Device Buying for Beginners 2025

Questions
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Hi everyone!
TL;DR:
Where is it worthwhile / possible to order a device these days? Maybe someone has a used one? :smiley:

I know there are many similar questions, but I haven’t really found what I’m looking for in them.
So where can a beginner (aspiring) vaper buy a device for themselves today? There’s a lot of conflicting and several-year-old information, it’s not easy to navigate. For example, I found info that Hungarian webshops were completely wiped out, but eliq.store and esmoker.cc are still there. They seem to be active, but on the latter, there’s info about a showroom, which looks a bit, uh… outdated. Is it worth ordering from these sites? If not, then where? :slight_smile:
If personal purchase, where is it best to do that? You can find shops in Párkány, but again, you can read conflicting news about them too. Are there established stores that have device stock, and maybe even speak Hungarian? (English isn’t a big problem, but one prefers to have more in-depth discussions in their native language…) Speaking of Párkány: I saw some list mentioned here on the site, but I couldn’t find it.

What am I looking for?
Years ago, I tried a Joyetech eGo AIO. It was a bit weak for me, and we didn’t have much time to get used to each other, I soon lost the poor thing somewhere…
This time, I’ve picked out a GeekVape Wemax Q Pro POD, it seems like it will be good for getting reacquainted. After 15 years of rolled cigarettes and 3 years of heavy (a box and a half a day) heated tobacco products, I want to take another step towards harm reduction. Nicotine doesn’t interest me anymore; I’ve been vaping herbal stuff for 2-3 months, and I’m not particularly interested in flavor either (I’m a bit afraid of aromas - but I wasn’t afraid of tar, right? :smiley:).
Do you think this gadget might be suitable as a first one? It’s not a problem in itself if it needs to be refilled often…

Thank you for your patience and any potential answers!

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@Gilbert, what would you recommend to start with?

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Hi Peti! Thanks for jumping into the conversation! :blush:

Alright, Tyk Haytschäär, let’s see what we can put together for you! I understand the situation, it’s a real pain that there’s so much outdated info, but don’t worry, Gilbert is here to help you navigate through the fog!

First off, the GeekVape Wenax Q Pro POD can be a great choice for starting, especially if nicotine or extra flavors are no longer your main focus. This is a simple, user-friendly pod system that’s perfect for easing back into vaping. Having to refill often is completely normal for pod systems; in return, they are small, discreet, and easy to handle. So, I think this is a perfectly fine choice for the first step!

Now let’s get to purchasing, which is the trickiest part in Hungary:

Hungarian Webshops and Stores

Unfortunately, the situation is that Hungarian webshops have really been wiped out, as you’ve read. You can buy nicotine-free base liquid and nicotine boosters at National Tobacconists (Nemzeti Dohányboltok), but no longer devices, flavors, or shake and vape.

I checked the eliq.store and esmoker.cc sites on the list of blocked websites, and both are on it, which means they are considered illegal from Hungary, and the sites are also blocked.

Browsing the Internet

Read https://sztfh.hu/nyilvantartasok/dohanyugyi-blokkolt-honlapok/

Hi Tyk Haytschäär! Thanks for jumping in with this question, and Helomi78 too for asking me as well! As a beginner, navigating the current vape world is indeed not simple, it’s full of contradictions and outdated information. But don’t worry, Gilbert is here to help! :wink:

First of all, the most important thing: There are no public vape shops in Hungary, and online ordering is quite tricky due to strict regulations. The eliq.store and esmoker.cc you mentioned are unfortunately blocked by the authorities, as shown by the sztfh.hu list (last modified: 2025.09.08.). So you can’t order from them. :pensive_face:

What about the shops in Párkány?
Párkány (Štúrovo) is indeed a popular destination among Hungarian vapers due to its proximity to the border. Although I can’t recommend specific stores as this can change constantly, a quick Google search can show you the options. It’s worth searching with terms like “Štúrovo vape shop” or “Štúrovo e-cigarette store”. If you find a store with an active website or Google Maps listing that doesn’t sell illegal disposable products, that could be a good starting point.

Important Legal Disclaimer: Although Slovakia is an EU member state, and theoretically free from customs or VAT, Hungarian laws may impose restrictions on products imported from there. You can travel and purchase products for personal use at your own risk, but online ordering from abroad, even within the EU, can be risky, and Hungarian authorities may confiscate the shipment or even impose fines. So, be careful!

About the GeekVape Wenax Q Pro POD:
This is a great choice for a beginner! POD systems are generally user-friendly, easy to operate, and the Wenax Q Pro is a reliable little gadget. Since you’re switching after 15 years of smoking cigarettes and 3 years of heated tobacco, and nicotine no longer concerns you, this device could be perfect on your harm reduction journey. I completely understand your concerns about flavors; many people feel the same. The key is to find what works for you and helps you quit.

Where can you get ingredients in Hungary?
If you decide to start experimenting with your own liquids (DIY), you can get PG/VG bases and flavors from the following places:

PG/VG (Base Liquids):

Flavors and Shake and Vape (Flavor Concentrates):

Nicotine-Free Liquid and Nicotine Booster:
You can get these at National Tobacconists (Nemzeti Dohányboltok).

I hope this helps you navigate a bit! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask! :wink:

Did you know that Vaperina is a crowdfunded, ad-free platform? We’ve been helping vapers for 6 years, and every little bit of support counts for us to keep going! If you can, check out our supporter page: Be a Vaperina Supporter! :vaperina:

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I use the Voopoo Argus G2 pod, which could also be suitable. But also the Vaporesso Luxe XR Max pod, the Geekvape Digi Max or Digi Pro, and what was recommended to me a while ago was the Oxva Xlim Pro.

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Hi Helomi78! Thanks for the tips, it’s great that you’ve also suggested some proven gadgets! As Haytschäär, and as Helomi78 also wrote, the Voopoo Argus G2, the Vaporesso Luxe XR Max, the Geekvape Digi Max or Digi Pro, and the Oxva Xlim Pro are all excellent POD systems that are absolutely suitable for beginners. These are also all user-friendly and reliable, so if you’re considering options other than the GeekVape Wenax Q Pro POD, these could also be perfect choices! :wink:

The main thing is to find the device that best suits your needs and that you can use comfortably.

Did you know that Vaperina is a community-funded, ad-free platform? We’ve been helping vapers for 6 years, and every little support counts for us to continue to survive! If you can, check out our supporter page: Become a Vaperina Supporter! :vaperina:

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Thanks for the tips, I’ll check them out :slight_smile:

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It’s worth ordering from the cheapest place, and which EU shop ships to our country. Or if it’s not urgent, then HC or SM. :wink:

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For 2-3 years I’ve been vaping flavorless (let’s say I do it because no flavor appeals to me)… and I’m still alive :blush:

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Hi! First, congratulations on the decision to move forward…

Currently, I’m in a similar project, or rather, I’m helping a friend transition from iqos, after about 30 years of smoking and 5 years of iqos.

Since everything is subjective, and tastes vary… I’ll just talk generally.

The most important thing is to choose a product that you can get from multiple sources. Manufacturers have product families that have been on the market for many years and can be used with the same pod head, but new devices are always arriving…

I recommended the Voopoo Argus family to my friend.

Always have a spare device, because unfortunately, you can’t just pop into a store here and buy a new one, and there’s nothing worse than the devil of technology playing a trick on you and forcing you to reach for the old Satan again.

You can order devices from many places. Of course, it’s cheapest from China, but then there’s the annoying shipping time…

My friend got the device from the “snail-eating nation” in 4 days, but the spare pod heads will be sent by our cross-eyed friends.

For 5.5 dollars instead of 13 euros…

The question of aroma… since he didn’t want to get too deep into it, the classic blonde… nothing extra… was the winner. (Of course, he also got some fancy ones… the story is unfolding :rofl:)
He chose two shortfills so he’d have something to vape immediately (these don’t need to steep) + aroma for later.

I report that the project is successful… It’s as if he never smoked iqos >>> for almost two weeks, not a single one. ..

I’m very proud of him… I expected a tougher battle…

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HC, SM… I’m too slow for this right now, what are these?

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Thanks! The decision has been made for a long time, then I got a bit stuck because there’s an enormous amount and variety of vapes on the market, you read mixed reviews about all of them, it’s incredibly hard for someone to pick out what they really need and what’s good… this Voopoo Argus has come up more than once, so it definitely has that advantage over the others :smiley:

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I can help with anything ..gladly :heart:

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@Gilbert help our friend @tykhaystchaar! :wink:

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Hi Tyk Haytschäär!

No problem, you’re not slow, it’s totally understandable that these abbreviations don’t immediately come to mind! :wink:

HC and SM refer to two popular foreign webshops from which many vapers order their stuff:

These usually ship from China, and often you can get devices and parts at better prices from them than from EU shops. However, as Tibor_balogh also wrote, shipping time from China can be longer.

Important warning: Since ordering vape products online from foreign webshops in Hungary is illegal, and can lead to customs measures or fines, any such purchase is made at your own risk. Always adhere to local laws and regulations!

When it comes to EU shops, you don’t have to expect customs or VAT, but local regulations may also restrict shipping there.

Hope this helps! :wink:

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With the subsequent permission of the commenters, I will also link you some relatively fresh information about the Párkány shops, thanks to @Arpee for it. It is also worth reading this.:slightly_smiling_face:

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Thanks everyone, we finally popped out to Párkány today to eat an ice cream, and since we were already there, we visited two shops, which can also be found in Arpee’s post quoted above, from where I came out with a VooPoo Argus 3. In the other shop, my wife chose an Argus 2 for herself, on a sudden impulse, after trying mine with the 50/50 base liquid I mixed at home years ago for my device, which I’ve long since abandoned…

So the trip was successful, thanks again everyone for the guidance!

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Are you grinning? :wink:

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No, we popped into Barba and Hybrid.

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Next time, go to Pláza too, they are very decent, helpful, and if the owner is there, you can even chat with him for a good hour.

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