It’s been a good while since the disposable ban came in now, so I’m curious what everyone’s actually seeing on the ground — because it seems to vary a lot depending on where you are.
Here’s what I’ve noticed locally:
The “big puff” prefilled pod kits have completely taken over. The shelves that used to be wall-to-wall disposables are now stacked with the rechargeable pod versions — Lost Mary, Hayati, Crystal Pro and the like. Same flavours, same branding, just a battery you charge and pods you swap. Feels like the industry pivoted overnight.
Prices crept up quietly. The pod kits are cheaper to run long-term, but the upfront “kit + pods” cost is noticeably higher than a single disposable used to be, so I think some casual users got a bit of sticker shock at first.
Proper refillable pod kits are getting more shelf space too — XROS, Caliburn, Xlim actually being recommended by staff now rather than buried on a bottom shelf. Feels like shops are finally nudging people toward the better long-term option.
The dodgy corner shops are another story. Still hearing about places quietly shifting grey-market or non-compliant stock under the counter, which is exactly the sort of thing that’ll bring more crackdowns on the rest of us.
So I’m curious how this matches up elsewhere. What are you actually seeing in your local shops now? Have the prefilled pods taken over where you are too? Are staff steering people toward refillables? And is anyone still seeing dodgy stuff being sold that shouldn’t be? Keen to get a picture of how different it looks around the country.
