The Bigger Picture

[Deleted]

If the aim of the vaping community is to convert the millions of smokers in this country from smoking to vaping (and if it isn't, it should be) then do you think we are in danger of becoming vaping snobs?
I did a post earlier talking about helping a friend of mine get off the cigs and this has gotten me thinking.
If we are thinking about a nation of vapers walking the street of this country, do you honestly think we will see everyone walking the streets with a Vivi Nova or whatever? I'm not so sure we can, I'm a tad worried that we all here are in the realms of the hobbyist.
Unfortunately, I think the cig-a-likes and slimline 501 types aren't good enough to go truly mainstream and this leads me to a question. With an estimated 650k vapers in this country, what has to happen to the available vaping equipment to convert the rest of the country and get everyone off cigs? Thoughts on this subject appreciated.

[giles]

Basically, I think you need a 2000mah cig-alike battery. I dunno what the chances of that are.

In the meantime, quite a lot of people manage on the current cig-alikes, and the world will get used to people puffing on weird stuff.

[ChillerVapes]

I wouldn't worry about it too much, the chinese work very fast (we all have at least 1 mobile phone don't we)
they make EVERYTHING to do with vaping by hand at the moment but if demand becomes that high for ecigs (egos etc) they will simply automate the manufacturing process.

[Blownupdolly]

I am certainly not a cig snob. I just quietly think to myself I am glad I don't smell like that anymore.
After doing a lot of reading on ecigs over the last few weeks, I am not sure many of us would want it to go too mainstream because if the big tobacco companies get wind of it (already happening apparently) prices would soar, government would over tax the industry just as they have with cigs. Then, as many of us know, there are already rumours it could be banned because big tobacco and pharmaceutical companies will lose trade BIG time.

[booblay]

Well, maybe there is a fine line between hobbist and snob. But at the same time, I think the hobbyists are being realists when they discredit crappy cigalikes and recommend vivi novas etc. A person giving up smokes and getting into vaping should be pointed in the right direction so that they get the best vaping experience. If they try crappy cigalikes filled with crappy juice and they don't like it, they're gonna say vaping is crappy. But if they try some decent juice in a boge or vivi or whatever, on a decent battery that lasts longer than 2 hours, they might just realise that vaping is fab and smoking is crappy.

And maybe we advise people to buy certain things because we have gone down the path ourselves, made lots of mistakes and bought crappy things which have broken fast or disappointed. And we're passing down our wisdom so others don't make the same mistakes. Though usually they do. I've always ended up ignoring the seasoned veteran who whispers, 'Provari' in a sexy voice. Because I can't afford it. But I wish I'd taken that advice, amount of money I've spent on crap.

However, there are some (though very few) who ardently declare that they love their cig-alikes etc. Power to em.

And I really don't think a vivi nova comes under the 'hobbyist' banner. It's quite a mainstream and easy to use gizmo. Really not far out there.

[suede]

I wouldn't say I was a vaping snob and from my time on here haven't come across any.There are hobbyists who enjoy buying the rebuildable attys and special mods etc but thats their choice and good luck to them.I'm struggling as to why it should be the aim of vaping community to convert the masses.I don't believe that every smoker will convert to vaping no matter whats available.I would say that its an industry thats moving along at breakneck speed even in my short time i've seen remarkable advances and probably more and more smokers will join in,you only have to look at the continual stream of newbies this forum attracts.The only thing I would say to smokers is "Seek and you will find"

[Deleted]

Why would you struggle? Vaping as we all know is a safer form of feeding a nicotine addiction than smoking. I believe it's our duty to spread the word and help as many as possible to drop the smokes. Perhaps I am alone in this view, but I for one have no intention of sitting in my ivory vaping tower and looking down on the smoking 'masses' and doing nothing.

(I didn't intend for that to come across as harsh as it may have done)

[giles]

Seems to me that what happens is that smokers (eventually, nearly all smokers) try cig-alikes. Some stick with them, some go back to ciggies, some find the better stuff. One or two actually quit altogether. Eventually, as the kit gets better, quite a high proportion will either quit or find the better stuff sooner or later, even if "better stuff" is no more than an easily-refillable long-lasting cartomiser and a range of liquids available on the high street.

I wouldn't be surprised, if in 10 years or so, they ban smoking altogether, trusting that (most) smokers will move to e-cigs rather than the black market.

[suede]

I will say that your intentions are admirable-I just don't think its our duty or aim to convert the smoking world to vaping.Most smokers are aware of it and if they choose not to join in,i'm afraid theres nothing you or I can do about it.Wether we view it from an ivory tower or not.

[CAM-VIP]

I like your enthusiasm mp2012. I agree with you 100%. Finding the right product that works and is cost effective and a sensible use of battery technology is the key!

Disposables are a waste of space due to the waste of a perfectly good battery that could be re-charged.

The best ones I have come across so far for the price and effectiveness are the SDKs sold by cavecom (Trog) - but they don't look like a fag and will not appeal to most smokers without a big advertising campaign (a la elites).

The social smokers that the same site sell cost about £7 for a rechargeable look-a-like - again at present, nowt touches them for a smoker who wants to have a try at ecigs.

Russell

(PS - I'm not Trog - but I believe his stuff works for the average smoker wishing to give ecigs a go with a price point that they can cope with)

[andym]

I make no attempts to "Convert" people to vaping.I WILL explain it all to them and its benfits,after that its up to them.The only fags i really can say i enjoyed was after a meal.I cant see me giving vaping up as i love the whole "shiny bits" and different flavours too much.Vaping for me is likw having a coffee(i cant stand coffee!)I dont think Vaping will become "mainstream" but it will become more and more "visible" as the message gets out.I have no qualms about ambling about with my LT/ZMAX puffing away,some people chew gum,i vape.

[booblay]

I don't aim to convert smokers to vaping, i usually keep my mouth shut and just vape, but if a smoker shows interest, I will tell them that there is more out there than cig-a-likes, mention a couple of websites, and usually, if they don't look too smelly and don't have coldsores, I'll give em a blast on my gorgeous chocolate orange filled vivi. And if they're REALLY interested, I'll write down some good deals and get a bit more enthusiastic with my advice.

But that's all i feel I can do. I'd rather smokers weren't smoking, but i aint gonna go all Jehovah's Witness on their ar*es. No offense to any Jojos present.

[Gordy]

I dont wish to convert or preach to everyone about vaping or what products they should or shouldn't have ...if they ask i will give them advice as best i can to suit them

[OneDay]

What Gordy said ^^^^

[pikeybarsteward]

I live in a rural community so I get to see what happens . Its got to the stage where I ve 'turned' whole families , I m turning people I ve never even properly met . I went through an evangelical stage meself , but thats long gone now .
The best approach seems to be to just vape , its the smokers with strong reactions that seem to end up vapers , both positive and negative oddly , they re the ones I put a bit of effort into.

The users I ve ''turned' all vape their own way , use gear and retailers I ve never even heard of , mostly Ego based of course . These days I just say 'google Ego ecig ' if they re computer literate or 'get one at the chemist'if they re not
Its coming , even in my backwater theres 5 types of ciglike available retail , 4 disposables and a simple usb V-lites , you can get vaping real easy for a tenner