Walmart Vapor and gear!

[TamiP]

I started many years ago on cheap (well, cheap to start, expensive to maintain) ecigs from one of those rip off companies that will send you a free starter kit. The refills were outrageous priced even for back then, and they quality of the set in general sucked, BUT... they were enough to get me off cigarettes and on to better things. I still use egos and have been happy with them, although finally now I am looking at moving on up again. I don't like those crappy starter kits and stuff found at gas stations and stores like that, BUT... it isn't necessary to assume they won't work to help people get rid of cigs and then either quit or open up to the broader world of vaping out there.

 

[Killowatt]

My son tried to get me to try blue and others, wouldn't have anything to do with it. Then I read a post on a gun forum of all places, and thought there might be something to this. It was a link to MVS for an Ego-c kit, so I ordered it along with some liquid. Four days later I put down the stinkies, and never looked back. Those have found another home, but still use ego twists with kanger tanks when something small is needed. Most important was I wanted to quit the smokes after 42yrs and did.

Tap'n on my S5

 

[ZCAR1]

NemesisBliss, my story is similar, but I could have quit 3 years earlier than I did.

I tried to quit a 1.5 to 2 pack a day Marlboro Red 50+ year habit 3 years & 4 months ago using ELUMA cigalikes. They made me cough worse than the Reds, and I finally just threw $100+ worth of equipment in a drawer and went back to smoking.

Then due to several serious medical problems, 2 different specialists told me to quit so I pulled out the ELUMAs and tried again. They sort of worked for awhile, but would frequently crap out, so I was still smoking some. I ordered another $80 worth of ELUMA atomizers and cartridges and kept trying. One atomizer was dead out of the box, a second lasted 2 days, so I sent them all back. Even ELUMA didn't want their expensive crap, so they put "Not Authorized, Return to Sender" on the package.

I then went to a B&M and learned about PG vs VG. With max VG, cheap refillable clearos and a eGo battery, I was able to quit the Reds for good that day, and haven't had one in over 4 months. I've since moved up to eGo Twist and a pyrex Mini ProTank 3 (with plenty of backups).

 

[WillyZee]

a Blu kit was the ticket that lead me to quit smoking ... didn't get it from Walmart though.

 

[Bikenstein]

The cheapies work for some and some go on to better equipment after usin them. But many are sidelined or turned off by them as I was. Walmart's primary interest is profit not quality. Don't expect anything more from them than bargain basement quality throughout the store.

 

[Fir3b1rd]

I really see it as a mixed bag... The cheapie stuff makes people want to give it a shot. But it also can turn prior people off if they try it and don't like it.
Hopefully though, Walmart will realize that batter equipment in their shelf van equal more money and they end up at least carrying some better stuff. But it's walmart; let's be honest, we aren't going to see them carrying the higher end mods, batteries or RBAs anytime soon. BUT the fact that they are carrying anything at all is a great sign that we are getting more traction in the public eye. It's a positive step forward.

 

[edyle]

I'm gonna have to respectfully disagree.

Do not underestimate the number of people who, when they decide they want to quit smoking, buy an ecig of any sort......and do quit.

Sometimes, because we are advanced here being on a vaping forum, we forget that the equipment is only half the story....the other half is the mind-set......to quit cigarettes. Once somebody has that down, they can pick up a Blu or a starter kit and quite often they DO quit this way.

The answer isn't always buy stuff.....sometimes its "look within".........I know quite a number of people who have successfully quit smoking using what many on this forum would kinda laugh at. But so much of this battle is one's psychology, it's not just physical stuff like cravings, clouds, or gear.

I say thank goodness Walmart and other places sell vaping gear, because it is available to people. Maybe they will upgrade to better gear....and maybe not.

The whole point is having an ALTERNATIVE to cigarettes.....having access to that. So many people just do not spend much time online.

I agree;

To me it's firstly a matter of PROOF OF CONCEPT.

When I see the ads for vaporshark and see some guy or girl vaping on a big fat thing, I don't see smokers going for that. But Blu? Yep; a smoker would be interested in Trying that, and that's the first step.

Once you make that first step, and a smoker thinks "this can work!" THEN they're willing to look more closely.
It's like when you smoke a cigarette for the first time, like *something* about it, then go trying different brands before you settle on a brand that you prefer over the others.

 

[edyle]

I think it's great that Walmart has something at all;
It is a definite improvement from *nothing*.
And maybe next year, they will have a much improved offering;

 

[Bikenstein]

I think it's great that Walmart has something at all;
It is a definite improvement from *nothing*.
And maybe next year, they will have a much improved offering;

They can make a ton of money sellin the cheapos to their customers and still make huge profit from continuing to sell cigarettes to em.

 

[edyle]

Does Walmart sell 18650 IMR batteries?

 

[DasBluCig]

Does Walmart sell 18650 IMR batteries?

LOL!!!!!!
If I asked this of a clerk at my local Wally World......I'd get a "deer-in-the-headlights" response!!!
The day I see IMR 18650's on sale at WM....I'll gladly buy my next Reo there, too!!!
Happy (vaping) Trails!

 

[Mechman]

The last thing I want to do, is to buy .... ejuice from Walmart. Its a good thing they are not heavy into the vaping realm...

 

[Kropotkin]

The last thing I want to do, is to buy .... ejuice from Walmart. Its a good thing they are not heavy into the vaping realm...

Yep. Everything they touch turns to mendacity and exploitation.

I'd much rather see vaping gear sold by independent local shops, be it high-end or budget.

I live in the middle of nowhere, and starter cigalikes are sold at general stores and gas stations. No problem there - plenty of visibility, and not a penny for the traitorous, blood-sucking Walton family.

 

[the_vape_nerd]

I'm gonna have to respectfully disagree.

Do not underestimate the number of people who, when they decide they want to quit smoking, buy an ecig of any sort......and do quit.

Sometimes, because we are advanced here being on a vaping forum, we forget that the equipment is only half the story....the other half is the mind-set......to quit cigarettes. Once somebody has that down, they can pick up a Blu or a starter kit and quite often they DO quit this way.

The answer isn't always buy stuff.....sometimes its "look within".........I know quite a number of people who have successfully quit smoking using what many on this forum would kinda laugh at. But so much of this battle is one's psychology, it's not just physical stuff like cravings, clouds, or gear.

I say thank goodness Walmart and other places sell vaping gear, because it is available to people. Maybe they will upgrade to better gear....and maybe not.

The whole point is having an ALTERNATIVE to cigarettes.....having access to that. So many people just do not spend much time online.

I agree with what you've said here. I'm opposed to people buying Blu because they are big tobacco and BT is trying to squeeze our smaller vendors out via regulation. But in principle, I see nothing wrong with wal-mart or convenience stores selling vape stuff. Anyone who does stick with it for any length of time usually finds the better gear and better bargains on juice anyway.

Whenever I hear of anyone using Blu, I make it a point to inform them that there are cheaper options and also why I oppose Blu.

 

[edyle]

LOL!!!!!!
If I asked this of a clerk at my local Wally World......I'd get a "deer-in-the-headlights" response!!!
The day I see IMR 18650's on sale at WM....I'll gladly buy my next Reo there, too!!!
Happy (vaping) Trails!

Seriously, there's all kinds of uses for 18650 batteries, so I wouldn't be surprised if they sell them, but of course they will not be in an 'ecigarette' area, just as the glycerin you can get from Wallmart will not be in an 'ecigarette' or 'vape' section.

 

[TamiP]

Seriously, there's all kinds of uses for 18650 batteries, so I wouldn't be surprised if they sell them, but of course they will not be in an 'ecigarette' area, just as the glycerin you can get from Wallmart will not be in an 'ecigarette' or 'vape' section.

I was thinking that too when I read the original question. The batteries are not that unique really, so if not WalMart, lots of non-ecig vendors have them and the chargers.

 

[SupplyDaddy]

At least the Walmarts in my area carry ego style (Haus) 650 batteries and BCC's. The Haus eliquid sucks (IMO) but the wife likes the Ice version. For $20ish for ego, BCC, lanyard and charger, and about $6.50 for eliquid(10ml I think it is), it's a least a start. We both carry a set around, Just in case! The wife uses hers, mine is the 6th backup

 

[edyle]

At least the Walmarts in my area carry ego style (Haus) 650 batteries and BCC's. The Haus eliquid sucks (IMO) but the wife hikes the Ice version. For $20ish for ego, BCC, lanyard and charger, and about $6.50 for eliquid(10ml I think it is), it's a least a start. We both carry a set around, Just in case! The wife uses hers, mine is the 6th backup

Perfect example; It helps to know that your wallmart or such common store has eGo batts if you ever get in a bind.
As for eliquids they might even have some unflavored that could be usefull.

 

[Amraann]

I have read on here countless times of members who have said they started on a BLU or similar product and that prompted them to quit altogether or to research further andd find a better product. I think Blue has its place in intorducing people to the world of e-cigs and vaping.

The argument that th BLU may turn people away from trying a better e-cig is valid. However, it should also be considered that plenty have started off on much better gear and had the same reaction.
In either case those people will either search for something that works for them or use that failed attampt as an excuse to not try furher and stay on the stinkies.

 

[Buggainok]

a Blu kit was the ticket that lead me to quit smoking ... didn't get it from Walmart though.

The same for me. I saw a Blu commercial on TV and stopped in Walgreens and got a Blu Starter kit on New Year's Day. I was so excited to come home and try it. It worked! I went a little crazy charging the tiny batteries every couple of hours, but I think maybe that kept me busy enough to not think about smoking.

After a week or so, I found this forum and got a proper Ego starter kit and haven't looked back. Like everyone says, your mindset is really important when you start vaping. I had thought about stopping smoking for years and years, and when I got the Blu kit I found a way that seemed possible to actually quit.