The online market selling electronic cigarettes has grown exponentially since the first eCigs became available less than 5 years ago. It seems like there are an infinite number of brands offering competitive eCigarettes within a relatively close price range. So how can you choose and what should you look for? Here are a few tips to help you shop online for eCigarettes.
1. Read Up!
Read electric cigarette reviews from a number of sites about the best brands out there. Not everyone agrees about which are the very best brands, and you may form your own opinion once you have tried certain brands. Because smoking is really a question of taste, the type of electronic cigarette that appeals to you may be very different from the type that appeals to others. The best you can do is read about the top 10 eCig brands out there and see if something works for you.
2. Decide What You Want Before You Find It
Start from what you like already. Do you smoke regularly or just when you are out with your friends? How many packs per day or week do you smoke? Do you like the taste of cigarette smoke or are you really in it for the nicotine? Are you hoping to try different flavors?
Each company will offer some kind of starter deal. Usually they come in a couple of sizes or options, specific to people who smoke just a little or all the time. Within these starter packs, the details can vary greatly. Some eCigarette companies offer a one time discount purchase of a disposable version of their product, in an attempt to induce you to try it out before committing. Other companies go for a variety pack, allowing you to try a couple of flavors and pick your battery color or other specifics, hoping that you will enjoy personalizing the experience a little.
If you just want to try one electronic cigarette, focus on finding companies that offer you that. But make sure they also offer reasonably priced packages and refills so that if you like what you get, you don’t feel at a disadvantage once you decide to buy more.
3. Pricing Comparisons
The price that you will pay over time is the only important price point to understand. Some eCigarette brands will sell you their reusable basic package for what seems like a great deal, but when it comes to refill cartridges they are charging considerably more than their competition. Other companies ask for a big upfront investment, because their products are more durable and include fewer expendable parts, which means you will pay less for the cartridges and the product will probably last longer. Of course, there’s no way to know for sure, but that takes you back to reading reviews. Just make sure that you understand all of the price details, and not just the upfront costs which can be misleading.
It also pays to keep in mind the fact that no matter what, you will probably spend less money on electronic cigarettes than you do on tobacco cigarettes now. That decrease in overall spending is one of the major selling points of most of the biggest and most trustworthy smokeless cigarette brands. You might want to price it out yourself, based on how much you smoke and what brand, but you will probably get a deal in the end no matter which brand you choose.
4. The Little Things
Many companies are smart about their marketing plan and image. While the look of the website might not matter to you when you are smoking, it may tell you something about the dedication and investment of a particular company. If their website and marketing materials seem hastily put together and not well thought out, they may be trying to make a quick buck with an inferior product. Again, reputation matters and hearing from reviewers who are not affiliated with a company can be crucial.
Additionally, you may want to make sure that the ingredients are available for the products you are checking out. While most e-cigarette products are safer to smoke than tobacco cigarettes, that doesn’t mean they are healthy or that they are all made equally. A recent lawsuit in California demonstrated that one major company was selling their product in a way that did not meet consumer protection standards. Be cautious, and notice all the details.
5. Your Look
Smoking, at least when you got started, probably wasn’t about picking up a nicotine addiction. People often start to smoke because they want to look or feel cool. Smoking can be calming for people and is often used as a way to deal with stress or anxiety, which is really about the nicotine. e-Cigarettes offer people a way to smoke and get that nicotine hit, without tarring up their lungs or making their homes, cars, clothing, and mouths smell like an ashtray.
You can purchase e-Cigs which look like cigarettes, down to the glowing red, blue, or even orange end. However you can also go wild with a more personalized style. Electronic cigarettes are sold in a wide variety of colors or patterns, and you can even customize that look with some companies. If you want to make a statement about the way you smoke, you can make it match your outfit or smoke an all black e-cigarette. Whatever you prefer.
The Bottom Line
There are a lot of options and a lot of choices out there for people who want to improve their health and smell better by getting away from tobacco cigarettes, cigars, and pipes. Accordingly, there are way too many options by some people’s standards, and making the decision may not be quick and easy. Take a look around, find a brand that looks right and offers competitive pricing, and then read what independent reviewers have to say about them. You’ll find the right electronic cigarette.
