FAQs - Vaping

There are many things that can cause a vape to not charge, from broken pins to faulty wiring. It is very important to be careful when plugging in and unplugging your charger, as rough handling will break connection pins. Make sure not to tug on the cord as this will damage the wiring of the charger. If you are having charging issues, make sure to try a different cable and a different USB port, this often fixes the problem.

Our shop staff are experts on all things vape. Take advantage of their knowledge and helpful nature and pop in store for a comprehensive walk through on the set-up, and the general dos and don'ts of vape care. If you have purchased online, run through the Cosmic instruction sheet and specific device instructions provided with your purchase. Usually the answer can be found there. If you are still in a pickle, give us a call on 0800COSMIC (Ext.204) and we can talk you through the process.

Damaged e-cig batteries are a potential hazard, and have been known to catch fire and/or explode. If you have dented, dropped or tampered with your vape, there is a risk. Drop in to your nearest Cosmic store to recycle it at our battery recycling station and you can receive $5 off the purchase of a new vaping device*. BE SAFE.
*note: this only applies to devices, not 18650s. We will still recycle them for you, free of charge.

This will vary depending on how frequently you vape, the length of the draws you take and the power of your battery. Even with minimal use, coils are made with organic cotton and will degrade over time. Replace your coil or pod when you start to notice a change in the taste. The flavour will eventually begin to taste burnt, and you may also notice darkening of the cotton that will indicate it might be time for a change.

Like most other Li-ion batteries such as those found in cell phones, the longevity of a vape battery is directly linked to charging habits. It is very important that you charge your batteries only for as long as they need it, and remove them as soon as you can once charge is full. Overnight or extended charging is likely to reduce the overall life of your battery.

There are many things that can cause leaking and or spitting in your vape, from how you use it to what you put in it. Make sure you are taking light draws, the vape should do the work. Sucking hard will draw more liquid into the coil and it will begin to flood. Under-use will also cause flooding, as the coil is soaking up liquid even when it's not being used. A flooded coil can leak and sometimes spit when heated, so it's important to make sure you are using your vape correctly. Other causes of leaking include: misaligned coils, worn down seals and general wear and tear. Some moisture around the mouthpiece and airflow is normal and simply a result of vapour condensation from regular use. If you are having consistent problems with a traditional tank, a thicker liquid can often be the solution as thinner ones will flood the coil much faster. Try to store your tank upright and keep it clean, when used and kept correctly, these issues can easily be avoided.

Nicotine salts use a pH adjuster (benzoic acid) to provide a higher concentration of nicotine with a smoother taste. Nicotine salts are best used with small, low power pod devices. The advantage of using nicotine salts is that it provides vapers with better nicotine blood absorption and a milder throat hit when inhaled. This means you will feel more satisfied after a single puff and it will ensure a lower consumption of e-liquid overall. The higher nicotine mg makes it ideal for smokers making the switch.

Freebase liquid has a lower nicotine content and is most commonly used with tanks/mods that run at a higher power, but can also be used in most common pod devices when you are looking to lower your nicotine intake. Freebase flavours are often more complex and enjoyable than nicotine salts, so you can look forward to this aspect as you taper down your strength.

The two main types of vapes have an array of features that make them better suited to certain people’s needs.

Pods are ideal for the ex-smoker who wants a vape that closely imitates a cigarette. They have a similar draw, put out a similar amount of vapour and don't require heavy maintenance.

Mods are for cloud chasers. They have adjustable power settings and pump out huge clouds of smooth flavourful vapour. They are far more comprehensive than pods and require constant maintenance.

Due to the sheer volume of disposables produced and sold , there are bound to be the occasional duds. If your disposable isn't working, the first thing you should do is check the amount of puffs. Disposables come in varieties that offer approximately 300, 800, 1200 or 2000 puffs. Sometimes you just don't realise how much you've been using it!
If you feel that your vape has run out much sooner than expected, or it hasn't worked from day dot, you can take it into one of our stores with proof of purchase to be exchanged for a new one. If you don't have access to one of our stores, flick us an email at info@cosmicnz.co.nz and we'll take care of you :)

If you're worried about the impact that used disposables are having on the environment, we have you covered.

Customers may return any vape, disposable or vape battery from any retailer and Cosmic will recycle it properly.

Customers will receive one stamp for every $10 spent on the full retail price. Cosmic will round up any value to the closest $10 amount (EG: $25 rrp, 3 stamps. $12 rrp, 1 stamp).

This deal is offered in-store only.

Cards are to be stamped when the product is returned. Stamps will only be issued for whole devices or disposables. We welcome vape batteries to be recycled however, Cosmic will not issue a stamp for these alone.

In the event of the retail price being unknown, it is up to discretion of Cosmic staff. Any RRP that cannot be found online/proven will be given two stamps only.

Once a customer has 15 stamps, they receive $10 off their next vape, disposable or vaping related purchase.

This cannot be exchanged for cash in part or full and is valid for a single transaction only. This is not valid during a sale or in conjunction with any special promotion.

Cosmic retains the right to reject any card that has been tampered with or found in any way unacceptable.

Customers may redeem more than one stamp card at a time.

The card cannot be redeemed in order to purchase gift cards.

To receive a stamp for your card you may only return these to your local Cosmic store. If you're not able to get into a store, you can send them to:

Cosmic Returns
10 Lismore Street
Waltham
Christchurch 8011

Just ensure they are packaged safely and that you include a note stating they are for recycling. Any vapes returned here will not be eligible for the Recycling programme cash back/stamp card.

All vaping devices purchased from Cosmic come with a three month warranty (Uwell products have a six month warranty). The warranty does not cover vape tanks, pods or coils, as these parts are consumables.

The warranty will not cover any defect caused by modification, tampering, or rough handling of the device. The warranty will also not cover any defect which would not have occurred had the instructions for use been followed.

The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Vaping) Amendment Act 2020 came into effect on 11 November 2020. If you vape and would like to be aware of how these regulations affect you as a consumer, you can read about it HERE.

All of our Cosmic stores (excluding Cosmic on Cuba Street in Wellington, but including Cosmic Vape & Coffee next door) are now completely R18. You will be required to prove your age and provide ID in order to shop in-store at Cosmic, regardless of which products you are browsing.

People under the age of 18 are welcome to shop with us online, however our R18 and vaping sections are age gated. In order to shop R18 and Vaping products online you must be 18 or over and agree you are 18 or over to proceed past the age gate. Any R18 or vaping product purchased will be sent as an R18 delivery via Courier Post, this means the person who placed the order must be available to sign for the package and produce ID proving they are of legal age to accept these goods. If valid identification cannot be produced, or if the person is not the same person that purchased the goods, the Courier will not complete the delivery. Please note that during periods of contactless delivery we cannot guarantee this service.

Yes! Under recently passed legislation, stores that wish to sell flavours other than tobacco or menthol must conform to the requirements of a Specialty Vape Retailer (SVR), and all our stores meet those requirements with the exception of our Cuba Street store. To that end, we operate a second store (Cosmic Vape & Coffee) next to the Cuba Street store that can fulfil all your vaping needs.

Yes. All Cosmic stores excluding our Cuba Street store will continue to offer deals and bulk discounts as normal. If you are in Wellington and would like to access deals and discounts visit our Amsterdam Coffee Shop branch or shop online