Category: Success Stories

Can I just thank you for everything you’re doing for the vaping community. I, amongst many, watch your videos religiously and you have helped me more than you could ever know. You’ve taught me so much and I rarely buy anything before seeing if you’ve reviewed it. I’m very new to vaping but am proud to say I’ve been 8 weeks without an analogue.
I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’m sure you get thousands of emails from people saying these things to you but when you have such an influence on someone’s life I think you should be commended for it, and you truly have influenced my life. I lost my father to lung cancer from smoking 12 years ago and I remember the pain of watching him go through that. I don’t want my children to see me end up down the same path.

Thank you Phil

Take care and all the best

Pete

Phil,

Thanks for the reply. And thank you for what you do. Your reviews keep me engaged with vaping, and in turn vaping has turned into a hobby for me. I guess I’ll just “feed the beast” and get both the Provari and the Mini so I can put this issue to rest once and for all.

My background is in electronics, so I like the aspect of mods and what makes them work. I probably spend the same amount of money on my vaping as I did with the analogs, but its kept me from smoking, four months now and going strong, and to me that’s worth more than money!

To add to our success, my wife recently gave up the analogs and started vaping too. Its been three weeks since she has had a cigarette, and she is really happy about not wanting to smoke anymore. The only problem I have now is she’s tired of the plain tobacco e juice I started her on and has since been checking out my stash.

Thank you again for what you do for the e cig community. You are making a significant positive impact as an advocate for vaping, and you are definitely making a difference for hard core ex smokers, like myself, from backsliding to analogs again.

John

Hey, Phil!

Jeff here, I just wanted to send you a quick email to say thanks for your great YouTube videos and reviews. As an amateur who quit cold turkey and went to vaping about a month ago, I’m just hitting that point now where I want more than just my stock eGo-C kit.

I’ve searched all over the web for vaping information – batteries, tanks, juice, maintenance, cleaning, you know, all that information the manufacturers don’t really package with their products – and nobody really has one central repository of clear, applicable eCig knowledge. But after watching quite a few of your videos, I feel like I’ve got a way better grasp on all this stuff and can make some better informed consumer decisions.

So thanks, and keep up the great work!

+Jeff

My path to get here…

At 63yrs old, after 40+yrs of smoking, and trying everything to quit, I had
continually failed. I was smoking 2 packs a day, and neither my health, nor my
wallet could afford it any longer. One day, sitting in the den, I’m hacking my lungs
up. Do I get any sympathy? No, my wife, who will gladly inform you that she is
“decades” younger than me, reminds me how much fun she will have as a young widow on
the life insurance money.

I decided all the hype on vaping had to have something behind it. I decided to give
it a try.

The first rule I learned was spend more for the good stuff, going cheap doesn’t work
for me. And costs more in the end.

The second rule is that vape shop owners may know their stuff, but the average clerk
they hire may not.

I went to a local vape shop in Boise named Vapoligy. Now, before I go on, let me
explain “local” for me, I live in the country, drive to the end of the world, then
go on 10 more miles. So a trip to the “local” vape shop is a 100 mile round trip.
It’s $15+ in gas, and 2 hours even if I just walk in and out.

I looked at their hardware, and decided since this was trying something that had
never worked for me before, I’d go with a “cheaper” setup. I picked a RIVA kit (eGo
clone), 2 batteries, charger, Stardust tank, and some drip atomizers. Almost $60.
Added 3 bottles of juice, so ended up spending about $90.

Mistake #1: I’m trying to replace cigarettes, so “naturally” I pick tobacco flavors.
Near as I can tell, no tobacco flavor tastes like real ciggs, and as a smoking
replacement they fail. Found out going to totally different flavors worked a lot
better. Chocolate Peppermint Patty, Pina Colada, French Vanilla all worked for me.
Of course this was a 2nd 100 mile trip to figure this out. Not to mention was 2 days
of more cigarettes because the original flavors were horrible!

Hardware Failure #1: One of the batteries will not charge. Road trip! Vapoligy
replaces it.

Hardware Failure #2: Stardust Clearomizers. the press fit plastic separates, leaks
all over the place. So another round trip, Vapoligy gracefully replace the Stardust
& and I buy 2 spares.

Hardware Failure #3-4-5: All 3 Stardusts are leaking, so 3 days. and 6 packs of
smokes later, ANOTHER road trip. This time the Vapoligy clerk convinces me what I
really need is a “better” clearomizer, and sells me 3 Kanger T3’s.

Hardware Failures #6-7-8: Kanger T3’s, leaking, gurgling, juice in mouth; 100%
worthless.

So at this point, I’ve wasted about $200, made 5 100 mile road trips, and put all
this vaping junk on the shelf, and am buying cartons of Marlboro’s.

Bottom line, now I’m pissed, and will be damned before I go near Vapoligy for any
hardware again, not even a drip tip. Now, that is probably unfair to the company,
they were nice folks, but I really felt I just wasn’t getting the advice I needed.
But I still knew I really need to kick the smoke habit, both for health & money.

Now, I’m a professional geek, I KNOW Google is my friend, and am kicking myself in
the butt for doing an impulse buy, and not researching before I wasted all the money
I did.

I hit Google, it leads me to YouTube, and a million reviews. I find Phil Busardo, I
find GrimmGreen, I find Rick at Vapor Alley.

After watching at least half of those million reviews, I decide I want a ZMax, And I
plan on buying one from Vapor Alley, they have the Sigelei Zmax V3 Stainless Steel
Telescopic Flat-Top (Tube Only) for about $85.

At the last minute, I find Electronicstix.com with the same unit, but a complete kit
with 2 18650 batteries, charger, and clearomizer for $75, plus an additional 5% off
coupon. Since I had been asking Rick at Vapor Alley a ton of questions that he gave
me great info on, I did give him the chance to price match. He honestly replied it
was a great deal he could not match, and told me to go for it. This guy deserves his
rep for helping people.

Electronic Stix is in Utah, but for the first time in this whole fiasco, I am lucky.
Timing couldn’t have been better. I was already scheduled to go to the Lagoon
Amusement Park that weekend for a family thing; niece in a “clogging” competition
(don’t ask). One of Electronic Stix’s store fronts was in the same town as my motel,
actually only a few blocks away. I scooted on over, bought the kit, and 2 additional
16350 batteries (which the sales person tells me I don’t need, and couldn’t
understand why I wanted). I did not waste my time explaining what “telescopic”
meant, and why I picked that model for it’s small form factor in the first place. I
also added a Vivi Nova tank.

This hardware setup worked! That trip to Utah was 1 month ago, and I can proudly say
I not touched a single “real” cigarette, and have no plans of ever doing so again.

In the month, the only changes to hardware is the new Smoktek Locking DCT tanks. I
really like the flavors better with DC 2.5ohm-2hole cartomizers at 7watts over the
Vivi Nova and locking tanks ends all the leaking, and slipping issues. I also got 2
more 16350’s and 4 port battery charger just for to make it more convenient.

So, thank you Phil, GG, Rick. I would still be smoking without your guidance. Words
like “You guys saved my life” sound melodramatic & over the top, but they are dang
close to the truth!

Tony

Hi Phil,

I have been smoking for far too long now and I have tried and failed to quit on
numerous occasions over the years. I have tried cold turkey (failed) and patches and
gum (expensive failure) and finally made some progress with an impulse purchase of a
Nicolites rechargeable e-cigarette. I found that the e-cig replicated the “feeling”
of smoking and this helped a lot. Unfortunately the battery life of this product was
pretty poor, generally expiring around lunchtime so I started to look for something
else.

I first purchased an SD Key Ring and cartomiser kit from a UK website and was really
pleased with the results – much longer battery life and a whole new world of
e-juices to choose from. Fantastic! I also noticed a more satisfying vapour
production which really helped satisfy any lingering craving for the evil weed! It
was whilst shopping on one of these sites that I found a link to one of your
reviews. I watched the video and immediately went onto YouTube to catch upon your
other reviews and I cannot thank you enough for helping me to make some well
informed product purchases based entirely on your frank and very amusing reviews!

I am now the proud owner of a Kanger Protank which is currently sitting beautifully
on top of my Lavatube V.2. This in turn is filled with the lovely Melon Boba e-juice
and I have never had so much fun and personal pleasure from vaping as I am now! I
have never even thought about buying a “regular” cigarette since I started. Am I
saving lots of money? No! I am spending it all on these new toys and I am having
lots of fun trying loads of different e-juices – Deadly Sin is on its way over from
the USA as I type this as I noticed you were vaping this in a review!

To anybody who has struggled to quit smoking, all I can say is give vaping a try.
You will absolutely love it and hopefully be able to stop smoking as a result. I
have successfully converted two of my work colleagues to vaping and we are having a
great time comparing our new kit and e-juices.

Thanks again Phil and keep up the great work. Your reviews are always informative
and enjoyable and I have found them to be invaluable in keeping me up to date with
new stuff to spend my hard earned cash on and I look forward to the next one!

Two months off of the evil weed and I can confidently say that I am never going back
thanks to the whole new world of vaping and thank you for being my guide during
those first pensive steps!

Kind Regards

Jerry
Basingstoke
Hampshire
United Kingdom Of Great Britain

Hi Phil.

Love the reviews and don’t miss a single 1.

I started vaping about 6 weeks ago (I am 47 years old). Prior to this I was smoking
around 38 cigarettes a day. (Yes, not good!). I started with an iTaste v v and then
moved on to an iTaste SVD. I moved to this new mod because of your excellent review
and the low cost. I have not looked back.
My daughter (8 years old) had previously got upset because she wanted me to stop
smoking and I just could not do it no matter what I tried. Then I saw a few people
at work using mods and decided to give it a go. Success!!

Since using my 1st device I have watched all your videos and they have really helped
me stick with it. Your obvious passion for vaping and impressive attention to detail
have kept me going and given me inspiration. You may just have saved my life (and
that’s no joke), and made my 8 year old daughter very happy. Thank you, Phil.

Phil,
just wanted to say thanks for all that you do. I smoked for 40 years and now have
been smoke free for 15 months because of your videos and the education you have
provided. I will never have the chance to shake your hand, but I consider you a
friend.

Thanks again and God bless you,
Mike.

Phil,

Thank you!
For what you may ask? For the wonderful service you are providing to vapers.

A little about me.
I was a 3/4 a pack a day smoker since I was 14, and I am now 43. 44 in October as
my wife so wonderfully points out. I tried vaping over a year ago and stopped due
to the pain in the arse of the little batts (volcano ecigs), constantly swapping out
carts, and eventually refilling my own cartridges. Then recently I tried again, and
moved to volcano inferno v2’s. Much better experience with the tube tank. I am now
smoke free, and have no desire to go back. I actually can sit around other people
smoking now and have no issues with wanting an analog. I can easily say no thanks,
and I breathe better, I have stopped coughing. Life is grand, and it is getting
grander.

I am a former Armor (M1A1 main battle tank) Crewman. I live in Adams Center, NY. I
think I read somewhere you live in Rochester? I used to live in Greece, NY off of
Route 104.

My buddy still lives in Rochester. Really good egg (a little cracked) but a good
egg none-the-less.

I think I am a tank / carto guy. I have a VAMO V2, and a RSST bought on your
advice. I don’t regret the purchase … But I can’t seem to get it working good
enough for my satisfaction (My RBA RSST). My VAMO V2 is AWESOME!!!!! So I keep
going back to my VAMO V2 + Tube Tank (volcano) combination. Maybe one day I if I am
in Rochester I could meet up with you, and you can show me how to get them copious
clouds of vape you get. What I am getting is satisfactory, but nowhere near the
column of vape you produce. I am sooo jealous! /laugh/

Well again … THANK YOU for all your reviews, your chart-o-juice prices, and your
continued support of the vaping community.

Very Respectfully,
Your fan from afar
David

Mr. Busardo,

Just wanted to send you a quick thank you for all of the reviews and information
that you put out. I switched to vaping from smokeless tobacco a few months ago; I
was almost ready to give it up and go back to chewing when I found you and others on
You Tube. I spent my first few months with analog equivalents from the convience
store, not knowing that there was anything else out there. The area that I am in
(Savannah, GA) does not have a b&m store, nor does it seem to have any kind of vape
community. Watching your reviews has helped me obtain better equipment and supplies
and I’ve stayed of tobacco for 3 months, and don’t plan to go back. Please accept
my sincerest thanks for improving my life, and providing some pretty good
entertainment in the process.

Thank You!

Rhett

I first would like to say hi and thank you very much for helping a entire
family quit analogs.

First it was me, then came along hubby, mother , step dad, brothers(2) ,sister and
my niece.

I started watching your videos in Mid Jan and had my last analog on Jan 30 th 2013.
When my family asked me how I quit I would direct them to you. Let’s see the years
added together of my family smoking analogs.. Mom. 66 years, step dad 52 years ,
sister 38 years, me 35 years, brother 30 years, brother 2 about 28 years and lastly
my niece 14 years. Oppps forgot hubby. 28 years Around 291 years !!!! Wow lots
of bad smoke!!
Easter day was so nice not having a plume of smoke in my house. We sat down had had
a Dr Phil show watching a few of your videos then exchanging and vaping each others
E Juices.

We all are using Ego twist at the present time with vivi nova tanks. I am staring
to watch more of your videos explaining APV ‘s and RBA’s If I don’t watch a video
a day I go through Dr. Phil withdraw not analog withdraw!!!

Again Thank You from the entire Smith, Self, Balko, Wiggins and Lint families.

Pam