes. Smoking restrictions, yes. Taxes, yes. E-smoking .. are you kidding?

A Wall Street analyst said the most optimistic market for e-cigs is 1% of smokers. That would be HUGE. But even that will be possible only if a massive switch to disposable and inexpensive e-cigs happens. Then comes taxes ....

Big Tobacco wants to market tobacco products. Camel Snus rolls out nationwide in five days. RJR rolls out dissolvable tobacco tablets, strips and "toothpicks" in April. Tobacco products. That's what tobacco companies want to sell.

Bob, good points especially the one that big tobacco probably has much bigger fish to fry. But, if they would take the time to analyze it, e-cigs could do much for big tobacco with probably very small investment in comparison to their main business. They could stand in front of Congress and say we are providing a viable alternative which could really help their image. But, if that happens, it will probably be way off in the future.

 

[shakey ceasefire]

The way I look at at, well, 2 things...

a) Here in California we have a major, major budget crisis. We also have one of the biggest cash crops in the world (but it's barely legal, if you will ). Imagine how much $$ would come in if we legalized it, sold it and taxed it like liquor! Budget problem solved! DUH! If hemp was made illegal for purely political reasons (despite such huge profit potential), vaping could be as well.

b) Look at what happened to the music biz over the past 20 years. The industry went around suing 13 year olds while a tech company (apple) actually figured out how to sell mp3s on the internet. Now the music biz is in ruins, and there's a whole generation of kids are out there who have never been in a record store, never bought a CD. I could see tobacco companies acting the same way, if threatened.

 

[smokingclam]

I was wondering something today that maybe someone could answer for me? The nicotine in our juice is produced from tobacco right? If so then Big Tobacco is making money from our e-cigs anyway. So why should they worry then?