Right To Vape

Ok, started a new thread because I was getting off topic in another one. What I was saying is that we cold create a set of criteria and advertise that to reputable suppliers. When people see that our seal is on a supplier's website they know it's a good place that is not making false claims. That might put more pressure on suppliers to change the info on their sites to more truthful statements.

And keep us all vaping!

Thanks for all the great advise!
I would have to belive that most suppliers do not intentionaly want to mislead there customers. (OK I know of one that definatly does not care, I mean one cartidge realy could equal a full pack of smokes! I guess!)

SureSmoke

We could have retailers who meet a certain set of criteria place a logo on their site

with a link to a page here that says what criteria they had to pass and why consumers should only buy from approved stores.

Very good idea IMO I can just picture all the suppliers rushing to get approved & sign up We have the power folks. I hope

If you could come up with your suggested list by early April, that would be awesome.  HINT HINT!   

Ok  how about:

A range for each category from excellent to satisfactory via a star rating 5 star being best 1 star being worst. Gives them something to aim for

Categories in no particular order 

Documentation & claims for their product.

Customer service

Guarantees on their product

Website presentation

Documented information on each product

Comprehensive Q & A guide

This is the direction we were wanting to go with in the consumer affairs section, only that was based on testing and approving the e-liquids for quality. This subject would still belong in that category.

I think it's a great idea to focus on more than 1 subject, and could help with some of the shoddy advertising and service going on out there. We would need an active committee and more detailed list of requirements.

I think these should be split up into several categories for approval such as:

Advertising/marketing, information available on the website (maybe "RTV Truth in Advertising" award).

We need to find a way to end false claims as it's really killing the market right now with the media. I think something like this could be great for education as well!

Areas we could focus on in this category:

• No NRT claims. Correct usage of terminology
• No healthy claims. Need to elaborate.
• Any other false claims.
• As cas stated a comprehensive Q & A would be great for all to include.

Warranty, Customer service, guarantees (No doa):

This one will be a bit tougher. We'd really need to buy the products and test each of these to determine a level of quality. Since there's several others doing this out there I don't think this area is lacking in information (like the testing and marketing aspects are). Just a thought .

Let's elaborate folks! Personally, I think we should focus on the "Truth in advertising" as this is biting us in the butt now with the media and governments.

Sounds good. I would think it better though to split 'nono's' in advertizing into 'unproven so forbidden (sure there is a better word for that) claims' and 'false claims'. Because the first part: we are pretty sure they aren't false in themselves - just not proven so until then shouldn't be made; would not want to label them 'false' claims though...

To play the 'devil's advocate', who in this group is capable of providing a clear set of standards for manufacturers or suppliers to follow? Are the fifteen or twenty prolific posters the bottom line in e-cig standards? It is my view that the actual vaporizing devices are inert. They do nothing more that create heat across a wire element. Much in the same way as a cautery device does in a surgical suite.

What does come into question time and time again is nicotine-laced e-liquid. Perhaps, the actual problem is with the e-liquid and not the e-cig. Again, the most prolific posters here are not the neccessarily the ones to set a country-wide or world-side standard. That must be left to the guardians of public health. Although governmental agencies may often be deemed 'wrong', as often, they do some real good.

In the end, economics rules the world and our ultimate decisions. If manufacturers of e-cigs and manufacturers of e-liquids feel that their bottom line would be increased by having their products approved by governmental agencies, they will do so. If not, then we can just wait for our hobby/habit to slowly die. Consumer activism is just fine with me, but with little to no support from those that produce our supplies, the battle is likely worthless.

breakfast -

you make a very valid point.  here is something on the flip side of the coin to think about:  the tobacco industry and users were left to their own devices for so long.  no one stood up and said "hey! we should set some standards."  it only helps the ecig industry if we take a proactive stance and say "hey, we have set some standards and we aren't attempting to float under the radar here.  we want safety and we want everyone to know that we aren't like the tobacco industry."  keep an eye out for later on today both here and ECF.  There will be a post from the suppliers that will put all of your concerns at ease.

The tobacco industry has given us the best "what not to do" example and the suppliers intend to make sure we do not follow that path.  If the users want to participate and give us their "demands" for safety, then we will comply.  Some of us already have and are working towards those demands as we type.

It is going to take all of us, users, suppliers, and manufacturers, to band together and present to the powers that be that we are serious and that safety IS a concern and it WILL be addressed, with or without the governments participation.

I'm not sure how practical it would be for us to try to police such a broad approval system.

Maybe we could focus on educating consumers on what to look out for when buying from this site.

If we could get traders to approve us by linking to this site then they would be showing willingness to co-operate with the community and to assist their customers in becoming informed about vaping.

Lacey, how would we go about asking traders to link to RtV from their sites?

Is there a particular landing page we would want customers to arrive at first?

This weekend is our meeting.  We are finalizing the association website so there will definitely be a link from there to here.  As far as each supplier wanting to link, that is up them... however, I will obviously encourage it as it is a good thing.

If you all decide a landing page would be good, we can always set the shield or the link to go there.  As a group RTV, just needs to let the Association know.  Officers will be elected on Sunday and Committee groups will be determined on Saturday.

I too wish you the best for this weekend's meeting.  Please keep in mind when you draw up your broad beginning parameters that the same dishonest or not-caring suppliers/manufacturers are not beyond posing as users, lying or otherwise creating subterfuge to continue operating in a less-than-friendly manner while trying to obtain any credentials RtV might create.

I suggest that beside a set of standards, RtV might consider shoppers.  We all need supplies.  Let the "faithful" test the claims of the applicants.  Being stingy with approval will make it valuable.  Beware becoming a "good housekeeping seal of approval" which, if you ever have tried to get one, is based upon advertising dollars spent.

Just my 2 cents.  Thanks for the air time

Thanks for the well wishes.

And don't worry dorian, posers are easily identified.  Many of us have had enough run in's with them that their intentions are extremely clear   Within the suppliers association, we are going to have stringent standards that RTV will hopefully find acceptable.  This will also hopefully, help guide new users to identifying suppliers who are legit businesses.

Lacey, I had to be away for weeks (due to broken computer) just when this association was being told about on the boards (still haven't found that thread... )

So I really need to say here: I love the fact you guys (and girls) are setting up such an association, good work! Don't understand any of the critique you said emerged when people got told about it...

I hope you all have a very good meeting, with lots of good decisions!