Unhappy With First Starter Kit I Just Bought - Is the Elite 808 a Pretty Safe Choice?

[monnie788]

Hi - I'm new (obviously) and have bloodshot eyes from all the reading, reviewing and researching I've done on E-cigs. I bit the proverbial bullet 3 weeks ago and bought what I thought was a highly rated starter kit from V2. I got an auto and a manual battery, usb charger and wall adapter plus 5 pre-filled cartridges. I have smoked for almost 40 years and want to save money and do something good for my health so I thought this would be the way to go. However, my experience with the kit I bought PLUS the extra 20-pack of cartridges I ordered after I got my kit has left a "bad taste in my mouth" (literally) and I am pretty frustrated. The cartridges (supposedly being equal to a pack of cigs which is what I smoked -or less - in a day) I received last Saturday, the 12th. This is the 19th, one week later, and I have all these cartridges laid out on my desk trying to get more vapes out of them. I've sucked on these things until my cheeks feel permanently imploded. A few puffs and then - nothing. The batteries are ok but not as long lasting as I was led to believe. Customer service says I need to "remove the cap on the cartridges and spread the batting out toward the edges" or "put them in the refrigerator to keep them fresh". That seems to be an awful lot of troubleshooting for brand new cartridges and they were ALL bad. I got a very small credit back on my account for the initial 5 cartridges that came with the kit as they tasted burnt and I got hardly no use out of them at all. ANYWAY I have come to the conclusion that I may have gone with the wrong company (duh!) and I want to send the kit back as I have a 30 day moneyback guarantee. I'm probably just out the $44 I spent on 20 cartidges that should have lasted until the middle of December. I've been reading on the forum here and was wondering if I bought the Elite 808 from Cig Easy would I be making a bad choice? I want to use the juice - not prefilled cartridges - as I think this is much cheaper in the long run and you know that your carto has been completely filled, plus the Elite 808 appears to have a longer battery life. Like my haircut, I want something quick and easy I don't have to fool with. What's your advice on the Elite 808?

 

[36tinybells]

Don't feel bad, most of us buy less than what we need to start! I bought a 510 kit and was not at all satisfied, it just showed me that vaping could work. I never went the 808 route, but I am sure someone will have an opinion on that for you. I found sucess with the second kit I bought, an Ego and with the Resurrector cartomizers- after that it has just been stuff I wanted and fine tuning the vape for different juices. Good luck!

 

[spicyed]

I got suckered in to one of those sites myself before I found this forum. No need to feel bad about that as it as least got you interested in PV's. I don't know too much about the elite 808 but it got some pretty good reviews. After the bad 510 that I bought I moved onto an 808 model and it is much better then the one I had. Now waiting on my first mod. =)

 

[Ridgerunner]

With an initial investment in a device such as a silver bullet, prodigy, buzz pro etc., you will spend 120.00-150.00 with the device, batteries, and charger. Pair that with a few atomizers and some cartomizers and juice it will cost you what you spend in 2-3 months of smoking but you will break even down the road. Plus. if you want a different device or find that the device you ordered is not for you then you can trade or sell it in the classifieds.

 

[vapi]

I've been reading on the forum here and was wondering if I bought the Elite 808 from Cig Easy would I be making a bad choice? I want to use the juice - not prefilled cartridges - as I think this is much cheaper in the long run and you know that your carto has been completely filled, plus the Elite 808 appears to have a longer battery life. Like my haircut, I want something quick and easy I don't have to fool with. What's your advice on the Elite 808?

Good choice, absolutely. I use an elegant easy and it gives more than the standard cig style 808. I also use a Buzz Pro (which you can order with an 808 so you don't have to get other cartomizers) but sometimes I like something a little lighter.

I order my blank cartomizers from Turbo Coil soft cap Cartomizers the price is good for 15 of them. I also buy the wow cartomizers from vapor4life for the color options but I think the nexcig cartomizers preform better. You don't have to get your cartomizers from the same place you get the pv, nor the juice. Sweet-Vapes.com has great flavors in my opinion.

 

[eyebedam]

Take a look at the volt from Smokeless image.

 

[luceblueboy]

i second the volt, honestly. It's cheap and extremely easy to use. Cartos are easy once you get the hang of filling them or there's dripping which saves money it's just time consuming. I personally use a vv mod but the volt is easy to use and cheap to buy extra products. Avoid prefilled cartridges because you'll go through those things in no time. By learning how to refill you'll save money. Lots of money. A volt is an 808 as well. Check the prices to see your best option.

 

[swedishfish]

Cig Easy only offers a 7 day warranty. Double check, but I'm pretty sure that's correct.

You already have a mini, I'd get an ego. Pick up a Riva from Liberty flights- the carto kit that's $34.00.

 

[dormouse]

KR808D-1 in general is a good choice.

Vapor4Life, SmokelessImage, Bloogplanet, Halcigs G6, Elite 808

The first allows longer drags (10-13 seconds vs 5 seconds), the middle 3 are rubberized and have 40mah more charge per size due to being regulated 3.6v instead of 3.7v and their manuals are well sealed on the threaded end. All can use each others cartomizers.

And I recommend manual batteries - harder to damage or kill with juice leaks, easier to get a good hit

 

[doodoogirl]

I'm sorry to hear about your underwhelming first experience. The Elite was my first when I started vaping 2 months ago and has got me through pretty well. It was a good start for me. I didn't want something so big which is why I went with the Elite, but I've found that I just need more out of a battery. 380mAh is just not enough to last me without having to charge again when I'm out and about all day. I am currently awaiting a GLV-2 Super-Mini and an EGO type 650mAh usb battery. If you do end up going with an Elite, these KR808-DM1 Cartomizers from Nhaler are exactly the same as the Elite 808 Cartomizers but way cheaper. I have had absolutely no luck with the "clear and easy tanks" due to leaking/wicking problems. Good Luck!!!

 

[wv2win]

In the mini models like you have, the Bloog or Volt seem to get the best reviews. Personally, though, most who take to vaping don't want the hassle of needing to change batteries every hour to 90 minutes with the mini models.

If I was a beginner again, I wouldn't get anything smaller than a Riva 510 or E-Power 510 where you can get about 5 hours on a charge and also get warmer vapor for a longer time frame due to the batteries holding a charge longer. And if you don't want to be sucking your brains out, stick with manual batteries. These models are the size of a slim cigar so that really aren't that big but perform better than any mini model. Here are several well supported suppliers:

Electronic Cigarette - Starter Kits - Riva 510

e-Power

Note: the suggestion of a Buzz Pro or similar model is also a very good suggestion

 

[Shilo]

Prefilled carts last about 200 puffs or so (the one pack of cigs is not really comparable IMHO)-- day or two max for a new vaper. I would turn the stuff in and go with some suggestions up here. Volt has frequent sales and a rewards point Program now. The others have frequent sales too.

 

[dormouse]

I use manual batteries, keep the cartomizers damp with suitable juice so they don't singe, and I can get 7+ days use out of each. I use thin clear juices PG w/ 20% or less VG, SmokelessImage juices (80PG/20VG), V4L WOW juices (my 2 main juices are V4L WOW ones), etc. and I avoid juices that drop flavoring sediment in the cartomizer (shortens a cartomizer's life by making it degrade faster, typically dark, opaque or cloudy juices are the ones that may drop sediment)

 

[Catmom]

I have an Elite and I love it. When I first got it (end of August) the battery would last me all day. I'd only been vaping 2 weeks then, and was still having a few analogs a day. Now I'm tobacco free (and nicotine free, though that's irrelevant, I guess, LOL) and I vape more than I did at first, so one battery doesn't get me through the whole day anymore. Not to worry, the kit comes with two batteries

There's an 808-specific section here - KR808D-1 - where you'll find lots of info about this particular type of PV.

 

[nosmokie]

Just a few weeks ago I bought my first kit, the Volt from Smokeless Image | Only The Best Electronic Cigarette | Electronic Cigarettes | Wholesale Electronic Cigarettes | E-Cigarette | Best Electronic Cigarette | Electronic Cigarette and have been thrilled. The only issue I had was trying to suck on a spent cart when it was empty. I now realize that by taking a series of shorter drags back-to-back, I was defeating the Volt auto-cut off (designed to stop me from doing what I was doing). I was over-heating the atty, burning off the juice way too quickly, and burning the filler. Once I realized this (Thanks to ECF) I modified my drag appropriately. This lead to a better throat hit and more enjoyment of the aroma. I can now get several hours or more off of one cart, even when border-line chain vaping.

Sorry you have been disappointed with your first purchase but hang in there!

 

[wv2win]

Just a few weeks ago I bought my first kit, the Volt from Smokeless Image | Only The Best Electronic Cigarette | Electronic Cigarettes | Wholesale Electronic Cigarettes | E-Cigarette | Best Electronic Cigarette | Electronic Cigarette and have been thrilled. The only issue I had was trying to suck on a spent cart when it was empty. I now realize that by taking a series of shorter drags back-to-back, I was defeating the Volt auto-cut off (designed to stop me from doing what I was doing). I was over-heating the atty, burning off the juice way too quickly, and burning the filler. Once I realized this (Thanks to ECF) I modified my drag appropriately. This lead to a better throat hit and more enjoyment of the aroma. I can now get several hours or more off of one cart, even when border-line chain vaping.

Sorry you have been disappointed with your first purchase but hang in there!

This is one of the several reason why so many of us use and recommend manual batteries. You have none of these issues with manuals and you don't have to figure out some special way to inhale to make them work correctly. You can inhale any way you want and as long as want. Plus there is no concern about eliquid leaking into the battery and killing it with manual batteries unlike auto batteries since manual batteries are sealed and auto batteries are not.

 

[Izord]

I second the Epower. From here you get a free pack of Resurrectors and 30ml of Juice your choice of flavor. Crystal Clear Vaping

Free shipping and here's a code for 5% off: ecf5off

Puts you in the world of 510 options and you won't look back.

He's been selling them like crazy, wait a few days they'll be back in stock.

 

[bnrkwest]

Did you buy e juice to fill your cartos? With that many you should be getting a week at least out of one carto with refilling it. Buy some juice and fill up the ones you have, you may find it is not as bad since you can keep them filled. I used a KR808 to quit, I liked them and still use them. I did buy a mod and like it the best right now, but 808's are still good as a back up. Just get some good USA made ejuice to use, Halo has great tobacco's and I hear raves about Ms T's Bakery juice. Good luck! bnrk

 

[The OC Rider]

I started with an 808 kit about 3 months ago. I found it was the pre-filled carts that were distasteful. The device itself works pretty well for me...

 

[monnie788]

Thanks for all the input. I've decided to go with the Riva 510. Liberty Flights must sell alot of these since they are unavailable in all but black but the price is great. I am sending back the kit I bought, getting my money back and buying the new kit which is $34 less than what I paid for the first one! And it appears you get so much more with the Riva kit than I got with the one I bought - especially like the carrying case. With my first kit I was taking the wall charger, usb and two batteries with those nasty pre-filled cartridges with me in a zipper compartment of my purse. Not very convenient. Thanks again. I'm going to start another thread with regard to a couple of things I need to know about cartos/cartridges, resistance, etc.