VIP e-cig started pack on Groupon?

zef

Hi, I'm just wondering if this type of e-cig is any use?
I've had previous vaping exp when they first came out a few years ago, and my problem was that the e-cig never really kept its strenght, and I could never tell if it was the battery or the cart causing the problem. I had the ones out of McCabes pharmacy and another slightly better one online
I don't want to be buying another product that will lose strenght or is crap anyway so would appreciate if you could let me know if this brand is any use?
I'd like to get off the filthy tobacco habit and back vaping.
I would smoke 20 per day in cig terms, a strong brand, perhaps you could recc one that is strong (maybe with a battery that is not on all the time, and that i could refill with juice as i believe this would be cheaper? Thanks.

grindle

Can't expect much from a cig-a-like. Weak battery, short life, probably tasteless juice and the frustration of turning back to real cigs.

This kit is the most recommended on the forum as the batteries expand your options.

The tank device is refillable and you can buy replacement coil heads.
This means you don't need to dump the tank - just wait for the current coil to die or stop providing a good vape for you, unscrew the bad head, screw in the new one, fill with juice, done.

The juices on that site are great too, especially the Wingnut's and House of Liquid ranges.

If you want to cut yourself off at the pass and buy what you might just be buying in about two to four months, there's this device called the Vamo... But it's a little large.
Not much more expensive than the "new vaper" recommendations we toss out here though, and 30% cheaper from e-cigshop.eu if you register there and use the coupon code
1YEAR
This is where a lot of us end up. Giant chrome wands blasting magic vape into our heads.
Maybe you won't go that way, but...

Giant chrome wands. Who doesn't want a piece of that?

tipptom

Oh dear,I have just ordered these!!

grindle

You'll get to give it a try at least. You'll still be saving money on packs of fags as well (unless you smoke rollies), it just that these are toe-dipping products that're being marketed by cynics as the peak of the form.

Start your judging immediately though, as the 17 cartomisers should last between 6-8 days (680 cigarettes my hole).

tipptom

grindle wrote: »

You'll get to give it a try at least. You'll still be saving money on packs of fags as well (unless you smoke rollies), it just that these are toe-dipping products that're being marketed by cynics as the peak of the form.

Start your judging immediately though, as the 17 cartomisers should last between 6-8 days (680 cigarettes my hole).

6-8 days:eek::eek:Well its done now,so just have to get on with it,hope its a step up on the single one(Jaspers,i think) they sell in Centras for €6.99c,found it hard to get a pull out of that.

Nonamigo

Don't worry. It's not actually that bad. I have 2 friends who are using VIP and they are not complaining. Tried it myself, surprisingly not bad vapor and flavor. Ok throat hit. But battery life is not great and you don't have an option of PCC.

OcocO

Just got my Dad started on disposable "Matchless" e-cigs. I never thought he'd take to them, deeply suspicious of all things electronic as he is. Now I'm wondering about getting him a starter kit to add economy to the fresher air in the sitting room. He likes the 'authentic' cigarette experience so the choice seems to be either "Matchless" or "VIP".

dePeatrick

I started with a clearomiser from VIP and have to admit their e-liquid is not bad at all, bought a kit from ESI since, way better and cheaper than VIP.

Agent Smith

I started on a VIP kit. It does the job at the start, but the constent charging was getting me down.

Loving My protank now !

Mink

I just started these VIP thingies and the cartomizer seems to be lasting me about 2 - 2.5 days. Have to charge the battery every 24hrs for sure.

I was smoking about 10 rollies a day prior and I feel like I'm on half that amount nicotine/pull wise on the VIP stuff.

They seem to measure a cig as being a few small pulls on the VIP cig :mad:

It's working out as costing me 1.30 a day whereas I was spending approx. 2.80 a day on rollies.

Didn't really quit smoking for the money though.

OcocO

Mink wrote: »

I just started these VIP thingies and the cartomizer seems to be lasting me about 2 - 2.5 days. Have to charge the battery every 24hrs for sure.

I was smoking about 10 rollies a day prior and I feel like I'm on half that amount nicotine/pull wise on the VIP stuff.

They seem to measure a cig as being a few small pulls on the VIP cig :mad:

It's working out as costing me 1.30 a day whereas I was spending approx. 2.80 a day on rollies.

Didn't really quit smoking for the money though.

Interesting to read real-life examples like yours after reading the hype on the websites.

Wiggy

I started on VIP as well.

I was amazed at how satisfying they were. I didn't have anything to compare them to other than smoking cigarettes. I was on a pack of Golden Virginia every two days at the time.

The only thing I didn't like about VIP was the fact that I needed 2 carts a day to even moderately approach the amount of cigarette smoking I was used to.

I then got a Kanger\eGo starter kit from ESI. I tried lots of liquids but the only one I really like is the VIP USA mix.

I now have a Sigeli ZMAXX on which I use an iClear30, and I use Aspire BDC ET-S on the eGo.

I still haven't found any juice that I like as much as the VIP USA mix (I tried the other VIP flavours and I don't like them either). I've cut down from 24mg to 16mg. The VIP works out reasonably well if you buy from their UK website in quantity.

dePeatrick

Wiggy wrote: »

I started on VIP as well.

I was amazed at how satisfying they were. I didn't have anything to compare them to other than smoking cigarettes. I was on a pack of Golden Virginia every two days at the time.

The only thing I didn't like about VIP was the fact that I needed 2 carts a day to even moderately approach the amount of cigarette smoking I was used to.

I then got a Kanger\eGo starter kit from ESI. I tried lots of liquids but the only one I really like is the VIP USA mix.

I now have a Sigeli ZMAXX on which I use an iClear30, and I use Aspire BDC ET-S on the eGo.

I still haven't found any juice that I like as much as the VIP USA mix (I tried the other VIP flavours and I don't like them either). I've cut down from 24mg to 16mg. The VIP works out reasonably well if you buy from their UK website in quantity.

Same experience here, am trying House Of Liquid's El Toro & Virginia next to see if I can find one as good. Grindle reckons it is most likely Hangsen liquid rebranded they are using.

grindle

They say their eliquids are made exclusively for them so finding the exact same might be hard to do.
€19/30ml bottle of VIP juice on the Irish site... Wowzers. €23.50/60ml from their UK site. Some disparity!

dePeatrick

I must check their prices in the booth they have in shopping centre but if I remember correctly it was €10 for 10ml last time I got some. That is some disparity between the UK and Irl prices :eek:

halkar

grindle wrote: »

They say their eliquids are made exclusively for them so finding the exact same might be hard to do.
€19/30ml bottle of VIP juice on the Irish site... Wowzers. €23.50/60ml from their UK site. Some disparity!

They are Hangsen juices. The bottles have HS at the bottom and also few other markings on the neck of the bottle. I was on their RY4 xsmooth (or whatever it was called) for a while as I like it a lot. The only juice near enough to it is Hangsen Ry1 (less sweet than RY4) which I use daily now and cheap for 100ml.

dePeatrick

halkar wrote: »

They are Hangsen juices. The bottles have HS at the bottom and also few other markings on the neck of the bottle. I was on their RY4 xsmooth (or whatever it was called) for a while as I like it a lot. The only juice near enough to it is Hangsen Ry1 (less sweet than RY4) which I use daily now and cheap for 100ml.

I have some empty bottles of VIP USA liquid in front of me here and they have FU and the number 1 or 2 on the bottom and HSB 10 in tiny letters on the neck.

Wiggy

dePeatrick wrote: »

Same experience here, am trying House Of Liquid's El Toro & Virginia next to see if I can find one as good. Grindle reckons it is most likely Hangsen liquid rebranded they are using.

I have tried El Toro Virginia Prime and El Toro Cigarillos.
They're fine, but nothing like VIP.

I also tried Hangseng USA mix. In the bottle, it smells like VIP, but tastes very different when vaped.

I prefer Liberty Flights PG Tobacco & Virginia to any of the above, but nothing I've tried comes even close to VIP. There's something about the balance between nutty, tobacco and sweetness that is just right for me.

I buy 2x3 30ml bottles for £56, with free delivery to ParcelMotel, who charge €3.50 to get it to me. I reckon that works out at €11 for a 30ml bottle.

The kiosk prices are insane alright, but I don't think that it's any different in the UK. Online is always cheaper. I don't know why the Irish online prices are so high.....

OcocO

grindle wrote: »

They say their eliquids are made exclusively for them so finding the exact same might be hard to do.
€19/30ml bottle of VIP juice on the Irish site... Wowzers. €23.50/60ml from their UK site. Some disparity!

Hi Grindle,

What do you think of the VIP liquids? Any good for my father do you reckon?

dePeatrick

Wiggy wrote: »

I have tried El Toro Virginia Prime and El Toro Cigarillos.
They're fine, but nothing like VIP.

I also tried Hangseng USA mix. In the bottle, it smells like VIP, but tastes very different when vaped.

I prefer Liberty Flights PG Tobacco & Virginia to any of the above, but nothing I've tried comes even close to VIP. There's something about the balance between nutty, tobacco and sweetness that is just right for me.

I buy 2x3 30ml bottles for £56, with free delivery to ParcelMotel, who charge €3.50 to get it to me. I reckon that works out at €11 for a 30ml bottle.

The kiosk prices are insane alright, but I don't think that it's any different in the UK. Online is always cheaper. I don't know why the Irish online prices are so high.....

Interesting, have you tried steeping them to see if that makes a difference?

I'm tempted to buy some VIP USA again just to see......

I mailed them to ask why there is such a large difference in price between buying online here and the UK.....not holding my breath for an answer

OcocO

dePeatrick wrote: »

Interesting, have you tried steeping them to see if that makes a difference?

I'm tempted to buy some VIP USA again just to see......

Will go halves with you if you want - 3 bottles each. I already use ParcelMotel.

Esoteric_

dePeatrick wrote: »

I must check their prices in the booth they have in shopping centre but if I remember correctly it was €10 for 10ml last time I got some. That is some disparity between the UK and Irl prices :eek:

I've declared to the mods that I work for VIP and don't worry, I'm not going to give any opinion either way on the product!

Just to clarify the price - in a bricks and mortar store or booth, it's 8 euro for a 10ml.

Mods, hope it's okay that I clarified that, I'm not intending to promote it at all!!

dePeatrick

Esoteric_ wrote: »

I've declared to the mods that I work for VIP and don't worry, I'm not going to give any opinion either way on the product!

Just to clarify the price - in a bricks and mortar store or booth, it's 8 euro for a 10ml.

Mods, hope it's okay that I clarified that, I'm not intending to promote it at all!!

Apoligies, you are indeed correct, it was €8 for a 10ml bottle at the booth (I kept a record of how much I was spending when I started)

So how much is the 30 ml bottle at the booth?

Esoteric_

dePeatrick wrote: »

Apoligies, you are indeed correct, it was €8 for a 10ml bottle at the booth (I kept a record of how much I was spending when I started)

So how much is the 30 ml bottle at the booth?

It's 19 euro for the 30ml. Think it's the same as the online price, actually, but haven't checked the website for a while!

dePeatrick

Esoteric_ wrote: »

It's 19 euro for the 30ml. Think it's the same as the online price, actually, but haven't checked the website for a while!

Thanks for that, do you have any idea why such a large disceprency between buying here online and the UK?

Esoteric_

dePeatrick wrote: »

Thanks for that, do you have any idea why such a large disceprency between buying here online and the UK?

Absolutely no idea, to be completely honest. Different owners in ireland and the UK and that's literally I know about the workings of the company. Sorry I can't be of more help.

Wiggy

dePeatrick wrote: »

Interesting, have you tried steeping them to see if that makes a difference?

I steeped them for a week in a dark cupboard with the lids off. Every day I gave them a shake.

dePeatrick

Esoteric_ wrote: »

Absolutely no idea, to be completely honest. Different owners in ireland and the UK and that's literally I know about the workings of the company. Sorry I can't be of more help.

Fair enough Esoteric. I won't ask you if it is their own liquid or something else re-branded

Do you vape yourself?

dePeatrick

Wiggy wrote: »

I steeped them for a week in a dark cupboard with the lids off. Every day I gave them a shake.

From what I have read a week is not long enough, two weeks to a month is what seems to do it and I know that the liquids I have been using have improved enormously as they get older.....two weeks being the first real sign of improvement. Also noticed that the smell improved quite quickly, days in fact but the taste is way slower.

Now this could be just the liquids I am using.

OcocO

OcocO wrote: »

Will go halves with you if you want - 3 bottles each. I already use ParcelMotel.

Sorry - I spoke too soon. I'm looking for flavours to let my dad try for a month or two in a cartomiser (he has only just moved on to them and is unwilling to try a clearomiser) and I just read that this liquid is not suitable for cartomisers. Grindle suggested the tip of adding a small amount of vodka to make liquids more suitable for cartomisers but I'd want to check that this would work in this instance before buying. Also, the 2x3x30ml is not a deal I now realise - the 3x30ml is and Wiggy was just getting two of them. Duh! Sorry.

Esoteric_

dePeatrick wrote: »

Fair enough Esoteric. I won't ask you if it is their own liquid or something else re-branded

Do you vape yourself?

Honestly, I don't even know the answer to that!

I do indeed. Obviously I have to use the brand I sell, so everything I use is VIP. For obvious reasons, I won't give any opinion, but I'm off smokes so that's the main thing!

dePeatrick

OcocO wrote: »

Sorry - I spoke too soon. I'm looking for flavours to let my dad try for a month or two in a cartomiser (he has only just moved on to them and is unwilling to try a clearomiser) and I just read that this liquid is not suitable for cartomisers. Grindle suggested the tip of adding a small amount of vodka to make liquids more suitable for cartomisers but I'd want to check that this would work in this instance before buying.

I had missed that post. You can buy VIP liquids in booths in a lot of shopping centres afaik. The USA flavour is cigar like....I used to smoke camel and lucky Strikes and an occasional Cigar when I could afford them and the VIP USA is as close as I have ever got to tasting like a really good Cigar.

I have tried adding Vodka in a clearomiser just to see what effect it has and it vaped fine.....and no, I did not get an alcohol hit......sadly......

dePeatrick

Esoteric_ wrote: »

Honestly, I don't even know the answer to that!

I do indeed. Obviously I have to use the brand I sell, so everything I use is VIP. For obvious reasons, I won't give any opinion, but I'm off smokes so that's the main thing!

That's ok, Good this has got you off the smokes too

OcocO

dePeatrick wrote: »

I had missed that post. You can buy VIP liquids in booths in a lot of shopping centres afaik. The USA flavour is cigar like....I used to smoke camel and lucky Strikes and an occasional Cigar when I could afford them and the VIP USA is as close as I have ever got to tasting like a really good Cigar.

I have tried adding Vodka in a clearomiser just to see what effect it has and it vaped fine.....and no, I did not get an alcohol hit......sadly......

A cigar flavour is what dad likes (along with black tobacco in general and Egyptian/Turkish tobaccos in particular). Do you think adding vodka would work for a cartomiser in this case? Perhaps dePeatrick might know? Also, I now realise that the 2x3x30ml is not a deal as such - the 3x30ml is and Wiggy was just getting two of them. Duh!

OcocO

@dePeatrick

Do you think that the VIP USA liquid could be made to work with a cartomiser by adding a bit of vodka?

dePeatrick

OcocO wrote: »

A cigar flavour is what dad likes (along with black tobacco in general and Egyptian/Turkish tobaccos in particular). Also, I now realise that the 2x3x30ml is not a deal as such - the 3x30ml is and Wiggy was just getting two of them. Duh!

It is very hard to recommend a juice to anyone as it is very individual but the VIP USA was the first one I tried a sample of at a Booth and liked it straight away, spent a month vaping it and then ordered some other juices online and bought some in stores (Wingnuts/Wicked/mom and Pop) and honestly I have not found a juice that has gone anywhere near the VIP juice.

dePeatrick

OcocO wrote: »

@dePeatrick

Do you think that the VIP USA liquid could be made to work with a cartomiser by adding a bit of vodka?

I see no reason why not....am quite sure that someone here will point out if there is a problem with doing so.

Edit: I just asked my OH to pick up a 10ml bottle of VIP USA today......have to try it again and see what it tastes like a second time

Wiggy

OcocO wrote: »

Do you think that the VIP USA liquid could be made to work with a cartomiser by adding a bit of vodka?

The VIP eliquid works perfectly in a cartomizer, and you don't need to add anything (vodka or otherwise) to it to make it work. After all, cartomizers are what they make most of their money from, in the cigalikes.

I have used and highly recommend an Ego Mega Dual Coil cartomizer. I got mine from ESI at €3 a pop, but they appear to be out of stock at the moment.

grindle

Yeah, vodka's just an option if you find the liquid's too thick to work in a carto. Most cigalike manufacturers would keep their liquids around 70-80%PG which'd be quite fluid so no problems.

Sending that stuff to you in a couple of minutes OcocO, was too busy at work to make the post office yesterday!

OcocO

Wiggy wrote: »

The VIP eliquid works perfectly in a cartomizer, and you don't need to add anything (vodka or otherwise) to it to make it work. After all, cartomizers are what they make most of their money from, in the cigalikes.

I have used and highly recommend an Ego Mega Dual Coil cartomizer. I got mine from ESI at €3 a pop, but they appear to be out of stock at the moment.

Good to know, thanks. I'd just like to be 100% sure that we're thinking of the same liquids because the VIP site states quite dramatically that their liquids don't work with cartomisers:



(From http://www.vipelectroniccigarette.co.uk/30ml-e-liquid-c-34_36.html)

It's entirely possible that they felt they had to put this great big warning at the top of the page because someone at some point decided that they had been mis-sold the liquid when it didn't do what they were expecting and that, in fact, it works perfectly well with cartomisers as you said.

OcocO

Has anyone tired the "Vaperus" liquid in the tobacco flavours?

http://www.vaperus.ie/22-vaperus-e-liquid

They're as cheap as chips but it seems that many people actually prefer the taste of the less expensive liquids.

Wiggy

OcocO wrote: »

Good to know, thanks. I'd just like to be 100% sure that we're thinking of the same liquids because the VIP site states quite dramatically that their liquids don't work with cartomisers.

It's entirely possible that they felt they had to put this great big warning at the top of the page because someone at some point decided that they had been mis-sold the liquid when it didn't do what they were expecting and that, in fact, it works perfectly well with cartomisers as you said.

Yes, we're talking about the same liquid.

You can pop off the plastic white bit and refill their cartomizers if you wish.

However, I'd recommend you get an eGo Twist battery and an EGO Mega Cartomizer and use that instead. The difference in every respect will be huge.

dePeatrick

http://www.vaperus.ie/basic-vaping-kits/343-mega-dual-coil-.html

That' same dual coil kit from Vaperus.ie two batteries, two cartomisers, charger etc.....€45 It is a good deal and I looked at some reviews of those cartomisers and they seem very good indeed.

ESI probably have a good deal on a starter kit too....will take a look and add it on here

http://www.e-smokeireland.eu/product-p/aio.htm
This is charged and then used to charge the cigs, very slick. I'd say the first link I posted here is more suitable and will last a lot longer too, easier to use instead of fiddling around with portable charging devices but you will know what suits best yourself.

grindle

dePeatrick wrote: »

ESI probably have a good deal on a starter kit too....will take a look and add it on here

http://www.e-smokeireland.eu/product-p/kangtwist.htm

dePeatrick

He wants to go with cartomisers Grindle.

grindle

Ah - he wanted to go cig-sized as well, I thought all options were becoming available.

dePeatrick

He is getting them for his Dad so I guess it is kinda hard to decide what exactly to get. He has kinda settled on VIP USA liquid and I am trying some more of it out this evening to see if it is as good as I remember it.

OcocO

dePeatrick wrote: »

http://www.vaperus.ie/basic-vaping-kits/343-mega-dual-coil-.html

That' same dual coil kit from Vaperus.ie two batteries, two cartomisers, charger etc.....€45 It is a good deal and I looked at some reviews of those cartomisers and they seem very good indeed.

ESI probably have a good deal on a starter kit too....will take a look and add it on here

http://www.e-smokeireland.eu/product-p/aio.htm
This is charged and then used to charge the cigs, very slick. I'd say the first link I posted here is more suitable and will last a lot longer too, easier to use instead of fiddling around with portable charging devices but you will know what suits best yourself.

grindle wrote: »

http://www.e-smokeireland.eu/product-p/kangtwist.htm

dePeatrick wrote: »

He wants to go with cartomisers Grindle.

grindle wrote: »

Ah - he wanted to go cig-sized as well, I thought all options were becoming available.

dePeatrick wrote: »

He is getting them for his Dad so I guess it is kinda hard to decide what exactly to get. He has kinda settled on VIP USA liquid and I am trying some more of it out this evening to see if it is as good as I remember it.

Thank you very much for the links and suggestions. I'm looking at them with my father and trying to persuade him that, although they look more alien than the Matchless cigalike he tried and surprised us both by liking, they would be able to give a stronger hit and would last longer between charges - making the cigalikes seem gimmiky by comparison.

He is just now coming around to see the sense in this and has consented to let me get him one of the more businesslike but less cigalike models. His main concern now is that it should not be too heavy. The sites don't seem to give weights for their products but I'll drop them an email and see if they can tell me.

Thank you all again for your interest and help.

dePeatrick

That's better that he has decided to go with a clearomiser model, gives that hit that a long term smoker needs, I smoked for 4 decades and tried a cig lookalike and hated it, tried an ego with a clearomiser and bought it straight away.....have not looked back

No more coughing and spluttering in the mornings, skin looks way better, and generally feel better and I mean mentally, somehow clearer, probably due to increased lung efficiency.....and I am only about 12 weeks or so off the cigarettes....I really hope he takes to them