How Is Coronavirus Affecting Supply Chains for Vape? Time to Stock Up?
In early 2020, as COVID-19 spread, the vape industry started to feel it. Most vaping hardware is made in China, much of it around Shenzhen, so we warned readers that devices, coils and pods could run late, and asked whether it was time to stock up.
Short version: Factory slowdowns in China threatened hardware supplies in 2020. Today the bigger change is shipping: under the PACT Act, USPS no longer delivers vapes to consumers, and carriers require an adult signature.
A new year, a new virus
Lunar New Year fell on January 25, 2020. The holiday always slows Chinese factories, as workers travel home and production pauses until they return in February. That year, travel restrictions, mask shortages and supply problems threatened to delay their return, and nobody knew how long factories would take to get back to full speed.
Distributors usually stock up on popular products before the holiday and count on restocks by the end of February. In 2020, that plan was in doubt, and we admitted we were crossing our fingers that our coils and pods would last.
What about vape juice?
Most e-liquid is made outside China, so vape juice looked less exposed. We still flagged two weak spots. Many e-liquid bottles came from China, and nobody knew how the virus would affect the people who deliver your orders. We were clear that we had heard of no plans for the Postal Service to stop running, and we said we were adding e-liquid and coils to our own emergency kits.
We followed up that spring with a COVID-19 update for members.
Where things stand now
The 2020 supply crunch passed, but delivery changed for good: under the PACT Act (2021), USPS no longer ships vapes to consumers, and carriers require an adult signature. Hardware still comes largely from China, so availability can shift. To avoid running low, join the Zamplebox Club for a box every month, with ship now, skip and pause in your dashboard. Our guide covers how long vape juice lasts in storage.
WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical. For adults 21+ only.