Vapers continue to throw away devices
VAPE customers are reacting to the recent ban on disposable vapes, by purchasing multiple ‘prefilled pod’ kits and using them in a manner akin to disposables, discarding the lithium-ion batteries with each new kit, according to online vape retailer, WizVape.
The retailer has found that its customers are ordering 5-10 devices at once, indicating that they are disposing of each after use.
“Prefilled pod vape kits come with rechargeable and reusable battery and device, compatible with replacement pods,” said Saif Khan, director at WizVape. “This trend of buying these kits and treating them as disposables raises significant issues on several fronts.”
A prefilled pod kit costs between £5 and £25, depending on its features. For a consumer who buys a single prefilled pod kit with a device at £15 (the middle of the price range), then purchases pods only for the remainder of the year (usually between £5 and £10 for a pack of 2 – let’s say £7), the average annual expenditure is approximately £736, primarily driven by the cost of pods.
According to Khan, however, when a consumer buys prefilled pod kits and treats them as they would disposable vapes “let’s say they purchase 5 devices each month, though many customers purchase 10 or more per month – there is an astonishing annual cost of £2,220. That is an absolutely staggering increase of £1,484 a year compared to using prefilled pod kits as intended.
“This significant increase highlights the financial burden associated with frequent device purchases,” said Khan. “It doesn’t just affect consumers’ wallets: the environmental impact is also alarming. Lithium-ion batteries contain harmful materials which can leach into the environment if not disposed of properly. We need to educate consumers on the impact this mistake can have.”
