We Truly are a Small Vaping Community

[tenantsf]

I suspect that there's a general awareness of e-cigs and vaping but the adoption rate is much less than we think.

It's a harder sell than I thought it would be even for myself. I have yet to convince anyone on the idea of vaping and I've tried. The 510 was a tough one to show people because I couldn't in all honesty and good conscience recommend this particular 3-piece to someone new. Everything about the 510 had to come with conditions and certain tweaks. The truth is, analogs function. Unless you're lighting up from the wrong end, they work. My roommates predicted that I'd be back to analogs while using the 510 and sure enough I went back to my Marlboros with a passion.

I now have a kr808d model and wished not only had I started with a 2-piece at the beginning but that my friends and family saw this first as well. First impressions are important and they now unfortunately associate all the hassles of a 510 with all e-cigs.

I still get questions when I'm out and most know that it's an "e-cig" or "one of those vaporizers". Again, awareness is out there but we've got a long way to go to get people to switch (if this is even a worthwhile objective).

My goal now is just to enjoy and educate when appropriate. No more trying to convert others. If we stay a small community, I'm fine. Just keep making those green tea cartomizers and I'm all good.

 

[Doug_Dread]

At a family gathering the other day I noted a nephew and his wife vaping a couple of Njoy penstyles, 50/50 with smoking analogs. I asked them a few questions and found they had zero knowledge of the vaping world, didn't even know how their e-cigs worked nor that they didn't have to stick with Njoy prefills like Njoy told them they must. They were shocked at hearing they could get e-liquids, refill carts, get far cheaper but better PV's etc. So, even vapers can be ignorant about vaping, how much more so the public at large. Don't know any other vapers around here.

With all the hassles of vaping and basically, very unreliable equipment, I sometimes wonder wtf I'm persisting for. Analog 'devices' are 100% reliable, freely available, maintenance free and highly effective Nicotine delivery systems.

Then I remember that irksome side effect of smoking....... death and *sigh*, haul out all the bits and pieces to try and get my PV vaping properly again.

 

[Countryboy06bw]

I am new here as well. i live in blythewood, a little town north of columbia, south carolina and i have seen several vapers. Sadly none of them were real knowledgable. I accually got some decent info and direction to this forum from a lil shop i go to. the clerk recently made the switch from analog to vapor and told me to look at this forum for the information. On a side note, i have seen the ecig kits and refill carts fer sale at a local Murphys gas station. the only drawback is the name of the ecig, i caint remember it off the top of my head, but from what i see on this forum, it caint be that good of a product or i would have seen it referenced good or bad by now.

 

[closetrockstar]

After 38 years of smoking, and trying everything Big Pharm. have come up with-never made it more than a couple days without cheating, and then closet smoking for a few days until I just said screw it! I quit trying to quit! I can't even get past a few days without picking one up?! I'm just a smoker and always will be...
Well, I've been off analogs since mid June! And am still pinching myself to make sure it's not a dream that I have FINALLY QUIT!

Alot of people (mostly 40's and up)) don't have access or the know-how to use a computer, they are seriously at a disadvantage when it comes to e-cigs. And there some of my friends and family who just plain won't bother doing the research . I think being online has something to do with success rates when it comes to these things. Not sure I would have stuck with them had I not came across this site. I'm always giving out this forum address with business cards from various suppliers on this site.
I have a feeling, that I will end up being the go-to for e- cigs and accessorys since there are several smokers in my family and several friends who do.

 

[rocketvapor]

I finally found another vaper outside of my co-workers and the few people I've converted.

I recently got a Chuck batt mod, and the batts I ordered for it from Battery Junction stopped charging after only 2 weeks. So I took it to my local Batteries Plus store to get it checked out. They told me the charger seems to be working fine, but the batts just aren't charging. OK, fine. Time for a little one-on-one with the BJ folks, since it's still under warranty. That's another story.

However, the guys working there did ask me what I was using the batts for. When I rather hesitatantly tried to explain my Chuck and the ecig in general, suddenly one guy says, "Oh, you mean one of these?" and pulls an ecig from his pocket!

Turns out I've never heard of his model - a No7, but he swears by it and loves it! His boss asked us both a lot of questions, and seemed puzzled by the whole thing!

I've never heard of this model, but at least I finally found another vapor! Unfortunately, they don't carry the protected 18650s, so I had to order a new set on-line (from another vendor, not BJ, grrrrr...).

 

[alvitae]

I was in a small casino last summer and seen 3 vapors in there. Thats the most I've ever seen in one place.

Could there be some connection? Risk takers...

 

[SmokinScott]

I've only seen one other person vape, that was a work and he doesn't use his anymore. That's what got my interest and I've tried to tell him there are other, more reliable devices but without being pushy.

At work I'm a stealth vaper, so there could be others that I'm not aware of.

My favorite wattering hole doesn't mind me vaping and, just about every time I go there, I have to explain it to someone. I consider it a conversation starter. That's the price I pay for vaping in public.

The sales dude I bought my car from didn't mind when I asked if I could vape at the dealership. By the end of the purchase I actually had a small audience and had to give a lecture. Again, the price I pay for vaping in public.

 

[poogiecat]

The best way to meet other local vapers is to set up a Social Group on ECF. I helped to organize a local vaping Social Group Forum on ECF for people who live in Arizona. When ever I see someone on the forum that is from my state, I PM them and invite them to our forum and our meet ups. I've also grouped our local suppliers, and they come to meetings as well. We started with 3 and today our group has 86 members signed up here.

We usually have 20 or more show up each month (found a sports bar that lets us vape there!). Great way to have other friends who are like us and understand quitting smoking and the trials and errors of vaping!!

I hope all States can eventually get at least one Social Group forum up on ECF! I've made several really good friends (and if I ever need to bum a charger, or atty I'm set!).

Hellen, what is the name of the bar that lets you vape? My mom lives in Wickenburg (not too far from Surprise) and I would like to check it out the next time I visit her. I go there about 3 - 4 times a year ... and we always go to Surprise for shopping.

BTW, my name is also Helen ... but with one L!!

 

[VictorySpeedway]

I haven't seen any other e-cig users here in northwest New Jersey, either. But store clerks where I used to buy my Marlboros are very interested.

Many of you who noted the "fiddly" nature of e-cigs are correct - these things take some getting used to. Getting them ready for a work day is like packing a lunch. I need to make sure all the carts are full, all the batteries are charged, that I have my equipment ready to go, and on and on.

But being 100% tobacco-free is worth the price of admission!

I know these things are going to catch on.

 

[MitchellBeans]

I have never seen another PV user around here.

In fact, I was at a casino last week, where you are freely allowed to smoke cigs and I was hiding mine because I was SURE that Joe Pesci would come around the corner and beat the xxxx out of me cause my 510 was a spy device

I am happy to report I have converted a few people to the PV world ...

 

[Ghalenlee]

I live in CT, I know there's vapers here.. just have never seen another one in person. Does anyone know if we have a social group that meets anywhere?

 

[Fairlane64]

I'm in Kansas and believe me when I say there are NO OTHER vapers in this state, I swear. It's just completely unheard of here.

Hey KCGal, another Kansas e-cig user here, and the ONLY other users I know of are the 3 people at work who I've helped covert over to e-cigs (though all 3 of them spit 50/50 between vaping and analogs, but then again they've JUST started). When my company goes tobacco-less after the first of the year, I'm betting there will be more converts!

 

[JRWReich]

I have never seen anyone vape before, but I know someone who has quit cigarettes because of it (and he shouts out from the rooftops he owes it all to E-cigs). I have no idea what PV he is using though.

The word is seriously coming out around Colorado Springs now, but unfortunately it's not good. The malls all have Smoking Everywhere kiosks in them and the radio stations are constantly airing Smoke Assassin ads. The co-workers I have told about my new electronic cigarette have all said "I've seen those before". I had to tell them to watch out. There are a lot of scam companies out right now.

I could be vaping right now! As soon as I got to work the wife IM'd me and said "you should have checked the mailbox before you left".... Looks like my kit arrived today while I was asleep. Oh well. Something to look forward to when I get of here!

 

[Clem68W]

I was put in quite the spot tonight, as I quite abruptly had to stop vaping some delicious maple tobacco to explain to my Command Sergeant Major and Troop Commander (at the same time) what the hell it was I was smoking. I mean, these are folks who are institutionally educated to be adverse to new ideas, so it was almost instructive to see how I could best explain myself and what and ecigarette were. In the end, I ended up taking it apart, pulling the filler out, pulling out a bottle of juice, dripping for them, showing the vapor, explaining the components of the vapor, and running down some of the relevant discussions in the health and vapor forum just to appease them. Trust me, a CSM doesn't get to his rank for not being thorough.

In the end, several folks ended up hitting my 510 and most actually said "......ing cool" afterwards. Several wanted to know where they could find one.

 

[redraven]

Quite new to this, so I haven't had any public stuff come up, but have been reading comments on it here.

My big reason for vaping isn't so I can "have a cig in 'forbidden' places," but I'm sure I'll get asked about it at some point. Where I am now you can smoke in bars & I can last through a restaurant meal without one. However, I'm moving to Austin someday soon & there you can't. Went to a club there are was like... ahhh can't dance without a smoke in hand! I wonder if I'll see more e-smokers there. Or if it's caught on more in California where smoking is so regulated (used to live there, too).

Anyway... I was thinking the other day that in those situations where someone is like "You can't smoke here," it's not always going to be practical to give a whole lecture. Waiters & security people & such don't have time to stop for a big discussion. So I was pondering making a little card with a super-quickie explaination. So, I can just say "This isn't a cigarette, it's a PV... here's a fuller explaination when you have time to look at it."

What do ya'll think? - RR

 

[VapingRulz]

So I was pondering making a little card with a super-quickie explaination. So, I can just say "This isn't a cigarette, it's a PV... here's a fuller explaination when you have time to look at it."

I get a bunch of business cards with every order from Vapor4Life - and I think that some other companies do this as well.

On the back of the card it explains the personal vaporizer/e-cig in a short paragraph. Most importantly it states that the exhale is NOT SMOKE... and "not subject to ANY STATE or FEDERAL SMOKING bans."

I have heard of people simply handing a card to the person giving them grief but I'm not sure how effective it is.

 

[KARL M. JONES]

I just glad to see more and more people vaping than smoking.Let get more people into Vaper World!

 

[SheerLuckHolmes]

Anyway... I was thinking the other day that in those situations where someone is like "You can't smoke here," it's not always going to be practical to give a whole lecture. Waiters & security people & such don't have time to stop for a big discussion. So I was pondering making a little card with a super-quickie explaination. So, I can just say "This isn't a cigarette, it's a PV... here's a fuller explaination when you have time to look at it."

What do ya'll think? - RR

There are a ton of example all over this forum of people carrying business cards that have explainations about e-cigs, do a search. I carry a small card I hand out with one side the explaination and the other a list of sites, EFC and others, for more info.

Great idea, redraven!

 

[redraven]

Ahh, thank you. I did search around a bit, but didn't think to search for "business cards." Couldn't think of what to call 'em. I'll have to look for some examples here.

RR