What should I order to begin e-cigarette use?
We recommend either the
Joye 510 kit or the
eGo-T kit - both kits come with two complete electronic cigarettes (2 rechargeable batteries & 2
atomizers), a battery charger and 5 cartridges. We also recommend getting some
e-Liquid to refill your cartridges.
Also, if you plan on replacing cigarettes completely, for the Joye 510 kit it is recommended that you purchase either extra batteries or a USB passthrough. There is nothing worse than switching over completely and having a battery die or, even worse, both batteries die - you know those trips out to the grocery store at 2 am when you realize you don't have enough cigarettes to get through the night? Imagine if there was no local store and you had to go days without nicotine...
I can speak from experience here. It happened about a year ago when I had first quit. I hadn't had a cigarette in two weeks and both my batteries died. The worst part was, cigarettes tasted so nasty to me by that point that I couldn't even smoke one to relieve my cravings. Not fun - so plan ahead. ~Adam
What strength nicotine e-Liquid would you suggest?
For first time users we recommend 20 mg strength (all of our samples currently come in that strength). We find that this strength is satisfactory for about 90% of our customers.
When the kit arrives, how do I use it?
Every kit comes with a user manual which includes diagrams and instructions for use.
How will I know if I need to add liquid to my cartridge?
If you inhale and you get a dry feeling in the back of your throat, you might want to check your cartridge....it should always be full of e-Liquid. The next thing you'd notice if you didn't add more liquid is a "burnt" taste. You don't want to let the cartridges get too dry as that is what causes atomizers to die prematurely.
Do I need to buy many cartridges?
If you stick with one flavor of e-Liquid you can just keep refilling the same cartridge for quite a while. If you want to try a new flavor, you can either use a new cartridge or thoroughly clean an old cart.
Does it taste like a cigarette?
Not really... Most people find it tastes much better once you get used to the e-cig. However, it gives you the nicotine your body craves and the physical sensation of smoking without the smoke, smell and thousands of chemicals.
I don't like the taste, can I return it/get a replacement/get a refund/get an apology?
No. Not to be mean, but this is a silly question. If you've never tried some product and you buy some to try, you don't get to return it because it doesn't appeal to you. You can't return your Coke because it turns out you prefer Pepsi. You can't return your pack of "Full Flavor" Camels because you discover you only like Kools. And you can't return e-Liquid because you tried it and it turns out the flavor doesn't agree with you. Obviously a significant number of people do like the flavors we sell, or we wouldn't still be in business. It's a fact of life that tastes differ - deal with it. This is why we sell samples.
Of course, the problem could be that the atomizer and cartridge weren't cleaned properly before you tried our e-Liquid, so that might be a good place to start before giving up on a flavor or on our company (this happens so many times it isn't funny anymore).
The flavor is too weak, can I return it/get a replacement/get a refund/get an apology?
No. See above. This, at least, is an understandable question. However, one of the significant problems we face in creating flavors is that people have differing abilities to taste and smell. Since many of our customers have quit smoking, this creates a huge gap in abilities between those that have quit and those that haven't. Unfortunately for those of you who still smoke, all of us at Vermont Vapor have quit and couldn't vape an e-Liquid with stronger flavors without having our coffee taste like bananas or our steak taste like cherries. This is not to say that none of our e-Liquids will appeal to smokers - many of them do and many smokers are able to taste the flavors fine - it is only offered by way of explanation in case you experience this problem. This is also why we sell samples.
Here again, the problem could instead be caused by a faulty atomizer or a weak battery (this, too, has happened so often that it's no longer amusing).
Will I be able to quit smoking using the e-cig?
The electronic cigarette is an alternative to smoking and is not a smoking cessation device. Some people have quit smoking using the electronic cigarette but we make no such claims as to effectiveness for that purpose and e-cigs are not sold for that purpose.
How safe is the e-cigarette?
Our e-Liquid generally contains only nicotine, vegetable glycerine, water, flavoring and citric acid. Our menthol liquids also contain propylene glycol (PG) and ethanol. These ingredients are US Pharmacopeia grade and/or are FDA approved food additives. This liquid is heated in the e-cigarette until it forms a vapor (analogous to steam when water is heated). Since nothing is burned, the user never inhales any smoke or tar and only inhales those ingredients listed on each bottle of Vermont Vapor e-Liquid. However, because nicotine is an addictive stimulant, it is always best to check with your doctor before using this product. Likewise, children and persons who are pregnant or may become pregnant should not use this product.
When someone exhales it appears there is smoke....what is it I'm seeing?
What you're seeing is just the vapor - no smoke. There is nothing that is burned. It's the e-Liquid in the cartridge, which is heated by the atomizer when you draw on the e-cig. There is usually no odor at all (except maybe from the flavors, which are never overpowering or objectionable)
Are all the ingredients in your e-Liquid made in the U.S.A?
That's a good, but also incredibly complex, question. Sadly, that means you should prepare yourself for a rather longwinded response.
The honest and simplest answer is probably "no." Let me explain:
All our e-Liquid ingredients and packaging components are purchased from US companies. However, whether these are "manufactured" in the U.S.A. is not practically knowable. For example, though we have U.S. lab reports for the vegetable glycerine we use, we only purchase it in 5-55 gallon sizes and not by the tanker (maybe when the business grows... I can dream). Thus, by the time it gets to us from our wholesale supplier it has passed through a number of hands including the original manufacturer, a broker, and at least one company (more likely, there were a few) who parceled it out for resale. So, for chemicals, it is near impossible to work in reverse to determine the locations where they were originally extracted, synthesized, or distilled - and that's not even inquiring into the source of the precursor materials from which the chemicals were derived.
One important thing to remember is this: No (smart) company will willingly divulge where it purchases the product it sells - if it did, customers could cut out the middlemen and save money. (I actually have practical experience with this: Our old nicotine supplier was a multinational corporation that is used by many large companies and research institutions in the U.S. Unfortunately, when they sent me my order one time, they neglected to remove some handling information from the (U.S. based) company where they purchased the nicotine. Needless to say, we now pay one fifth of what we used to for the exact same chemical from the exact same source - it's just a little fresher as it has spent less time on a truck moving between warehouses and labs).
Similarly, we purchase flavorings from U.S. companies that "make" the flavoring in the U.S. However, the flavoring may be made up of alcohol, water, and chemicals that give artificial flavor and all of those ingredients could have originated (in a similar manner as the glycerine) abroad. In fact, the only original manufacturer we deal with is the one who creates the pipettes that go into the droppers - but we still don't know the origin of the glass they use (or the silica and other chemicals used to make the glass).
So I guess it comes down to this: We only guarantee that everything in the liquid comes to us from a U.S. source and that none of the money we spend to create our liquids goes to a foreign entity. Given the nature of trade these days, it is, practically speaking, the best we can do.
Can I use it anywhere?
Although e-cigarettes don't generally fall under smoking bans, it's always up to business owners as to whether you'll be able to use it in their establishments. Linda has used hers in airports, bars, restaurants, and non-smoking casinos. Adam has used his in law school classrooms, libraries, subways and subway trains, Amtrak terminals and trains Starbucks, McDonalds, Walmart, and, well, everywhere he goes. If in doubt, it is always best to ask before vaping.
Is it cheaper than smoking?
Oh, yes! After an average initial investment of $70 to $100, the cost should hover around $20-$30 a month. Assuming a moderate smoking habit of one pack per day and a price of $6 per pack ($180 per month), this works out to a savings of over one-hundred and fifty dollars every month!
What accessories do you sell?
We sell extra
batteries & atomizers ,
carrying cases,
DIY supplies and
cartridges.
How soon will you ship my order and what method do you use to ship?
We generally try to ship on the same day if the order comes in early enough or first thing the following morning during the business week. Your package will be shipped USPS Priority mail (transit time averages 2-3 days in the U.S. & 6-10 days internationally).
Do you ship to ...?
We ship to any valid address you enter in the order form. However, it is your responsibility to make sure that your importation, receipt, possession, and use of the products you order complies with the laws and regulations of your jurisdiction. We will not be responsible for orders that are intercepted by customs or that require the payment of an import tax or fee. You, the customer, are in a better position to understand the laws of your locality.
What about telephone support if I have any problems?
Because we are a small company, we do not have anyone who sits at a desk and answers the phone all day. However, someone at our Castleton, Vermont, retail store can generally be reached from 10am - 5pm EST Monday through Saturday, and from noon - 5pm Sunday at (802) 779-0185. If no one is able to take your call, leave a message and someone will give you a call as soon as possible.
Do you offer wholesale or bulk pricing?
We do have a wholesale and bulk pricelist for retailers that want to resell, repackage, or use our e-Liquid as a base to create their own. Send us an
email and we'd be happy to send you our pricelist or answer any questions you may have.
Other than our
250 ml bottles, we do not offer bulk pricing to consumers as our bulk e-Liquids are sold by the liter and gallon which is too large of a quantity for the average consumer to safely handle and to use before the nicotine degrades.
If there was just one handy tip you could offer to new users what would it be?
From Linda: Give the e-cig a fair chance. Try to put away your cigarettes for a few hours and just use the e-cig to give yourself time to get used to it. When I first began using my e-cig I switched back and forth all day between cigarettes and the e-cig. Finally my son told me to give them a chance so I set my cigs aside and used the e-cig for the rest of the night.....that was 10 months ago and I haven't lit a "real" cigarette since!
