This was my first time ever purchasing anything like an e-cigarette. I'd heard of them before, but I'd never come across ones that could be nicotine free (in the end, I don't want to be dependent on nicotine).
Before I found this forum or did much research, I went with the Red Dragon. It just arrived at 1:30pm and it is now almost 3:30 and I will be sending it tomorrow after I get my RMA number thing. Just sent them an email.
I looked at reviews and such after I placed the order. Read good and bad things (same with most models). I figured instead of canceling the order, I would let it be delivered and test it out. If I liked it, yay, and if not, they have a 30-day money back guarantee "No Questions Asked" policy according to their website.
Here's my experience (although you can glean from the title and the former paragraphs anyway): I bought the 2-piece kit (all I had the money for at the moment and hadn't come across better deals for different e-cigs yet). It comes with the USB charger, 1 battery and 1 cartridge (I got 0 nicotine in vanilla).
I immediately plugged it in and charged it. I put the cartomizer back with the battery and tried to drag...and drag...and drag. And then, boom, the end light up. The vapor was very light and I got ** NO THROAT HIT **. After trying again, I got an itsy bitsy teeny tiny throat hit.
During the time I was waiting to receive my Red Dragon, I read a lot about the 510. I'd really like to get that. Initially, I was only interested in a 2-piece electronic cigarette, but found that the 2-piece ones are very limited in their capabilities. I'll be getting the Joye 510 and some accessories (Cignot.com looks good for this) once I get money refunded or whatnot.
Despite the experience, or lack thereof, with the Red Dragon, it does serve to illustrate to me that this is very likely to get me off of real cigarettes (analogs, hehe, I read that the first time and laughed out loud, no, really I did). It demonstrated hand motion, pulling vapor in, exhaling...it felt very realistic to me.
I realize the 510 is a 3 piece, but it seems like I can have a more enjoyable experience, customize with e-liquids (which would be cheaper than cartomizers and easier to drip with).
I was disappointed with Red Dragon. I was all excited to get my e-cig (or PV. My first post, still learning the lingo) and it wasn't what I was hoping for. Oh well, you live and learn...and get a refund.
So, that's my review, for those out there who were wise enough to read just more than one or two reviews and do more research about the products before buying.
Oh, and the reason that I rushed through doing the research (usually, I pore over things for several days to weeks before purchasing anything over $30) is because I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow.
I wanted it to come quickly and be able to go there without smelling like cigarettes and not have smoked any cigarettes. My doc is a good doc, but he really comes down hard on me about the cigarettes and went on and on last time about how if I don't quit, my condition is only going to get worse, etc, etc.
He says he's "not trying to be mean, but mean enough to get you to quit" (his exact words) and he is like that, but its hard to hear "You are going to be deaf if you don't quit smoking and never hear your daughter's laughter again" and then be so stressed out after the appointment that I light up and feel ashamed and cry...then I light another one and promise myself I will quit tomorrow.
(If you're interested: I'm completely deaf in my right ear. Five mastoidectomies; lots of ear infections as a child and family only had a Medicaid spend-down. The Eustachian tube of the left ear, which has always been my "good" ear with no problems whatsoever is now giving me problems, is collapsing and according to doc, "No longer has any funtionality". Now, the ear drum is beginning to collapse. The best I can hope for is that it won't get any worse (its never going to get better). Its like an old mine shaft with rotting beams. So...I REALLY need to quit smoking for my health.)
For years, I've been wishing that I could smoke my cigarettes and that they wouldn't be bad for me. With e-cigs, it seems like this could really happen for me. Most of my problem is psychological, so having something to hold and inhale and exhale (and feel the throat hit - big thing for me) when I'm bored or stressed is sounding like it could work to get me off ::hehe:: analogs.