OBJECTIVES: Most studies assumed defaulters to be similar to smokers in smoking cessation programmes. Thus, the objective of this qualitative study was to explore perceptions held by QSC defaulters towards QSC service provision. This study also examined the smoking and smoking cessation beliefs among the defaulters. METHODS: Drawing from the patients’ register at two different QSC settings; one being managed by a team of physicians, medical assistants and nurses while another is managed by the pharmacists, 14 current adult smokers were interviewed face-to-face, from May 2010 to March 2011. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis to generate codes, categories and subsequently themes. RESULTS: This heterogeneous subgroup of smokers revealed shared ambivalence towards smoking and smoking cessation, indicating the underlying unreadiness to quit smoking and low self-efficacy. The dynamic interaction between components of the QSC such as the degree of relationship established between the health care providers and the efficacy and availability of smoking cessation aids (SCA) were being perceived as extrinsic motivational cues to enable these smokers to quit smoking. Overall these smokers described the barriers encountered mirrored the unmet expectation; comprising of the lack of expected skills and poor attitudes in the health care providers and the perceived unavailability and ineffective formal smoking cessation aids provided at the QSC. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to optimize the interplay of extrinsic motivational cues (health care provider and SCA’s factors) in order to steer these smokers to quit smoking using the QSC approach. This study serves to underline the need to address a tailored stepped-care approach in these smokers in relation to gender, socio-economic status and nicotine dependence level, encompassing a wider stance in the tobacco control policy.