Vaping isn't new user friendly yet

[Rymanjan]

At this point, unless you live under a rock, you know about the PV, especially if you are a smoker and you are generally convinced it is a safer alternative to analogs

.. counter displays at retailers, TV ads, numerous magazine ads, word of mouth, Web sites to numerous to mention and new ones springing up like weeds ..

And, folks prefer a cig-a-like .. we here on ECF that are heavily into the other options are in the minority ..

Well the thing is up until I got into the vaping world when I heard "ecig" I thought of these disgusting tasting half-working 510 models. I didn't know about the eGo or any mods until after I committed to making the switch. Most people look at me like I have 6 eyes when I show refer to my mod as an ecig. Most everyone that doesn't vape thinks of the Blu or the walmart and they think "gross. expensive. no"
And especially with the new ones springing up everywhere, many for the worse, I think we need a giant list of them with a general consensus on "best to worst" so that a new user looking for a place to start doesnt get stuck with the worst and never make the change

 

[Uncle Willie]

Well the thing is up until I got into the vaping world when I heard "ecig" I thought of these disgusting tasting half-working 510 models. I didn't know about the eGo or any mods until after I committed to making the switch. Most people look at me like I have 6 eyes when I show refer to my mod as an ecig. Most everyone that doesn't vape thinks of the Blu or the walmart and they think "gross. expensive. no"
And especially with the new ones springing up everywhere, many for the worse, I think we need a giant list of them with a general consensus on "best to worst" so that a new user looking for a place to start doesnt get stuck with the worst and never make the change

I started my journey with an NJOY kit .. it cost $120 back then .. if was bad, period ..

Whatever is in the market that can entice a smoker to at least try it is a good thing .. because if just one smoker starts the journey and sticks with it, like I did, it's a good thing ..

Many like to bash BLU and I won't argue that they have legit reasons .. however, unless we see a major external shift created by regulation, the cig-a-like is here to stay and the tech will only get better .. that's the way the market works ..

 

[Rymanjan]

I started my journey with an NJOY kit .. it cost $120 back then .. if was bad, period ..

Whatever is in the market that can entice a smoker to at least try it is a good thing .. because if just one smoker starts the journey and sticks with it, like I did, it's a good thing ..

Many like to bash BLU and I won't argue that they have legit reasons .. however, unless we see a major external shift created by regulation, the cig-a-like is here to stay and the tech will only get better .. that's the way the market works ..

I agree with the cig-a-like. I disagree with how they're marketed lol most of the ones that are ''readily available'' taste like crap and while simple and easily usable for those making the switch, the shotty performance and poor quality control might be scaring a lot of potential users away. I know that if I never tried my friend's mod I would have thought all ecigs were like the blus and the NJOYs and I would have said "fire up the cancer sticks this stuff sucks"

 

[Uncle Willie]

I agree with the cig-a-like. I disagree with how they're marketed lol most of the ones that are ''readily available'' taste like crap and while simple and easily usable for those making the switch, the shotty performance and poor quality control might be scaring a lot of potential users away. I know that if I never tried my friend's mod I would have thought all ecigs were like the blus and the NJOYs and I would have said "fire up the cancer sticks this stuff sucks"

I have a BLU in the truck that I use periodically .. IMO, they are really not that bad .. and the new NJOY's are OK as well .. not great, but OK ..

As humans, we do sometimes have differing opinions ..

 

[cmdebrecht]

Ps. The FDA and BT are working on a solution for all Vapers, let's be careful what we wish for.

Amen, sistah!
(Or brotha? Sorry if your pic is not an accurate representation of your gender )

 

[Rymanjan]

I have a BLU in the truck that I use periodically .. IMO, they are really not that bad .. and the new NJOY's are OK as well .. not great, but OK ..

As humans, we do sometimes have differing opinions ..

true haha they're not the worst back ups in the world. I just want to let people know their options

 

[fourthrok]

When I first looked into e-cigs, I had no idea about "mods" or anything BUT "cig-a-likes". In fact, I would not have been in the least tempted by the Big Boys. I went in cold...the only advertisement I saw back then was on Facebook for Greensmoke. That got me curious, and after looking around a couple of days I settled on something that, while having an initial outlay that made me wince (it's easier when you can spread your smoking expenses over the month as paychecks come in, rather than making an "all at once" buy for the month), I got a Safe Cig. About as "cig-a-like" as you can get...white body, tan "filter". Same size as a regular cigarette. Most people here on ECF would have gagged and rolled their eyes and scoffed at me. But I didn't know about ECF. So it didn't matter to me.

They worked. I stopped smoking from my first puff...and that was that. Just a little KR808-D1 , overpriced device. But I liked it and after 43 years of 2+ packs a day..the darn little things WORKED! And they weren't even that "complicated". Over a few months I explored V2 and Smokeless Image. Then got my first eGo sized PV (which seemed HUGE to me then) in the Kanger vGo. I didn't try 510 devices until probably about 6 months into vaping..but stuck mostly with KR808-d1 threaded devices since most of the stuff I'd accumulated was compatible with that.

What really turned the tide for me was when I got an eGo T Mod. The big guy that you put 18650 batteries into...the one with both "regulated" and "unregulated" settings. My First Mod. That was around this time last year...and I've been using mods since. I also joined ECF about that time. By then I knew my way around the block. While I'd lurked here at ECF for the year previous to joining...I was a bit intimidated by it. So many people seemed "judgmental" and even "elitist" to me I didn't think I'd "fit in" here. My perception was a little skewed, though. And when the other forum I went to in 2011-2012 went rather sour, I came here. Glad I did.

Not sure that there is any "easy" way. But not all "cig-a-like" kits are "bad". Some are, in fact very effective! I do think Smokeless Image probably offers the best quality-for-price for the beginner and will recommend them to newbs without hesitation. You can get EVERY thing you need to get going on their site, and even have the option to upgrade. Much easier than trying to flop around the internet just hoping to find things.

 

[wv2win]

I completely agree, and I think that is a problem that we need to address. People are getting lazier for sure but I believe we need to adapt to that and make things easier for analog users to switch because at the end of the day if I can get one, just one user to switch per day, I feel like I could have potentially saved their lives and the health of those around them. Imagine ridding the world of lung cancer and emphysema and SHS, not through medication and chemotherapy and nicotine patches but by providing an alternative that wont slowly kill you and the people around you. That's the kind of future I want to see.

I fully understand and applaud your intention. But the most important person in your scenario of saving a life is the person who's life needs to be saved. If they are not willing to apply a small amount of effort, then regardless of your level of effort, it won't work. This applies to many different aspect of life.

 

[garcia1996]

Agreed. E-cigs are not new user friendly at all. IMO, the little pen style, cigarette-a-like e-cigs are a turn off to those looking for an alternative to analogs or to use e-cigs to quit smoking.
I, like many out there, fell prey to the "pen style" kit companies with the pre-filled cartos in the beginning. That was over 2yrs ago for me. It didn't cut it, as there was barely any vapor and I tried a few different companies.
It comes down to power. The more power, the more vapor. Unfortunately, the pen style or cigarette like batteries don't have the power.
I stuck it out and the company I was roped into started selling bigger batteries. It took a while until I found out that they were not selling anything special. They stamped their company logo on "eGo" batteries, as if they came up with this new, more powerful e-cig.
Later, I realized that one can go to a number of more advanced e-cig companies and pay less than half the money to get whatever size battery or mod which you can attach any carto, tank, clearomizer, etc.
Having several mods, batteries and attys makes it more interesting and appeases one's mood of the day, as to what will keep you away from analogs.
Now, it is fun and it has gotten to the point where I do not crave analogs at all.
The worst case scenario now would be if I was away from home and my smoker became disabled, broken or lost, I can go to almost any gas station and get a disposable to hold me over.
2.5yrs of vaping and my 2yr anniversary since my last analog is next week.

 

[evilPutty]

I actually really enjoy the flavor of the classic tabacco of the blu cigalike; taste nothing like a cigarette but it's what convinced me to switch smoking after 10 years.

I started with disposable NJOY after I made the decision to quit; next was 2 blu cigalikes the 2nd one from walgreens literally lasted about 3 weeks; then ordered an ego + 5 ce4's from fasttech.com and I've enjoyed it ever since. Today im vaping a mix of MBV Red Apple and Apollo razzle delicious to me anyway .

The only thing i've had an issue with is trying to figure out how to clear a flood but its easy peasy.

 

[Uncle Willie]

Cig-A-Likes are very user friendly .. I don't see how they could be anymore easy to use ..

Now whether you like them or not is a different story ..

 

[xpackaday]

It's a lot of work. You don't just stop by the store and buy a pack and a lighter.

Cost when I first started smoking e-cigs was maybe greater the analogs, but I got off the gas station e-cigs, went to filling my own juice. I then found lower priced juice and then started mixing my own juice. I now spend less then 10 cents/ml for my juice, but I still like to buy the gadgets so I'm spending about 60-70 a month. It sucks when you have to by the nic every 6 months because it's a big ticket.

 

[whitetrashbarbie]

Well, another issue is that people can (understandably) be reluctant to spend that much money on something they don't know if they are going to like and stick with. $200 for something you could potentially end up throwing in the trash can be a hard hurdle to get over.

This was the issue for me. All that money at once for something I probably will hate. But I also realized that either way I am going to spend that money and no matter what I am throwing something away. Juice runs out, you throw the bottle away. Smoke the analog, and you're left with a "...." that gets thrown away. Smoke the whole pack, and now you have a pack to throw away and have to go spend more money to buy another pack of lung busters. It was either buy a $7 bottle of juice that will last about 2 weeks or pay $7 for a pack of analogs that will last one day tops. It balances out pretty well as long as you have the right mindset.

Really though it has been a tough transition. I am still really new to all of this. There is so much conflicting information, as well as helpful info out there. A lot of time is involved in the process since there is so much to learn. I couldn't tell you how many videos, tutorials, reviews, ect., that I have watched and read, and I am still just as confused as I was on day one lol. I guess it is all about having time, patience, and willingness to learn the "dos and don'ts".

 

[grumpypathdoc]

Bit of introduction first. Very, very new to vaping as I just started over the weekend. My wife and I live on the border with the Tuscarora Indian Nation and they have been our go to for tobacco and fuel necessities since we moved back to WNY nearly twelve years ago. We are both smokers, though the premium brands we have both preferred have now escalated to near $12-!3 per pack retail since the NYS government finally lowered the hammer on retail (other than Native brands) tobacco sales on the reservation (hate that word). At the suggestion of my eldest daughter, I decided to try E-cigs and purchased a starter kit for Liberty cigarettes at the local Smokin' Joes store. My wife even likes it though she prefers the menthol flavor.

Being a bit of a gadget hound, I started investigating the vaping options and stumbled onto your forum. As the lead-in to this thread expressed so clearly, vaping is not newbie friendly. I've made a bit of a jump and purchased a eGo C twist starter kit which came with two batteries, a charging system and two, from what I can best figure out, clearomizer cartridges (CE4 or 5's or whatever, I can't quite figure them out).

With all the evident knowledge around here, someone should put together a users guide to vaping! Sure there is bit of stuff on You Tube but the least confusing I've found is by Doctor Vapor and Bob Alexander, though the latter tends to be more entertaining than anything else.

Oh well I'll continue reading and vaping. And being a gadget hound I'll probably keep investing in equipment.

And to wv2win, hello from a fellow expatriate West Virginian now living in Lewiston, NY.

 

[Uncle Willie]

Really though it has been a tough transition. I am still really new to all of this. There is so much conflicting information, as well as helpful info out there. A lot of time is involved in the process since there is so much to learn. I couldn't tell you how many videos, tutorials, reviews, ect., that I have watched and read, and I am still just as confused as I was on day one lol. I guess it is all about having time, patience, and willingness to learn the "dos and don'ts".

New e-cigarette users Archives - ECF InfoZone

 

[Uncle Willie]

With all the evident knowledge around here, someone should put together a users guide to vaping! Sure there is bit of stuff on You Tube but the least confusing I've found is by Doctor Vapor and Bob Alexander, though the latter tends to be more entertaining than anything else.

New e-cigarette users Archives - ECF InfoZone

 

[wv2win]

Bit of introduction first. Very, very new to vaping as I just started over the weekend. My wife and I live on the border with the Tuscarora Indian Nation and they have been our go to for tobacco and fuel necessities since we moved back to WNY nearly twelve years ago. We are both smokers, though the premium brands we have both preferred have now escalated to near $12-!3 per pack retail since the NYS government finally lowered the hammer on retail (other than Native brands) tobacco sales on the reservation (hate that word). At the suggestion of my eldest daughter, I decided to try E-cigs and purchased a starter kit for Liberty cigarettes at the local Smokin' Joes store. My wife even likes it though she prefers the menthol flavor.

Being a bit of a gadget hound, I started investigating the vaping options and stumbled onto your forum. As the lead-in to this thread expressed so clearly, vaping is not newbie friendly. I've made a bit of a jump and purchased a eGo C twist starter kit which came with two batteries, a charging system and two, from what I can best figure out, clearomizer cartridges (CE4 or 5's or whatever, I can't quite figure them out).

With all the evident knowledge around here, someone should put together a users guide to vaping! Sure there is bit of stuff on You Tube but the least confusing I've found is by Doctor Vapor and Bob Alexander, though the latter tends to be more entertaining than anything else.

Oh well I'll continue reading and vaping. And being a gadget hound I'll probably keep investing in equipment.

And to wv2win, hello from a fellow expatriate West Virginian now living in Lewiston, NY.

Nice to hear from another Mountaineer. I'm in GA myself and miss the mountains, slower pace and much safer environment.

I'm not a fan of CE 4/5's, etc or any clearo. Much more hassle and maintenance than a good carto tank. With a carto tank you prime (add eliquid) to the carto (about 20 - 30 drops) then put it in the tank, fill the tank and vape all day (5 ml tank) without needing to do anything. And the cartos are good for 10 - 15 days before needing replaced at a cost of $2.00. I use the 3-hole pre-punched cartos and a Phiniac rugged glass tank. It has never leaked in a year. I would suggest getting a carto tank filling tool to make filling and refilling easier ( $3 - $7). Here are some good sites for the tank and the cartos:

Phiniac Rugged Pyrex Glass Tanks

http://www.sweet-vapes.com/shop?pag...color_plus.tpl&product_id=1311&category_id=21 (these are for the XL or 5ml tanks)

I would also check out the new vapers guide in the InfoZone that several others provided you the link for.

Good Luck (Go Mountaineers!)

 

[cvedrick]

Not everyone can just pick up a Linux operating system and run with it. There's a reason people tend to stick to apple and windows...

had a buddy with trashed hard drive and no install disk, set him up with Mint, he personally used one of his standard passwords and filled in the install questions as they came up, finished, booted, loaded......... He totally forgot the password!

 

[cvedrick]

Rolled my own for fi8ve years, went from $80/week to $100 every 5 weeks, BUT still spend 15 to 30 minutes a day stuffing tubes to keep ahead, and you don't want to do it on weekends, and you don't feel like it on Monday....

Figure around $1.00 per pack plus 10 to 15 minutes, smoke 3 to 5 a day for an average of $25.00 per week and 3-1/2 to 5-1/2 hours labor just to keep killing yourself. I am so glad I met Dan Coonan and had the balls to ask "what are those things in your pocket?"