I just won a South Beach Smoke starter kit in a give away. Haven't received it yet. I am new to e-cigs and was wondering if they are a good company?
Won a South Beach Smoke kit. How good are they?
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Realized I wrote a lot so... EDIT for a too long, didn't read version: do not use the SouthBeach smoke batts/kit. Any new-style KR808D1 kit you see recommended on ECF (like Smokeless Image's Volt, Vapor4Life, Bloog or even just an old Kanger 808) blow what SouthBeach is selling out of the water.
The worst. A friend and I went in to give one of their starter kits a shot (sadly, before I found ECF). 2/5 cartos we got came DOA (okay, not totally unusual but sucked for us). Whatever juice is in their cartos gives about a 1.5/10 on the vapor scale for me and a definite 1/10 on flavor, the TH was a 0--it was just a scratchy mess: if we inhaled like normal, without fail we would both cough. We were bummed. After we found ECF, 7 days since our SouthBeach order date we called and tried to make a return using their "30-day no questions asked money back guarantee" and of course were given the run-around.
I completely understand them asking us to pay shipping fees based on the fact that technically (AFAIK) the batts themselves were not broken in any way and the cartos are unreturnable of course (even though they were DOA) the batts were just really poor quality, the real kicker was that they said they would not take it back if it was not sent via FedEx or UPS and that there was a $20 "restocking fee." Now the starter kit we bought was $39.99, so with the fee, we're recouping $19.99. Went to the FedEx store next to my work and the absolute cheapest FedEx option was $11. Total money returned: $8.99.
My issue, of course, is that on their website return policy terms there is absolutely no mention of a $20 restocking fee. It pretty much states that within 30 days you are able to return the kit for a full refund and that extra cartos you order are not returnable (of course). They really didn't care when I mentioned I would prefer not paying the $20 fee, I fought for a good 5-10 minutes but I was at work and didn't have all day (the rep said it had "always been that way")
And it's actually not back on my CC yet. They say it can take 15 business days to process.
So it's great that you got it for free--congrats! But the company is bad business and the unit is horrible. I'd suggest giving it a try and when it's awful--just know that there are so so many better options--at the very least it'll give you an idea of what an e-cig looks like... I guess. Now that I've tested out the PVs that are recommended here, I can't imagine anyone using what SouthBeach sells (I believe it's a KR-808-D2).
Anywho, avoid avoid avoid.
The worst. A friend and I went in to give one of their starter kits a shot (sadly, before I found ECF). 2/5 cartos we got came DOA (okay, not totally unusual but sucked for us). Whatever juice is in their cartos gives about a 1.5/10 on the vapor scale for me and a definite 1/10 on flavor, the TH was a 0--it was just a scratchy mess: if we inhaled like normal, without fail we would both cough. We were bummed. After we found ECF, 7 days since our SouthBeach order date we called and tried to make a return using their "30-day no questions asked money back guarantee" and of course were given the run-around.
I completely understand them asking us to pay shipping fees based on the fact that technically (AFAIK) the batts themselves were not broken in any way and the cartos are unreturnable of course (even though they were DOA) the batts were just really poor quality, the real kicker was that they said they would not take it back if it was not sent via FedEx or UPS and that there was a $20 "restocking fee." Now the starter kit we bought was $39.99, so with the fee, we're recouping $19.99. Went to the FedEx store next to my work and the absolute cheapest FedEx option was $11. Total money returned: $8.99.
My issue, of course, is that on their website return policy terms there is absolutely no mention of a $20 restocking fee. It pretty much states that within 30 days you are able to return the kit for a full refund and that extra cartos you order are not returnable (of course). They really didn't care when I mentioned I would prefer not paying the $20 fee, I fought for a good 5-10 minutes but I was at work and didn't have all day (the rep said it had "always been that way")
And it's actually not back on my CC yet. They say it can take 15 business days to process.
So it's great that you got it for free--congrats! But the company is bad business and the unit is horrible. I'd suggest giving it a try and when it's awful--just know that there are so so many better options--at the very least it'll give you an idea of what an e-cig looks like... I guess. Now that I've tested out the PVs that are recommended here, I can't imagine anyone using what SouthBeach sells (I believe it's a KR-808-D2).
Anywho, avoid avoid avoid.
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Don't know what kind they are so don't know much about them so I'm going with birdbrain (now that sounds so wrong 
) and probably a good idea (when you get around to buying), to get something else.
Whether bad or good, since you won it, give it a try because it will give you an idea if you like vaping.
And keep this in mind: Most people around here think nJoy is the pits. The batteries, yes, but I think the atty is great. I've become a CE clearo fan but still use the RN4081 for dripping.
And by the way CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
) and probably a good idea (when you get around to buying), to get something else.Whether bad or good, since you won it, give it a try because it will give you an idea if you like vaping.
And keep this in mind: Most people around here think nJoy is the pits. The batteries, yes, but I think the atty is great. I've become a CE clearo fan but still use the RN4081 for dripping.
And by the way CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
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This was my first e-cig and was prior to finding ECF. I bought the deluxe kit and it was anything but deluxe. As stated in another post, I would rate South Beach 1 on a scale of 10. I still have the kit in a drawer and pull it out when I'm converting others to e-cigs by showing them an example of the absolute worst product to buy and then bringing out a Riva 750 and letting them compare. Funny, the Riva cost less than half the South Beach kit but works 10 times better. I even tracked down what type of e-cig it is and bought blank cartomizers for it and filled them myself. Still a piece of crap.
Sorry to disappoint you. Hope you don't order the grossly overpriced, prefilled cartos for them.
Sorry to disappoint you. Hope you don't order the grossly overpriced, prefilled cartos for them.
It will be a good way for you to try ecigarettes but I would not throw any money at that company. South Beach is a ripoff rebrander and multilevel marketer. They charge $40-50 for batteries that should cost $12-18 and similarly jack up the prices of every other accessory and replacement part.
However, if you receive the Deluxe rather than the Premium - the Deluxe MIGHT be KR808D-1 which is actually a good model (though I would recommend manual batteries over auto). I am not sure what the Premium is - the atty looks a bit DS103 but there are some around like that which people have never found a match for.
So - if you get the 2-piece Deluxe, try some KR808D-1 cartomizers on it (Smokeless Image Volt, Bloogplanet, Vapor4Life) or you can buy a single cartomizer at VapeSafe. If you get the Premium 3-piece, you could buy some eliquid and get some use out of it but I would recommend shopping for something normal priced and better.
However, if you receive the Deluxe rather than the Premium - the Deluxe MIGHT be KR808D-1 which is actually a good model (though I would recommend manual batteries over auto). I am not sure what the Premium is - the atty looks a bit DS103 but there are some around like that which people have never found a match for.
So - if you get the 2-piece Deluxe, try some KR808D-1 cartomizers on it (Smokeless Image Volt, Bloogplanet, Vapor4Life) or you can buy a single cartomizer at VapeSafe. If you get the Premium 3-piece, you could buy some eliquid and get some use out of it but I would recommend shopping for something normal priced and better.
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It's not an 808D-1. It's the 808D2/E9 model and the only place I know to buy blank cartos for it is through LeCig. 8.99 per 5 pack.
Congratz. You know what they say about a gift horse.
Give it a try, then buy yourself a real ecig, and keep that one for an emergency backup.
We all need a backup at some point, and anything is better than turning to analogs in a panic moment.
Give it a try, then buy yourself a real ecig, and keep that one for an emergency backup.
We all need a backup at some point, and anything is better than turning to analogs in a panic moment.
I'm sure you'll do fine. Probably your best bet for getting the most out of your South Beach kit is to buy the blank cartomizers from LeCig and a bottle of juice you think you might like and fill them yourself. Good luck and happy vaping.
I have the South Beach premium kit and they are 808d-1. My parents bought this kit and didn't care for e-cigs so they gave it to me. I keep these in reserve as my backup to my backup to my backup. I refill the carts and let newbs try when they want to give it a shot until a kit they order comes in.
Nothing is wrong with free, take it give it a try then put it as a backup when you really start to get into vaping. It's always nice to have backups around so you never have a reason to go back to analogs.
Nothing is wrong with free, take it give it a try then put it as a backup when you really start to get into vaping. It's always nice to have backups around so you never have a reason to go back to analogs.
Oh it's E9/KR808D-2 - hmmm? You can get blank cartos at Vaporkings.com and parts at AZSmokeFree,com and I guess LeCig. KR808D-1 is the popular well supported version of the model. KR808D-2 is thread-incompatible rebrander version of the model. KR808D-2 is compatible with cartos for Greensmoke (not the same as Greencig or Green anything else) or Smoke 51 Duo or Red Dragon. You will find old references that Bloog is KR808D-2 but it is not - Bloog's current model is KR808D-1
LeCig also carries D1 to D2 and D2 to D1 adapters.
KR808D-2's only problem is incompatibility with the better supported model KR808D-1. When new cartomizer styles are released, they are almost always offered in 510 and KR808D-1 threading, never in KR808D-2
LeCig also carries D1 to D2 and D2 to D1 adapters.
KR808D-2's only problem is incompatibility with the better supported model KR808D-1. When new cartomizer styles are released, they are almost always offered in 510 and KR808D-1 threading, never in KR808D-2
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I sell cars and have a riva 510 one of my customers came in one day and said hey look i have one of those and pulled out a south beach. lol he almost killed himself trying to get a hit off it like my riva
I'm guessing they didn't care for it because this kit is actually really hard for me to think of as an e-cig knowing what I know now. It's truly terrible.
OH but! I'm definitely referring to the Deluxe, or what they sell with cartomizers. Which, unless I was just really bad at screwing things onto other things a few months ago--definitely wasn't a 808-D1. Is the premium kit the one they sell as a 3 piece? It has 808-D1 threading?
I still use it for demo purposes. When someone comes over to the house for an e-cig demo I always have the south Beach with a fresh carto loaded with some 555 ready to go. They all want to start out on a cig look alike. So I let them try it for a bit and I've had a couple say "Hey! I could learn to like this alot." Ladies want the slim look and feel of a real cigarette, I've found. Then I let them try a Riva 750 with a boge 2.0 with the same juice and all bets are off from then on. Surprisingly there have been a few who preferred the "look" over the "taste". go figure.
Didn't know that AZSmokeFree offered the d2 cartos. I'll have to shop local when I place my next order. Also didn't know there were 808D-1 adaptors for the D2. Thanks for that. Lots of carto evolution for the d-1. That would be the best suggestion for the OP to get the most out of his South Beach. Get a 808D-1 adaptor for it and some Ikenvapes D-1 blank cartos for it. Probably a half way decent PV then.
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ha! That's a great idea to get people to get into bigger and more satisfying batts.
Buuuuuuuuuut... using a Volt personally (and knowing that Volts are awful similar to Bloogs and the newest version of V4L's 808) there are a number of juices that I really prefer hitting off of my Volt rather than my E-Power (with Boge 2.0 cartos and dual coil cartos) or REO (with 306 1.5 atty). I'm just trying to say: there ARE minis available now that give warm, full vapor with fantastic TH. Oh and the batts cost 12 bucks (well, the Volt at least). So there ARE some options out there!
I need to chime in on the South Beach kit. The two piece kit is actually not that bad. I find it personally lacking, but my wife and about six of her friends all use and own these kits. They prefer the taste from their cartos more than any liquid I've tried to get them to try. It does give me a decent amount of vapor, and the flavor is possibly the closest I've ever found to an actual cigarette.
They are way overpriced, though. I managed to call them and get a better price for their stuff than what I pay for my Volt stuff, but it took some major haggling on my part. I find the Volt far superior, but like I said, I know people who really like the flavor of their carts.
It is definitely not an 808-1, as my Volt stuff does not fit her kit.
I'd say it's an OK way to start, especially at the price of free. Just don't buy their replacement carts at full price.
They are way overpriced, though. I managed to call them and get a better price for their stuff than what I pay for my Volt stuff, but it took some major haggling on my part. I find the Volt far superior, but like I said, I know people who really like the flavor of their carts.
It is definitely not an 808-1, as my Volt stuff does not fit her kit.
I'd say it's an OK way to start, especially at the price of free. Just don't buy their replacement carts at full price.
I have to jump in here, since I just won one of those kits, and I also have woody's back... 
I have read nothing but bad reviews about South Beach Smoke, although they say they have made a lot of improvements... and the company that is holding the Contest is a flaky 'review' site... Ha!!
If it only comes with one batt I have offered to send him mine, plus try to find out what the threads are!! From some of the pics and the online manual it looks more like an old 4081 atty and cart set-up that I have, and cartos, too... but I also have a 808 to compare it with as well.
Either way, it should be possible to refill them, and since I DIY now, I will set him up with a little juice to get him started...
Not to mention giving him all of the links to the current contests... LOL!!
I have read nothing but bad reviews about South Beach Smoke, although they say they have made a lot of improvements... and the company that is holding the Contest is a flaky 'review' site... Ha!!
If it only comes with one batt I have offered to send him mine, plus try to find out what the threads are!! From some of the pics and the online manual it looks more like an old 4081 atty and cart set-up that I have, and cartos, too... but I also have a 808 to compare it with as well.
Either way, it should be possible to refill them, and since I DIY now, I will set him up with a little juice to get him started...
Not to mention giving him all of the links to the current contests... LOL!!
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