Worse than the FDA?

[shakey ceasefire]

<rant>

What could worse - a more real and immediate threat - than the FDA?

Hoarding and stockpiling.

FDA bans are just speculation and conjecture for right now. The real threat to availability is happening now as people snap up all the US supply in a panic.

This is quite possibly needless and ridiculous. It's making it hard to get supplies, but what I really have a problem with is that it's making it hard for new users to even get started.

I have a good friend who wants to start, and knows nothing about this. I'm having a tough time convincing him to feel OK about it when every online store is OUT OF STOCK.

If supplies are not available, it's our fault, not the FDAs.

Hopefully everyone has their 3 years of stuff by now so some newbs can have a chance...

</rant>

 

[Nuck]

If there is a ban on juice and I have a choice between not running out or knowing I helped noobs....

Sorry nooblets!

 

[chokmah]

I can't afford to stockpile stuff so it isnt me.. Hope your friend can catch stuff online and good luck..

 

[ZambucaLu]

I think most people stock up on parts and juice....not really starter kits....so I don't think the stockpiling has much to do with that part of it. And if you can't find it in the US, go overseas like bestecig.com

I have never seen them out of stock....and they have comparable products with good prices. It's a place to start at least....until you reach the stockpiling phase anyway

And you gotta keep your eyes open around here. You snooze, you lose! There are more and more new suppliers coming along every day. Look for them as they are either stocked when they start up, or will be soon thereafter. Get it while you can is pretty much the motto around here.

Lu

 

[shakey ceasefire]

I can't afford to stockpile stuff so it isnt me.. Hope your friend can catch stuff online and good luck..

Thanks Chok ...

I heard Puresmoker was sold out in a matter on minutes when they re-opened. That's just stupid. Enough panic buying will just drive the prices up for everyone. Also, new suppliers who think they are in the money now might want to keep the champagne bottles corked for a while. If everyone has an underground bunker full of parts and juice then business could taper off dramatically once things even out. It depends on how fast the trend grows.

If you're panicking, or just want to order once a month, isn't it better to just order in small increments from China?

 

[Nuck]

I think the rush on buying when PS has stock isn't based on panic. A large part of it is community fun...almost like a contest.

If someone really needs supplies there is always a place that has some around.

 

[Calaban]

As far as the PS thing goes....

They are arguably the most popular supplier here, so of course everyone knew they would have to get in on the action in order to get anything.

It's possible that there were enough people ordering normal quantities of stuff from PS to cause them to sell out. I'm sure there were a few hoarders as well.

I have no problem with people buying as much as they can...probably because that's what I plan to do lol.

 

[dohsma]

I know this may sound inflamatory, but I gotta believe every time a new FDA story hits our boards the suppliers are laughing all the way to the bank. Long term it could be bad news, but in the short term business is booming.

 

[VapeAllDay]

Thanks Chok ...

I heard Puresmoker was sold out in a matter on minutes when they re-opened. That's just stupid. Enough panic buying will just drive the prices up for everyone. Also, new suppliers who think they are in the money now might want to keep the champagne bottles corked for a while. If everyone has an underground bunker full of parts and juice then business could taper off dramatically once things even out. It depends on how fast the trend grows.

If you're panicking, or just want to order once a month, isn't it better to just order in small increments from China?

The reason Puresmoker sold out instantly had probably very little to do with stockpiling, but everything to do with the fact they were offline for almost two weeks leaving their loyal customers lean on supplies.

Also don't assume the reason everyone is short on supply is stockpiling, suppliers are having a harder time with customs/Hong Kong shipping and there are a ton of new users lately, especially with all of the media on the issue.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[shakey ceasefire]

I think the rush on buying when PS has stock isn't based on panic. A large part of it is community fun...almost like a contest.

If someone really needs supplies there is always a place that has some around.

True.

Also don't assume the reason everyone is short on supply is stockpiling, suppliers are having a harder time with customs/Hong Kong shipping and there are a ton of new users lately, especially with all of the media on the issue.

Also true.

I know this may sound inflamatory, but I gotta believe every time a new FDA story hits our boards the suppliers are laughing all the way to the bank.

Also true.

 

[CONCRETE RIVER]

I know this may sound inflamatory, but I gotta believe every time a new FDA story hits our boards the suppliers are laughing all the way to the bank. Long term it could be bad news, but in the short term business is booming.

^real talk.

 

[dohsma]

Don't get me wrong though, if I had the extra cash, I'd be stockpiling too

 

[KatyS]

dohsma, believe me I am not laughing all the way to the bank. Having great difficulty keeping stock in and getting it here from china, each time a order is siezed it cost the supplier triple shipping. (shipping here, fda charges shipping back to china, then trying to get it back is a third shipping charge). If this happens too often, the supplier will probably go out of business, who can afford triple shipping. Just a suppliers view.

 

[shakey ceasefire]

According to conventional wisdom, juice has a 2 year shelf life. If you vape 2ml a day, you'll need about 750 ml for 2 years, allowing for loss, spillage, bad mixing. That's about 22 35ml bottles from bestecig. At 15.45 each, that's a grand total of $339.90 for 2 years worth of juice. Order 36mg and stretch it out with some PG or whatever. If you're going to stockpile, this would be the way to do it, as opposed to raiding US suppliers for little 10ml bottles.

As for starter kits, yes they are still available, but the carts run out quick. It seems like this is a juice issue for the most part. Realistically, the FDA scare is more about the nic than the parts.

 

[Nuck]

Walrus - The real reason behind the shortages

 

[Vape]

Shakey! You've spent over 600 bucks and have been doing it for 37 days! Is someone stockpiling?????? I'M JUST KIDDING!!!!
It can be frustrating when everyone on the fourm is raving about certain suppliers products and they are having troubles keeping stock up.
I have barely started and I love it so much I just want to try everything I can get my hands on!
Keep the faith!


OMG! That picture is awesome! Walrus you're my hero!

 

[JustJulie]

Nuck . . .

And I thought *I* was bad . . . Walrus puts me to shame.

 

[shakey ceasefire]

Shakey! You've spent over 600 bucks and have been doing it for 37 days! Is someone stockpiling?????? I'M JUST KIDDING!!!!
It can be frustrating when everyone on the fourm is raving about certain suppliers products and they are having troubles keeping stock up.
I have barely started and I love it so much I just want to try everything I can get my hands on!
Keep the faith!

Yes, my sig is brutally honest. I keep that figure there to stop myself from impulse buying stuff I don't need. All totals include shipping. Behold!!:

1/14/2009 njoy npro starter kit from smokesmart $80.85
2/11/2009 npro carts $19.99
2/12/2009 janty - dura set, 2 packs of carts $80.95
[edit: 2/16/2009 - smoked my last analog, hopefully ever!]
2/17/2009 janty - cappucino liquid 10mg $16.95
2/18/2009 cigtechs, 901 set, 1 extra atomizer, 1 battery $77.95
2/20/2009 janty - 1 choc, 1 RY4 10mg liquid $27.9
2/23/2009 puresmoker - 901 parts: 2 atomizers, 1 batt, 1 usb charger $68.48
2/26/2009 truevapor - 30ml choc, 15 ml 555, 24mg $41.48
3/6/2009 totally wicked - 30 ml of 36mg coffee $36.98
3/17/2009 true vapor - 30 ml 24mg 555 $27.97
3/19/2009 bestecig - china. 5x 901 atomizers, 5x 901 batts, 1 usb passthrough (901), 5 cola carts, 5 vanilla carts $120.65

Total: $600.15

As you can see my early misadventure with the nPro cost me... but hey, it still works, and is great for direct dripping. I figure I have enough stuff so I can't justify placing any more orders for 3 months at least. In this record you can see the arc of a newb/ex smoker turning into vaper.

 

[syntaxevasion]

<rant>

What could worse - a more real and immediate threat - than the FDA?

Hoarding and stockpiling.

FDA bans are just speculation and conjecture for right now. The real threat to availability is happening now as people snap up all the US supply in a panic.

This is quite possibly needless and ridiculous. It's making it hard to get supplies, but what I really have a problem with is that it's making it hard for new users to even get started.

I have a good friend who wants to start, and knows nothing about this. I'm having a tough time convincing him to feel OK about it when every online store is OUT OF STOCK.

If supplies are not available, it's our fault, not the FDAs.

Hopefully everyone has their 3 years of stuff by now so some newbs can have a chance...

</rant>

Umm... Hi there, bring it on

 

[Duckies]

My smoking coworkers wanted to try my eCig as soon as it arrived on Monday (thanks AltSmoke! 3 days flat!)

As a result, there are now 8 people in line for new supplies when everyone gets stocked. They couldn't believe how well these work! Throat hit was a big thing for everyone.

I warned them all up front that my 1:6 (later 1:8) is happening everywhere right now and that supplies are simply not able to keep up with demand. Especially with the recent $1.50 per pack price increase and the looming tax hit.

They understood, and know that it will be hit/miss on finding stock.

The net effect wasn't that people are changing their minds, it was that it cemented for them that this WORKS and that they need to get on the bandwagon.