New Laws in Korea

[Sinusoidal]

South Korea recently (today) banned the sale of nine different brands of e-cigs. I believe they were badly regulated, Chinese brands anyway. Janty is not mentioned, so I believe they are still OK. I think the crackdown is largely because e-cigs are catching on like crazy here and Korea, as any foreigner living here can attest, puts heavy regulations on imported goods ensuring that Samsung and Hyundai keep their stranglehold on its people (they delayed the Korean release of both the iPhone and iPad until Samsung had released competing products.)

Article (in Korean):
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[Valsacar]

Interesting, only ones I've seen besides Janty were the crappy nosmoq that's been around for a while. They still need to adjust the taxes so they aren't crazy expensive.

 

[Zeroi]

My friend in Korea love Janty as much as I do. They really follow the regulation.

 

[Valsacar]

Yes, Janty is good... but the prices here are just outrageous. I've heard (from Janty reps) that it is due to taxes only, but my inquires to Janty Korea about which specific taxes went unanswered. I was hoping to get information on which taxes are being applied to them, and what the rates are, so I could work on putting together a proposal/petition to get the taxes lowered (or taxed under a different category) as part of their push to get people off tobacco.

Currently it costs ~124USD for a basic Janty eGo set, and a 20ml bottle of Janty liquid runs ~33USD, all depending on exchange rate fluctuations. A carton of analogs cost ~20USD here, the eGo costs more to start AND use.

 

[Zeroi]

124USD for a basic Janty eGo set<-- If Any Smokers can get this in Singapore easily and quit smoking, i think Paying the Price is not a issue. The most important is the Trust, Guarantee and the feeling that they are able to give us Vapers.

Yes, Janty is good... but the prices here are just outrageous. I've heard (from Janty reps) that it is due to taxes only, but my inquires to Janty Korea about which specific taxes went unanswered. I was hoping to get information on which taxes are being applied to them, and what the rates are, so I could work on putting together a proposal/petition to get the taxes lowered (or taxed under a different category) as part of their push to get people off tobacco.

Currently it costs ~124USD for a basic Janty eGo set, and a 20ml bottle of Janty liquid runs ~33USD, all depending on exchange rate fluctuations. A carton of analogs cost ~20USD here, the eGo costs more to start AND use.

 

[Valsacar]

Surely you could say under what categories your products fall, though I understand that you could not give out the specific numbers. It is great that they are completely legalized in Korea, the next step is to deal with the issue of insanely high taxes making them more expensive than they need to be, but without knowing what categories they are being taxed under one can't try and convince them (the Korean government) why they shouldn't be taxed that way. I know they are under mild cigarette, but there has to be more as the price of analogs here is quite low and therefore the taxes on them cannot be that high.

@Zerio Trust and Guarantee are important, but when you realize you can get the same thing for half the price online, you start to wonder why...

 

[Zeroi]

yes, order online is cheaper no doubt of that but putting them on retailing are different. I work in the Retail line, you need to hire staff, rental, pay for electricity bills, do this and that for the maintainence. Is not like maintaining a Webshop, it is totally different.
By the way, how you get to know Janty?

Surely you could say under what categories your products fall, though I understand that you could not give out the specific numbers. It is great that they are completely legalized in Korea, the next step is to deal with the issue of insanely high taxes making them more expensive than they need to be, but without knowing what categories they are being taxed under one can't try and convince them (the Korean government) why they shouldn't be taxed that way. I know they are under mild cigarette, but there has to be more as the price of analogs here is quite low and therefore the taxes on them cannot be that high.

@Zerio Trust and Guarantee are important, but when you realize you can get the same thing for half the price online, you start to wonder why...

 

[Valsacar]

@Valsacar: We are working on it, hopefully taxes will be lowered in 2011.
@Zeroi: We are currently talking to your Singapore government as well and they seem to be keen on letting us sell legally in Singapore too!
@general: 2011 will be a good year for Janty with regards to our legal licences, new innovative products launches and protection of our brand and designs.

Always things we can do from the consumer side as well, but I guess we'll have to hope you get it worked out. I am looking forward to trying the Tesla out.

 

[bluenj]

Do they allow ecig use in the airsport?

 

[Zeroi]

I never Heard (No Vaping in Airport) before

Do they allow Ecig use in the airsport?

 

[Valsacar]

Do they allow Ecig use in the airsport?

I've done it every trip out to Incheon, never heard anything about it.

 

[lekixik]

124USD for a basic Janty eGo set<-- If Any Smokers can get this in Singapore easily and quit smoking, i think Paying the Price is not a issue. The most important is the Trust, Guarantee and the feeling that they are able to give us Vapers.

Absolutely.

I have only been using my Janty eGo set here for a week and my only problem is that everyone either wants to share it or have me get them one too.

These beautiful little things sell themselves. I haven't met one person yet who found the price prohibitive considering what we fork out for cigarettes.

If only you could walk into fairprice and buy one I don't think I would have any smoker friends left.

 

[Zeroi]

How did u get your Janty eGo Set? Well since they want it, why don't advise them to get one? but in SG there is no way currently selling off the Shelf.
But surely, Janty eGo is good. hey we need to organise a meetup with the current Group members in SG. Chat back our Group.

Absolutely.

I have only been using my Janty eGo set here for a week and my only problem is that everyone either wants to share it or have me get them one too.

These beautiful little things sell themselves. I haven't met one person yet who found the price prohibitive considering what we fork out for cigarettes.

If only you could walk into fairprice and buy one I don't think I would have any smoker friends left.

 

[lekixik]

How did u get your Janty eGo Set? Well since they want it, why don't advise them to get one? but in SG there is no way currently selling off the Shelf.
But surely, Janty eGo is good. hey we need to organise a meetup with the current Group members in SG. Chat back our Group.

Mine was purchased in the Philippines. I looked for options to buy an eGo before going there and met up with a really cool wholesaler who I think might be a member of this forum.

I want to help all my friends get one but its not a convenient option unless one already has a trip planned. I have given them URLs to buy online but I'm thinking of bringing back multiple kits next time I go just to help out my smoker buddies who really want to get off analogs.

 

[Valsacar]

Absolutely.

I have only been using my Janty eGo set here for a week and my only problem is that everyone either wants to share it or have me get them one too.

These beautiful little things sell themselves. I haven't met one person yet who found the price prohibitive considering what we fork out for cigarettes.

If only you could walk into fairprice and buy one I don't think I would have any smoker friends left.

That is exactly the point, the price we fork out for cigarettes. In Korea a pack of smokes is ~2.00 USD, a 20ml bottle of juice is ~33.00 USD. Assuming the average vaper uses 2-3ml a day that makes a 20ml bottle the same as ~10 packs. I can get 10 packs for 20.00 USD, or 1 bottle of juice for 33.00 USD. It costs more to vape, that is going to turn off a lot of people. I originally switched to save money and nothing else, I still can do that because I work for the Army and have a US address. For regular Koreans it's an issue.

 

[Zeroi]

Can't u actually buy online? Will it get stop by the customs or tax?

That is exactly the point, the price we fork out for cigarettes. In Korea a pack of smokes is ~2.00 USD, a 20ml bottle of juice is ~33.00 USD. Assuming the average vaper uses 2-3ml a day that makes a 20ml bottle the same as ~10 packs. I can get 10 packs for 20.00 USD, or 1 bottle of juice for 33.00 USD. It costs more to vape, that is going to turn off a lot of people. I originally switched to save money and nothing else, I still can do that because I work for the Army and have a US address. For regular Koreans it's an issue.

 

[Valsacar]

Can't u actually buy online? Will it get stop by the customs or tax?

I can because I can bypass customs, but Korean law is pretty strict about buying tobacco products online from overseas. Ecigs here were legalized and labeled as "mild cigarettes" so they fall under those restrictions. Small orders you might get lucky, but of course the shipping cost is pretty high (about 20USD from most places) so unless you're ordering bulk (which will get the attention of customs) you'll end up paying what Janty is charging in the end.

 

[Zeroi]

I still thinks that some your contru have legalized Janty, that is good. Price is not
Mater over healthier vaping.

I can because I can bypass customs, but Korean law is pretty strict about buying tobacco products online from overseas. Ecigs here were legalized and labeled as "mild cigarettes" so they fall under those restrictions. Small orders you might get lucky, but of course the shipping cost is pretty high (about 20USD from most places) so unless you're ordering bulk (which will get the attention of customs) you'll end up paying what Janty is charging in the end.

 

[Valsacar]

I still thinks that some your contru have legalized Janty, that is good. Price is not
Mater over healthier vaping.

Oh, I agree with you there, it is a great thing that they legalized it. But, for the overall good, money is an issue. At the rates common in the states e-cigs are half the cost of cigarettes in Korea. They is a major selling point to people that, like me, had no real intention of quitting. If we can get the prices here down, to at least the same level as cigarettes, think of the number of people that will convert.

 

[lekixik]

Oh, I agree with you there, it is a great thing that they legalized it. But, for the overall good, money is an issue. At the rates common in the states e-cigs are half the cost of cigarettes in Korea. They is a major selling point to people that, like me, had no real intention of quitting. If we can get the prices here down, to at least the same level as cigarettes, think of the number of people that will convert.

This is actually one of the most deplorable things about recent BT marketing tactics. Somewhere along the line they wrote off the western world while realizing that they could market their poison in asia for half the price while making double the profit. The US market is actually inconsequential to them now. They are making a ....... fortune in the third world.

It's actually been running through my mind for a few days to start a charity to provide e-cigs to people who can't afford them