Use of Price Promotions Among U.S. Adults Who Use Electronic Vapor Products

Abstract

Introduction Sales of electronic vapor products have increased in recent years. This increase in use may be related to manufacturer price promotions. This study assessed the use of price-related promotions among current electronic vapor product users. Methods Data from the 2015 and 2016 Summer Styles, an Internet survey of U.S. adults aged ≥18 years, were analyzed in 2017. Current electronic vapor product users (n=300) were those who reported past 30-day electronic vapor product use. Price-related promotion use was defined as reported use of coupons, rebates, discount codes, or other special price-related promotions when purchasing electronic vapor products (e.g., electronic cigarettes [e-cigarettes], electronic hookah [e-hookah], or vape pens). Associations between price-related promotion use and sex, age, race/ethnicity, educational attainment, U.S. region, cigarette smoking status, electronic vapor product use frequency, place electronic vapor products were obtained, and survey year were assessed using multivariable logistic regression. Results Among current electronic vapor product users, 15.0% reported using price-related promotions. The adjusted odds of using price-related promotions was significantly higher among respondents who obtained electronic vapor products from a gas station, grocery or drug store, or the Internet (AOR=2.65, 95% CI=1.22, 5.74) versus anywhere else (i.e., mall kiosks, vape shop, friends/family) and among those who used electronic vapor products ≥15 days in the past 30 days (AOR=2.57, 95% CI=1.18, 5.56) versus ≤14 days. Conclusions Nearly one in seven current U.S. adult electronic vapor product users reported using price promotions during 2015–2016, and variations in price promotion use existed by electronic vapor product use frequency and where electronic vapor products were obtained. Continued monitoring of the use of price-related promotions could help inform public health policy, planning, and practice.

Follow the money: a closer look at US tobacco industry marketing expenditures

“…Finally, the FTC reports marketing expenditures only for cigarette and smokeless tobacco, but price discounting has been documented for flavoured cigars92 and is featured in cigar ads 93–95. Discounts are also used by e-cigarette firms,96 commonly featured in the tweets of commercial e-cigarette retailers97 98 and discounts by vape shops 99 100. Further attention should be paid to price discounting for all tobacco products.…”

Follow the Money: A Closer Look at US Tobacco Industry Marketing Expenditures

“…3,90,91 Finally, the FTC reports marketing expenditures only for cigarette and smokeless tobacco, but, price discounting has been documented for flavored cigars 92 and is featured in cigar ads. [93][94][95] Discounts are also utilized by e-cigarette firms, 96 commonly featured in the tweets of commercial e-cigarette retailers 97,98 and discounts by vape shops. 99,100 Further attention should be paid to price discounting for all tobacco products.…”

Price Promotions of E-Liquid Products Sold in Online Stores

“…Although taxes are very effective in reducing the demand for e-cigarettes, their impact could be offset by price promotions [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]. Thus far, there is no federal ban on promotional discounts applied to tobacco or nicotine products in the US [ 9 ], and nearly one in seven current adult e-cigarette users reported using price promotions during 2015–2016 [ 10 ]. Studies have further shown that price promotions are associated with e-cigarette use among both youth and adults in the US [ 11 , 12 ].…”

“…Moreover, e-cigarette price promotions may take the forms of quantity discounts (e.g., bundles and buy X, get Y free) and direct price discounts (e.g., percentage off and coupons) [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. Given the various designs of e-cigarettes, price-promotion activities could be different from those of traditional cigarettes and vary by e-cigarette models.…”

“…The monitoring of online stores also has methodological advantages in capturing the price promotions of every single e-cigarette product on sale with great accuracy. In comparison, tobacco surveys measure price promotions based on participants’ responses that are subject to self-reported errors [ 9 , 10 , 12 ]. Promotional email tracking (e.g., Trinkets & Trash) is limited to a number of brands produced by large manufacturers.…”