Smileo's and cost effectiveness

[emb]

It’s been a month now since I ordered my first smileo’s (6ml version). I had been a long time user of the 6ml tanks using the single coiled 2.0 ohms.

I really like the smileo’s very much. The smileo’s seem very simple, less messy and taste even better than the tanks. The large versions of the smileo’s are very easy to refill.

The concerning factor (to me) is cost effectiveness: In regards to tanks I would go through a single coil cartomizer on average about once a week – cost = $2.65/cartomizer.

The smileo’s I am also averaging a change once a week – cost = $5.99 (assuming you order the 10pk for $59.99).
So the smileo's are costing more than twice the cost for the tank cartomizer.


So from a cost stand point the smileo’s are not very cost effective, at least in my case. I use the WOW Red Energy 4mg and go through about a 30ml container in a week (so a little more than 4mls a day).

Now the cost hasn’t stopped me from ordering and using the smileo’s as I just received 20 of them. At some point (most likely when this order of 20 is gone) I will once again review the cost effectiveness of these smileo’s. Maybe V4L will realize they need to move the price of these smileo’s more in line with the tanks/cartomizers (wishful thinking never hurt anyone) .


For now I am enjoying the smileo’s. Oh, I am enjoying the new Zeus batteries very much, I love the fact you can recharge these batteries so quickly, a blessing.

 

[mcol]

Me too - been spending the month using Smileos exclusively and weighing their cost effectiveness.
I'm using the smaller Smileos instead of the bigger ones, but they're the same price I think, so I
might get more mileage out of the bigger ones. At least I wouldn't have to fill as often. None of
V4L's sales ever apply to the Smileos I've noticed, so I don't expect the cost to get any cheaper.
Supposedly they're already discounted.
The last few I saved and cleaned and they're drying for re-use, and I haven't even tried re-using them
yet. That's next month's project - LOL.

 

[Nailz]

I have tanks and smileo's, I do prefer the tanks myself, personally think get a better flavor, and can see juice levels, but should get more life out of smileo's compared to one carto though, when was using smileo's before I had tanks, they would last well over a week for me, on average probably about a month, but I would make sure they was topped up often.

Also had success in cleaning the smileo's, wash out in hot water, soak in vodka for 24 hours, re-wash and then let dry for a few days, tip - put wet smileo's in your car on a sunny hot day, will dry faster

 

[BHam]

Thanks for the feedback emb! Question for you. Do you try cleaning your Smileos before you toss 'em? On the V4L Forum and sometimes here too, I've seen vapers tell stories of cleaning them out and getting more value out of them. I appreciate the feedback as always though . I'll pass it along to management to see if this is something we can do in the future.

 

[emb]

I’ll respond to all in this one post:

Mcol: I always go with the bigger versions, bigger tanks and bigger smileo’s so I don’t have to refill as often. You might get more mileage out of the larger smileo’s but be warned the 6ml smileo’s tips are fairly large compared to the 3ml version (so I have been told since I haven't bought the 3ml version). Some people have a hard time getting used to it, it took me a couple days before I felt comfortable with the larger tips but I enjoy it now. Hopefully V4L can see the benefits in reducing the price to make them more competitive with the tanks but at the same time allow enough of a profit for V4L.

Nailz: I have heard from some people that they do get a month out of the smileo’s and others seem to get about a week or somewhere in between. I wish I knew how to extend the life of them. I am very careful to ensure they are always filled and never burnt. One feature I like so much about tanks was the visual aspect of seeing the level of the juice. I found that moving onto the smileo’s I kept about the same timing in refilling. I would go about 4 hours on a tank before filling. I am finding the same holds true with the smileo’s but I also notice very quickly (immediately) a slight change in taste when the smileo is running low.

BHam: Thanks so much for listening and passing the word on to management. I can see why the smileo’s are more costly, I think they are a better quality with more resources going into making them. I don’t mind paying (a little) more for better quality but hopefully V4L can see the benefit of making smileo’s more cost effective, competitive by reducing the cost and yes ensure you folks make the profits needed (after all part of your business if to make some money). I am not one for cleaning, I’d go back to the tanks first

 

[AudreySchroder]

Just to clarify, the Smileomizer prices are as follows:

1 Small: $7.50
1 Large: $8.99

5 Small: $32.50
5 Large: $39.95

10 Small: $59.99
10 Large: $64.99

 

[mcol]

I was put off from getting the larger smileos just because the mouthpiece would be so big.
Anyway still testing, LOL.

 

[AudreySchroder]

I can understand that. Once you get used to the smaller size, the larger ones aren't too much bigger. They do hold 3.5ml more though, so you have to refill about half as many times.

 

[mcol]

I might try some larger ones in my next order. This month I figure I'm going through the most
I'll ever go through in a month, because of the learning curve involved. I can see the larger ones
being more convenient for traveling, but so far I use a different type of setup for traveling.
At least thus far.

 

[emb]

The larger mouth piece on the 6ml smileo’s isn’t too bad. I read a while back in another thread that V4L is thinking about making a variety of tips for these smileo’s much like the various tips they make for the tanks. Not sure how true that is or how long it will take them.

I also read and now have tried using the tips/mouth piece from the EGO 1.5 ohm Dual Coil Mega Cartomizer on the 6ml smileo’s as they are much smaller – it was a lot better, more like what I was use to using EGO Dual Coil Mega Cartomizer - 808 Threaded | Vapor4Life E-Cigarette When you place your order you might ask V4L in the note section of your order if they could include a couple of the Ego mega cartomizer tips.

Based on V4L description of the smileo’s, “The new Smileomizer holds 3.5mL of e-liquid, can be refilled 12+ times…” my assumption is that the smileo’s aren’t designed to last much more than a week when they say “refilled 12+ times”. I wonder if the lifespan of the smileo’s has a lot to do with what type of juice is being used.

 

[JenJen]

I didn't care for the large smileos because of the mouthpiece, but I found that you can very easily take off the large tip, and slip on a tip from the smaller smileos and that solved the problem for me! So save the rubber tips!

I usually get at least 2 weeks out of a regular smileo, usually 3 weeks, but I do make sure to keep them nice and full so they don't burn. I just cleaned some in alcohol and will try them when the two I have going right now start to lose performance. I started using them on August 17th and so far they are still hitting like champs. (I always have two going at once - a different flavor in each. Generally take 2 or 3 hits off one then 2 or 3 off the other then repeat as needed, which prevents them from getting overheated ) I top them off real good first thing in the morning, and then again late in the afternoon/early evening generally. If I am vaping heavy I top off noonish too.

 

[emb]

I found it, a thread that points out you can take the tip off the small smileo and use it on the larger smileo (thanks to JenJen); http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/vapor4life/448866-those-who-dont-like-smileo-tips.html

I also found the thread about using the Ego tips on the smileo, there is even a picture of it (thanks to HarmonyPB); http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/vapor4life/444873-large-smileomizer-review.html

 

[emb]

Thanks JenJen for the input, seems like we were thinking the same thing at the same time. I should point out that I never experience a burnt taste in my smileo but rather the flavor starts to taste old and not so good once I hit the life span of the smileo. I also notice that trying to inhale, take a hit from the smileo it becomes harder and harder as it gets older. So when the taste goes bad (not burnt) and it’s harder to inhale I know I am reaching the end of the smileo which is about a week.

Now I will admit if I had two smileo’s going and switch back and forth between the two it would last twice as long. But doesn’t that imply if you use two smiles in 3 weeks that you are basically going through one smileo in about 10 days or am I misunderstanding. I only use one smileo at a time and only one juice.

I might also be getting my smileo to hot while vaping on it, that could be reducing the life span by a few days. I’ll have to try reducing the heat on the smileo (amount I vape at one time). In the end I am pretty convinced that the smileo’s weren’t designed to last much more than a week (assuming you use one smileo at a time).

 

[mcol]

I use two a day and factor this in to cost effectiveness. I use the full price of the Smilies ($7). The type of
juice used does play a factor as well. Have had some last two weeks (using half a day which would equal one week
technically) and have had some last three days. As the month has gotten to the end my smilies are lasting longer,
mainly cuz I'm learning the curve to keeping them topped off, not flooding them, etc. My cost per day this month
is $2.03, which is high considering I've made some mistakes using them. Again that's using the full $7 price of them,
which I didn't pay as I got the 10 pack for less. Have used 9 this month and in the future I imagine I could get
by with 5 per month. But no, they don't want them to last forever. In upcoming months I will be using them
in late afternoon/evening hours and not in morning hours. This next month I'll be re-using some I've cleaned to see
how well they perform used.

 

[opsguy]

I'll chime in and say I too believe life span is effected by the type of juice used. I use the small 3.5 mil smileos exclusively for the past 3 months. Also I use just one flavor Wowboy most of the time. I am getting about 10 days use on a Smileo before the performace drops off drastically and the draw gets really tight.

I have tried cleaning them in very hot water and flushing with a turkey baster and letting them dry for three days. My success cleaning this way has been mixed. Some come back to near normal performace and others do not. I have not tried the added step of a vodka soak so that will be my next step.

 

[mcol]

Also just a thought. On their website they claim the regular price of a single Smiley is $14.95. $14.95 x 9 (the amount I
used this month) = $134.55. Divide that by 31 and you get $4.34 per day. I would never pay that per day to use them.
They basically give the list price of them and the so called 'special deal' of $7.50 per smileo, so the coupons won't apply
on already discounted items. While I understand that, I do have a limit as to what I'd pay.
Also worth noting this month that one of my Smiley's was faulty out of the box. The liquid pooled up forever on the screen
and took a looooooooong time to go down. Once it was finally full, the Smiley wouldn't thread on any of the batts.
I fully intended to send this back for credit but it accidentally went in the trash. Regardless, it figured in to the monthly
or per day cost. Cuz these things do happen.

 

[Nailz]

You can nearly always get a 10% discount even on the 'specials' every day and every so often they do a 20% off all products, when I'm ordering specials, I normally wait for the 20% off codes, they are not very often, but worth the wait, I'm hoping they do a 20% off all products for labor day, as wanting to order a wife a DAV and I need carto's

 

[jasbur]

I'm hoping they start selling these without the mouthpiece. I don't realy need a whole new mouthpiece with each smileo, and that should help bring down the cost.

 

[mcol]

You can nearly always get a 10% discount even on the 'specials' every day and every so often they do a 20% off all products, when I'm ordering specials, I normally wait for the 20% off codes, they are not very often, but worth the wait, I'm hoping they do a 20% off all products for labor day, as wanting to order a wife a DAV and I need carto's

Anymore, no discounts apply to already discounted items or best sellers. The Smileomizers are supposedly
already discounted.

 

[scott58]

To soon to tell, but near as I can figure my cost has gone up about 20%. From 12 cool carts a month to 2 small and 1 large smileomizer a month. I buy quantities so I get the better price, but these work so well my juice consumption has gone up. I like these 1000x better so 20% is nothing and it would have to go up 10x to match what I was paying for cigarettes. I'll be using the Zeus and smileomizers as long as they keep producing them.