As the old saying goes, “Birds of a feather flock together.” There’s a lot of wisdom to that saying because we tend to like people who have the same interest as us. We also tend to like people who are very similar to us. Maybe they have the same values. Perhaps they like doing the same things. Possibly, they have the same hobbies. Given the similarity, it shouldn’t be a surprise that they tend to be interested in the same things.

So, if you’re looking for a new hair salon, it’s a very normal thing to go with the recommendation of your friend because chances are your friend probably has the same hairstyle as you or looks somewhat similar to you.

Not surprisingly, a lot of us ask for fashion tips and other advice from our friends. Maybe they have a job lead. Perhaps they know of a good accountant. Possibly, they’re going to a good doctor. So, friends are always a great source of referrals.

Here’s the problem.

Friend Referrals and Recommendations Can Only Go So Far

If I’m excited about a product that I use, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it would be the best product for you. It may well be the best product for me because it fits my needs; it fits my budget; it plugs into my whole lifestyle. You may be looking for the same result but not necessarily the same product.

This is what gets lost in friend recommendations. People are all pump about the product they bought because it produced a certain result for them. However, that result may be specific to them. It may not fit with your situation. There might be a disconnect between your set of needs and the outcome that referred product or referred service providers bring to the table.

People don’t get this so it’s not unusual for people to ask on Facebook for referrals for accountants, doctors, lawyers, blenders, even cars and then before you know it, people flood their friends with a recommendation. This seems great and everything because at least it shows that your friends care.

The problem is if you’re going to be spending all that money on a product, it’s a good idea to make sure that it is the best product for you. It must fit your lifestyle and your expectations. At the very least, it must fit your needs.

This is where most products recommendations fall apart. Again, it goes back to this very simple observation. What’s best for somebody maybe all the best for somebody else because we’re all different. If that isn’t obvious enough, we all have different needs; we have different expectations; we have different experiences, and all these differences do add up.

While we get along well with our friends and we love our friends, there are differences. The mere reason we have friends in the first place is that they have these differences that they bring to the table. A bit of variety goes a long way.

However, unless you choose to become fully aware of these differences, they may get in the way of you getting your money’s worth because your friend might be convinced that the ecig brand he uses is the best thing since sliced bread. You try it out and the best reaction anybody can get from you is “meh.” What went wrong?

Well, it really all boils down to how you took your friend’s recommendations. You have to view it in context.

For example, if you have a friend who’s very big on vaping and this person basically just vapes all day every day and looks like a walking fog bank or fog machine, you know that the recommendation you get from that person is for a heavy-duty product. This is a person who has a heavy usage requirement and he is naturally going to pick out brands and models that can deliver that heavy-duty result.

What if you are a casual vaper? What if you rarely get ecig juices or an e-juice package lasts you a long time? Your heavy-duty friend‘s recommendation might be overkill. The brand and model they recommend might actually set you back quite a bit of money. You may be thinking that you’re paying for quality and durability, but you may want to think again. You may be overpaying for something that doesn’t really match your usage requirements.

The opposite is also true if your friend is a light user and gets you excited about a particular brand and model that specializes in moderate use, and you are a heavy ecig user, there’s a serious disconnect.

Pay Attention to Who Makes the Recommendation

The first thing that you need to do is to get out from under brand identity. I understand why people are excited about brands. After all, it isn’t easy to come up with a solid brand in a very competitive field like electronic cigarettes.

A manufacturer who is able to establish enough renown to be considered a brand must be doing something right. They must be producing products that withstand the test of time. They must be able to produce products that give people the experiences that they’re looking for. In other words, they are a solid operation.

However, just because this is true, it doesn’t necessarily mean that a specific brand is right for you. This is where a lot of consumers trip up.

I mean, Mercedes Benz is a solid brand. Nevertheless, it is also obvious that Mercedes is not the best car for everybody.

First, there’s the budget issue.

Then, there’s the personal values issue. Maybe you’re not really big on showing people that you have a Mercedes.

There’s also the upkeep or maintenance issue. If you think getting your oil and filter changed at your dealer sets you back quite a bit of money, wait until there’s a Mercedes, BMW, or Porsche logo on your car.

Just because a product has a solid brand doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the best for all people concerned. It definitely doesn’t mean that it’s the best option for all consumers. 

The same applies to electronic cigarettes. You have to look at who is recommending the product for you. Just judging from how much you know of their electronic usage habits, see if there is a fit between your situation and theirs. If there is, then chances are their recommendation probably makes sense.

Ask Questions about How They Made a Recommendation

Some people recommend things because they’ve actually used the product. A lot of people, on the other hand, make recommendations just because they want to help out a friend. This means that they may be recommending something that they haven’t personally used. You can tell immediately that this is going to be a problem.

It’s one thing to hear good things about a product and it’s another to actually experience it directly. Let me tell you, nothing beats the first-hand experience and this should be your standard when looking for recommendations.

You need to ask them politely and gently but you need to get straight to the point. Ask them, in so many words and in so many ways, “Do you have first-hand experience with this brand and model? Did you use it before? What kind of conditions do you use? How much of an electronic cigarette user are you?”

Once you have the answers to these questions, it makes your decisions so much easier. However, if you don’t even bother to ask these questions, then you’re basically going to have to settle for whatever you can get and, let me tell you, you should expect the worst. At the very least, you end up overpaying for a product. At worst, you end up with a product that you have to replace sooner rather than later.

None of these situations is good. It all hits your personal bottom line. Sure, you may be thinking that you’re just out $50 now but, let me tell you, that $50 can add up quickly if you find yourself switching electronic cigarette brands and modes on an almost monthly basis.

You could have spent that $200, $300, or $600 on something else. Do you see how this works? Opportunity costs are real so you have to be very careful when asking for product recommendations from social media or elsewhere.