The Deep Status Hierarchy Among Chinese E-Cigarette Users

Wherever there are people, there are conflicts. Similarly, the user group of e-cigarettes also has its share of disputes.

Two e-cigarette users meet at an expo, and at first glance, they seem to engage in friendly exchanges about e-cigarette culture.

However, internally, they have already criticized each other countless times.

"What a low-end brand of e-cigarette he is using!"

As a generation of young people replacing traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes have formed their own culture within this circle. Naturally, conflicts arise from the collision of different cultures, with each user having their own opinions on the merits of various types of e-cigarettes.

Pod Devices
 <\/strong>

As a newcomer, the pod device that emerged in early 2018 is quite proud.

Due to its ease of use, beginners find it very accessible, and the pod device category received a lot of positive feedback upon its launch.

Initially, the pod device was created to cater to beginners, simplifying the atomizer into a more user-friendly pod, but it still couldn't solve the oil leakage problem.

Later, they simply made the pods disposable, to be replaced after use.

Now (which is the current situation), the entire device is made disposable. While this caters to the lazy, such a change is unacceptable to the earlier generation of e-cigarette users, as it strays from the essence of e-cigarettes and pushes them closer to traditional cigarettes.

It is important to note that competing with traditional cigarettes for business is a very challenging task.

Rapid changes can easily lead to problems, and the most criticized aspect by users is the overwhelming number of pod brands, making it difficult for users to distinguish between the quality of different brands, with the only noticeable difference being the flavor of the e-liquids.

The increasing homogenization is also a reason why pod devices are widely criticized. Without the logo on the device, it would be hard to tell which brand it belongs to. The influx of capital has led many manufacturers to focus solely on quick profits, using the same module and simply slapping different brand labels on it.

The disdain for pod devices often comes not from other types of e-cigarettes, but from within their own community.

However, it cannot be denied that the emergence of pod devices has rapidly advanced the e-cigarette market in China. The e-cigarette section on Taobao, which was long dominated by low-quality products, has now been thoroughly overtaken by major brands like RELX.

Advantages:

Compact size, easy to carry

Affordable price, accessible to the masses

Simple to use, catering to beginners

Disadvantages:

Disposable after use, leading to resource waste

Numerous brands with inconsistent flavors

Cloud Chasing Devices
 <\/strong>

If you are an e-cigarette user, you must understand cloud-chasing devices.

However, if you have only used a few pod products and think you understand all e-cigarettes, you will likely face strong disdain from cloud-chasing users.

The community of cloud-chasing users is one that pod users find difficult to integrate into and understand.

Cloud chasing is a culture that slowly formed during the early days of e-cigarettes entering the market.

Austin Lawrence, at just 22 years old, became a legend in the e-cigarette community due to his exceptional vaping skills, inspiring many cloud-chasing players to imitate him. Even today, discussions about him on Instagram remain popular.

The characteristics of cloud-chasing e-cigarettes are not only due to the large vapor production but also because of their DIY nature, which adds more playability to the e-cigarette experience.

Temperature control boxes, large-capacity batteries, dripping atomizers, organic cotton, and other equipment are all choices that players can make themselves. For beginners, these may be daunting, but for users with strong hands-on skills, these are treasures.

The sense of achievement when successfully igniting a coil of your own choosing for the first time is incredibly satisfying.

This is a feeling that pod users find hard to relate to.

"I spend money to get a comfortable experience, not to mess around"—this is the misunderstanding that pod users have towards cloud-chasing players.

In fact, cloud-chasing players are very friendly in their exchanges and do not care about each other's brands. If you achieve better results with your DIY coil than someone else, you will gain recognition.

Advantages:

Large vapor production, satisfying user needs

High playability

Disadvantages:

Not friendly to beginners

Excessive vapor pollutes the environment

Heated Tobacco Devices
 <\/strong>
<\/strong>
The first time I encountered the concept of heated tobacco, I thought it was some advanced black technology.

However, after using it, I realized that it actually focuses on improving the filtration of traditional cigarettes.

As we all know, aside from nicotine, which is the addictive substance in cigarettes, the tar and carbon dioxide produced during combustion are the more harmful components.

Heated tobacco devices solve the harmful components produced during cigarette combustion, achieving a healthier smoking experience.

Technically, this should not be classified as an e-cigarette, as even during the early generation of e-cigarettes, the components were made up of devices and e-liquids, with e-liquids primarily derived from plant oils.

Regardless of how heated tobacco devices are marketed, isn't plant oil healthier than traditional cigarettes?

The launch of heated tobacco devices was met with controversy, especially with Marlboro's involvement, leading some e-cigarette users to mock traditional tobacco companies for looking down on e-cigarettes while simultaneously producing related products.

However, it cannot be denied that there is a significant market for these products, which have almost dominated the Japanese e-cigarette market.

Advantages:

Mimics traditional smoking

No ash or odor

Disadvantages:

May lead users back to traditional cigarettes

Finally, here’s an image to illustrate the disdain relationships among different e-cigarette user groups.

As an e-cigarette user, how do you view other types of e-cigarettes?