{"id":4091,"date":"2013-05-29T10:30:20","date_gmt":"2013-05-29T14:30:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tasteyourjuice.com\/wordpress\/?p=4091"},"modified":"2016-03-24T09:42:51","modified_gmt":"2016-03-24T13:42:51","slug":"from-tony","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteyourjuice.com\/wordpress\/archives\/4091","title":{"rendered":"From Tony"},"content":{"rendered":"

My path to get here…<\/p>\n

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

I decided all the hype on vaping had to have something behind it. I decided to give
\nit a try.<\/p>\n

The first rule I learned was spend more for the good stuff, going cheap doesn’t work
\nfor me. And costs more in the end.<\/p>\n

The second rule is that vape shop owners may know their stuff, but the average clerk
\nthey hire may not.<\/p>\n

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

I looked at their hardware, and decided since this was trying something that had
\nnever worked for me before, I’d go with a “cheaper” setup. I picked a RIVA kit (eGo
\nclone), 2 batteries, charger, Stardust tank, and some drip atomizers. Almost $60.
\nAdded 3 bottles of juice, so ended up spending about $90.<\/p>\n

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

Hardware Failure #1: One of the batteries will not charge. Road trip! Vapoligy
\nreplaces it.<\/p>\n

Hardware Failure #2: Stardust Clearomizers. the press fit plastic separates, leaks
\nall over the place. So another round trip, Vapoligy gracefully replace the Stardust
\n& and I buy 2 spares.<\/p>\n

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

Hardware Failures #6-7-8: Kanger T3’s, leaking, gurgling, juice in mouth; 100%
\nworthless.<\/p>\n

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

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

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

I hit Google, it leads me to YouTube, and a million reviews. I find Phil Busardo, I
\nfind GrimmGreen, I find Rick at Vapor Alley. <\/p>\n

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

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

Electronic Stix is in Utah, but for the first time in this whole fiasco, I am lucky.
\nTiming couldn’t have been better. I was already scheduled to go to the Lagoon
\nAmusement Park that weekend for a family thing; niece in a “clogging” competition
\n(don’t ask). One of Electronic Stix’s store fronts was in the same town as my motel,
\nactually only a few blocks away. I scooted on over, bought the kit, and 2 additional
\n16350 batteries (which the sales person tells me I don’t need, and couldn’t
\nunderstand why I wanted). I did not waste my time explaining what “telescopic”
\nmeant, and why I picked that model for it’s small form factor in the first place. I
\nalso added a Vivi Nova tank.<\/p>\n

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

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

So, thank you Phil, GG, Rick. I would still be smoking without your guidance. Words
\nlike “You guys saved my life” sound melodramatic & over the top, but they are dang
\nclose to the truth!<\/p>\n

Tony<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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