Just an observation while in China

[tmbrown327]

I'm currently in Shenzhen (home of Joye Technology, Health Cabin, Heaven Gift, I think, and probably many more). When I had a few minutes of free time, I asked my friend here to call Joye and see if I could buy something from them or one of their local distributors. They told us they don't sell internally to China. I thought that was kind of weird.

Then I noted that I have never seen ANYONE in China using an e-cig. I figured that at least in Shenzhen it would be fairly common. Not so. I even went to one of the major discount shopping centers in Luo Hu, and got all kinds of looks (not good ones) when using my Janty Stick. These people are even less well informed of e-cigs than Americans, and they (the Chinese) invented the things.

Just odd.

 

[exogenesis]

Aren't they illegal to use in public in China (and they're strict about it) ?

 

[kase]

Maybe they know something we dont, lol!

 

[wanted]

I thought i read somewhere that they were legal in Hong Kong but not mainstream China.... I dont remember where I read that though...

 

[breakfastchef]

It is my understanding that the Chinese see no value in the e-cig.The devices are apparently are dozens of times more expensive than tobacco cigarettes.

 

[me2cyclops]

and a very large part of the manufactured goods are for export ONLY .they have different requirments on goods made FOR china

 

[guiltyspark]

Hmm, interesting! I kinda thought they were big over in China.

 

[tmbrown327]

As far as I know, they're illegal in Hong Kong, but not in China (since they manufacture them here, that would make sense I guess). I hadn't thought of the cost issue, which is true, you can get a pack of (questionable quality) smokes here for 30 cents. They're pretty health conscious though...

 

[Clueless in China]

I am a foreigner and believe I can provide an answer to your question. I live in Yunnan Province, ground zero of tobacco production in China. Tobacco accounts for roughly 8% of GDP and the government cannot afford to have people stop smoking. Additionally and cynically, China does have a huge overpopulation problem.

When I looked for e-cigs locally last year I was only able to find one man in a tiny storefront that had one, a DSE-801 for the equivalent of $125 US dollars. I spoke with him and he related that all of the government and their outlets, meaning the newspapers, television, police and radio had conspired to state that e-cigs caused cancer, aids, ebola and penis shrinkage. I have yet to see one in China except for the 15 or so people that I have turned on to them.

I laugh when I hear about the conspiracy of big tobacco and the government in America. You folks are living in a nerf world compared to me.

FWIW, I bought a DSE-801 from Bestecig (great service) and stopped smoking for about 3 weeks, only to have my batteries fail and my addiction overtake the ability of my e-cig. I am now awaiting an Indulgence which should arrive today or tomorrow. Shipping and customs don't affect me in China.

 

[Liscab]

regular cigarretes are so cheap in china so who needs e cig.0ne dollar buys a few packs

 

[tmbrown327]

regular cigarretes are so cheap in china so who needs e cig.0ne dollar buys a few packs

I guess only those people who would prefer not to die...eh, probably not a big market then huh?

 

[tmbrown327]

I am a foreigner and believe I can provide an answer to your question. I live in Yunnan Province, ground zero of tobacco production in China. Tobacco accounts for roughly 8% of GDP and the government cannot afford to have people stop smoking. Additionally and cynically, China does have a huge overpopulation problem.

When I looked for e-cigs locally last year I was only able to find one man in a tiny storefront that had one, a DSE-801 for the equivalent of $125 US dollars. I spoke with him and he related that all of the government and their outlets, meaning the newspapers, television, police and radio had conspired to state that e-cigs caused cancer, aids, ebola and penis shrinkage. I have yet to see one in China except for the 15 or so people that I have turned on to them.

I laugh when I hear about the conspiracy of big tobacco and the government in America. You folks are living in a nerf world compared to me.

FWIW, I bought a DSE-801 from Bestecig (great service) and stopped smoking for about 3 weeks, only to have my batteries fail and my addiction overtake the ability of my e-cig. I am now awaiting an Indulgence which should arrive today or tomorrow. Shipping and customs don't affect me in China.

Thanks, that explains a lot. The few people that I've spoken to about this while I'm here the last few times have immediately come out with 'they give you cancer and have bad things in them', which I thought they got from that bogus FDA 'study'. I'll definitely get on the soap box more to these guys now though.

 

[Taryn]

Maybe you'll run into Leaford vaping away in Shenzhen, he moved there and is working in the factory to help make the V4L products even better!

 

[tmbrown327]

He moved here? Radical. I know some ex-pats here, they tend to be a strange bunch. Shenzhen's a big place, more like a state than a city, not likely I'll run into him. I'm at the Crowne Plaza in the OCT tho, just in case.

 

[slybootz]

Maybe you'll run into Leaford vaping away in Shenzhen, he moved there and is working in the factory to help make the V4L products even better!

Leaford moved to Shenzhen?! That's hilarious and awesome!!!

 

[slybootz]

oooo after a quick google search, i found his blog and he is in Shenzhen lol

Leaford – An E-Smoker Forever! -|- Leaford’s reviews, E-Cigs, E-cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, e-pipes

 

[Bigbuyer]

He moved here? Radical. I know some ex-pats here, they tend to be a strange bunch. Shenzhen's a big place, more like a state than a city, not likely I'll run into him. I'm at the Crowne Plaza in the OCT tho, just in case.

I like that hotel. It has a great club outside by the pool.
I have been to China 36 times. I have only seen my e-cigs...that I brought.
They seem to all want to try them.

 

[leaford]

oooo after a quick google search, i found his blog and he is in Shenzhen lol

Leaford – An E-Smoker Forever! -|- Leaford’s reviews, E-Cigs, E-cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, e-pipes

I certainly am, and I need to blog about it more often. But I am working so hard, I just haven't gotten around to it as often as I had intended.

I'm lucky if I find time to relax a little and watch an hour or so of TV. An lord knows I never get enough .

 

[tmbrown327]

I like that hotel. It has a great club outside by the pool.
I have been to China 36 times. I have only seen my e-cigs...that I brought.
They seem to all want to try them.

Yup, it's OK if it's not 1000 degrees outside or they don't have whatever band that week turned up to brain damage level. I've only been to the VBar once, and that was enough to put callouses on my eardrums. I'm trying to get the company to switch over to the new Westin across the street, they have actual mattresses on the beds, rather than the standard plywood planks at the Crowne. Oh, and they haven't changed the menu in 5 years. Other than that, it's dandy.

I guess most of the Chinese guys I know here are 'enlightened', they all quit smoking years ago. Way different than it was 10 years ago.

Ah well, time to quit ranting, I'm at the tail end of a long stint here and I'm pretty much ready to go home.

 

[aubergine]

wait. i'm about to buy something that CHINA bans for "health reasons"? and manufactures for the west? are there studies from china? would we know? oy. but that prefigures what's happening here, with the FDA/tobacco lobbyist liason. unless they really do cause penis shrinkage. fortunately, i don't have one.