What can I tell friends who are struggling to make it work?

[Eranda13]

I have a couple friends who are trying e-cigs and not having an easy time of it. They are both in that "BUT IT'S NOT EXACTLY LIKE A REAL CIG" negative frame of mind. When they have technical difficulties they think it's because e-cigs don't work. When it doesn't taste exactly like a burning analog they get mad and want to give up.

I'm only a noob myself, but I've made it through the first month + without a single analog. And when I look back, I realize it was A LOT more effort than I realized. Not because there's something wrong with vaping- but because it takes time and and a lot of trial and error to figure things out on your own. Now granted, the cancer I had on my tongue was a serious motivator- I knew I HAD to make it work, even when I wanted to give up.

But no one tells you at Wal-Mart that you have to drag on it differently. No one tells you that it helps to hold the vapor in your mouth longer. No one tells you to try a higher nic level if you're still having bad cravings. No one tells you that there are equipment options out there that are far and away better than anything you can get at a drugstore or gas station.

In short- no one tells you HOW to vape correctly. And if you're impatient, or not 100% committed to it- you tend to give up.

So... what can we tell newer people who are new to vaping that will help them to stick with it? What do you wish people had told YOU at first? What was/is your biggest struggle as a beginner? What was the hardest thing to overcome?

 

[soba1]

They need to amp up their power of what they are using. If u look through these posts you will see where a few started out with blue as I did and it wasn't quite cutting it until the got a decent batt and a nice tip i think they are called cartomizers and some serious juice.
U need that hit along with the right nicotine levels. At least I did I'm a noob as well. 11 days analog free, if I can anybody can.

 

[Azmo]

It really depends on what they are using. I started with a Blu kit and kept smoking. After a week, I got a fat battery with clearo and I haven't looked back. As soon as I got the better battery with a better delivery device, I was instantly done with analogs.

Some people just are not ready to quit the analogs and no matter what you say or do will help. It's just as much a mental addiction as a physical one.

 

[InTheShade]

It's hard, some people will just continue to find reasons why they need or want to smoke. I came into vaping knowing it would work, ordering the best kit I could afford and being sufficiently invested (emotionally and financially) that I knew it just had to work - I wasn't going to continue to smoke.

You heard the phrase you can lead a horse to water - well keep leading them, only they can decide if they drink.

 

[soba1]

The hardest thig to overcome was right after dinner, and I forced myself to vape first thing instead of a cig. I was vaping a few days and smoking. I started thinking I can do this. Was gonna buy one more pack. When I got down to that last cig I kept holding off. I finally took it broke it in half threw it on the ground and took a pick of it. The pic is now a background pick on my phone

 

[Eranda13]

Yeah I would have to agree- you have to WANT to quit. But... there are a lot of roadblocks in the early days of vaping. Taste, inconsistency, battery problems. Hell, it just doesn't FEEL right... I remember in my first week there were three nights when I was just ...... as hell. Stomping around, cranky- the whole nine yards. I felt like... I had just quit smoking LOL. I didn't expect that, I stupidly thought that I would never go through that. But even though I had my vape, I was still quitting a long time habit and that was bound to throw me off at least a little. Or in my case, a lot.

 

[Bill's Magic Vapor]

Tried vaping in 2009, again in 2011, and finally quit analogs in February 2013. The difference for me was that I was finally able to get a good enough nicotine hit to replace the nicotine I was craving in the analogs. Today, we have so much power in our mods, we can buy or make super strong e-liquid in any flavor imaginable, and we can replace the nicotine cravings with vaping. It just wasn't possible before unless you were in the inner circle of vapers to figure it out before fairly recently. Sure vaping is different from smoking. But I didn't have a problem quitting because of the taste, throat hit, or vapor... it's the nicotine that's so hard to quit. With enough power and enough nic level, you can power through the analog addiction if you really want to. For me, it's that the equipment and eliquid is so much better. Also, delivery is not a hassle anymore. Trying to make the switch initially by dripping consumed about 90% of my time. Now we have tanks, cartos, clearos, etc. It's not a hassle anymore. Equipment for on the go is great. The stuff we have at home - even better. If you want to quit, vaping is easier than the patch or gum, or at least it was for me. I think this time around I used the patch for a day or two while I chain vaped my head off making the transition away from analogs. After a week, I never looked back. I was a very heavy smoker, and though I had quit many times, once for ten years, it has never been easy for me. This time it actually was easy. The right equipment and the right state of mind, and I made it. No one was more surprised than me. Best of luck to you.

 

[zoiDman]

...

So... what can we tell newer people who are new to vaping that will help them to stick with it? What do you wish people had told YOU at first? What was/is your biggest struggle as a beginner? What was the hardest thing to overcome?

The First thing I ask people is "Do you want to Quit Smoking Cigarettes? Really Want to Quit?". Because if they don't, I know that many will have a Hard Time.

The second is, "Have you joined the ECF Yet?"

For me, the hardest part of Switching was realizing that Nothing Short of 36mg was going to get me over that First 10 Day Hump.

I climbed the walls at 18mg. And 28mg kinda worked but I couldn't seem to quit Entirely. I was Freaked out that Maybe I would have to try 36mg. It seemed way Too High.

I didn't Understand then that Nicotine is Measured Differently for Cigarettes as it is for e-Liquids.

 

[Iusedtoanalog]

Eranda.

I would have loved to have been told that this is not like smoking. You must make it obvious to those people this is an alternative to smoking, much like the patch or gum or other nicotine replacements. If you want to succeed you should have more nicotine available than you think you will. There is no direct correlation for "I smoked x cigs and I need x strength" this is a much less efficient way to obtain nicotine. You will also very likely have to vape much more often than you smoked. Everyone has different tolerances for nicotine, many folks that I know are still vaping the same strength they started wit, some have gone to 0nic but most are near where they where originally comfortable. There will be harder moments than others, primarily within the first few weeks once they do stop smoking completely.

Liquid is so problematic. There are far too many variables here but, one constant. Nothing tastes like a burning tube of paper, plant & chemicals. Most good tobaccos that I have tried taste like the smell of fresh tobacco, think of that smell when you open the package. That's the flavor that you will most likely associate with a well made tobacco liquid. If you jump right past those and get into a candy or pastry or fruit or coffee you may never have that nagging "its still not a cigarette" feeling, but you may.

Batteries...... The more capacity , the better. If you have to worry if your slim stick will make it through your next vape break, that's stress enough to make some throw in the towel. If It can go most or all day,that is comforting. I know the logic behind the slim batteries. It is what is familiar, we are creatures of habit, the tiny units are great for introducing us to vaping's possibilities. Almost everyone who has had a small battery has wished that the time between charges was longer the fix for this is a bigger battery model, or one that can be used while its charging(pass through)these fix those stressors for the most part.

Cartomizers, Atomizers & dripping. Every new Vaper that I show how to get started gets shown how to drip with an atomizer to get started, when its time to top off and the benefits of a drip tip in this scenario. This allows them to test out the flavors available without having to do a whole bunch of Hoopla to do so. I also show them how to clear out old flavors from the atomizer to test a new flavor. Every single vaper should have the knowledge and ability to fill and use a cartomizer. Every new vaper that I personally assist in getting set up I start with cartomizers. They are a reliable vape plain and simple. Once you are started with cartomizers you can get comfortable and then begin to branch out from there to clearomizers, tanks, etc.

Finally willpower. This will be the one factor you can not help someone with, other than showing them how successful you have been. You can be support but you cannot be someone's willpower.

I began vaping with a single battery rn4081, atomizer,carts kit.....at 11mg.......It sucked Bad..... once I figured out there where other options like nicotine strength, different feed systems, bigger batteries, more voltage it became much easier.... but those first four months where just horrid. Once I found out there where other people like me going through similar situations it became easier still. Participating in this forum is cathartic, encourage them to pull up a chair and read until they feel satisfied that its a good decision for them before they decide to make the switch. They will eventually thank you for the advice. Good Luck. Happy Vaping.

 

[Ryedan]

Yup, vaping is not for everyone. There is too much bad hardware out there. All our hardware needs maintenance, some much more than others. E-cig manufacturers and suppliers do not do nearly enough to educate their customers about how vaping works. Sites like ECF exist and do great work in helping newbies, but we are not perfect either.

I only encountered a couple of minor roadblocks when I started. I also had medical issues that motivated me so I totally understand how that works and I'm sure that motivation really helped me. I am mechanically/technically inclined and experienced and having to for example do maintenance on my gear was not an issue for me. I read ECF for hours on end before buying my first kit and thought nothing of it. I was also able to sift through all the sometimes contradictory opinions/data I found and come to some decisions from that. But, it should not be this difficult!

Unfortunately, it is what it is right now. The hardest thing at the beginning for me were the cravings for a smoke. I vaped through that, as I had read about doing on ECF. I guess the most important thing for me was the knowledge I gained here in the beginning that helped me hang in there when things got frustrating. Now, some people are just not going to get it simply because vaping is not the same as smoking. I think though that giving people accurate knowledge about vaping is a very good start and this is something we can all do. Don't overwhelm them, but don't sugar coat things either. Maintenance is required, backups are important, being safe is important, juice that you like can be hard to find but you will find some after a while, buy into a good enough system for what you want. If this is too much for someone they are probably not ready yet, but they will at least know what they are up against and will not come out of the experience thinking vaping is a crock.

 

[Stiles2]

It also helps a lot to have a REAL GOOD JUICE when you give your friends/family a couple toots as an introduction. If it is something they dont like it wont be a great first impression. That first impression can leave a big mark on a smoker, I can attest to that!! ><

Find out what foods/flavours they like. Most of my female friends love their desserts so I offered them a vanilla cupcake and coconut cream pie samples (No calories lol). My male friends have proven a lot more stubborn

 

[candik]

I started my introduction with a disposable. It was so not enough for me. I knew it wouldn't work with that but I knew I wanted to find something. So I did research. I didn't have anyone to help me or guide me or hold my hand until I found this site. The open generosity of knowledge, support and friendliness of the people here made all the difference in the world to me. It would have been nice if all the info I thought I needed and the information I didn't know I needed was as accessible to me as cigarettes are at the corner store. But it isn't. It is however, available if you look as I did and found it here. If your friends want it to work, they're gonna have to put some effort in to it. Living is an investment after all right?

Tell them there is no such thing as a magic wand. If there were, most of us wouldn't be here. Most things worth having are worth working for. Maybe even struggling or fighting for. Getting off regular cigarettes and all the damage they do to us and those around us is definitely worth every bit of effort. Every cigarette we light is a few minutes less of life we get to live and life is short enough as it is.

Tell them:

If it tastes burnt, try another tank, if it's not strong enough, try another strength or dial up the umph. If it tastes terrible, try another juice. If the battery doesn't last long enough, try another kind. The pattern is to TRY. And one day, all that trying will result in succeeding. It isn't always easy but it is without a doubt worth it.

Then tell them to try checking out this site. There are more answers here than I thought I had questions for.

The hardest thing I had to overcome was myself and the habit I had managed to ingrain in my life.

Good luck to you and your friends!

 

[candik]

It also helps a lot to have a REAL GOOD JUICE when you give your friends/family a couple toots as an introduction. If it is something they dont like it wont be a great first impression. That first impression can leave a big mark on a smoker, I can attest to that!! ><

Find out what foods/flavours they like. Most of my female friends love their desserts so I offered them a vanilla cupcake and coconut cream pie samples (No calories lol). My male friends have proven a lot more stubborn

You do know there is bacon and bourbon flavoring right? I only know 1 man who wouldn't like that!

 

[RosaJ]

The first thing you need to do is stop feeling responsible for their success at vaping. Continue on your journey to find what works for you and tell them to do their own research. If they're committed, they will follow your advice; if they're not, they will continue smoking cigarettes.

When they see your example and you start counting the weeks, months, and years you've been smoke free they may look back into vaping and make the commitment to vape, use snus, patches, gum or whatever they decide to try.

 

[firefox335]

I started with Blu. Although I realized right away that it wasn't nearly strong enough, I knew that the concept of e-cigs was right on the money. I switched to a KR808, and was good. Then I fell off the wagon. Then I would vape for 3 months, smoke for 3 months. It was a viscous cycle. In the end, I really wanted to quit the analogs. So I smoked my last one at 12:15 am on New Years Day. I'm going into my 5th month and have not had a cigarette since. This is the longest I have been without smoking an analog since I was 19 (just turned 38). There is a HUGE learning curve to e-cigs. In the end, they will work if you want them to.

 

[ca_girl2tx_girl]

I personally started with the ecigs and had the same problem. Once my husband and I started using the actual vapors it was a lot easier. A bit of information that I got that made sense was to not get ejuice that was the closest to your preferred analog brand. Instead get a flavor like your favorite dessert. This way when you are vaping you get a pleasant taste (as long as the flavor is good) and when you go to smoke an analog it tastes horrible. When I tried this logic, I quit analogs all together within 2 days. I have been analog free now for just over a month. It may be harder for those who have smoked longer, but it is worth it. If you have been analog free, talk to them and tell them your success such as money you have saved, ect. I hope your friends really don't give it up because it is definitely worth it.

 

[Mowgli]

Get them to visit a brick & mortar vape shop if there's one within driving distance.
I started on Green Smoke and it was better than smoking but I knew there had to be something better still.

I was determined to make it work so I joined ecf, did research and drove 35 miles to the closest B&M.
I spent about an hour asking questions and talking with other customers.
I asked what was the most popular, mindblowing juice and did he have any loaded in a tank.
He whipped out Atomic Fireball in a mini Nova on a big black SLB Mega v2.
I took a hit and knew right then that it was what I was looking for.
I left with a batt, a couple of mini novas and a selection of juices.
I finished off the pack I had but everytime I went out to "reward" myself with a real smoke I was disappointed.

Now I have a selection of batts, enough juice for a year and a half, some nic in the freezer and more on the way.
I vape fruit, berries, candy, pastry and still toot the occasional tank of Ginger's Fireball.

I wanted a simple easy solution to a life threatening addiction and scored a great tasty hobby on top of the smoothest way to quit.
The ecf crew is a great helpful bunch and tied for my favorite online forum.
Help is available and just like other addictions, helping others quit is the best way to insure our own success.
Happiness loves company too

As someone else said here, ask them if they really want to quit for good and what they'll do to accomplish that.
If they seem serious then get them involved, follow some of the great suggestions from this thread and get out to local vape meets with them.
Any effort you put into helping them will benefit you whether they quit/stay quit or not.

vape on

BTW - I never see ecf's Infozone mentioned here on ecf. It's a great resource for newbies

New e-cigarette users Archives - ECF InfoZone
E-cigarette guides Archives - ECF InfoZone

 

[Eranda13]

Wow everyone, thanks for all the thoughtful replies. One bit of advice I need to take is not to feel responsible for someone else's decision to quit smoking.

The first couple weeks of vaping for me- I used every possible excuse to smoke an analog. I was looking for excuses, and now I see that. After the cancer diagnosis I was looking for ways to make it work. Plain and simple- that's the difference. You either want it, or you don't. Before cancer I didn't, after cancer I did.

I just saw some crappy infomercial the other day for an e-cig, and they kept saying over and over "it tastes and feels just like a real cigarette" and I KNOW that's not true- because even the highest end devices and liquids don't taste and feel "just like a real cigarette". But the advertising leads people to believe that you remove analog, insert e-cig and it's all the same. And it's NOT. People think they're doing it wrong, or that there's something wrong with them, or whatever- and that's not it at all.

But the truth of the matter is that if you truly want it to work, you will find a way. You will learn and experiment and try and try and try until you find something that works for you. And I guess that's not something you can teach someone.

 

[Insurgence]

I just saw some crappy infomercial the other day for an e-cig, and they kept saying over and over "it tastes and feels just like a real cigarette" and I KNOW that's not true- because even the highest end devices and liquids don't taste and feel "just like a real cigarette". But the advertising leads people to believe that you remove analog, insert e-cig and it's all the same. And it's NOT. People think they're doing it wrong, or that there's something wrong with them, or whatever- and that's not it at all.

False advertising is annoying, and I've actually had great reception telling people that it's not like a cigarette. I'll say "You can't think it's going to be just like a cigarette 'cause you'll be disappointed. It's better than a cigarette."

Included should be a hearty disclosure that finding good juices may take a while, but even with a case of "vapor's tongue" right now where everything tastes like nothing and it all tastes the same, I can honestly say its better than cigarettes.

 

[Mike36609]

Eranda.

I would have loved to have been told that this is not like smoking. You must make it obvious to those people this is an alternative to smoking, much like the patch or gum or other nicotine replacements. If you want to succeed you should have more nicotine available than you think you will. There is no direct correlation for "I smoked x cigs and I need x strength" this is a much less efficient way to obtain nicotine. You will also very likely have to vape much more often than you smoked. Everyone has different tolerances for nicotine, many folks that I know are still vaping the same strength they started wit, some have gone to 0nic but most are near where they where originally comfortable. There will be harder moments than others, primarily within the first few weeks once they do stop smoking completely.

Liquid is so problematic. There are far too many variables here but, one constant. Nothing tastes like a burning tube of paper, plant & chemicals. Most good tobaccos that I have tried taste like the smell of fresh tobacco, think of that smell when you open the package. That's the flavor that you will most likely associate with a well made tobacco liquid. If you jump right past those and get into a candy or pastry or fruit or coffee you may never have that nagging "its still not a cigarette" feeling, but you may.

Batteries...... The more capacity , the better. If you have to worry if your slim stick will make it through your next vape break, that's stress enough to make some throw in the towel. If It can go most or all day,that is comforting. I know the logic behind the slim batteries. It is what is familiar, we are creatures of habit, the tiny units are great for introducing us to vaping's possibilities. Almost everyone who has had a small battery has wished that the time between charges was longer the fix for this is a bigger battery model, or one that can be used while its charging(pass through)these fix those stressors for the most part.

Cartomizers, Atomizers & dripping. Every new Vaper that I show how to get started gets shown how to drip with an atomizer to get started, when its time to top off and the benefits of a drip tip in this scenario. This allows them to test out the flavors available without having to do a whole bunch of Hoopla to do so. I also show them how to clear out old flavors from the atomizer to test a new flavor. Every single vaper should have the knowledge and ability to fill and use a cartomizer. Every new vaper that I personally assist in getting set up I start with cartomizers. They are a reliable vape plain and simple. Once you are started with cartomizers you can get comfortable and then begin to branch out from there to clearomizers, tanks, etc.

Finally willpower. This will be the one factor you can not help someone with, other than showing them how successful you have been. You can be support but you cannot be someone's willpower.

I began vaping with a single battery rn4081, atomizer,carts kit.....at 11mg.......It sucked Bad..... once I figured out there where other options like nicotine strength, different feed systems, bigger batteries, more voltage it became much easier.... but those first four months where just horrid. Once I found out there where other people like me going through similar situations it became easier still. Participating in this forum is cathartic, encourage them to pull up a chair and read until they feel satisfied that its a good decision for them before they decide to make the switch. They will eventually thank you for the advice. Good Luck. Happy Vaping.

Amen to the above. I believe every new vaper should learn the basics first. If you know the basics, you have a foundation of knowledge and experience to draw on when your fancy new RBA or clearo leaks, gurgles, burns, or just plain doesn't work very well. Frustration in dealing with these devices can easily overwhelm a newbie and make them want to give up.

Every new vaper needs...

- A good, dependable VV/VW device, with sufficient battery power. Bells and whistles are nice, but not as important as being dependable. A good backup device should be considered as a must have as well.
- To learn how fill and maintain a basic carto setup - they may not be your favorite device, but cartos work consistently and they don't leak, and that's important for a newb.
- Good juice that they like well enough to keep trying. No it will not replicate all of the sensations of smoking, it can't, but with the right juice, you will forget about trying to replicate smoking, and appreciate vaping for what it is, as well as the unquestioned benefit of not smoking.

Once you have this foundation to drawn on, and revert to when other things fail or frustrate you, then you can start exploring all of the other options that are available. After all, there is a reason we learn learn basic math before tackling algebra and physics.

Just my two cents.