Won a South Beach Smoke kit. How good are they?

[mohawkx]

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 spent quite a bit of time researching what type of threads the South Beach Smokes Deluxe, two piece kit was. I can safely and unequivically say that it is an E9/808D-2 threaded PV. I purchased some blank E9/D2 cartos from LeCig for it and they fit perfectly. In this thread someone has stated that there are adaptors to convert the E9/D2 to the more popular and widely used 808-D1 and this would be the best way to squeeze some satisfactory usage out of these puppies, IMO.

 

[spacekitty]

Yes, but the ones in the Premium kits look like this, and only come with one batt:

 

[Lauralie]

So I won a Deluxe kit and wow....it's worse than the Blu I got when i first started. Little to no vapor, I think the vanilla might be an ok taste if I could get more taste out of it. 2 of 5 cartomizers don't even work. Tried adding some juice to one of them and let it sit to soak in - nope just all ran out when I took the plug out and that would ruin an auto battery if I hadn't check it first so I guess my only option is to find a E9/808D2 to 808D-1 adaptor so I can enjoy my VOLT cartos on the batteries Couldn't find them on AZ.smokes.

 

[spacekitty]

AZ Smoke Free has a lot of adapters that they don't have at other places... I don't know how you missed it, but this was the link I was gonna send you anyway!!
Try here... The Better Way To Smoke - Adaptor, KR808D-2 Battery to KR808-1 Cartomizer (their shipping has gone up a bit since the last time I ordered from them )

Sorry I haven't answered your PM yet, Laura... but I've got a bunch going back over a month that I need to reply to still....

I guess you and Max both got the Vanilla cartos, and maybe that might be the problem... could be different cartos or something... cuz I ordered the 18mg (full-flavored) Tobacco and I'm getting plenty of vapor, especially with my own juice!!

It was a little weak at first, but not much... tasted fairly good, too... but I wanted to see how hard it was gonna be to refill them so I popped the end cap off, and was surprised how easy it came out!! The cart looked a little dry, which is a TOTAL rip-off considering how much they want to charge people for those things!!!!!

It took about 8-10 drops of juice in that 'new' carto (no leaking) and then the vapor was just great... nice easy draw, too. It holds a lot of juice and goes quite a while between refills, but then I use mostly VG, so that might make a diff, too. I am only using just the one cuz I plan on sending the kit to a friend and just wanted to try it out a bit first, but I would put the one I have been using right up there with the Boge's that I normally use, which the Volt's are about the same as, too. IMO.

Maybe it's just a fluke or they had different ones on the flavors that we got... who knows?? But the price was right (LOL!!), and it came with a lot of goodies!! I did notice that the threads are just slightly different on the 2 sizes of batts so the shorter one doesn't fit tight in the USB charger, but it still works.
I haven't really figured out how long each one last on a charge, but I know that they take even longer to charge than my eGo's... still, all-in-all not a bad little kit for someone who is just stating out... although WAY over priced!!!

 

[Laffs]

I started on July 15th with a South Beach Deluxe kit, smoked my last 2 cigs on the 16th, and ordered my e-Power through MadVaps on July 27th, and some flavored e-liquids about an hour later. It is okay for free, but I paid cash. Doh! I refilled several empty cartos with my own stuff using the condom method. It works okay enough to start out with and is nice to let others try out- if it is free.

Do NOT sign up for their stuff though!!! I kept mine only because they are a rip off, lying, stealing pos company!
That still doesn't mean the kit I bought with two batteries, some prefilled carts, my first 3 and battery recharger won't be used. It does mean I feel stupid for having dealt with them and when I returned the auto send next package, with their own RMA # outside and inside, within their specified time frame, I have yet to get the CC credit. I'm giving this one to my stepson when he comes through, with instructions to never, ever deal with venders like them but rather to read here, check the classifieds and pick up a cheap box mod, cartos and his own ejuice.

You may enjoy it just fine. Hey, it was free... just keep it that way.

 

[woody55]

Oh no, They tried to get me to sign up for auto delivery. Told them I was not paying their ridiculous price for carto's, they dropped the price down to $36 for 15, still told them no. It's not a bad kit just overpriced, it works for my first one. I had two of my cart's last about a half day of light vaping(couple of drags here, couple of drags about 30 - 40 mins later the started tasting burnt. Had one that was empty, so I filled it with the ginger's ry4 that I won.Now they have lots of vapor and not a bad taste, went ahead and topped others off too. Gonna save my money and get me an ego or 510, might get a mod at some point after i get a little more experience. By the way I had cut back to about a half a pack a day before I quit when I got the kit. Thanks everyone one for all the help and info, Hope I can help others too!

 

[birdbrains]

South Beach and similar companies should be avoided for their business practices alone. They sell a wildly inferior product at an insane markup and (as in my post above) collect $20 for "restocking fees" on batteries that supposedly hold a 30-day 100% no questions-asked guarantee. The restocking fee is mentioned nowhere in their Terms of Service or website.

Not to mention it's just a really really awful quality product. 3/5 of my cartomizers did not work, the batteries are 2-year old, outdated KR 808D-2's that fit with no other gear on the market (without an adapter) and are, in general, awful. The companies on this board that bust their asses constantly improving their 808 models and communicating with their customers day in and day out deserve your business. These companies also charge fair prices for technology that is not completely outdated. I can only imagine South Beach did some huge overstock buy-out of old old old batts for pennies per unit and now is somehow selling them for $30 each and trying to charge $55 for 15 pre-filled, non-working cartomizers that are auto-delivered every 3 weeks.

This place, and so many others, are what gives vaping a bad name.

 

[Lauralie]

I guess all in all everything will get used but the cartos and it was free (nice price). My big concern is with any company that wants you to sign up for a membership - I don't think so

Found that adapter at Lecig also

 

[Laffs]

I know this is now an 'old' thread, but felt, to be fair, that I had to update my previous post. I kept the over priced product, but sent my first auto send 3 pack, 15 cartos, back and did receive a credit on my card today. They'd given an RMA number weeks ago, yet resent the same email. I responded with a cut and paste from the usps site that they already had it back and the only thing I wanted now was my promised refund. They refunded all but the $6.95 shipping. I did also have the usps site send them a delivery confirmation info email directly from the site as well, just in case.

Still think they are way over priced but not as dishonest as I thought at least. Enjoy the freebie regardless.

 

[Lauralie]

OK so I ordered some RY4 cartomizers and a D2 to D1 adapter from AZ Smokes. Thought I would just try their cartos for the heck of it. Also MadVapes has a D2 to 510 adapter they are going to send me to try to see if it actually works....they have no D2 batts to try it on.

Decided to clean and refill the cartomizers that came with the kit...will let you know how that turns out

 

[Lauralie]

FYI - the adapter works but is airy, nothing a piece of scotch tape won't fix. The RY4 cartomizers rock.

Now Madvapes sent me a E9 to 510 adapter and it works just as well with a little scotch tape, it's airy too.

 

[woody55]

I will probably order one or two. I just handed it off to my daughter to try. If it works for her then I will give her one of the 510's I won. Just not sure her heart is really into quiting the analogs yet!
Now I am going to try to get something for myself. Either an Ego or a Riva, might even stay with the 510(kinda like it!).

 

[Cobra GT]

This story is kind of like mine except I bought two different units then found this site. Good luck with the South Beach and you will probably be in the market for something better like me.