Starter Kit disaster --- HELP!

[Natasha134]

Hey guys,

As some of you may know, I'd been waiting to receive my Vapor4Life starter kit. I got it a few days ago, and then the problems began.

I got 5 different cartomizers to try (Tobocco samples), but I noticed the little box they came in was taped up on the sides. Already I was worried that these were already used by someone and then returned, and then shipped to me. But that was the least of my problems.

I charged the battery 'til the light turned green like I should, and screwed on one of the cartomizers (easy). When I took a hit, the first thing I noticed was that it was a very "loose" drag, like smoking air through a straw...as if air was coming out of the sides of it or something. The tip would not light up at all, and there was no vapor when I inhaled/exhaled. I tried numerous times, with all 5 different cartomizers. I finally tried with all my strength to hit it again (I even got dizzy and almost fell over lol), and then I finally got the tip to light up, but for only 1/2 a second. Then it was dead again.

I called cust. service and the guy was nice and said he would send me another battery free of charge....but now I'm wondering, could it have been the box of cartomizers that were possibly used up or almost empty? My question is: Does this sound like a battery problem, or could it have been the cartomizers, all 5 of them? Does an e-cig still light up and work even if a cartomizer is low on liquid or empty? Sorry if this is a stupid question but you have to understand that this is the first starter kit I've ever used. Always vaped disposables until now.

Thanks so much for any thoughts/advice!

 

[Kable]

Hmm... been a while since I used an automatic battery, but if the draw is too airy, it might not be engaging the battery. Can you feel where the air is coming through? Maybe try putting your fingers over the seam where the carto meets the battery, see if that tightens the draw, and allows the battery to engage.

 

[Natasha134]

Thanks Kable,

Okay, I did what you said and the "air-going-through-a-straw sound" is definitely coming from the tip of it, the part that's supposed to light up. I got this dumb fancy-shmancy diamond-tipped e-cig battery. I told cust. service that when they re-send me the free one, I'd prefer the standard "ash" type tip this time. He said he'd switch it for me. But still, it's impossible to take a draw off this thing. Very hollow. And very stupid.

 

[zapped]

Try screwing the cartomizers all the way down firmly onto the battery.

Im assuming you bought pre-filled cartos? If so maybe they have been used and are empty like you said. If screwing the cartos down tight as they will go doesnt work thats the only thing I think it could be.

Also did you buy a manual or automatic battery?

 

[Natasha134]

It's an automatic. Yeah, I've tried screwing them on as tight as they can go. Nothing seems to help this thing!! So you're not thinking it's the battery, more like the carts? (They are pre-filled.) That might mean I put them in my mouth after someone else tried them....gross!

 

[nosaint]

I ended up putting scotch tape around half of the battery to partially seal the connection between the battery and cartomizer. Had to replace the strip of tape every time I changed a carto, that was true on one out of 4 batteries.
One test: If you can suck on the battery (with no cartomizer attached) and get it to light up, it probably isn't a bad battery.
The battery top post may be pushed down so it's not making a good connection with the carto. I found a video, it might be on v4l's website, that showed how to pry up the battery connection.

As far as the 5 carto's. You ordered 5 flavors as I understand it. They had to take one carto from 5 different boxes and put it in one box. That would be my first assumption.

 

[zapped]

Try sucking on the battery alone and see if it lights up.

You can use tweezers to pull the center post up but do it gently.

Let us know how those things work and hang in there we'll get you going.

 

[Natasha134]

I see what you're saying about the cartos, but I ordered the "Tobacco Shop" cartos, which are 5 different tobaccos that come in every "Tobacco Shop" choice cartomizer box. So if someone else ordered the "Tobacco Shop" sampler pack, they'd get those exact same 5 that come with this choice...which means they could have used them up and then sent them back (there's a 30-day return policy.) Let me try the battery trick you suggested...

 

[Natasha134]

Try sucking on the battery alone and see if it lights up.

You can use tweezers to pull the center post up but do it gently.

Let us know how those things work and hang in there we'll get you going.

It works just fine without any cartomizer attached. CRAP. It's the carts.

 

[nosaint]

V4L got me off analogs, so I'm not going to bash them. However, I got tired of carto's and their batteries real quick. If you want to stick with carto's, I switched to the echo/Igo. The 350 mah or 650 mah battery is shorter than the v4l battery, but fatter, about 1/2 diameter. These batteries will last longer than the v4l titan, which might be 280 mah, and I've never had a problem with bad batteries with them. I had to send back my first Titan, very frustrating.

 

[zapped]

Do you have any e-juice at home?

 

[zapped]

Try this link. You might be able to find a brick and mortar store near you that offers cartos or juice.Just click on Michigan on the map.

Electric Cigarette|Eliquid|Supplies|Electronic Cigarette|Ejuice|Smokeless|Vapor Search USA

 

[vernhall]

If there's a 30 day return policy I'd avail myself of it if I were you, return the whole mess for a refund, and go with another co's starter kit. There are a ton of them out there and I'm sure folk here would be more than happy to recco a few for you... I'd suggest the Apollo Apollo Standard Starter Kit, but I'm partial to them (great customer service, super products, etc) and there are many many others out there that I know a little less expensive...

 

[Natasha134]

Okay, well, THANK YOU everybody! I need to call cust. service back and tell them to cancel the new battery -- they just sent me USED cartos, which wasn't fair because now I have someone else's germs and so help me God I better not have caught herpes or something. Germs probably have no prob. staying on those cartos with the plastic tips keeping them stuck in there. So gross. They'll be hearing it from me. Thanks again everyone.

 

[zapped]

No problem. Did you check out the map of local stores to you?

 

[Natasha134]

Try this link. You might be able to find a brick and mortar store near you that offers cartos or juice.Just click on Michigan on the map.

Electric Cigarette|Eliquid|Supplies|Electronic Cigarette|Ejuice|Smokeless|Vapor Search USA

I will check it out! Thanks. I don't have any juice, this is my first time doing anything with a starter kit.

 

[zapped]

You may end up paying a little more for buying locally but a good brick and mortar store is worth its weight in gold. You can watch them get the cartos for and make sure theyre sealed as well.

They can also answer any questions you may have.

 

[CES]

it's more likely an issue with the center post than it is used cartos, but you can check. Take off the plastic cap of the carto and look inside to see if the filler looks wet.

Try pulling up the center post on the carto as suggested, and see if improving the contact helps.

 

[nosaint]

it's more likely an issue with the center post than it is used cartos, but you can check. Take off the plastic cap of the carto and look inside to see if the filler looks wet.

Try pulling up the center post on the carto as suggested, and see if improving the contact helps.

I agree. straighten out a paper clip, you can use that to easily insert thru the hole in the carto tip and the entire white cap will lift out. You can tell if a carto is dry. Using the same paper clip, gently work around the center battery post prying it upward. You can see the battery post moving up. Just keep doing that until the height of the post is increased.

Or send it all back and try to find a local store. I wish I had been able to see and touch options when I started, but there is nothing in this area. But check prices before you buy, mall kiosks are notorious for vastly overcharging.

 

[zapped]

I agree. straighten out a paper clip, you can use that to easily insert thru the hole in the carto tip and the entire white cap will lift out. You can tell if a carto is dry. Using the same paper clip, gently work around the center battery post prying it upward. You can see the battery post moving up. Just keep doing that until the height of the post is increased.

Or send it all back and try to find a local store. I wish I had been able to see and touch options when I started, but there is nothing in this area. But check prices before you buy, mall kiosks are notorious for vastly overcharging.

Definitely check prices before buying. I didnt link to any mall kiosk that Im aware of but doesnt hurt to be cautious.