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" we only carry Smok products "

Bigrick

Gold Contributor
Member For 4 Years
ECF Refugee
So today I went to a music shop to buy a set of guitar strings. The store next door, previously vacant had opened and is a vape shop. Of course I had to take a looksy. My first impression was " this is a head shop". Shelves stocked with glass pipes and tie dyed T-shirts hanging everywhere. Well I finally find the vape case and although packed full it was mostlyl pod systems. I figured okay I will get some Geek vape Frenzy coils and give this new shop some business. Well I make my inquiry about the coils and am told they only Smok products. Really??? Are you serious? When I asked why I was told that Smok makes the only reliable vape gear on the market and that his shop will ptovide only the best gear available to his customers. I could not respond. I could not say anything. I had no words. I was absorbing this information while viewing a $69.99 Prince stick. I thanked the proprietor for his time and left. I realize this is a useless story, full of useless information. I am personally not a smok hater. However his only hope is to sell enough glass pipes and tie dye t-shirts to compensate for the lack of vaping business that he will be receiving. Thank you for listening to my dribble. Peace an. d love to all.

Rick
 

JuicyLucy

My name is Lucy and I am a squonkaholic
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
VU Challenge Team
Member For 5 Years
So today I went to a music shop to buy a set of guitar strings. The store next door, previously vacant had opened and is a vape shop. Of course I had to take a looksy. My first impression was " this is a head shop". Shelves stocked with glass pipes and tie dyed T-shirts hanging everywhere. Well I finally find the vape case and although packed full it was mostlyl pod systems. I figured okay I will get some Geek vape Frenzy coils and give this new shop some business. Well I make my inquiry about the coils and am told they only Smok products. Really??? Are you serious? When I asked why I was told that Smok makes the only reliable vape gear on the market and that his shop will ptovide only the best gear available to his customers. I could not respond. I could not say anything. I had no words. I was absorbing this information while viewing a $69.99 Prince stick. I thanked the proprietor for his time and left. I realize this is a useless story, full of useless information. I am personally not a smok hater. However his only hope is to sell enough glass pipes and tie dye t-shirts to compensate for the lack of vaping business that he will be receiving. Thank you for listening to my dribble. Peace an. d love to all.

Rick

Discouraging shit
 

Just Frank

Platinum Contributor
Member For 5 Years
Smok makes the only reliable vape gear on the market and that his shop will ptovide only the best gear available to his customers. I could not respond. I could not say anything. I had no words.
Shows how clueless some people are. I know a place just like you described an hour away from me. They had those dinky little Mag Baby kits for $99.99. I busted up laughing and asked if they sold many. The guy behind the counter said, "Yeah, a few". I've got very little love for vape shops. The ones around here got the whole highway robery thing going on pretty good.
 

Jinx'd

Platinum Contributor
Member For 2 Years
SMOK is, by far, the most recognized vape name. and, for this reason, most vapers, think they are the best. i was in a shop and saw it myself.

i would also have been speechless, because i would have been laughing.
 

gsmit1

Platinum Contributor
Member For 4 Years
They will stay in business, if they do, on their other products only.

I'm a sensible Smok fan, but saying that they are the best and therefor only line worth stocking displays a truly profound ignorance of the industry and the community. Obviously neither is true.
 

Rhianne

Diamond Contributor
Member For 2 Years
ECF Refugee
My local smoke shop now sells Smok and Naked juice. At twice the MSRP. They were also stocking CBD oil the last time I went in almost a year ago.

It wouldn’t have helped for me to tell the owner about other brands. He knows nothing about vaping. When I was trying to quit smoking, I bought a few kits from him, two died in less than a month.
When I had quit completely, I didn’t go back, not even for the good fresh brewed coffee he has, which is popular around here. He kept expecting me to buy Smok stuff every time I was there! No effing way!
 

Just Frank

Platinum Contributor
Member For 5 Years
I'm a sensible Smok fan, but saying that they are the best and therefor only line worth stocking displays a truly profound ignorance of the industry and the community. Obviously neither is true.
This is how I feel too. I rarely have trouble with any brands. To say Smok is the only reliable brand is just lying. They make more products than anyone so it's probably the most profitable brand to sell.

There's three shops within an hours drive from where I live. They all sell almost exclusively Smok brand vaping products. One of them used to be my favorite. They had lots of rebuildables and stuff like that. Over a short time, all of that kind of stuff was phased out. I asked the guy behind the counter what was going on because they didn't know even have cotton. He told me, most people don't want to mess with that stuff (rebuilding). He also said, "Smok sells". This was a couple of years ago. I'm not sure what they have anymore or if they're even surviving after the media BS.
 

MyMagicMist

Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
As I previously mentioned Smok at one point became the better/best affordable/economy vaping gear. I'm sure many recall the universal Pro-Tank coil assemblies. You had short chimney ones and long chimney ones.

kanger-replacement-coil-evod-1-protank-2-mini-protank-2-clearomizer_2.2ohm_coil-500x500.jpg


These coils also fit the Smok "ARO", "TDux" (and probably a host more) clearomizers. They sold rampantly too for roughly $1 a unit and sometimes you could find them for half that if you found a source. I started out rebuilding trying to rebuild the coils in these. They were a curse worthy pain to use. We thought it might be smart to use ReadyX as wick, sure it was, if we didn't mind the aggravation of wicking with it.

kangerprotank3-1_grande.png


You can see the silicone grommet on the positive pin to the lower left here. You always had to put one leg outside and the other leg inside. Then, you would push the positive pin with silicone insulator back up into "head" base/firebox unit.

You needed to position the coil so the wick fit through the slots on the side of the head. Finally you mashed the "chimney" unit back down into the head unit. Weather you added the extra silicone on the chimney often was preference based. It allegedly acted as a stop gap to let the juice flow around the head to saturate the wick ends you'd trim right up next to the head.

I think the wire used was something like 36 awg, very thin and tiny stuff. It would short quick, burn through. *sighs* It was just a mess in a pretty dress and I write/say that without any misogyny intended. I've been around plenty drag queens, transvestites, trans gender folk (people in general) to know anyone can be a mess in a dress. It is simply an expression, an illustrative one used to summarize and be evocative of the frustration building these things used to be. And yet, ... everybody loved 'em. Go figure that and while at it sell it for a buck. :)

So this is part of what cemented Smok into the position of being a 'standard barer' for the industry, for better or worse. Another part of it was their clever design sense. I'll save the goose and simply let you see some of their designs below.

The ARO:

2.jpg


The TDux:

89.970.jpg


No there was not much difference at all in the two lines, and there was actually a third and I'm thinking i recall a fourth that was as similar. They would alter out the coil head builds a bit and market something "new and improved". It almost reminded me of some old Volkswagen beetle commercials.

"Last year we you gave the dash board hula girl. This year we had to top ourselves, it took us all of the year to figure out how. Finally, we give you fuzzy dice to hang from your mirror."

All the while the 1978 beetle was the same exact 1976 beetle and the 1974, '72, 70, ... '42.

They found a product that worked, worked well and didn't see a need for errant changing. Until they finally broke and put out the TDux 4 which delved them more into an RDTA type of design, or so it was meant to "seem" to most of the customer base.

"Oh look, Smok is going into making tanks. How cool is that?!"

Well, Smok is part of an umbrella group of companies which includes Kanger, Innokin, Ealeaf, possibly Aspire. None of the individual company reps will outright say this publicly. They'd risk loss of jobs if they did, as to broach the American market such a "family" of companies all in the same industry "seems" to present a monopoly and impropriety. Whereas to them it is nothing of the sort, merely business doing business as most efficent and direct as it can and being socially responsible too. They can all pool resources, less waste, quicker manufacturing, better quality control or at least theoretically so.

Now I've offered a view with a little peak behind the scenes maybe. This view offers my own humble and honorable opinion on why Smok might seem the dominate leader of vaping gear. I'm not going to say they are that, nor say they aren't. This is something left for individuals to decide for themselves. This author can see how such a perception has played out over at least the last decade. Love them or hate them, I submit it's my view Smok will stay around. Now, for a shop to sell only their gear, well that's another horse.

I think I'd rather sell various gear from various companies of all differing quality. I'd like a well trained, friendly staff of clerks to help customers too. Then again, I don't run a vape shop or work in one. Thanks for reading. :) Now go on!
 
Last edited:

The Cromwell

I am a BOT
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Member For 4 Years
So today I went to a music shop to buy a set of guitar strings. The store next door, previously vacant had opened and is a vape shop. Of course I had to take a looksy. My first impression was " this is a head shop". Shelves stocked with glass pipes and tie dyed T-shirts hanging everywhere. Well I finally find the vape case and although packed full it was mostlyl pod systems. I figured okay I will get some Geek vape Frenzy coils and give this new shop some business. Well I make my inquiry about the coils and am told they only Smok products. Really??? Are you serious? When I asked why I was told that Smok makes the only reliable vape gear on the market and that his shop will ptovide only the best gear available to his customers. I could not respond. I could not say anything. I had no words. I was absorbing this information while viewing a $69.99 Prince stick. I thanked the proprietor for his time and left. I realize this is a useless story, full of useless information. I am personally not a smok hater. However his only hope is to sell enough glass pipes and tie dye t-shirts to compensate for the lack of vaping business that he will be receiving. Thank you for listening to my dribble. Peace an. d love to all.

Rick
Never trust a salesman?
 

gsmit1

Platinum Contributor
Member For 4 Years
I rarely have trouble with any brands.
Ya know, I don't either. I don't know if it's because I'm more careful or have just gotten all good specimens or what. I've had troubles that I know were my fault though.

I brought this up on Reddit a while back. A nonstop parade of people having issues with pretty much every brand there is. Every type of equipment.

Maybe it's from being a computer support guy for so long. I can just tell they did something wrong.

Not because they're stupid. I've dealt with thousands of people over the years. I've seen automotive engineers who have mind boggling 3D models with data all over them on their screen, and I'm there for the third time this week showing them how to attach a file to their email. True story.

Setting up a regulated mod and subohm tank really is too much for a lot of otherwise smart people.
 

The Cromwell

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Member For 4 Years
Ya know, I don't either. I don't know if it's because I'm more careful or have just gotten all good specimens or what. I've had troubles that I know were my fault though.

I brought this up on Reddit a while back. A nonstop parade of people having issues with pretty much every brand there is. Every type of equipment.

Maybe it's from being a computer support guy for so long. I can just tell they did something wrong.

Not because they're stupid. I've dealt with thousands of people over the years. I've seen automotive engineers who have mind boggling 3D models with data all over them on their screen, and I'm there for the third time this week showing them how to attach a file to their email. True story.

Setting up a regulated mod and subohm tank really is too much for a lot of otherwise smart people.
There are different kinds of smart.

However vaping is MUCH more complicated and requires far more thought and planning than smoking.
One reason why vaping is not for everyone.
 

bobnat

VU Donator
Gold Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Ya know, I don't either. I don't know if it's because I'm more careful or have just gotten all good specimens or what. I've had troubles that I know were my fault though.

I brought this up on Reddit a while back. A nonstop parade of people having issues with pretty much every brand there is. Every type of equipment.

Maybe it's from being a computer support guy for so long. I can just tell they did something wrong.

Not because they're stupid. I've dealt with thousands of people over the years. I've seen automotive engineers who have mind boggling 3D models with data all over them on their screen, and I'm there for the third time this week showing them how to attach a file to their email. True story.

Setting up a regulated mod and subohm tank really is too much for a lot of otherwise smart people.

Same here. I've had only one mod that quit on me in 3.5 years and I have lots of mods. I dropped one, my bad. I even have a Smok that I did like, but it's in storage now.

I met a guy two years ago who was vaping a single battery mod. He took the battery out and showed it to me and the wrap was almost completely gone from the bottom. I mentioned he needed to rewrap it. He then took some tape from his desk and taped it up and thought it was going to be ok. People are fucking weird.
 

MyMagicMist

Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
A nonstop parade of people having issues with pretty much every brand there is. Every type of equipment.

Beware, famous last words ahead. "I've not really had any erroneous issues from Smok gear itself."

A few times I had some issues but they were coil related. Not being able to instantly replace a coil assembly, yes I'm that broke at times, resourcefulness came in the form of learning to rebuild. Then, a few times were general "user error/s", I'd get juice in the flu of the ARO clearomizer for example, maybe flood the coil. These though were not exactly Smok specific errors.

At one time I can admit I was a bit of Smok fan. Then, an Innokin fan. Finally I realized I just enjoy vaping in general.
Not because they're stupid.
No not at all.
Setting up a regulated mod and subohm tank really is too much for a lot of otherwise smart people.

So is realizing most GNU Linux distributions come with a free program to do graphical sudo. They rather pay some quick thinking scripting developer fifty bucks to get the same thing. Speaking of odd ducks and all, there ya go. :)
 

Just Frank

Platinum Contributor
Member For 5 Years
I brought this up on Reddit a while back. A nonstop parade of people having issues with pretty much every brand there is. Every type of equipment.
There's tons of people on there that hate Smok products. They'll know nothing about the topic at hand but still act like they know everything. "Don't buy that. Their QC is hortible..." Yeah, I've read something like that a million times from people who think they know everything.

One of the most popular recommendations for a dual 18650 at ECR is the Aegis Legend, still. I've read a ton of complaints about those mods. I wonder why? Maybe because it's really popular so we hear more complaints about them? Smok stuff is the same way. There's more people using it that don't know what they're doing than experienced users. Of course they're going to inadvertently mess something up and blame the company.

How is it that I never have problems with a companies products that are supposed to be so bad? Maybe I know WTF I'm doing :D.
 

Master Rahl

Bronze Contributor
Member For 3 Years
Smok mods aren't too bad. I've had a few they are well built. Their coils however are hit and miss. I buy a 3 pack and 2 work typically. Although I havent purchased from them in a year or so now so I'm not sure about current quality. I personally wouldnt waste my money in a shop like that.
 

gsmit1

Platinum Contributor
Member For 4 Years
There's tons of people on there that hate Smok products. They'll know nothing about the topic at hand but still act like they know everything. "Don't buy that. Their QC is horrible..." Yeah, I've read something like that a million times from people who think they know everything.

One of the most popular recommendations for a dual 18650 at ECR is the Aegis Legend, still. I've read a ton of complaints about those mods. I wonder why? Maybe because it's really popular so we hear more complaints about them? Smok stuff is the same way. There's more people using it that don't know what they're doing than experienced users. Of course they're going to inadvertently mess something up and blame the company.

How is it that I never have problems with a companies products that are supposed to be so bad? Maybe I know WTF I'm doing :D.
On Reddit at least, that's definitely true. 7 outta 10 who show up there with a problem clearly have no idea what they're doing. Which is fine. That's why they're there. To find answers.

What kills me is when they have a Smok setup and the instant answer is "throw that &^%# piece of *&$#@* away and get a real mod!"

The guy could have dropped it off a motorcycle at 70mph on the freeway and it would still be Smok's fault. I have a different handle over there. You may have seen some of the conversations where I pushed some of these people. Turns out they dropped it on the hard kitchen floor a bunch of times, were using crummy off brand batteries that had been sitting in a showcase for 2 years or they let their sister borrow it and it came back broken. OR, it's their first one and they tell you outright that they have no idea what they're doing.

Here's another thing. I ran into a shop owner over there who is clearly a sharp fella, but just hadn't thought some things through. He's telling me about how noobs bring back Smok stuff all the time, telling him about all the things they did right and it still doesn't work.

I asked the guy. Think with me for a minute. We live in the age of Google. Don't you think what happens in at least some of these cases, is that they get the thing all jacked up, then Google the problems and find out what they did wrong? NOW they know what to tell you they did, even though they didn't at first, because they don't wanna eat the loss. They want to blame the product and for you to give them another one.

You just gotta know that some of that goes on.

My first two kits were a Procolor/BBB and an X-Priv/Prince. Both still work like the day I bought them and both have seen some serious action. Especially the Procolor.
 

The Cromwell

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Smok mods will soon not be an issue of contention in the US.

Vapers have much more serious areas of concern in the US.
Smok is just like all the other manufacturers, sell all they can before the hammer falls.
 

The Cromwell

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Oh and btw saw the LG battery safety commercial on youtube. As an ADVERTISEMENT not as a vid clip.

And in all honesty they are not wrong.
They do not manufacture their cells to the standards required for safer operation as single cells.
They are only designed to go in protected power packs.
 

Rhianne

Diamond Contributor
Member For 2 Years
ECF Refugee
As I previously mentioned Smok at one point became the better/best affordable/economy vaping gear. I'm sure many recall the universal Pro-Tank coil assemblies. You had short chimney ones and long chimney ones.

kanger-replacement-coil-evod-1-protank-2-mini-protank-2-clearomizer_2.2ohm_coil-500x500.jpg


These coils also fit the Smok "ARO", "TDux" (and probably a host more) clearomizers. They sold rampantly too for roughly $1 a unit and sometimes you could find them for half that if you found a source. I started out rebuilding trying to rebuild the coils in these. They were a curse worthy pain to use. We thought it might be smart to use ReadyX as wick, sure it was, if we didn't mind the aggravation of wicking with it.

kangerprotank3-1_grande.png


You can see the silicone grommet on the positive pin to the lower left here. You always had to put one leg outside and the other leg inside. Then, you would push the positive pin with silicone insulator back up into "head" base/firebox unit.

You needed to position the coil so the wick fit through the slots on the side of the head. Finally you mashed the "chimney" unit back down into the head unit. Weather you added the extra silicone on the chimney often was preference based. It allegedly acted as a stop gap to let the juice flow around the head to saturate the wick ends you'd trim right up next to the head.

I think the wire used was something like 36 awg, very thin and tiny stuff. It would short quick, burn through. *sighs* It was just a mess in a pretty dress and I write/say that without any misogyny intended. I've been around plenty drag queens, transvestites, trans gender folk (people in general) to know anyone can be a mess in a dress. It is simply an expression, an illustrative one used to summarize and be evocative of the frustration building these things used to be. And yet, ... everybody loved 'em. Go figure that and while at it sell it for a buck. :)

So this is part of what cemented Smok into the position of being a 'standard barer' for the industry, for better or worse. Another part of it was their clever design sense. I'll save the goose and simply let you see some of their designs below.

The ARO:

2.jpg


The TDux:

89.970.jpg


No there was not much difference at all in the two lines, and there was actually a third and I'm thinking i recall a fourth that was as similar. They would alter out the coil head builds a bit and market something "new and improved". It almost reminded me of some old Volkswagen beetle commercials.

"Last year we you gave the dash board hula girl. This year we had to top ourselves, it took us all of the year to figure out how. Finally, we give you fuzzy dice to hang from your mirror."

All the while the 1978 beetle was the same exact 1976 beetle and the 1974, '72, 70, ... '42.

They found a product that worked, worked well and didn't see a need for errant changing. Until they finally broke and put out the TDux 4 which delved them more into an RDTA type of design, or so it was meant to "seem" to most of the customer base.

"Oh look, Smok is going into making tanks. How cool is that?!"

Well, Smok is part of an umbrella group of companies which includes Kanger, Innokin, Ealeaf, possibly Aspire. None of the individual company reps will outright say this publicly. They'd risk loss of jobs if they did, as to broach the American market such a "family" of companies all in the same industry "seems" to present a monopoly and impropriety. Whereas to them it is nothing of the sort, merely business doing business as most efficent and direct as it can and being socially responsible too. They can all pool resources, less waste, quicker manufacturing, better quality control or at least theoretically so.

Now I've offered a view with a little peak behind the scenes maybe. This view offers my own humble and honorable opinion on why Smok might seem the dominate leader of vaping gear. I'm not going to say they are that, nor say they aren't. This is something left for individuals to decide for themselves. This author can see how such a perception has played out over at least the last decade. Love them or hate them, I submit it's my view Smok will stay around. Now, for a shop to sell only their gear, well that's another horse.

I think I'd rather sell various gear from various companies of all differing quality. I'd like a well trained, friendly staff of clerks to help customers too. Then again, I don't run a vape shop or work in one. Thanks for reading. :) Now go on!

The first kind of coils I used six years ago were the first ones you showed. No cotton, just a ribbed chimney. I loved those, even though they were not sub ohm.

I guess it’s not really surprising these stores are all selling Smok. People must’ve been looking for and buying it. What surprises me is the prices for this gear. $100 for a pen by Smok?
 

The Cromwell

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I figure that the Chinese vape companies that have US bases of operations will be early targets of the FDA.
Remember illegal to import or sell.
 

Rhianne

Diamond Contributor
Member For 2 Years
ECF Refugee
On Reddit at least, that's definitely true. 7 outta 10 who show up there with a problem clearly have no idea what they're doing. Which is fine. That's why they're there. To find answers.

What kills me is when they have a Smok setup and the instant answer is "throw that &^%# piece of *&$#@* away and get a real mod!"

The guy could have dropped it off a motorcycle at 70mph on the freeway and it would still be Smok's fault. I have a different handle over there. You may have seen some of the conversations where I pushed some of these people. Turns out they dropped it on the hard kitchen floor a bunch of times, were using crummy off brand batteries that had been sitting in a showcase for 2 years or they let their sister borrow it and it came back broken. OR, it's their first one and they tell you outright that they have no idea what they're doing.

Here's another thing. I ran into a shop owner over there who is clearly a sharp fella, but just hadn't thought some things through. He's telling me about how noobs bring back Smok stuff all the time, telling him about all the things they did right and it still doesn't work.

I asked the guy. Think with me for a minute. We live in the age of Google. Don't you think what happens in at least some of these cases, is that they get the thing all jacked up, then Google the problems and find out what they did wrong? NOW they know what to tell you they did, even though they didn't at first, because they don't wanna eat the loss. They want to blame the product and for you to give them another one.

You just gotta know that some of that goes on.

My first two kits were a Procolor/BBB and an X-Priv/Prince. Both still work like the day I bought them and both have seen some serious action. Especially the Procolor.

But the “throw that away” mentality isn’t just in vaping. I’ve read reviews for all kinds of stuff, and there’s always a bunch of people who are like “I tried this and hated it, so into the garbage it went.”

It seems like they’re applying that attitude towards vape gear, instead of something like food, makeup or whatever. :crazy:
 

The Cromwell

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The first kind of coils I used six years ago were the first ones you showed. No cotton, just a ribbed chimney. I loved those, even though they were not sub ohm.

I guess it’s not really surprising these stores are all selling Smok. People must’ve been looking for and buying it. What surprises me is the prices for this gear. $100 for a pen by Smok?
But that is only about 500-600% profit!
Support your local vape store. Just back in the door bent over while smiling.
 

Just Frank

Platinum Contributor
Member For 5 Years
so I'm not sure about current quality.
The coils I've got for their newer tanks have been flawless (TFV16, V9 Max, TF2019). Really good flavor too. They've stepped their game up. The industry as a whole has too though. I wont lie, their coils are pretty great now. I think companies are mastering what works in subohm tanks. They know what kind of "Mesh" and style of coils can produce really good flavor.
 

MyMagicMist

Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
What surprises me is the prices for this gear. $100 for a pen by Smok?

It isn't really a great surprise to me, and likely not some others here. Can recall shops selling kits with one of the evod style tanks and two 900 mAh Ego batteries, a charger for around $50. You could find the same kits for $15 to $20 plus a 15 to 30 ml bottle of juice if you looked for about two minutes online. A few places were even giving them away like that, pay S&H and get an introductory vaping kit.

Turned out to be a great "loss leader", customers were more likely to come back. And again, I don't work in any shop or vaping type of company. I've just worked various different places in different functions to have learned retailing, at least the basics of it.

I figure that the Chinese vape companies that have US bases of operations will be early targets of the FDA.
Remember illegal to import or sell.

They're still not able to stop the printable handguns from having their plans freely downloaded, or someone with the base $500 from getting a 3D printer and supplies to make two. I would imagine these Chinese companies have figured out a need to establish manufacturing here in the States. Figure they have all the C.A.M information available electronically as well as pulp.

"Here's how you set up an automated factory to produce X# of units of a [Insert Whatever Vaping Gear Here] per hour."

Information, data, knowledge cannot be stopped by laws. Think of Victor Hugo's quote.

"An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has
come." -- Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885), 'Histoire d'un crime,' 1852

Vaping is such an idea. Also the finances can all be done electronically, possibly even using crypto-currency/ies. It is unlikely our government could "freeze" any finances of these companies. Water always crumbles mountains in gentle streams, even boulders cannot halt that, water merely goes around until the boulder dissolves. Ideas can move as water, live as water. There's no killing an idea.

Well, thinking about it I could see the possibility of our government trying to freeze the finances of these companies. Can see that it would be a very bad idea for our government to entertain. China's Communist government seeing the profit coming in from vaping could view our government blocking finances as an act of war, and rightly so too. Besides the financial aspect it would also destroy an illusion the Communist government there is using to distract its people.

"Look we have stable work for you in an industry that is future proofed. Our nation will thrive."

Never mind the failure of Communism globally, nope don't peek behind the current, go work for the vaping industry.

But the “throw that away” mentality isn’t just in vaping.

You also have the idea of planned obsoletion in manufacturing and producing goods. Product is designed to fail, need repair or replacing ahead of the production cycle. This is a means to stimulate "growth" via capitalism, growth in this definition means profit.

Dirty global secrets revealed: Capitalism does not exist if there is no profit. Power does not exist if there is no capitalism. Ignorance can be weaponized as fear to achieve both ends, the tool of coercion secures ignorance.

"We are the STATE, our might makes us right. We demand you not teach these subjects, you ban these books/knowledge/wisdom."

(For more advice on dictatorship, governing see our good friend Niccolò Machiavelli.)

And that is economics 101. Ensure profit at all costs. All the rest of economics is speculation, basic common sense of supply and demand but even this falls into less needed than ensuring profit. We've rehashed greed so much now we can all figure gee, there we go.

Support your local vape store. Just back in the door bent over while smiling.

Remember to sing out "B.O.H.I.C.A, B.O.H.I.C.A" while doing so. :)

And @The Cromwell , I still disagree with you that greed is the ultimate seed & weapon of total annihilation. I still hold to the idea that love does and will ultimately win. Now sure, go right ahead and sling the mud calling me a liberal idealist. *chuckles* I'll just resort to the ever mature, "I'm rubber and you're glue, what you call me bounces off and sticks to you."
 
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Master Rahl

Bronze Contributor
Member For 3 Years
I have to agree with @The Cromwell on that notion @MyMagicMist except it's already over. Greed has already won out. Capitalism will simply continue to drain money from the lower class up to the 1% until we are no longer needed and/or just can no longer survive.
 

MyMagicMist

Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
I have to agree with @The Cromwell on that notion @MyMagicMist except it's already over. Greed has already won out. Capitalism will simply continue to drain money from the lower class up to the 1% until we are no longer needed and/or just can no longer survive.

Well it takes a good bit for running out a bunch of hearty survivors. As for not being needed that seems something I've already made peace with being. I mean after all I've had a mother tell me, it would be better for me if I were dead, and live with having no real father worth speaking about. Still kind of figure I was born a total accident even after mom tried suicide while baking me.

I haven't lived this long without believing in something other my own wits which I know at times are rather dull. That "something" is Love and the Hope it instills, it offers me Courage, Wisdom. The courage helps me "carry on" and change what I can for the better. The wisdom lets me see what I've no control to change but also the ability to accept it and find ways around it.

A bit of something my uncle Buddy drove home with me too. He told of how he witnessed a time or few when Vietnamese people would stand smiling and keep smiling as they were pistol whipped, gunned down by machine gun. "You can't win against an enemy so totally and blissfully as free as that. They kept smiling because already won, we were violent."

There's also a scene from a movie Titled Lucky. It portrays an Atheist making peace with dying.

Lucky: It's all going to go away. You, you, you, you, me, this cigarette, everything... into blackness, the void. And nobody's in charge, and you're left with... ungatz.

Elaine: And what do you do with that?

Howard: What do you do with that?

Lucky: You smile.

Ungatz is a bit of Italian slang meaning nothing. I feel I am ungatz, have ungatz, want ungatz ultimately and for sure know I've come from ungatz. I am only a flash in the night, merely "passing through". That however doesn't infer or imply I'm a nihilist. I believe in nothing sure, but I don't believe in nothing. I do not worship nothingness, i do not worship anything beyond Love, Hope and my own individual sense of a higher "right". And so I, ... :)
 
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zaroba

Gold Contributor
Member For 5 Years
Well I make my inquiry about the coils and am told they only Smok products. Really??? Are you serious? When I asked why I was told that Smok makes the only reliable vape gear on the market and that his shop will provide only the best gear available to his customers.

I would have asked him what he's basing that on.

Popularity? Because they are well known? Ford and Dodge are both well known and popular, which is better? You'll find endless debates online.
 

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