Vender Conundrum: Advice Needed!

[Kropotkin]

Okay. So here's the scenario:

About a month ago, I started buying Volt gear from A Certain Well-Known Vender Whose Name I Shan't Mention. Over the course of a couple of weeks, I bought three 78mm skinny batts, an X2, a Mega PCC, a couple of Vision-style clearos, a couple of boxes of CE3s, and maybe a few odds and ends. Everything worked well, delivery was super-speedy, the staff was ultra-sweet and very prompt, and I had nothing but great things to say about A Certain Vender.

Then stuff started dying.

~ First the X2 crapped out, and the Nice People at Certain Vender's replaced it immediately.
~ Shortly thereafter, the new one died. I sent it back, and yet another is apparently on its way.
~ Last Friday, one of the 78s died, and the Nice People told me to send it back for replacement.
~ The day after that - that is, yesterday - another 78 bit the dust, and I now have only one Volt of the original 4 to vape with. (Thank God for my trusty old SmokeTips, which have been lying around for months, and seem positively immortal.)

So. What would you all do now?

Should I assume all this is a fluke, and stick with Certain Vender based on the great reviews they get on ECF? Should I assume that the issue is with Volt products in general, and switch to a new brand of cig-style batts, say, Bloog or V4L, and then buy a whole different big batt for indoor use? (I live on a farm, and a 78 with a CE3 has been stellar tucked into a back pocket. I really do not want to be limited to big batts.) Or maybe I should switch to an eGo and 510s? (This would be costly, as I've got heaps of kr808 gear . . . )

Agh! I just want an un-fussy, un-fancy, generally reliable product. Am I being incredibly unreasonable here?

 

[mwa102464]

Ego-Twist my man Ego-Twist,,, why even deal with those other types of stick Batts, the Ego Twist is a solid unit and you can dial it in to your sweet spot no matter what you put on it,,,,, much better vape and you will be much happier,,, my 2c, and Mods are a completely different story if we wanted to even go there. The small stick Batts just dont provide the vape of some other gear, would be nice if they did but they just dont.

 

[Bullette the Cowdog]

I wonder why your batts are failIng.
Are they automatic or manual? If auto, your clearos may be leaking into batt causing short.
As far as size is concerned, I use a Kgo. Size of a sharpy pen I carry it in my pocket most of the time. No problem. If you decide to go with an ego type, you can get an adapter for <$5 so you can continue to use your same devices with the new ego/Kgo-type battery which is threaded differently.
Hope things work out for ya.

 

[Kropotkin]

I wonder why your batts are failIng.

Me too. I clean them every couple of days just like the videos say, and I don't think I mistreat them in any way. And the SmokeTips have lasted forever with the same cartos and clearos, so I don't think it's that.

Could it be the PCC, maybe? Except that that wouldn't explain the sad demise of the X2 . . . I am really stumped here.

Edited to add:
The two 78s that died were manual; the still-living 78 is an auto. Do you suppose that makes a difference?

 

[propagandax]

I had one of my x2 manuals die right after I started using ce3s. Maybe coincidence, not sure.

Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Kropotkin]

Oh! I'll be curious to see if anybody else has experienced this.

As far as I can recall, all my stuff conked out after I started the CE3s, but I'm not entirely sure. I'd be very sad if they were the cause, as I really do like them a lot.

 

[zuzette]

any chance you are over charging? not all batteries will stop charging when full.
sounds like your vendor is stellar either way. dont blame the vendor.

 

[CES]

What's the resistance on your cartos?

it may not apply since you're using volts, but there have been reports that cartos or atties with too low resistance can mess up ego batteries. Apparently they cause problems with the electronics (mosfet boards) in the case of egos. Something to ask the vendor about?

 

[Kropotkin]

No, I'm not blaming the vender at all. As I've said, they're lovely, which is exactly why I'd hate to switch. If I changed brands I'd have to, though, as Certain V doesn't sell anything but Volt products.

And I'm pretty sure I'm not over-charging, either. Both the 78 and the X2 have a light that goes out as soon as charging is completed.

 

[Kropotkin]

What's the resistance on your cartos?

it may not apply since you're using volts, but there have been reports that cartos or atties with too low resistance can mess up ego batteries. Apparently they cause problems with the electronics (mosfet boards) in the case of egos. Something to ask the vendor about?

This is a very good point.

I'm only using Volt carts and clearos recommended for their products on the site, but - I agree - you never know. I'll ask them about this right away.

Thank you!

 

[Tracey1]

It's probably safe to say by now that the batts you are using are not made to be carried in your back pocket while working on a farm all day. You would do better to get yourself an all mechanical mod like a Silver Bullet, REO etc. The small batts just aren't built for that kind of use. Taking it in and out of your pocket, rain, humidity, sweat. Even sitting down with it in your pocket can damage the battery. You need a rough and tumble mod that will hold up to your lifestyle. This particular model, or any other skinny batt model for that matter, is just not built for it. These batts simply don't meet your particular demands. The vendor shouldn't be responsible for the failure of your equipment. There is a certain amount of trial and error when finding what works best for you. Get a hefty mod for when you are working and keep the awesome but less durable skinny batts for using when you are in the house, the car or just out and about.

 

[Kropotkin]

Well, I can see how my avatar might lead a person to believe that I was a large sweaty Russian guy with all sorts of raucous habits, but, sadly, I'm only a small, tidy, middle-aged lady with some horses.



Honestly, I don't think my gear is taking any more abuse than anybody else's.

 

[Tracey1]

Honestly I didn't notice your avatar. But I'm a middle aged lady and had horses and goats for many years. Still, I wouldn't wear my slacks and a button down blouse when I went to the barn to feed. I'd be better off in jeans and a t-shirt. Just sayin'.

 

[Dac311]

I have never had an issue with volt products. I also don't see why you won't name the vendor. We all know what company you are talking about. Sometimes bad batches happen. SI always takes care of their customers.

 

[BuGlen]

From what I've read, just about everything e-cig related is manufactured in China. With that in mind, it's not difficult to understand that there will be the occasional quality control issue and bad batches of products (even the good and trusted products) on occasion. The best you can do is exactly what you have already done in contacting the vendor and letting them make good on your purchase. If they continue to get bad product from the distributor/manufacturer, then they will generally find another channel from which to get quality product.

It sounds like your vendor is doing everything they can do to do right by you, and that's about the best you can expect from anyone.

 

[Kropotkin]

Thank you, guys, for your advice. Everybody on this forum is very kind.

The "bad batch" idea had certainly crossed my mind, and no - for the 5th time - I don't blame the vender (who is, indeed, Smokeless Image). They're obviously very nice people, and I'm certainly not happy about having to pester them every five minutes when they've been so patient about the whole thing.

How frequently, though, does this kind of thing happen in the e-cig universe over all? Are there brands more and less prone to quality control issues, or is this just something seasoned vapers get used to? I understand that this is a new technology and all that, and that most things are Chinese made, but still.

 

[RedForeman]

Bad batches happen now and then. Up until last month I was using a eGo Type B mega atty/cart combo for over a year. I'd add a spare atty with about every other juice order to maintain 3-4 backups. Worked fine until my last one failed after several months. All of the new ones I had on hand were bad out of the wrapper except the last one. That left me with an assortment of old crap as backups to my backups. Never had to tap into that as I was able to get an order of new parts in without any hitch from that last working atty.

Re: your situation, you mentioned carrying the PV in a hip pocket. I wouldn't do that myself. Too much risk of hitting the power button accidentally (I have old style eGo batteries that do not power off). Could explain why the auto battery is the survivor. I would also expect a cig size PV to be more likely to bend causing internal damage, although I've never used one that small. You being a woman would suggest your jeans are more form fitting, all the more reason to find a different, looser pocket if you're going to do that. I use a shirt pocket or front pocket in loose fitting pants or shorts. FWIW I never used an auto battery for fear of leaks causing failure. Until my recent venture into vivi tanks, leaks happened often enough for me to consider that.

Can't speak for the cig size fitment, but I'd suggest buying a couple batteries from a different vendor to trial. I know there are several 808 styles to choose from, even more if you grab a 501 to 808 adapter as Bullette suggested. A different vendor to get product from a different batch or manufacturer. If that works out, give your A-vendor a little time to move their possibly sub-par batch, then go back to them since you like them.

 

[Kropotkin]

Thank you, Mr Foreman. Your atomizer story is very instructive, as are your suggestions. Very sensible.

I don't really think my jeans are that tight, but I do see your point. Your theory doesn't explain the untimely deaths of the unfortunate X2s - which never leave the house at all - but I will be more careful about the pockets. Perhaps one of those colorful lanyards that make people look like summer camp counselors? That might work.

 

[JENerationX]

I use a certain vendor too. I've got 78mms that are still working since last August, and 4 x2s that I've had since April... no issues with any of them. A coworker got 2 X2s the same time I did.... one was DOA, the other stopped charging after 2 weeks, both were replaced, and both replacements have been working since.

Most e-cig stuff is manufactured in China, and with quality control being what it is over there, sometimes bad things happen. Seems you got hit with more than one of them at a time.... but being that your certain vendor has a certain level of integrity, I'm certain they will take care of you. I'm not certain other vendors will when equipment fails after a month.

No matter who you buy from, it's a crapshoot as far as quality control. We all take that risk. Buying from a certain vendor assures that when I do finally get a bad roll (I'm probably due), I'm sure they will do something about it.

 

[Kropotkin]

...being that your certain vendor has a certain level of integrity, I'm certain they will take care of you. I'm not certain other vendors will when equipment fails after a month.

Yes, exactly - that's the conundrum.

I live way out in the country, which means I order lots of stuff online, never having met a real person, or having visited a real store. I would much, much rather have a single vender I can trust, rather than skipping about and buying from just anybody. This seems especially important if the likelihood of needing replacements is high, as appears to be inevitable in vapedom.