How do you "discover" new flavors?

[badexec]

As a psychologist, I often wonder about patterns of behavior and how we learn them.

I'm starting to wonder how people in different parts of the country / world find out what flavors they like. I know in my area of Southern California, there are so many B&M shops that my pattern has been to simply try to visit them all, see what they offer and try as many as possible. This has become a hobby for me, but I have to assume it's isolated to SoCal where the B&M shops are in abundance.

So my question is simple: how do you discover new flavors? Do you blindly order online? Do you trust others reviews in ECF? Do you have a trusted mentor who tells you what they find to be great? There must be over 1000 flavors on the market now, and more coming daily...how do you find what you like with all of those options?

 

[patkin]

I used to buy based on reviews but got burned too much that way. The best experiences have come mostly from free samples of juice thrown in with an order... especially those orders placed for hardware only. I think it has worked out that way because the vendor notices that I'm a new customer and haven't purchased their juice before so they send their very best examples of it. I found my current ADVs that way. The vendor threw in two samples... one tobacco and one dessert with a hardware order. I now vape their juices pretty exclusively.

 

[ericm12121977]

I visit a lot of my local B&M stores since they are in over abundance in my area. I also like supporting online vendors who support the vaping communities either through youtube reviews, or watching vapeTV and their reviews and interviews with vendors. Recently I have gotten into DIY and am trying to recreate my favorite flavors.

 

[Dustmight]

For me, access to B&M shops with reputable products is a challenge. There are some amazing vendors located in my state, but just not close enough to make regular visits to sample their products. Most of my choices thus far have been recommendations from friends, and from folks on YouTube who review juices/products in depth. There's a lot of waiting for the mail and trial and error involved, as well as a stockpile of "Meh" juice samples as a result. The forums are great, but in my opinion, rather cumbersome to wade through for thorough opinions. It would be great if there were a strictly "juice reviews" forum or site out there that would be similar to this site for pipe tobacco: TobaccoReviews.com - The largest collection of pipe tobacco reviews on the internet All that being said, I personally enjoy the "hunt for juice" as a hobby. Discovering something great is just an added bonus.

 

[Barbara21]

Unfortunately I have only one 'local' store (within 20 miles) and they don't have good juices.

So, like many, I go by reviews. That actually hasn't worked very well for me and I've spent way too much money ordering samples from various vendors and not liking them.

I've only found two vendors that I've stuck with and - this might seem strange - both had 'interesting' websites. By 'interesting', I think I mean they show a bit of imagination, not just a 'generic' site with 'generic' pictures (and 'generic' juices).

And neither seem afraid to post bad reviews. That's actually very important. When I'm checking out a vendor's website, no negative reviews sends up warning bells.

 

[Anjaffm]

Excuse me please, I am from Germany, and I have seen this mentioned all the time but cannot find it on Google (heck, I am googling from Europe, so US American links are not the first that Google will find for me .... ):

What exactly is a B&M shop, please?

To answer the OP's question:
I discover new flavors mainly by sticking with one vendor whose liquids I like and then ordering some of their other flavors, especially if other vapers (whom I trust) recommend them. - In my home country, we do not have offline shops everywhere. So we order online mostly, and there is the shipping charge to be considered. -

The other day, I was in vaper's heaven, visiting a vaping fair
Oh, all the lovely flavors to try.. like a child in a candy shop .... Vanilla Custard, Banana Milkshake, Dragon Blood (= berry).. so wonderful It is so nice to discover new flavors!

Apart from that, I mix my own liquids. Mostly one flavor per little bottle, and then I mix the flavors in the tank if I want to. Easier that way, and more variety if desired.

/edit - in case any ANTZ read this:
disclaimer:
"like a child in a candy shop" was a reference to myself, and I am 53 years old

 

[patkin]

Brick & Mortar physical space (store) differentiating from online cyberspace (store.)

 

[Anjaffm]

Brick & Mortar physical space (store) differentiating from online cyberspace (store.)

thank you very much!
That's what it is! What we call an "offline shop" in Germany, as opposed to the online shops!
I really appreciate it! And there I was, thinking about a huge chain of "B&M" retail vaping outlets in the US *giggles* Like "H+M" clothing stores or Starbucks. Vape-bucks or Star-vape or something like that

.........
Oh, and as to discovering new flavors:

As offline shops - or B&M stores (I am so proud of myself!) are rare in many regions of Germany, one great way to discover new flavors are the "vapers meetings / evenings out" which we have in many regions of Germany. We meet for an evening meal and drinks in a vape-friendly restaurant. People bring their hardware and many liquids, and we let others try, if they wish. That is a lovely way to discover new hardware, new flavors and vendors that we have not tried yet.

It is also a lovely opportunity to bring a new - purchased - liquid like strawberry shortcake, have others try it and love it - AND get an experienced vaper to get interested, mix the exact flavor at home and tell you the recipe at the next meeting

 

[vjc0628]

when I see a vendor or a juice the looks interesting
I look at ecf reviews and posts
I give more weight to a description when the is a continuity in description from person to person
I also give more weight to a description when someone that posts about it
has posted similar taste as me previously

 

[trouble1000]

I usually go off other people's recommendations, although I do a lot of DIY liquid too. For me though, the flavours have to be highly concentrated, I find a lot of the budget sites have juices that are way too weak for me.

There's only a couple of sites in the UK that I buy from now, they offer tailor made juices and extra flavour shots - which for me is a must have. I've thrown away more weaker juices than I care to mention, but I've still got at least 50 different flavours to go through

 

[patkin]

Anjaffm, we call those vape meets... close... now what are we going to call an offline shop that sells online too? How about an online B&M?

 

[Anjaffm]

*giggles* I love this forum!
You are all so helpful with this poor lady from Germany who talks funny when it comes to vaping, because my entire vaping vocabulary is in German. Thank you very much!

How about an online B&M?

Hm.. how do you transport all these bricks and all this mortar through cyberspace?

 

[HeadInClouds]

Hey Anjaffm - teach us German vaping vocab! How would you say "a vaper vapes vapor" ?

 

[KjAthena]

reviews and sampler packs I have one vendor I can buy any flavor they release without hesitation....they are my main vendor...I also have 2 others that I found one by winning a contest and one from suggestion from someone that has the same taste profile I do.

Biggest suggestion read reviews and love sampler packs

 

[dmska]

I look in the general e liquids discussion. I usually try the liquids that are being talked about a lot, IF they sound like something I would like to vape. I already know what my preferences are, but that's how I decide on new purchases. I don't purchase everything that is hyped, though. I try to look for people with like tastes as mine and go from there.

 

[Anjaffm]

Hey Anjaffm - teach us German vaping vocab! How would you say "a vaper vapes vapor" ?

*giggles* - Ein Dampfer dampft Dampf

 

[Shopan]

A good Resource for everything is Right Here at ECF...FOr more Interactive And Real Time Support try Vaping Shows Like those on Novabroadcasting.org - Vaping Shows! or http://www.vapetv.com or http://www.questvaping.com Heck you might even win a Bottle or 2...But the the Community is Very Helpful with any and all Questions...

http://www.casaa.org

 

[patkin]

*giggles* - Ein Dampfer dampft Dampf

To my English-speaking ear, that sounds like swearing! Oh, too funny. And, yeh, how does an ear speak?

Edit: Sorry OP and mods... being bad... just couldn't help it.

 

[DebbieF]

I actually have several B&M stores around me (5+ in a 15 mile radius and more within an hour drive). But I end up ordering online mostly now. At first I thought it would be easier in a store, but none of the ones around me really let you sample so it ends up being a guessing game anyway. Ironically enough, the only 2 juices I've found completely unvapeable came from a local shop at the recommendation of a co-worker. Go figure!

So I do pretty much what everyone else here is doing to some degree ... read tons of posts, find people with similar tastes, order sample packs, watch video reviews, take chances, and start to develop "safe" vendors that tend to fit my flavor profile more often than not. Oh, and spend a lot of money trying to figure it all out!

 

[RPGZealot]

I'm in SoCal (Ventura County), but I don't have the time nor drive to go visiting B&M shops around me. I've done one and, while it was fun to taste test, the prices didn't match the quality.

That said, I read, read, read, and look for customizable samplers that cost less than $20.