{"id":522,"date":"2010-08-19T11:13:29","date_gmt":"2010-08-19T15:13:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/vapingguides.com\/blog\/?page_id=522"},"modified":"2011-08-02T20:50:55","modified_gmt":"2011-08-03T00:50:55","slug":"wwv-part-iv-%e2%80%93-buying-your-first-e-cig-the-little-guys","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/vapingguides.com\/blog\/archives\/the-wonderful-world-of-vapingan-illustrated-guide-to-e-cigs\/wwv-part-iv-%e2%80%93-buying-your-first-e-cig-the-little-guys\/","title":{"rendered":"<center>WWV Part IV \u2013 <em>Buying Your First E-cig: The Little Guys<\/em><\/center>"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The first three parts of this guide are intended to provide an <em>understanding<\/em> of electronic cigarettes and how to use them. Parts IV and V are both devoted to <em>purchasing<\/em> your first e-cig, including links to the least expensive (and quite reliable) suppliers I\u2019ve identified as of the date posted. Covered here in Part IV:<\/p>\n<p><strong>A. How to decide <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Regardless of Mode<\/strong><strong>l<\/strong>: Minimum order \/ Discount Codes \/ Warning<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/vapingguides.com\/blog\/?page_id=533\" target=\"_self\"><strong>Disposables and Quick Approaches<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 510 clones; the Kr8 or Fat Batt<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/vapingguides.com\/blog\/?page_id=559\" target=\"_self\">A More Thorough Approach<\/a> <\/strong>\u2013 forum resources<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>B. <\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/vapingguides.com\/blog\/?page_id=577\" target=\"_self\">Specific <strong>Recommendations and Supplier Links <\/strong>Based on <em><strong>Your <\/strong><\/em>Priorities<\/a><strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/vapingguides.com\/blog\/?page_id=577\" target=\"_self\">The <strong>Super-Minis<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 size and shape of an analog; frequent recharging<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/vapingguides.com\/blog\/?page_id=643\" target=\"_self\">The <strong>Minis <\/strong><\/a>\u2013 better performance; somewhat longer; most popular<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/vapingguides.com\/blog\/?page_id=690\" target=\"_self\">The <strong>Cartomizers<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 simple, convenient; Mini but more puffs per charge<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[Part V will continue the specific recommendations, focusing on the \u201c<em>big guys<\/em>\u201d \u2013 penstyles, cigars and pipes, fat batts, and mods \u2013 and the <em>juice<\/em>.]<\/p>\n<h4>Minimum Initial Order<\/h4>\n<p>Whatever model you choose, ensure that your initial order includes <strong>at least<\/strong> 2 atomizers, 2 batteries, 1 battery charger, and 10 prefilled cartridges\/cartomizers (and\/or 30 ml of e-liquid). [For a super-mini, make that at least 3 batteries.] Most \u201cstarter kits\u201d include many of these. Supplement with replacement parts and additional cartridges and\/or e-liquid as needed.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Recommended<\/strong> are <strong>3<\/strong> atomizers, <strong>3<\/strong> batteries,\u00a0and additional e-liquid. Also a <strong>PCC<\/strong> (Portable Charging Case),\u00a0unless you are getting a high-mAh model such as a fat batt.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Or<\/strong>, if you just want to \u201ctest the water\u201d at the least possible cost (knowing that you quickly will need to order more to continue vaping), just order a <a href=\"http:\/\/vapingguides.com\/blog\/?page_id=533\" target=\"_self\">disposable<\/a> or the most basic starter kit (with one of each of the above, but 5 prefilled cartridges).<\/p>\n<p>The <strong>color <\/strong>(of the device and of the LED) is your choice, of course, but I do have a suggestion: Consider <strong>not <\/strong>getting white with a tan cartridge\/mouthpiece. In today\u2019s anti-smoking world, many of us do not want our e-cig to look too much like an analog.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"white vs black e-cig\" src=\"http:\/\/i562.photobucket.com\/albums\/ss67\/DonDaBoomVape\/whitevsblacke-cig.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"443\" height=\"138\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">[Illustration courtesy of Kalin Nacheff, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.e-cigarettepedia.com\" target=\"_blank\">www.e-cigarettepedia.com<\/a>]<\/p>\n<h4>Discount Coupon Codes<\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"Discount Coupon-VF\" src=\"http:\/\/i562.photobucket.com\/albums\/ss67\/DonDaBoomVape\/WWV%20adds\/DiscountCoupon-VF.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"202\" height=\"184\" \/><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>DaBoomVape\u2019s Rule<\/em>: <strong>Never<\/strong> place an order for e-cig hardware or software (or anything else, actually), without first checking to see if there is an applicable <strong>discount<\/strong> coupon code (ongoing or time-limited) \u2013 for forum members, or on any other basis (e.g., for visitors to our site). Start with VapingGuides&#8217; Coupon Codes, Vapers Forum&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vapersforum.com\/showthread.php?t=229\" target=\"_blank\">Coupon Codes for Suppliers<\/a> thread,\u00a0 VapeZone&#8217;s\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/vapezone.com\/blog.php?b=1\" target=\"_blank\">Electronic Cigarette Coupon Code Master List<\/a>, and E-Cig-Reviews&#8217; <a href=\"http:\/\/e-cig-reviews.com\/discount%20codes.html\" target=\"_blank\">Discount Codes<\/a>. Supplement by checking the relevant ECF <a href=\"http:\/\/www.e-cigarette-forum.com\/forum\/forum-suppliers\/\" target=\"_blank\">Forum Suppliers<\/a> and VF <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vapersforum.com\/forumdisplay.php?f=40http:\/\/www.vapersforum.com\/forumdisplay.php?f=40\" target=\"_blank\">Supporting Vendors<\/a> sub-forums. And register on the websites of suppliers in which you have interest, agreeing to be put on their mailing list. Some suppliers offer occasional special discounts to those registered. [<a href=\"http:\/\/www.altsmoke.com\/?ref=196\" target=\"_blank\">Vapor4Life<\/a>, for example, has frequent sales at around 20% off.]<\/p>\n<p>Typically these discounts range from 5% to 20% (or are for free shipping). Then just enter that code in the box provided on the supplier\u2019s check-out screen. When in doubt, try the most common: VF, ECF, or ecigforum, sometimes adding the amount of discount, e.g., ECFTEN, VF10, VFTEN, ECF5, or ecigforum10. VapingGuides&#8217; discount codes are formatted: VG[supplier&#8217;s initials][discount percent], e.g., VGFSU10. <em>A penny saved is a penny earned.<\/em> \u2013 Poor Richard (aka Ben Franklin)<\/p>\n<h4>WARNING<\/h4>\n<p>Think twice before purchasing anything from those who are advertising on TV or spamming with offers of &#8220;free&#8221; e-cigs. At best, they are overpriced; at worst&#8230;well, let&#8217;s not dwell on that.<\/p>\n<p>Proceed with a lesser degree of caution if contemplating purchasing e-cigs that are mass marketed on the Internet or sold on Amazon.com and in mall kiosks, e.g., <em>Smoking Everywhere<\/em> and <em>NJoy<\/em> (not to be confused with Joye). The model they sell is decent (described in the Super-Minis section on <a href=\"http:\/\/vapingguides.com\/blog\/?page_id=577\" target=\"_self\">page 4<\/a>), but their prices are inflated (to pay for that advertising) and, I have heard, they provide little to no customer service.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve since modified what had been my very negative opinion of these two companies. TANSTAAFL! [Look this one up yourself, not only to discover what words the acronym literally stands for, but to get exposed to some of the ramifications of the expression.] Here I capture only a small portion of its meaning with the very <strong>loose<\/strong> translation: <em>You can&#8217;t get blood from a stone.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Those two companies have spent an awful lot of money putting electronic cigarettes in the face of millions of people. It is very likely their efforts are responsible for your first exposure to e-cigs \u2026 and that eventually led you here. Also, because of their corporate size, they\u2019re facing the brunt of the attacks by the FDA and ASH. They\u2019ve been forced (and are more financially able) to be among the leaders in the defense of vaping. [I do <strong>not<\/strong> minimize the efforts of <a href=\"http:\/\/casaa.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">CASAA<\/a> and activist members of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.e-cigarette-forum.com\/forum\/campaigning-discussions\/\" target=\"_blank\">ECF<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.vapersforum.com\/forumdisplay.php?f=9\" target=\"_blank\">Vapers Forum<\/a>.]<\/p>\n<p>See also ECF&#8217;s \u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/www.e-cigarette-forum.com\/forum\/new-members-forum\/20466-buyer-beware-new-members-please-read.html\" target=\"_blank\">Buyer Beware! New members please read<\/a>.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h4>Selecting the Right Device for You<\/h4>\n<p>Before reading further, please re-read the caveats at the beginning of <a href=\"http:\/\/vapingguides.com\/blog\/?page_id=145\" target=\"_self\">Part I<\/a>; they are especially applicable here. I have included links to<em> specific suppliers<\/em> \u2013 not to help them out, but to help <strong>you<\/strong> out \u2013 and not because they are the only reliable ones (they are not), but because they seem to have the lowest prices (including shipping charges) and\/or wide selections at the time I post this. [FYI: I have absolutely <strong>no<\/strong> connection with any supplier (other than as a satisfied customer where applicable) \u2026 and I certainly do not receive any kickback or commission (or free products). \ud83d\ude41 ]<strong>*<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">* Full Disclosure: After completing the original version of this guide, I have been commissioned to write illustrated guides for many suppliers, for which I receive a one-time payment. However, I have <strong>no<\/strong> ongoing business relationship with any supplier.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/vapingguides.com\/blog\/?page_id=533\" target=\"_self\">Next page: <em>Disposables and Quick Approaches<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/vapingguides.com\/blog\/?page_id=44\" target=\"_self\">Return to <em>Intro and TOC<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"_mcePaste\" style=\"position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 21px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;\">&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;A. &lt;a href=&#8221;http:\/\/vapingguides.com\/blog\/?page_id=522&#8243; target=&#8221;_self&#8221;&gt;How to decide &lt;\/a&gt;&lt;\/strong&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;<br \/>\n&lt;ul&gt;<br \/>\n&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href=&#8221;http:\/\/vapingguides.com\/blog\/?page_id=522&#8243; target=&#8221;_self&#8221;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Regardless of Model&lt;\/strong&gt;&lt;\/a&gt;: Minimum order \/ Discount Codes \/ Warning&lt;\/li&gt;<br \/>\n&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href=&#8221;http:\/\/vapingguides.com\/blog\/?page_id=533&#8243; target=&#8221;_self&#8221;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Disposables and Quick Approaches&lt;\/strong&gt;&lt;\/a&gt; \u2013 510 clones; the Kr8 or Fat Batt&lt;\/li&gt;<br \/>\n&lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href=&#8221;http:\/\/vapingguides.com\/blog\/?page_id=559&#8243; target=&#8221;_self&#8221;&gt;A More Thorough Approach&lt;\/a&gt; &lt;\/strong&gt;\u2013 forum resources&lt;\/li&gt;<br \/>\n&lt;\/ul&gt;<br \/>\n&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;B. &lt;\/strong&gt;&lt;a href=&#8221;http:\/\/vapingguides.com\/blog\/?page_id=577&#8243; target=&#8221;_self&#8221;&gt;Specific &lt;strong&gt;Recommendations and Supplier Links &lt;\/strong&gt;Based on &lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Your &lt;\/strong&gt;&lt;\/em&gt;Priorities&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;strong&gt; &lt;\/strong&gt;&lt;\/p&gt;<br \/>\n&lt;ul&gt;<br \/>\n&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href=&#8221;http:\/\/vapingguides.com\/blog\/?page_id=577&#8243; target=&#8221;_self&#8221;&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;Super-Minis&lt;\/strong&gt;&lt;\/a&gt; \u2013 size and shape of an analog; frequent recharging&lt;\/li&gt;<br \/>\n&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href=&#8221;http:\/\/vapingguides.com\/blog\/?page_id=643&#8243; target=&#8221;_self&#8221;&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;Minis &lt;\/strong&gt;&lt;\/a&gt;\u2013 better performance; somewhat longer; most popular&lt;\/li&gt;<br \/>\n&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href=&#8221;http:\/\/vapingguides.com\/blog\/?page_id=690&#8243; target=&#8221;_self&#8221;&gt;The &lt;strong&gt;Cartomizers&lt;\/strong&gt;&lt;\/a&gt; \u2013 simple, convenient; Mini but more puffs per charge&lt;\/li&gt;<br \/>\n&lt;\/ul&gt;<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The first three parts of this guide are intended to provide an understanding of electronic cigarettes and how to use them. Parts IV and V are both devoted to purchasing your first e-cig, including links to the least expensive (and quite reliable) suppliers I\u2019ve identified as of the date posted. Covered here in Part IV: [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":44,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/vapingguides.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/522"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/vapingguides.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/vapingguides.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/vapingguides.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/vapingguides.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=522"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"http:\/\/vapingguides.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/522\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2694,"href":"http:\/\/vapingguides.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/522\/revisions\/2694"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/vapingguides.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/44"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/vapingguides.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=522"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}