KR8 starter kits from China

[sarathmenon]

Hello,

I read across ecigarettes recently and have been interested in switching to one to try quitting analog cigarettes one last time. I've finally decided to jump board and give it a try after reading DaBoomVape’s lengthy guide on ecigs (hey, nice guide BTW. You rock!).

My problem is that I am in India, and shipping from US or UK is very prohibitively expensive. There are two resellers based in India, but they don't list which models they stock and just call them Kit-1, Kit-2 etc... Based on the reviews on the interwebs, they stock the cheapest they can get their hands on and there are a lot of disgruntled users. To sum up, my options are between Chinese, US and UK resellers. It'll take the same time for shipping from US/China and shipping costs are going to be the same or better for China. Looking at everything, it makes more sense for me to use a Chinese store.

There's a myriad of information out here, and going by the forum's collective wisdom I've decided to settle on a KR8 starter kit as a better choice for me. Based on Daboom's guide, I see that heaven-gifts and health-cabin are the more reputed Chinese outfits, but both have the KR8 listed as out of stock. Are there any other vendors that you guys recommend? I know it comes out funny since my situation is the opposite of what most of you guys face.

I have a starter kit on the way, but I'd like to know my options to get a decent kit. I hate nicotine gum, and have a strong aversion for patches, so I am really hoping that ecigs live up to their promise.

 

[knobbysmoo]

HI and welcome. I am not familiar with the KR8 so am bumping this up so someone can help.

 

[Lightgeoduck]

Well until you get other site suggestions. You could order from HC or HG individual pieces to make your own kit, if needed. What you would order would be:

Kr8 cartomizer (blank)
juice to fill them
901 kit or batteries and charger: since the cartomizers are compatible with the 901 batteries

HI and welcome. I am not familiar with the KR8 so am bumping this up so someone can help.

KR8 (hover over it with your mouse) are Kr808 cartomisers a two piece ecig where the atomizer and cart are one.

LGD

 

[kboyts]

if your shipping costs are the same youd probably save money ordering from China, as USA suppliers order their stock from china, then have to mark the prices up to cover their profit and have to pass those costs on to you. Although if you have a problem you may get better customer service from a US supplier.

 

[DataPhreak]

If you're going to go all the way to china, try to find an eGo. I'm not sure on the exact manufacturer, but it's probably the same as the ones that make the 510s. The reason why I suggest that over the kr8 is that the batteries and carts have a shorter shelf life. Especially the carts, as the wick tends to burn, making all your juices taste burnt. The 510 cartidges are very reusable, however. You just have to replace the filler material, which you can't do with a kr8 cartomiser. All this leaves to be replaced are the 510 atomizers, which are relatively cheap. Then you can buy juices in bulk to reduce your shipping costs, or make your own.

That being said, if you are looking for a low matenance cigarette shaped unit, the kr8 is great.

 

[sarathmenon]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. If no one's told you this before, you guys are awesome

@DataPhreak: Yes, I am looking for a cigarette shaped replacement. If I go for some of the fatter models, my friends would get freak out when I use them. My criteria is a low profile ecigarette that looks like the real deal and doesn't draw too much attention. Maybe if I get hooked up to it, I'll eventually say screw it and go for the eGo

@kboyts: Thanks, that's what I was also thinking about. Well, I guess if I get a lemon from an American outfit, the replacement unit will take just as much time to arrive as from a Chinese vendor.

@lightgeoduck: Wow, I never thought along those lines. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[Religion]

Good choice on the 808! China is a great idea. Closer to you and no US middle man. Get the KR808d-1, not KR808d-2. The 1 is the newer standard model. Don't get too sidetracked by flavor at first. Figure out mg strength and battery charging etc first. You can find the perfect flavor later

 

[kboyts]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. If no one's told you this before, you guys are awesome

@DataPhreak: Yes, I am looking for a cigarette shaped replacement. If I go for some of the fatter models, my friends would get freak out when I use them. My criteria is a low profile ecigarette that looks like the real deal and doesn't draw too much attention. Maybe if I get hooked up to it, I'll eventually say screw it and go for the eGo

@kboyts: Thanks, that's what I was also thinking about. Well, I guess if I get a lemon from an American outfit, the replacement unit will take just as much time to arrive as from a Chinese vendor.

@lightgeoduck: Wow, I never thought along those lines. Thanks for the suggestion!

Not trying to offend anyone here but it'd be a welcome change, kind of ironic, have a person from India calling the US for customer support for once LMAO

 

[cookiebun]

Not trying to offend anyone here but it'd be a welcome change, kind of ironic, have a person from India calling the US for customer support for once LMAO

That would be funny.
Hello from Central Ohio.


sarathmenon:
Good luck in your quest for the kr808. I have one and am completely satisfied. It even fits in my pants pocket while I'm at work!

 

[sarathmenon]

Not trying to offend anyone here but it'd be a welcome change, kind of ironic, have a person from India calling the US for customer support for once LMAO

That would be funny.
Hello from Central Ohio.

I agree, that would have been funny...

sarathmenon:
Good luck in your quest for the kr808. I have one and am completely satisfied. It even fits in my pants pocket while I'm at work!

Thanks, that's good news. My main evaluation criteria is that is has to be something that looks close to a king size cigarette, and would be inconspicuous during daily usage.

 

[blazer2]

if you want them to look more real, make sure you order them in white color, and try to find ones that have no led on the end

 

[DannyGeorge]

Hi there sarathmenon,

I am from India as well and boy was I glad to see a fellow vaper from India. I have loads of questions for you...like from where do you source your PV kits and E Juice? How did you make your payments? and what about the customs / tax...did you have any problems with them when you imported stuffs....Please help me in this matter.

Hope to hear from you soon. Take care..

 

[sarathmenon]

Hi there sarathmenon,

I am from India as well and boy was I glad to see a fellow vaper from India. I have loads of questions for you...like from where do you source your PV kits and E Juice? How did you make your payments? and what about the customs / tax...did you have any problems with them when you imported stuffs....Please help me in this matter.

Hope to hear from you soon. Take care..

I see your PM, but I'll post here in case someone else from India is also interested.

I ordered from Heaven Gifts, directly and had it shipped to my office address(I find it easier since it's registered mail and all). I ordered maybe 4 times in total so far, and never ran into any problems with customs or seized liquids. I tend to order eliquid in small batches of 4-6 10ml bottles each time. I choose the normal mail option - whenever I've chosen EMS for ebay purchases, customs has had a special interest in it, and I've had to go to the post office to claim the item.

Heaven Gifts accepts paypal, which is secure enough for me. I am not trying to endorse HG - enough people have had good things to say about HealthCabin (who's the other major chinese vendor) as well, and I don't see why they won't work. I for some reason went with HG, and have stuck to them since. The key while directly ordering is to maintain stock to last a month, and order 3 weeks in advance before they run out. China post will take 2-3 weeks for each order, and though you can track it from indiapost.gov.in, it's updated like once a week. Happy vaping, and good to see another Indian here!

Oh, and avoid all those "Indian" e-cig brands. I've found their advertising very shady, and their prices exorbitant. HG and HC are very professional, both in their websites and whenever you have to contact their customer service. The only exception I'd say is that when you're in a pinch for e-liquid, they might be a quick solution for a 3-4 day delivery.

 

[sarathmenon]

One more thing, which I can say from having used e-cigarettes. When you read discussions about throat hit, remember that the conversation is generally from mostly former Malboro smokers. What they find as poor throat hit might be unbearably high to you - it definitely was the case for me. I found the sweet spot with the 6ml e-liquids like Blue Berry, Chocolate and Menthol. I used to smoke Classic Ultra Milds, what works for me is 6ml. If you smoke say Navy Cut, I'd say 8 ml should be what you're looking at, and in VG. I've had many chain-smoking friends complain when they've tried 12ml PG, while they've expressed real interest when they tried the fruit flavours. Now if you smoke Beedis, well it's upto you to define your territory

Any other questions, feel free to ask - I'll try to answer them the best I can

 

[BardicDruid]

One other place you may want to look at is eastmall.net, their also a decent chinese supplier with good prices.

 

[DannyGeorge]

WOW....you sure have put my mind to rest....coz I was in a panic when I heard other users saying they had their shipment confiscated at customs....and one guy had to pay 120% custom tax....then I guess the "normal" china post would be a better option. I was planning to order a little bigger order (a little more than 2Kg) and I was concerned if they would get put on hold at customs.....but some say to split the package and to make it into smaller packages, then it wouldnt be much of a problem.

You are dead right about the local vendors here in India. They ask such ridiculous price for the better products (not that they have them in stock)...almost 4 times the cost from retailers. They only have the cheap crapy older models in stock. Thats why I was thinking of ordering them from overseas. I was also thinking about DIY liquids...(hence the weight of the package being more).

I have one of those crapy models which I bought from the local vendors and have the USA mix-High nicotine....and man it was too harsh a TH.....I bought some local "glycerine" and tried to dilute it and made it around 6mg...(guessing that the HIGH is around 24mg).....but it was still very harsh...dunno if I need more diluting or if its the PG/VG reaction .....my throat was sore and drying up like crazy....couldnt take in anymore drags as my throat was crazy sore....and I was analouge/e cig free for almost 3 days...trying to heal my throat back to normal......it was bad....then I bought a bottle of 6mg peach (again from a local vendor) and still the TH was bad...but not as bad as before....but still I had to quit that too....and am back to analouges....dunno what the matter was....my unit was "e-health cigarette"....dunno if the problem was of the unit itself....but my throat was sore like hell.....Any thoughts on this?

 

[washvap]

Here are some vendors located in China that will probably ship to India since they aren't to far away. So, you'll probably receive them pretty darn quick compared to people here in the US:

Healthcabin Electronic Cigarettes - Wholesale and Retail--

www.EastMall.net Eastmall International Co.,Ltd

 

[DannyGeorge]

Once again, A BIG THANKS to you "sarathmenon".....Where are you from? Am basically from Kerala, but have been around a lot of places (including ouside India). Currently I am in Delhi, but will be flying back to Bangalore in a months time.
You have another PM

 

[sarathmenon]

WOW....you sure have put my mind to rest....coz I was in a panic when I heard other users saying they had their shipment confiscated at customs....and one guy had to pay 120% custom tax....then I guess the "normal" china post would be a better option. I was planning to order a little bigger order (a little more than 2Kg) and I was concerned if they would get put on hold at customs.....but some say to split the package and to make it into smaller packages, then it wouldnt be much of a problem.

I agree that 2 Kg will ring alarms at customs Just order a month's stock of eliquid at a time, and it should be fine.

I have one of those crapy models which I bought from the local vendors and have the USA mix-High nicotine....and man it was too harsh a TH.....I bought some local "glycerine" and tried to dilute it and made it around 6mg...(guessing that the HIGH is around 24mg).....but it was still very harsh...dunno if I need more diluting or if its the PG/VG reaction .....my throat was sore and drying up like crazy....couldnt take in anymore drags as my throat was crazy sore....and I was analouge/e cig free for almost 3 days...trying to heal my throat back to normal......it was bad....then I bought a bottle of 6mg peach (again from a local vendor) and still the TH was bad...but not as bad as before....but still I had to quit that too....and am back to analouges....dunno what the matter was....my unit was "e-health cigarette"....dunno if the problem was of the unit itself....but my throat was sore like hell.....Any thoughts on this?

The one that really sealed the deal for me is the blueberry, in VG mix. I also found RY4, and menthol (both VG mix) to be great as well. Since you're going the DIY route you should have a lot of leeway to experiment, try with a little PG mix and see which works best for you. Which unit are you using? High voltage and LR attys can burn all the way down. I use the KR8, with the stock cartomizers, some flavours are harsh but most tend to be okay. Maybe I got used to the difference after a while

 

[DannyGeorge]

Thanks Sarath for your input.....I did send in an email to HC to ask them to split my packages into 2 or 3 smaller ones...I guess that might put things away from the customs radar.....Hopefully things will turn out ok...will keep you posted

I was planning to buy the Ego-t 1000mah deluxe kit....it does have the normal attys plus they throw in 3 LR attys and 5 cartos as well....so, I'll get to try the different mods....although I dont think I will be too much interested in the higher voltages, since I smoke the Benson and Hedges Light cigarettes (analouges) now....and hence I might not need a higher nicotine level too....maybe around 4-6mg might be good enough for me....I have ordered various flavours like RY4, USA mix, blueberry, strawberry, peach, grape, caramel, vanilla, cinnamon...cant wait to try them out...

When I vaped with my crapy unit before, I did have peach and srawberry flavours and they were awesome....guess I will Love the fruity flavours....

About the TH, I'll have to wait and see.....some trial and errors have to be made to find what suits me...and I guess/hope that I might also get used to the difference in TH after a while