Payment Processing for E-Cigarettes and E-Juice

Over the last 15 years electronic cigarettes, more commonly known as e-cigarettes or e-cigs, have been on the rise as a new trend in smoking. Many consumers believe that e-cigarettes provide a comparable flavor and feel to smoking regular cigarettes. The e-cigarette heats an “e-liquid,” that once heated produces an aerosol / vapor inhaled by the smoker. The common term for this is “vaping.” Although the majority of e-liquids contain nicotine, some e-liquids are nicotine free. E-liquids also come in a variety of flavors and are sold as pre-filled disposable cartridges, bottles or kits from which customers are able to make their own e-liquids. Vaping is seen by many as a healthier alternative to cigarettes because the e-liquid does not contain many of the poisonous chemicals in tobacco smoke. But e-cigarettes are still a relatively new product, so the long-term health effects are still not known. E-cigs are gaining popularity for a variety of reasons. Whether a consumer is trying to quit smoking, trying to reduce some of the health risks associated with cigarettes or even trying to save money, vaping is on the rise.

One of the most important factors in maintaining a successful online e-cig / e-juice store is adhering to all of the regulations. Many of the laws surrounding e-cigs are similar to online sales of tobacco, and many were put in place by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These regulations help deter minors from purchasing tobacco and e-cigarette products online and require all customers to be of legal age to purchase the products.

We highly recommend merchants use an age verification tool that confirms that the customer is of legal age to purchase the product. These systems greatly reduce the chances of fraudulent purchases by minors. Another way to protect your business is by knowing to which countries you can legally ship product. Because the nicotine potency of e-liquids varies greatly, laws for importing nicotine products based on their strength vary from country to country, and in some countries nicotine products are completely illegal. If you plan on having an international customer base, be sure to do the research on each specific country’s laws beforehand. Some require licenses or certificates, while others may refuse your shipment totally.