Am I expecting too much......

[lobeydosser]

.....from vaping beginners?

When I first started vaping it was with a cig-a-like kit. It took me a month of mucking about with that before I went 100% vaping and then I started looking around for a decent kit.

It was through a camping & caravanning forum that I was first introduced to vaping and it was on their members recommendations that I cautiously invested £60 and bought a Vision 1000 kit. Since then I have never looked back.

Now I find myself in a strange situation. I am being asked by various folks if they can use some of the kit that I have put away, just to tide me along if my everyday stuff breaks, and I am also being asked to make up ejuices for folks to try.

Now do not be mistaken here. These folks are not vapers. They are folks that have tried vaping cig-a-likes and are still smoking. They are all fully employed and most live in big fancy houses, the type I could only dream about, but they will not make the commitment to go out and spend a few pounds to try something that may end up saving their lives. No, they want me, unemployed for the last 15 years and now living on a pension, to supply them with e-cigs and e-juice just so that they can decide whether to give vaping a go or not.

Well I'm sorry, but I feel that if you want to try something like vaping, you have to show a bit of commitment before you ask others for help. I gave up 8 days of cigarette money to get my first decent kit and that made me determined to give vaping a fair go. Had I been handed an e-cig kit and the juice for free, I wonder if I would be back smoking or still vaping today.

I am not vaping to advertise it. I am not out to save the world. I vape because I can no longer afford to smoke, either financially or health wise.

In my view, if a person can afford to smoke, then they can afford to set themselves up with their own gear and juice. Once they are "on the road" then I will help them any way I can, but they need to take the first step and make that first commitment.

Am I doing this right?

Or should I be a hand out facility for all these would be vapers?

[Raffles]

lobeydosser agree 100%

Like other things in life, if it comes free it's not appreciated. If anyone is not prepared to put a bit of their own cash and/or effort in, then it won't work for them anyway. They'll then probably blame you for getting their hopes up.

Why don't you ask them if you can borrow their flash cars for a week to see if you like driving them!

[Karma]

I've handed out stuff to help get newbies on their way, it totally hasn't worked. It's been unappreciated and nobody has made an effort to return anything so as I could pass it on to others

I do think a bit of commitment comes into it. I'm by no means tight and have helped people who had invested a bit themselves but been caught out by the 'back up' motto. This has been appreciated

[newdawn]

I'd give them the links to decent gear and tell them that's what they need to order and once they get it, you'll happily talk them through how to use it. Don't even get into what you have 'spare' because it's none of their business anyway.

It's amazing how the people with lots of money are last to part with it, but then I suppose that's partly why they have so much.

[jonoclouds]

lobeydosser

Like you I have to think carefully before spending or lending. I have a very modest income
I have hoarded some stuff from when I started vaping as a backup too.

Several people have asked me for a lead into vaping. I want to encourage them too, but not at my cost!
I suggested that they buy a simple CE4 starter kit from Paradise Vape. They work ok and are better than all that cig-a-like rubbish.
Their prices vary from £10 downwards for these kits. Right now they have their xmas-boxed stock at just £6 + £1.50 P&P. Fast and reliable, friendly service too. So may I suggest that you do as I do and tell them to buy a cheapy from there?
You could tell them that it means they will have the kit as their own as opposed to borrowing stuff.

Xmas kits: www.paradisevapeuk.co.uk/product-p/xmas-ego.htm

As for making up ejuices for them... I am lost for words...
Hang on, I've found some. How about telling them 10ml will cost them (say) £3. If you are buying your ingredients from LT it's less than £1 for 10ml to you... Of course they could just add a £5 bottle of premixed juice to their Paradise Vape order!

Cheers!

Jono

[oldsmokey]

If you're not prepared to shell out the cost of your own kit then you don't deserve to succeed. If you can afford to smoke at today's prices then you can certainly afford to vape! If they are not prepared to commit then they probably won't succeed.

If I'm honest I think spending quite a bit of money on vaping helped me to commit to it. I've even had vaping Christmas presents now - so going back to smoking is unthinkable.

Tell them to put their money where they want - tobacco or vaping - there is no such thing as a free lunch.

I don't have a very high opinion of any employed person who would sponge off a Pensioner! Tell them to grow some, develop longer arms, and open the (probably bulging) wallet!

[Karma]

If I'm honest I think spending quite a bit of money on vaping helped me to commit to it

me too oldsmokey

if Mr K found me back on the ciggies after all that I've accumulated

[OneDay]

You are absolutely right Lobey. Without commitment they will never switch. Point them at the Vype website, where they can get a free cig-alike to try

[Super-Shiny]

If i don't 100% need something i own and know i will never use it i give it away, if it's the opposite and i may use it in the future i will keep it.

If someone wants to quit they will do whatever it takes and purchase what they need to quit, not borrow as that shows there is no real determination.

I will always help them choose the right items and if that person does go out of their way to purchase what they need to quit i am always happy to help them on how to use it etc etc.

[Pepperty]

no, I totally get where your coming from, I too have a couple of pals that 'sub from me' happy to borrow (never return) batteries and ask about e-juice and don't seem to remember to say 'oh how much do I owe you?' and treat e-ciggies as a casual usage hobby. Would be nice if the commit to quitting/vaping 100%

As you say, even mixing costs - its a great saving but still.....a donation would help! especially as I find myself reticent to offer sometimes as every pound DOES matter to me also (not that you'd know it from my forum announcement spends! haha )

but I'm doing this as its cheaper than smoking/end of. And I'm committed to never smoking again.... not subbing casual pals who think its handy to vape when they cant be bothered leaving their works to stand in cold and smoke...... ???

I'm still willing to help out, offer constructed advice and a clear understanding of 'loaning' gear but I too think we have to make it clear on the boundaries if a friend shows interest - that we aren't a free vaping resource!

[lairey]

I've had a couple of my good friends round to my house and have let them try my gear and sample some flavours, then sent them away with a list of websites and recommendations for them based on what they liked of mine. One is now on a mini protank kit and the other on a spinner with iclear 16s. More than happy to point them in the right direction, but help and advice is very different to unappreciated handouts

[jonoclouds]

Dec 31, 2013 17:27:40 GMT OneDay said:

You are absolutely right Lobey. Without commitment they will never switch. Point them at the Vype website, where they can get a free cig-alike to try

Ha ha ha. Vype! Oh, ok then.

[oldsmokey]

Dec 31, 2013 17:27:07 GMT Karma said:

If I'm honest I think spending quite a bit of money on vaping helped me to commit to it

me too oldsmokey

if Mr K found me back on the ciggies after all that I've accumulated

Hee hee If I as much as picked up a ciggy Mrs Smokey would have all my shinies down at the Oxfam shop within seconds

[Super-Shiny]

Forgot too add, even my own mother asked can i use one of your battery things......i replied "Do you want to quit smoking?" .........she said "Not sure" ...........i replied "Not good enough so NO"

[Karma]

Dec 31, 2013 17:35:45 GMT oldsmokey said:

Dec 31, 2013 17:27:07 GMT Karma said:

me too oldsmokey

if Mr K found me back on the ciggies after all that I've accumulated

Hee hee If I as much as picked up a ciggy Mrs Smokey would have all my shinies down at the Oxfam shop within seconds

that would be worth it just to see the look on the old biddies face