This is not a straight comaprison. LOL.
(Not rerally certain waht is behind the concept that adding "LOL" is supposed to do, but I thought I would try it)
Despite all of the gartbage on this forum, if you are going to compare, then compare apples to apples.
1, Coupons. LOL
White Cloud runs continuous discounts - google "White Cloud Discount"
I think their current discount is 10%, I have seen it as high as 30%
2. Sign up to be an affiliate LOL
It is free, and it gives a 20% rebate off the pre-discounted price
3. Get accessories elsewhere LOL
The only exception being the charger cable. I would say this of every brand - from cases to USB chargers, you can get accessories cheaper on eBay.
4. Buy cartridges in bulk LOL
White Cloud has 6 packs for the price of 5, and just started a deeper discount for buying 10 packs.
5. Look at the pack expectancy LOL
If you use them correctly, 1 White Cloud cartridge lasts about as long as 2 packs of smokes.
6. Exchange batteries between the 1 year and 2 year mark LOL
This is part of the 2 year warranty which comes with the Cirrus 3 starter kit.
Apples to Apples: LOL
Cirrus 3 starter kit $350
$105 discount using the above
Comes with 1 pack of cartridges - $16 after discounts above
Comes with about $10 in accessories (using eBay prices, not the site's prices)
Battery exchange doubles from 3 to 6 batteries
...about $35 per battery, which do last about 2 days/1 cartridge (whichever comes 1st)...
With the 20% affiliate rebate, the cartridges are about $2.40 each. LOL
They do last about 2x as long as most competitors - about as long as 2 packs of smokes - if used properly.
This is comparable to or cheaper than other cartridges, more expensive but less work than refillables.
Every brand and type has its upside and downside. LOL
White Cloud is not a good choice if: LOL
A. You want a hobby - there just isn't anything to modify or play with in the White Cloud product
B. You want lots of flavors - White Cloud only has 7
C. You are on a tight budget - $280 virtually includes 6 batteries, but it is a steep starter price, and you will need to put the money up 1st before you get the affiliate rebate.
D. You are a heavy vaper - I have noticed a commonality that everyone who reports having cartridges go bad also report discharging the battery in less than 1 day when it usually lasts 2 days/1 cartridge - the White Cloud product is designed to be used at about the same frequency as smoking a cigarette - going thru a charged battery in less than a day indicates extremely heavy usage.
White Cloud is a good choice if: LOL
A. You are looking for a compact design - not everyone can carry around an electronic cigarette the size of a small flashlight
B. You need a rugged design - the cartridges are sealed with silicone to decrease the chance of leaking (which is why they can't be refilled) and there are no projections to get caught or broken off.
C. You want a long lasting battery - not everyone can, or wants to, carry around batteries to change out every few hours
D. You want a close approximation to a real cigarette - reviews at sites performed by the site owners (not people passing thru with an ax to grind like you see at this site) generally note it is the closest to an analog there is on the market.