Want $10? Tell us your story!

[mikeyk101]

I had been a pack a day smoker for almost 30 years. So awhile back I started to hear about these electronic cigarettes but couldn't understand how they could come even close to satisfying my cravings. I was intrigued but I still enjoyed smoking the analogs. At the beginning of last year, I was at a Father Daughter dance and noticed another father using one. He was the first person I had ever seen using one so had a bunch of questions. He was nice enough to talk to me about it. Sometime around March, I decided to order my first kit. It was just a basic 510 kit with just one flavor of liquid. I still had no desire to quit the analogs but I figured that I would try it out. It was a lot of work filling up the cartridges and I never really got the hang of using atomizers. Most of the time they worked ok but some I could never get the awful taste out of. I would use them until they needed cleaning or died. I never had any real success and at the most would just get a couple more days out of them. The batteries would only last about 2-3 hours so I usually had at least 2 charged with me when I went out. And the carts didn't seem to last that long so I would usually have about 3 or 4 extra but didn't have a decent way to carry all that stuff around. I was so frustrated that after just a couple month's I gave up and went back to analogs. A couple months later, I decided to give it another try. This time I found a PCC that would hold 3 carts and could charge several batteries before needing to be recharged. So all I needed was the battery I was using and always had a charged second battery in the PCC. That alone helped out a bunch but I still had my atomizer issues. Then I discovered Boge cartomizers. That solved my atomizer issue right away. During my first and second try, I was still smoking analogs but this second time, I found myself using the ecig more and more. Then, I lost my PCC. That was a big setback. I still had a couple extra batteries but once again, I had no way to carry them around or to make sure that I always had a charged one. This time I stumbled upon some Riva batteries and found that a fully charged one would get me through almost an entire day. Now I had no reason to carry extra batteries. One problem solved. Also the cartos lasted a lot longer than the carts did so I usually would just carry just 1 extra one. AlsoI found that the Rivas would give me a better hit off the cartos then the 510 battery would. At the same time as getting the Rivas, I decided to try a bunch of other flavors of ejuice. That was all it took. I decided that now with the Rivas, cartos, and several flavors of juice that I really liked, I was finally able to stop smoking. I have dabbled around with other batteries like the Ego VV and Kgos. All have worked very well. I have my first mod and that is the Switchback from Vaporbeast. Very nice little unit but I have no desire to go any further on mods though. I would like to try tanks but haven't quite got up the nerve to order one. I figure someday I'll try the DCT V2 and see how it goes.

The unfortunate thing about all of this is that the ECF forum was going strong during all of this and I didn't even know about it. I had to go through all the trial and error on my own but it finally paid off in the end. If I had found this forum earlier, I could have saved myself some grief. But I'm glad I became a member and it has helped a lot.

edit... So far both my daughters are very proud of me which is good. I no longer have to go outside in the cold for a smoke, I can just vape away inside unless the dogs need to go out. And I can breathe much better and don't smell like stale tobacco anymore. All very big pluses....

 

[RevolverRep]

Very awesome stories!

 

[Katatonik]

I'm 23 and I started really smoking when I was 19. I was mostly a pipe fan, and would chain smoke like a chimney when I could. However, I was also very much into roll your owns, and then American spirits, Nat Shermans, and Camels. I never was a PAD smoker, I usually went about 1.5 packs a week and I was also really into Dip for about a year (Copenhagen and Skoal). Tobacco is my friend--there's just something so cathartic about it that I enjoyed.

However, January of last year, I went to the dentist and they found striated tissue on my bocal mucosa (inner cheek/gum). I had to have a biopsy and was diagnosed with Hyperkeratosis--a preliminary stage of oral cancer. My oral surgeon said I was the youngest person he has ever seen with it. It typically afflicts people who've been doing dip for years and years and years and years. No more tobacco for me. I was crushed. Not only was tobacco my friend, but also nicotine. No more tobacco or nicotine? I was crushed.

I remembered I had two friends that each had tried electronic cigarettes. That was my glimmer of hope. So I decided to look into it, and was somewhat close to getting stuff like Blu. Luckily I found ECF and discovered the eGo and cheap, refillable cartomizers. Since January of 2011, I have been tobacco free. I miss it dearly, but I can't afford oral cancer.

 

[Koman]

Great stories. Keep em' coming guys.

 

[spazatabc]

I started smoking on and off since I was 16. I would quit for a year or so and then pick it up again. It was my wife who really convinced me to quit. She would just say something now and again without really nagging and she would say something about quitting so that my son would not see me doing it and then when he got older saying "But dad you smoked what so wrong with it". I wanted to be a good role model and try to live to see my son grow up and get out on his own. I also wanted to be there to help him grow into an amazing person. I started with the real cheap one you can get from Deal extreme and I have worked my way up to a mod box and a variety of other products.

 

[JohnGuerra]

I had my first cigarette at about 13 years old but I really started smoking closer to 17 or so. This was back when cigs were around a buck a pack or so and there were no age restrictions to buy them. I didn't smoke all the time due to parents and school but smoked when I could. I joined the Army at 18 and went to basic training. When I graduated BCT, my dad and grandmother came to see me and took me to the mall to buy some civilian clothes. While at the mall, I went into a Walgreens and bought a pack of smokes. My grandmother, who had smoked as long as I knew her asked me if I was sure I wanted to do it. I had gone over 8 weeks without smoking and she tried to convince me not to start back up again. I was hard headed and had to literally choke it down but I wanted to smoke. Fast forward a few years and my wife gave birth to our second son. He was premature and eventually we would find out that he had severe asthma. That still did not motivate me to quit, just change where and when I smoked so to try to limit the exposure. Went on about my smoking days until about a year and a half ago. He was wrestling in a tournament about 2 hours away from home and was having some serious asthma issues and had to withdraw from the tourny. I did not smoke on the two hour drive home but the smell and residue were still present in the car and I could tell it was affecting him. That was when I started looking for ways to quit. I tried the patch and the nicotine inhaler with limited success. My wife smokes too so when she wasn't trying to quit at the same time, it made it that much more difficult. This past Christmas we stumbled across an ad online for e-cigs. I did some research and found ECF where I saw the first post, "DO NOT ORDER FREE SAMPLE KITS ONLINE" (or soemthing like that). I was glad I came across that because I was ready to pull the trigger on one of those deals. I went to a local gas station and bought a disposable to try. It wasn't bad, but not too good either. I did more research and finally found a local vendor that sells eGo starter kits. Went in and asked a ton of questions and finally purchased two kits for my wife and I. I had my last cigarette the next day. That was In January of this year. I am still not smoking and I think I can see a difference in my son's asthma already. Now I am just on the search for my perfect setup and juice flavors. I'm beginning to think that is a never ending quest. I wish that I had found vaping earlier in my life. I'm not too old but It could have saved me some serious cash as well as saved me from adding a few more nails to my coffin from smoking as long as I did.

BTW, I appreciate this promotion. I looked through your juice selection and found a flavor that I really want to try. Thank you very much for making it easy for new customers to sample your products.

 

[StopKing]

I started smoking when i was 13 or 14 and began to smoke heavily when i was 16. In the last several years i would say that on an average day i smoked between one to four packs a day. I had never really thought of quitting and although i know I'll regret it when I'm older i hadn't really thought of the impact on my health. Last year i got really sick of not only the cost of cigarettes but my rampant and wasteful consumption of them and cut down considerably. My smoking fluctuated until i started reading about electronic cigarettes and decided to purchase one on a whim. Since then on average I maybe smoke one cigarette a day. I have purchased electronic cigarettes from a number of different suppliers including revolver and have gotten excellent service from every one of them. Although I don't think i would consider myself a "quitter" I have cut my habit down to what i consider to be a reasonable and manageable amount and replaced it when a more versatile and customizable substitute. One thing that always disappointed me about cigarettes was that every time i found a kind i really liked it was either banned or discontinued, electronic cigarettes or personal vaporizers have virtually no limit to what flavors you can use.

 

[MJTP]

Little E-Cig Story!:

To be honest, my main reason for switching to E-Cigs (specifically Revolver) was that since the implementation of the "carpet glue law", a mandatory "fire safety precaution" for all real cigarettes across the US, made it to where cigarettes are now layered with literal glue, I have felt nothing but quesyness and harshness when smoking any real cigarettes. However, I couldn't manage give up the habit, and sided with the brand that was most comfortable on me (but not close to satifying) - Newports. However, after a half-a-year of smoking the same one brand, the ever-lowering standard of real cigarettes took its toll; they now make me queasy and sickly, like swallowing toothpaste - you can just sense something's not right.

So recently was when I decided to make the change to e-cigs, and I couldn't have found a better company than Revolver - the website is amazing, the selection is downright wonderful, the prices are literally out of this world (don't believe other companies that "promise" there's no other kits on the net for under $30! Revolver has two totally different model kits for $20!), and the discount opportunities are unbelievable. The Revolver e-cigs themselves are customizable like crazy too (black, white, dragon prints, red, pink, you name it, crazy stuff!)

Back to my reasoning for switching however, e-cigs really gave me a whole new world. In a way, the whole effect was more like experiencing a pleasing, very-mildly-buzzing Hookah smoke (let's face it, the dangerous chemicals in real cigarettes are half of what "gave you the extreme buzz"), but in that, the pleasing tastes, the texture of the vapor, the smoke-free environment, the anywhere factor, the health, and many more things were all why I thought to myself and said "e-cigs are worth it". Heck, its $10 for one Hookah Bar session at my town! Bear in mind though, I've only tried 16ml or less of Nicotine so far, so the bigger numbers may give more of the buzz cigarette enjoyers expect, and I can't wait to find out!

And to put it simply, the reason I began smoking real cigarettes were the usual reasons: peer pressure made me give into it, getting a strong buzz kept me going back, and immense stress kept me wanting the buzz. However, plain out pleasure keeps me coming to e-cigs; they're healthy, they're clean, they're really the future!

 

[HooP OoteD?]

I started smoking when I was 15. 13 years later, I was still smoking with no real attempt to quit. My girlfriend encouraged me to quit, but cold turkey was turning me into an irritable, short-tempered jerk. A coworker had a spare cheapo ecig that she gifted me. This reduced the cravings, but was not very enjoyable. So, I started researching other brands and fell into the trap of a name brand ecig that was way over priced. After discovering ECF, I got a VV mod and haven't looked back. I have not smoked a cigarette in over 3 months and couldn't be happier. Plus, I feel better. And as soon as I can break my addiction to buying mods and accessories, I think I will start saving some money. Thanks for the offer, Im looking forward to trying some of your ejuice.

 

[medman1234]

I was a 1-2 pack a day smoker for 20 years.I had tried Chantix several times to quit but just couldn't stand the side effects.I had pretty much given up and was just hoping I would be one of the people that didn't end up with lung cancer.Then I decided to try an electronic cigarette as a last shot.I smoked 2 cigarettes the 1st day,1 cigarette the 2nd day and have been smoke free for over 18 months.I was blown away how easy it was for me.I wish I had tried it sooner.

 

[Draco]

Haha, after reading a few, yea my story is similar.

Started smoking when I was 18, on Djarum blacks of all things, started as a smoke occasionally, then one a day. College hit and it was a few a day. Soon actually started getting nicotine cravings and the blacks were just ripping my throat up so swapped to regular cigs. A little down the road I hit 1-2PAD and realized I was going to kill myself sooner then later. Dads been smoking since he was 15 and god if it doesnt show now. Heard about e-cigarettes and the rest is sorta history.

When I started it was an outright fumbling around, tried 808d's, tried a 901 and then hit onto the 510 at the start of the craze. Now after owning quite a few mods I am in that lovely mixed state of having a nice mod to work with, paired with an auto battery for just hanging out and driving, so much easier with an auto and a carto. But eh, thats my vape story!

~Draco

 

[dupaloop3611]

I made the switch in April after driving by your Toledo loaction 100 times. I started with the G2 now im onto the Talon tank! Your American made flavors are hard to beat with Beast Energy, Mountain Blast and Orange Creamsicle! Your staff is always good to me and I have had 4 of my friends buy them also. Vape on!

 

[Koman]

I made the switch in April after driving by your Toledo loaction 100 times. I started with the G2 now im onto the Talon tank! Your American made flavors are hard to beat with Beast Energy, Mountain Blast and Orange Creamsicle! Your staff is always good to me and I have had 4 of my friends buy them also. Vape on!

Amen, brother

 

[redfern]

Wasn't admitting it to myself or anyone,but I was smoking two packs of cigarettes a day.I was killing myself and everyone around me.Suddenly,this November,my maternal Aunt-a lifetime smoker,was diagnosed with fourth stage lung cancer.This is my mothers baby sister and it was a terrible emotional blow.Soon after hearing this,we received a phone call that my PATERNAL aunt was dying and We had a very short timeframe to visit.I had to take my mother to see her-about a 5 hour drive.We would be staying in a hotel.So addicted that one of my foremost thoughts was"Crap-5 hours without a cigg ,and no smokin in the hotel" .Before we left,my daughter dropped off an e-cigg she had picked up at a gas station and told me to try it.In ONE DAY,I went from 40 cigarettes to 3.The most I have had since then was 6,which is amazing for me.Will eventually kick them altogether,but meanwhile,to my 86 year old mothers everlasting gratitude,I have introduced my brother and sister to vaping.I tell everyone from the checkout gal at my grocery store to my mailman.I am spreading the WORD!!

 

[nyyleeroy]

My story was simple, not to mention fairly typical. I knew that cigarettes were killing me, making me stink and draining my bank account. Despite these obvious detractors, I couldn't stop. I had tried more times than I can remember, but never lasted more than a couple of weeks. I had trouble dealing with stress (which was later diagnosed as severe depression and anxiety disorder), and no matter how much I disliked smoking, it was my way to cope. Always told myself I wasn't a nicotine addict, which was why the patch / gum / mints didn't do the trick. I needed something that gave me nicotine and mimicked the act of smoking. One morning, while out running errands, I had smoked half a pack in a span of around 3 hours. When I was in line waiting to buy another pack, I had an itch on my upper lip, went to scratch it and was completely disgusted by the stench, not to mention the yellowing on my fingernail. Instead of dropping $14 on a pack of Marlboros, I spent $10 on a Blu disposable and quickly realized I preferred it to analogs. There were a few moments of weakness here and there, but I've been largely smoke free since (April 2, 2012) and haven't touched one since October.

 

[jadams13]

I smoked for 17 years, tried vaping a few years ago with a locally-branded kit and was not thrilled. A few weeks ago I got my Blu Premium Kit in the mail and haven't looked back. Dumped smoking completely. I have since upgraded to a Twist (go figure) and have been trying different methods and juices. Of course, I am looking for the "next thing" for me... RBA, APV, other acronyms...

 

[RevolverRep]

Any more good stories?

 

[Aflatoxin]

Any more good stories?

Since you asked.

Hi, I'm Afla, and I'm a cigarette addict.

My story is the same as many (which is kinda strange to hear). I've been smoking for more years then not! That was the fact that first made me what to quit smoking. Years pass and I'm a DIY RYO guy, I would buy rizzla+ flax rolling papers by the case from England and buy cans of American Spirit rolling tobacco from the cigarette store, and every morning I'd roll myself 20 cigs in five minutes at the start of the day. This went on for years too. My fingers were stained like I kept them up my ..., and I was coughing up grayish brown phlegm all the time. But I didnt have the smokers cough that I used to have when I smoked tailors. Then SCIP tax hit my RYO tobacco hard. Almost doubled the price. So like a good addict, I tried to quit ...again. I tried snus and that worked better then the gums and crap. But I went back to cigs. And like a real addict, I found 100% natural (naturally toxic!) pipe tobacco! Yea! I rolled and rolled and smoked and peroxided my fingers clean (didn't work) and I coughed and would get strep-throat every year like Christmas, but I couldn't quit. I loved smoking just as much as I hated it! Then I saw two ppl die. My mom, and a family friend. My mom got AML leukemia, and she smoked or begged to smoke everyday till she passed. It definitely accelerated her passing. We had 3 liquid oxygen tanks in the garage just so she could live! Thats how bad her lungs where shot! And it was the reason why she wouldnt survive a life saving bone marrow transplant. It was like a bad dream.

Soon after mom died, our family friend died young from COPD. I knew I HAD TO QUIT.
Before my mom died, I bought some E-cigs from China on dealextreme. Those opened my mind to the liberty of DIY smoking cessation via ...vaping/smoking. My mom liked it too, but they didnt last long, and weren't practical for our heavy addictions.
Long story shorter:
I eventually bought 510 kits, then ego-T kits ...and then I quit!!! It took me six month of dual use (analogs and e-cigs) before I just said today is the day I ONLY vape. It was one of the easiest positive life changes I have ever made! I owe it all to the e-cig. Will-power had little to do with it, really, because I weened off analogs you see. That week I bought my first 18650 PV. It was variable voltage and had plenty of battery power for my heavy usage. I haven't looked back since. I usually vape my own DIY juices to save doe, but that may be different if my city had a cool lounge like Revolver. I am sooo much healthier now that I dont smoke stinkies. Taste, smell, lung capacity, O2 saturation, its all so much better! I'm never going back to tobacco!

Thanks for reading, and good luck to you all!

 

[RevolverRep]

That's a great story!

 

[wingman399]

I started smoking at the age of 16. Eventually after years I had worked up to 1.5 packs a day. At the age of 26, 2008, I had a major heart attack due to a bad thyroid, 90% blockage from a blood clot, in the hospital 9 days. I laid off cigs for about 6 months and I ended up hanging around a friend who got me started again.

I saw ecigs and decided to give them a shot back in 2009 or so. I bought one of the smoke 51 cigs at the mall and it was ok for a little while. Well needless to say with poor performance and the high cost of replacement carto's I went back to analogs. I slowly worked my way back up to a pack every few days. I didn't smoke at work or school but I still smoked.

I then came across another friend who was vaping revolver. I decided to give it another chance as the equipment looked much better and was good priced. I ended up getting the G2 and some clearo's. Loved it. They performed so much better than the stick batteries and it lasted forever. I then decided I wanted a tank so I got the magnum 2.0. I love the tank system and it's great to vape on. It handles my juice vg, pg, doesn't matter. I'm 2 months in and feel much better and feel that ecigs are a much healthier option for me as I'm still a risk for future problems. I'm thankful the equipment has made such big strides in such a short time and it got me back to vaping. I've had one analog in the 2 months about 2 weeks in and it was nasty. Needless to say with the flavors out there I don't think I'll be going back.