How to Search for Vaping Device Codes on Taobao

As one of China’s largest online shopping platforms, Taobao has hundreds of millions of users and countless products. But for vaping device enthusiasts, Taobao is a place full of hidden vaping treasures. However, buying vaping products on Taobao has become a matter of technique—you need to understand some coded terms and slang used for e-cigarettes.

How do you buy e-cigarettes on Taobao? What are the coded terms?

As a longtime user, I definitely wouldn’t do something as foolish as buying fake goods from WeChat resellers. But since so many friends kept asking me, I became really curious about what makes those resellers so appealing. So, with the noble intention of benefiting the whole industry (though really, I was mostly just bored), I decided to add one of those resellers and chat. In fact, I got their WeChat ID through coded terms used on Taobao.

On Taobao, e-cigarettes are usually disguised under the word “steam.” This is because regulation of e-cigarettes in China is relatively strict, and official labeling may be restricted. As a result, sellers often use this code word to get around oversight. If you search for “steam” on Taobao, you’ll find all kinds of e-cigarette products, from devices to pods.

Another Taobao code word for e-cigarettes is “fruit steam.” This term usually refers to vaping devices, because such devices need charging to work. Sellers may label different vaping devices as “power banks” to avoid being flagged by the system. If you are interested in a seller’s product, you can check the product details further to confirm whether it is the vaping device you need. Buying e-cigarettes on Taobao may require some knowledge of vaping products so you can better identify these coded terms and signals.

To make sure the products you buy are legal and safe, it is also very important to choose reputable sellers. Taobao’s e-cigarette market is diverse and full of options, and mastering these coded terms will help you explore it more effectively and find the vaping products you like.