Zootie’s Vapors is the gold standard of small business vape shops. We have two brick and mortar retail stores located at 40602 Charles Town Pike in Paeonian Springs VA and at 1726 Dual Hwy Hagerstown MD 21740. For more information, call 571-293-8277 or email store@zootiesvapors.com
Monday, February 8, 2016
Friday, January 22, 2016
Real Vaping Issues: Marketing to Children
http://www.zootiesvapors.com/real-vaping-issues-part-1-marketing-to-children/
In this series, I plan to address REAL vaping issues that face us as consumers, owners and an industry as a whole. Please keep in mind that everyone is entitled to their opinion and this is just mine. It may not reflect my customers, vendors, or employees, and I may say some things that you either agree or disagree with.
In the first installment, I want to discuss a very hot topic lately: Marketing To Children. I have witnessed several Facebook groups discussing this topic and have read statements posted regarding the FDA’s stance on future regulation of e-liquids. It seems that the consensus is that packaging and labels that have bright colors, have cartoon characters or use names that resemble childhood treats, that those companies are “marketing” to children. And in an industry that is on the verge of strict regulations, misconceptions and false information, this is not the kind of ammunition we want to give to the lawmakers, politicians and general opposition.
We know that vaping is on the rise. Smoking has declined and vaping has increased. This is across the board, but one demographic that continues to be dragged into it is minors. They are more likely to vape now than smoke. And do you know why this is? I can tell you it’s NOT because of the packaging of the products. Its because smoking is not cool anymore. People know now, without a shadow of a doubt that tar and other carcinogens with smoking causes cancer and cancer causes death. And the younger generation now has an alternative to the cancer-causing sticks of the older generations. They also have better tasting, less stinky options like fruity flavors, dessert flavors, drink flavors, etc. It’s a lot easier to hide the vape smell from your parents than cigarettes.
Older generations didnt have this option and the media glorified smoking. Movie stars, Hollywood bad boys, the cool kids at school and work, hell, even doctors and nurses smoked, so if you wanted to be cool and fit in, you rolled a pack of lucky strikes up in your white t-shirt sleeve and slicked your hair back. That was COOL!
Fred Friggin Flintstone was in a damn Winston commercial in the 1950s! But I genuinely don’t believe this was intentionally done to get KIDS to smoke. Back then, the entire family would gather around the TV and watch the show. It wasnt like it is now where every pre-teen has multiple “tvs” in front of their faces 24×7, watching television was a treat for those who could afford it and it was something people did as a family. And in that family, there were adults. The cigarette companies knew this, so there were commercials to say “Hey Mom & Dad, here’s something for you too”. They used cartoons as a vehicle to reach a larger population and not to start kids on smoking (although this may have indirectly been the result). Perhaps later as they realized the growth and profit opportunities, the thought crossed the minds of big tobacco to get younger people hooked on cigarettes earlier in life, but I dont think that was their initial intention.
The same thing is going on in the beer and alcohol industry. How many commercials of hot guys and pool party bikini chicks, or showing, “hey you drink our shit and you will party your balls off”. Do you think that’s appealing to 14 years olds – hell yeah it is. Hey, I’m 14 and I want to be surrounded by hot chicks.. maybe I’ll start drinking bacardi or miller lite or whatever. Walk into any liquor store and there are bottles of vodka with flavors like fruit loops, cotton candy, cake and marshmallows. How can liquor, something that is a bazillion times more dangerous than vaping beable to do this? Oh that’s right, because it’s government regulated AND TAXED!
Let me be clear about this, bright colors, cartoons and candy names DO NOT ONLY APPEAL TO KIDS! This whole statement that by using these characteristics for e-liquids somehow makes kids more likely to vape is absolutely absurd. The stories about kids drinking nicotine and dying, that is a parenting issue, not a vaping issue. If more people would take part in their kids lives instead of being brought up by the internet, this wouldnt be an issue. People are always quick to blame someone else for their problems.
Ask any e-liquid maker if they designed their flavors and bottle design to be attractive to minors. It’s NOT what any of us are about. We have signs on our shop door that say “Must Be 18+ or Older to Enter”. We check IDs and we do our best to make sure that we are being responsible business owners. We don’t want vape products to be abused or get into the hands of children. For me personally, I have used e-cigs/vaping to quit smoking and I know many of my customers are too and that is why we continue to support this industry. It’s making a change in those people’s lives that make the real difference.
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Zootie's Vapors (Too) is coming to Historic Downtown Leesburg Virginia
Hey Everybody! I am excited to announce Zootie's Vapors is expanding. We have secured a spot in historic downtown Leesburg VA! Our second location is located at 19-C Wirt St SW Leesburg, VA 20175. Yes, we are taking over the old Vapor Studio location on the bottom floor (accessible from the street). It will take us a couple weeks to get everything set up and ready, but we are planning to be open for business on October 20th. Even though it's just 5 miles away, for everyone who thought Paeonian Springs was in another country, this new location will be closer to visit from the metro DC area. We are focusing on getting the front retail space open first, but we also have BIG plans for our lounge area. The closest parking is the Town Hall Garage, where your first hour is free and we will be able to validate for a second hour. Also this garage is free after 5pm and on weekends. There is also some street parking and a free parking lot on Liberty street.
We are looking forward to bringing you affordable prices, great selection, and incredible customer service at this new location.
Be sure to follow both locations on Facebook:
Paeonian Springs (The Fog Cabin): https://www.facebook.com/ZootiesVaporsStore
Downtown Leesburg (Zootie's Too): https://www.facebook.com/ZootiesVaporsLeesburg
We are also on Instagram: Zooties_Vapors, Twitter: ZootieVapors, and now on SnapChat!
We are looking forward to bringing you affordable prices, great selection, and incredible customer service at this new location.
Be sure to follow both locations on Facebook:
Paeonian Springs (The Fog Cabin): https://www.facebook.com/ZootiesVaporsStore
Downtown Leesburg (Zootie's Too): https://www.facebook.com/ZootiesVaporsLeesburg
We are also on Instagram: Zooties_Vapors, Twitter: ZootieVapors, and now on SnapChat!
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
How to use Temperature Control on an IPV without Nickel (ni200)
There is a lot of talk lately about the safety of vaping with nickle wire. Health reasons aside, personally, I get a funky taste when using nickel builds in my RDA, so I have been staying away. I also want to see more studies and reports regarding leaching toxic metals before I junp on the nickel band wagon.
So does that mean Temperature Controlled devices, like the IPV3 Li or the IPV 4S are not worth the money? Not entirely. With those devices, you can actually trick the devices to use the temperature control settings WITH Kanthal wire! Granted, they arent as accurate as with using temperature sensing wire like ni200 or titanium, but if youre like me, and dont want to risk the possible health risks of using these wires just quite yet (or you have an allergic reaction to the metal), this is a great trick that you can use to still take advantage of this really neat feature.
But why is Temperature Control so popular? Well its simple. When you push your button on a regular wattage (regulated or unregulated) device, the device will continue to push power to the coil and the coil will get hotter and hotter and hotter. With temperature control, you can set how hot you want your coil to fire, and regardless of how long you hold the power button down for, the coil will only get as hot as the temperature you set. This is great for the life of your coil, saves on juice, AND will keep your coil within safe vaping parameters.
With both the IPV3 Li and the IPV4s by Pioneer4U, there is a feature that you can set the resistance of your coil. You do this by pressing both the up and down arrow at the same time. This is useful if you change your coils or RDA/Tanks frequently. Always make sure you do this with each build so your device can fire the coil properly. If you get burnt taste in tanks or your RDA is not firing as hot or quick as it should, be sure to check this setting. Also as your coil gets more used, the ohms will increase over time, so its important to check this setting at least daily if not every few days, even if you dont swap out atomizers.
If you've downloaded and upgraded the most recent firmware on your IPV3 Li, it includes titanium support. IPV4s comes that way by default. If you have an original IPV4, you can download the 120 watt upgrade as well. I prefer using the titanium setting as opposed to the nickel setting when using a standard Kanthal build because it allows me to adjust the Joules higher than 50. Joules is essentially the same as watts, in that it will determine how quickly your coil heats up. I usually use between 50-65 Joules when running in temp control mode because I build around a .2 to .35 ohm standard dual coil. If you dont vape higher than 50 watts, then you can use either the nickel or the titanium setting. they operate the same way when using Kanthal.
Here's where the magic happens. If you set your proper resistance and use the titanium (or nickel setting) on these devices, even with Kanthal wire, I have found that the coil doesnt get AS hot as if you were just running in standard power mode. The benefits of this is, you will not get as many dry (or burnt) drags, even when the cotton isnt fully dry AND you will be able to dry out your cotton much better than with normal power mode. I find I can get anywhere from 8 to 10 more drags using the temperature setting than with regular power mode.
I have been using this trick since I first purchased my IPV4, and I used it with my IPV3 Li. Both devices handle this trick really well, so much so that I hardly ever use power mode (except when first building and firing off my coils between cotton changes).
Unfortunately not all temperature sensing devices are equal. This trick will NOT work in the Snow Wolf or any other device that automatically senses whether or not youre using a nickel or titanium wire.
So until we get a definitive answer regarding the safety of using specialty wire, its nice to know that there are workarounds for those of us who want to take advantage of the temperature control settings while using normal Kathal wire builds. Give it a try and let me know your experience in the comment section.
So does that mean Temperature Controlled devices, like the IPV3 Li or the IPV 4S are not worth the money? Not entirely. With those devices, you can actually trick the devices to use the temperature control settings WITH Kanthal wire! Granted, they arent as accurate as with using temperature sensing wire like ni200 or titanium, but if youre like me, and dont want to risk the possible health risks of using these wires just quite yet (or you have an allergic reaction to the metal), this is a great trick that you can use to still take advantage of this really neat feature.
But why is Temperature Control so popular? Well its simple. When you push your button on a regular wattage (regulated or unregulated) device, the device will continue to push power to the coil and the coil will get hotter and hotter and hotter. With temperature control, you can set how hot you want your coil to fire, and regardless of how long you hold the power button down for, the coil will only get as hot as the temperature you set. This is great for the life of your coil, saves on juice, AND will keep your coil within safe vaping parameters.
With both the IPV3 Li and the IPV4s by Pioneer4U, there is a feature that you can set the resistance of your coil. You do this by pressing both the up and down arrow at the same time. This is useful if you change your coils or RDA/Tanks frequently. Always make sure you do this with each build so your device can fire the coil properly. If you get burnt taste in tanks or your RDA is not firing as hot or quick as it should, be sure to check this setting. Also as your coil gets more used, the ohms will increase over time, so its important to check this setting at least daily if not every few days, even if you dont swap out atomizers.
If you've downloaded and upgraded the most recent firmware on your IPV3 Li, it includes titanium support. IPV4s comes that way by default. If you have an original IPV4, you can download the 120 watt upgrade as well. I prefer using the titanium setting as opposed to the nickel setting when using a standard Kanthal build because it allows me to adjust the Joules higher than 50. Joules is essentially the same as watts, in that it will determine how quickly your coil heats up. I usually use between 50-65 Joules when running in temp control mode because I build around a .2 to .35 ohm standard dual coil. If you dont vape higher than 50 watts, then you can use either the nickel or the titanium setting. they operate the same way when using Kanthal.
Here's where the magic happens. If you set your proper resistance and use the titanium (or nickel setting) on these devices, even with Kanthal wire, I have found that the coil doesnt get AS hot as if you were just running in standard power mode. The benefits of this is, you will not get as many dry (or burnt) drags, even when the cotton isnt fully dry AND you will be able to dry out your cotton much better than with normal power mode. I find I can get anywhere from 8 to 10 more drags using the temperature setting than with regular power mode.
I have been using this trick since I first purchased my IPV4, and I used it with my IPV3 Li. Both devices handle this trick really well, so much so that I hardly ever use power mode (except when first building and firing off my coils between cotton changes).
Unfortunately not all temperature sensing devices are equal. This trick will NOT work in the Snow Wolf or any other device that automatically senses whether or not youre using a nickel or titanium wire.
So until we get a definitive answer regarding the safety of using specialty wire, its nice to know that there are workarounds for those of us who want to take advantage of the temperature control settings while using normal Kathal wire builds. Give it a try and let me know your experience in the comment section.
Monday, July 13, 2015
Hardware Choices For New Vapers
In today's article, I'll discuss the hardware options for new vapers or for those looking to upgrade out of a starter kit/cigalike.
When many of us decide to start vaping, there is a natural progression that we go through. With thousands of products on the market, it can sometimes be confusing. Add in the overabundance of information on YouTube and online, and it only makes it more difficult to figure out what is the right device when getting started in this fast growing vaping world.
When you're starting out, the best advice I can give is to go visit a reputable vape shop. A shop like Zootie's Vapors will take time to explain everything thoroughly and make sure that you know how to use your new device before you leave the shop. This process can take anywhere from 20-30 minutes to select the right product, pick out some e-liquid and get everything set up to start vaping on the spot, so be sure to leave plenty of time. Be cautious of vape shops that try to oversell you or do not take the time to explain everything to you before leaving. As I have said in several of my blogs, not all vape shops are created equal, so if they aren't knowledgeable or make you feel comfortable, please do not support their business by spending money in their shop. There are plenty of shops that will work hard to earn your business and earn your trust.
The first thing we do is gauge a person's commitment level. Ask yourself if you are just exploring it as an option and you don't want to make a big financial investment, or if you are serious about making the switch from smoking to vaping. Having an idea as far as your vape budget is also helpful, keeping in mind that the lower priced entry-level starter kits may not be as good (less battery life, vapor production, less flavor), but it will help you see if vaping is right for you. Sometimes a little more investment upfront will prevent going through several devices that either don't work for you, or find yourself needing to constantly upgrade.
Also keep in mind that vaping is not cheap. You will buy juice and coils on a regular basis. Most beginner vapers can expect to invest $100-$200 for your initial device(s) and anywhere from $20-$50/week in consumables.
When someone walks into my shop for the first time, we lay out 3-5 options, from entry-level to higher-end starter kits. The EVOD vape pen kit for less than $40 comes with 2 batteries, 2 tanks and a charger. These batteries do not last very long and often this is the choice of someone on a restricted vape budget, or for someone who is not entirely committed to vaping. Many times, this choice will either lead to an immediate upgrade (within a month or two) or a backslide to cigarettes, but it is the modestly priced entry point into vaping.
The next step up would be either the Aspire Starter kit or a Joytech Ego One. The Aspire has 2 price points, one at an entry level or the premium kit that uses a Nautilus tank and variable voltage. The benefit of variable voltage is you can dial in your vapor experience to your preference for more vapor/flavor, etc. The Ego One has 3 different sizes, the Mini (850mah battery and 1.5ml tank), the XL (2200mah and 2.5ml tank) or the Mega (2600mah and 4ml tank). These are some of our best sellers because they are affordable (retail between $58-$78), have good flavor and adjustable airflow control.
Stepping out of the starter pen and getting into the variable voltage/variable wattage (VV/VW) devices, you have the always popular Eleaf iStick. These range from 10 watts (mini) to 50 watts. The battery life ranges from 1050mah to 4400mah. There is also a 75, 100 and 150 watt soon to be released, but when we're talking about starter kits, hardly anyone will need more than 50-60 watts. With these devices you can adjust your wattage (or voltage) to fine tune your vaping experience and they are very affordable (retail $30-$82). The only downside is you will need to purchase either an RDA or a tank, so these aren't really "kits". There are also brands like Cloupor that makes a 30 watt box, or SMOK that offers several devices in the same price point.
Entering the market now are higher-end starter kits. Both Kangertech and Joytech released their own starter kit over the last few months. Kangertech Subox mini is a 50 watt VV/VW device that comes paired with their very popular sub-tank. We have these kits in black and white, but they are also available in purple and pink too. The only downside to this device is you will need to purchase a battery because it doesn't have a sealed battery like many of the other starter kits. It takes a standard flat-top 18650 2600mah battery that will run you $12 each. Many people opt to also get an external charger and a spare battery to swap out even though you can charge through this device.
Following the trend of temperature controlled devices, Joytech has taken a big jump ahead with their EVIC-VT. This VV/VW device also has a sealed 5000mah battery and comes in hot colors. It has the ego mega tank which comes with both a titanium and a nickel coil. Nickel and titanium are the popular metal wire used in temperature sensing coils. The benefits of having a temperature control device is so you can set an actual temperature of your coil, so you can prevent burnt or dry hits. By setting your device at say 400 degrees, no matter how long you hold the button down for, the coil will only get to 400 degrees and pulse to stay there. I really wish this was around when I first started vaping because I don't know what I did before temp control came around. Ah yes I do, I got a lot of burnt hits :)
So in a nutshell, those are the options for someone getting into vaping. The next article I write will talk about taking the next step from tanks/starter kits into more advanced devices and RDAs. As always, if you would like to experience what a vape shop can do for you, please be sure to stop by Zootie's Vapors at 40602 Charles Town Pike Paeonian Springs VA 20129.
When many of us decide to start vaping, there is a natural progression that we go through. With thousands of products on the market, it can sometimes be confusing. Add in the overabundance of information on YouTube and online, and it only makes it more difficult to figure out what is the right device when getting started in this fast growing vaping world.
When you're starting out, the best advice I can give is to go visit a reputable vape shop. A shop like Zootie's Vapors will take time to explain everything thoroughly and make sure that you know how to use your new device before you leave the shop. This process can take anywhere from 20-30 minutes to select the right product, pick out some e-liquid and get everything set up to start vaping on the spot, so be sure to leave plenty of time. Be cautious of vape shops that try to oversell you or do not take the time to explain everything to you before leaving. As I have said in several of my blogs, not all vape shops are created equal, so if they aren't knowledgeable or make you feel comfortable, please do not support their business by spending money in their shop. There are plenty of shops that will work hard to earn your business and earn your trust.
The first thing we do is gauge a person's commitment level. Ask yourself if you are just exploring it as an option and you don't want to make a big financial investment, or if you are serious about making the switch from smoking to vaping. Having an idea as far as your vape budget is also helpful, keeping in mind that the lower priced entry-level starter kits may not be as good (less battery life, vapor production, less flavor), but it will help you see if vaping is right for you. Sometimes a little more investment upfront will prevent going through several devices that either don't work for you, or find yourself needing to constantly upgrade.
Also keep in mind that vaping is not cheap. You will buy juice and coils on a regular basis. Most beginner vapers can expect to invest $100-$200 for your initial device(s) and anywhere from $20-$50/week in consumables.
When someone walks into my shop for the first time, we lay out 3-5 options, from entry-level to higher-end starter kits. The EVOD vape pen kit for less than $40 comes with 2 batteries, 2 tanks and a charger. These batteries do not last very long and often this is the choice of someone on a restricted vape budget, or for someone who is not entirely committed to vaping. Many times, this choice will either lead to an immediate upgrade (within a month or two) or a backslide to cigarettes, but it is the modestly priced entry point into vaping.
The next step up would be either the Aspire Starter kit or a Joytech Ego One. The Aspire has 2 price points, one at an entry level or the premium kit that uses a Nautilus tank and variable voltage. The benefit of variable voltage is you can dial in your vapor experience to your preference for more vapor/flavor, etc. The Ego One has 3 different sizes, the Mini (850mah battery and 1.5ml tank), the XL (2200mah and 2.5ml tank) or the Mega (2600mah and 4ml tank). These are some of our best sellers because they are affordable (retail between $58-$78), have good flavor and adjustable airflow control.
Stepping out of the starter pen and getting into the variable voltage/variable wattage (VV/VW) devices, you have the always popular Eleaf iStick. These range from 10 watts (mini) to 50 watts. The battery life ranges from 1050mah to 4400mah. There is also a 75, 100 and 150 watt soon to be released, but when we're talking about starter kits, hardly anyone will need more than 50-60 watts. With these devices you can adjust your wattage (or voltage) to fine tune your vaping experience and they are very affordable (retail $30-$82). The only downside is you will need to purchase either an RDA or a tank, so these aren't really "kits". There are also brands like Cloupor that makes a 30 watt box, or SMOK that offers several devices in the same price point.
Entering the market now are higher-end starter kits. Both Kangertech and Joytech released their own starter kit over the last few months. Kangertech Subox mini is a 50 watt VV/VW device that comes paired with their very popular sub-tank. We have these kits in black and white, but they are also available in purple and pink too. The only downside to this device is you will need to purchase a battery because it doesn't have a sealed battery like many of the other starter kits. It takes a standard flat-top 18650 2600mah battery that will run you $12 each. Many people opt to also get an external charger and a spare battery to swap out even though you can charge through this device.
Following the trend of temperature controlled devices, Joytech has taken a big jump ahead with their EVIC-VT. This VV/VW device also has a sealed 5000mah battery and comes in hot colors. It has the ego mega tank which comes with both a titanium and a nickel coil. Nickel and titanium are the popular metal wire used in temperature sensing coils. The benefits of having a temperature control device is so you can set an actual temperature of your coil, so you can prevent burnt or dry hits. By setting your device at say 400 degrees, no matter how long you hold the button down for, the coil will only get to 400 degrees and pulse to stay there. I really wish this was around when I first started vaping because I don't know what I did before temp control came around. Ah yes I do, I got a lot of burnt hits :)
So in a nutshell, those are the options for someone getting into vaping. The next article I write will talk about taking the next step from tanks/starter kits into more advanced devices and RDAs. As always, if you would like to experience what a vape shop can do for you, please be sure to stop by Zootie's Vapors at 40602 Charles Town Pike Paeonian Springs VA 20129.
Monday, June 29, 2015
Vaping For Beginners - Part 1: How To Get A Great Experience
On a daily basis, people come to me and ask about vaping,. Many of these people have never tried vaping and heard that it could help them quit smoking while some are just curious because they are starting to see new vape shops pop up all over the place. Over the next few weeks, I will focus these blog posts towards the beginning vaper - someone who has either tried to quit smoking unsuccessfully or someone who wants to get the best experience in their journey of getting off the smokes and into vaping.
Today, I wanted to start with How To Get A Great Experience - the first time and every time.
STEP 1 - DO YOUR HOMEWORK: The first thing any new vaper must do is educate themselves. This could be spending hours in front of YouTube, or talking to people who already vape. The hardest part about this self-discovery is making sure you are getting the best (and correct) information. There are too many people online who really don't know what they are talking about - and sometimes they can be the loudest voices. Likewise, you may have a friend who is a cloud-chaser and could possibly steer you into getting something that may not be the right device for you. What'e even worse is going into a less-than-respectable "vape shop" to get wrong information, bad products, or getting generally overcharged for what they claim to be authentic devices.
STEP 2 - READ REVIEWS: If you're relying on a shop to steer you into your first vape, get on Yelp or Facebook and see what others say about them. Not all shops are created equally. There are shops that focus on cloud-chasing or the "hangout" aspect of the vaping community. There are dedicated vape shops that only focus on e-liquids and there are even shops that muddy the waters by being a tobacco shop or head shop that also carry a small selection of vape products. Your best chance at success is to find a reputable business that focuses only on vaping and is run by people you can trust. Remember, if you walk in and you're not comfortable with the environment or the people, don't spend your money there. It's worth your time and money to support businesses that care about you and take time to explain things thoroughly.
STEP 3 - GIVE VAPE A CHANCE: I wrote about this in a previous post, but because your changing your behaviors from smoking to vaping, you have to give it a chance to work. Commit to yourself and avoid cigarettes for at least 3-5 days. This will allow your body to start to work with you. Whenever you would smoke, pick up a vape instead. Remember that the chemicals in cigarettes are what's causing you to be addicted, but the nicotine level in your vape can help get you past some of the withdrawals.
STEP 4 - EXPERIMENT WITH FLAVORS: Many people chase tobacco flavor when they are trying to quit smoking and start vaping, but remember, cigarettes taste BAD. There are so many other flavors you can get in a vape that taste better, and may help you be more successful in the long run. Try flavors. Try many flavors. Try different brands. Visit different shops. If they don't offer you a sample or taster of the flavor in zero nicotine, go somewhere else. Don't buy a flavor without trying it regardless of whether a friend said it was good or not. Every palette is different and what one person may like, another may not.
STEP 5 - GET A DEVICE THAT WORKS FOR YOU: There are thousands of devices for vaping, from the starter pen to the advanced box mods. There are also thousands of atomizers from tanks to drippers. Finding what works right for you based on your goals is the most important thing you can do. Don't let a shop talk you into more than what you need. Many of us are now hobbyists and collectors, but you don't need 5 or 20 devices to be successful in vaping.
I'll discuss hardware options in my next blog.
I'll discuss hardware options in my next blog.
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Breaking Through The Barriers - Give Vape a Chance
I met a friend for dinner the other night that I hadn't seen in almost a year. He had never stepped foot into a vape shop and had never tried vaping before. He has been smoking on and off for many years and the more we talked about how my new vape shop was going and talking about how we go about introducing people to vaping as a cigarette alternative, he asked me a very interesting question.
"What are the barriers?", he said.
He could tell I was somewhat puzzled, so he continued:
"You know, what are some of the barriers that people face when it comes to giving it a try? For me, I would have never considered vaping until I sat here and talked to you and actually tried it myself. Vaping has always been something I considered to be for the hipsters - something about the people I see that do it, well, they dont really seem like my kind of people. They seem, I dunno, like douchebags."
Even though, he pretty much insulted most all of the vaping community, that made me really think for a minute because honestly, I too had those same initial thoughts about vaping when I started using it to help quit smoking. The first person I ever saw vaping was a complete douche. And not just because he vaped, but sucking on a little blue glow pen and exhaling a tiny puff of "water vapor" didnt help his cause any. Back then, there was NO WAY that vaping looked nearly as cool as I thought I was taking a long, contemplative drag of my Marlboro between my fingers and flicking an ash to the ground. If I would have let that one guy be a barrier to me trying vaping, my life may have taken a completely different turn.
But as naive as my friend's statement was, he brought up an interesting point that night and I'd like to share with you some of the things I feel are barriers that people face when considering vaping as a smoking alternative.
Barrier #1: First Impressions
First impressions are often the most influential in any situation. As is with vaping. If you are new to the scene, some of the sub-culture of vapers may be an immediate barrier to wanting to try it for yourself. Lets take my friends example, those of us in the vaping community either acknowledge, participate and/or support the act of "cloud-chasing" but to the novice, this may seem unusual. People getting together to see who can chuck the biggest clouds may be seen to some as a turn off. Similarly, if your first impression of vaping is by walking into a shop that is run by some punk kids who either dont know the 1st thing about vaping, or cant speak intelligently to help someone from all walks of life get into a device and setup for their best personal experience, this could potentially be a barrier that would prevent someone from taking the next step. It is important as responsible business owners of a vape shop to not only hire but also continually train our staff the art of customer service, putting the needs of the customers ahead of selling the latest and greatest products. I can't tell you how many times I've walked into a poorly run vape shop, where I find the "employees" either playing a game of grab-ass or completely ignoring their customers. Blowing huge plumes of vapor in the face of a first time customer is a sure fire way to not only lose the sale, but also send those people right back to smoking. Vape shops need to be a safe haven for anyone, so this barrier can be avoided. Likewise, if youre out in public and you see people vaping irresponsibly where they shouldnt, this could also steer your opinion on the entire vaping opportunity. Vapers, as a whole, we need to be respectful of those around us and be an ambassador for the community, not a detriment.
Barrier #2: Mind Games
People are 100% mental. No, not crazy (although many of us have those tendencies at times), but everything you do is controlled by your mind. A person needs to be willing to acknowledge that smoking WILL kill them, and there are better, safer alternatives to not only quit smoking, but also to get completely off the addictive nicotine. The person has to be committed to give it a chance to work, and nobody can force anyone to do something they are not ready to do. This will always be the most difficult barrier to overcome.
Barrier #3: The Exit Strategy
Most people quit the habit of smoking and pick up the habit of vaping. Ask any of us that are hobbyists and collectors and we'll tell you that vaping can be a very expensive habit. Many people need to know that vaping doesnt have to be a lifelong thing. It is a great way to quit smoking by using vape to supplement the addiction of nicotine and satisfy the oral fixation, but as you advance in your vaping, you should be able to tailor back on the nicotine levels. Once the addition of that chemical is gone, there can also be an exit strategy for also quitting vaping. Many of us enjoy it too much, but knowing that there can be a way to end it completely and not be handcuffed by simply replacing one addiction for another should help someone overcome this barrier.
Barrier #4: Expense
As I mentioned in the previous barrier, expense can be a barrier for people when they start to look at vaping. Sure, you can get into vaping relatively inexpensively, but anyone who has been vaping longer than a month or two will tell you, you need some serious vape budget if you plan on doing this any length of time. Not only can advanced devices be expensive (especially if you are always chasing the latest and greatest), but just the normal expense of vaping from juice to consumables like coils, etc can add up quickly. Most recreational vapers will go through at least 15ml of e-liquid a day (or more), so if you compare the cost of that to the cost of cigarettes, unless you are a two-pack-a-day smoker, vaping will be much more expensive over the long run.
Barrier #5: Quality of Goods Sold & Consumer Education
How many times have you purchased a juice or a piece of hardware and been completely dissatisfied for one reason or another. For vaping to work, your devices have to work reliably, all the time. This is often the biggest excuse for people who are trying to quit smoking to go back to the stinkys. I know for me, I make sure everything I sell, from the juice to the hardware and everything in between, is the best quality I can get. This doesnt mean I only sell high-end authentics, but everything I provide as a responsible shop owner, either has a manufacturer defect warranty or I personally guarantee repair or replace if it's something I can control. In the very least, I try to offer as much assistance to people, as much as I can. Another thing is making sure the customer is steered into something appropriate for their level and experience and they leave with an understanding of how everything works. If more manufacturers and vendors did the same, this barrier would be much easier to overcome. Educating the consumer is hugely important not only to their success but to the growth of the industry as a whole.
Those are the 5 barriers that I could come up with in the short amount of time in writing this blog post. Feel free to use the comment section below to offer feedback or provide some barriers of your own. As always, please come visit me at Zootie's Vapors at 40602 Charles Town Pike in Paeonian Springs VA 20129 and we'll be happy to help you overcome the barriers you face to quit smoking and start vaping. We want you to be successful and give vape a chance.
-Zootie
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)