B&M Clerk Observations (Part 1?)

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Astron

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Putting "Part 1" can be *so* pretentious in a blog post title, can't it be? It insinuates the writer actually has plans for a whole serialized chronicle of posts, which may or may not come to fruition. :p

But who knows; this may be a legitimate Part One or it may just be a bored one-off while my beloved husband spends an evening with FIFA 15. No hard feelings, Hubs. <3

So, to get it started, I've just concluded Week Three as an employee at a vape shop. I swear someone needs to hold a national Aspire BDC tank seminar because that is STILL the number one issue walking through the door (please refer to my comment here: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...worker-what-must-know-answer-questions-4.html).

On that note, thank the heavens for the BVC coil, even though there are some people who, through no defiant stubbornness of their own, do not want to make the transition from the BDC coils. They've been burned (literally and figuratively) by the quality control of the BDC but have still settled into a comfortable, if not always satisfactory, relationship with what they already know. Transitioning to a new coil is a relief to some but also a Big Issue to others and I can understand why. Better off with the enemy you know, right?

And please, a heads-up to other B&M employees: PLEASE do not assume customers know that tanks have coils that need to be replaced periodically, according to frequency of use, voltage/wattage levels, and type of juice. I've had more than one customer who DID NOT KNOW that coils are something that should be changed. I know, I know -- likely this happens in stores geared more for all sorts of nicotine and other substance accessories -- but this is happening more often than needed for anecdotal purposes and it's scaring some people off Vaping.

Customers seem to genuinely appreciate my excitement for them when they are having success. Now, I'm not going to make a fortune selling vape gear at a shop I definitely do not own. But I still have an investment in my job as I know I may very well hold the key to someone getting off cigarettes (greater implications for saving lives insinuated). Today I had a 70-yr-old lady come into the store looking for her first e-cig. Never in my life have I been more honored to sell a small hunk of metal and plastic and glass. I dismantled a few batteries and tanks and explained everything as simply and clearly as I could -- NOT because she was stupid or slow -- but because I wanted her to know that it was IMPORTANT that she understands exactly how to use the device independently. I wanted her to leave with confidence that she CAN do this. And I'll be darned if she didn't leave with the most hardcore flavor tobacco e-liquid we carry, and let me tell ya, that was AWESOME.

Helping customers choose an e-liquid is, strangely enough and in my opinion, the most difficult part of the job. Namely because I want to rip out every single tester tank we carry and replace them with tanks that accurately reflect the quality of the liquids. When I'm used to dripping and Kayfuns, trying to demonstrate a delicious guava or custard just doesn't translate with below-par testers. I can't testify about the administrative decisions behind the quality of our testers, but I am aware of the problem and discuss it with customers and try to show them the liquid in the tester bottles. Frankly I know it is a disservice to the shop but I am too new to make any more persuasive comments than I already have. It's not under my authority.

I know this is getting long so I will stop here. Wait -- did I mention Aspire BDC tanks yet? Lol! Yes, I really ought to go ahead and start using my old small BDC tank with the new BVC coil just so I can empathize with 90% of my customers :p It's hard, though, when I feel like I've already walked through those fires. Vapors. Whatever. ;)

Thanks for reading, and vape on.
 

Astron

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I hear you loud and clear. I don't know what the deal is about that. For a shop that makes a lot of money on stocking 25+ brands of liquid, you'd think they'd want to showcase them as well as they can. I know when I was just a customer there I would have bought many more liquids if I could have tasted them.
 

Astron

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I asked my bm if I brought my rda in with a fresh wick if they would soak it down so I could get a good taste. I am not their best customer but I have spent over$200 in their shop. He said no he couldnt do that. So guess what I don't buy there.

You mean they wouldn't let you drip into an RDA from a tester bottle to get a taste? I can say that we have many bottles available to drip from as testers, but not all. If we have one open, you could drip a few vapes and be fine. I can't open tester bottles willy-nilly but if it's open, it's yours to try. Seems like either an employee had his/her hands tied or they were worried about setting a precedent for liberal use of tester bottles. I'm sorry that happened to you...I understand why that is frustrating considering how much money you spend there.
 

sketchness

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Damn you max vg juice for ruining my mini nautilus experience. Sadly none of the B&M vape shops I have been in have the bvc in stock. All 7 have the woefully inconsistent bdc coils. One smoke shop has them but I won't pay $6 a pop.

One of these days I will go into a place that speaks the same vape dialect I do. Until then I frequent the ones where I can drip testers. Eventually I will find the place to spend ridiculous amounts of cash at until then I dabble at all of them.
 

InTheShade

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I asked my bm if I brought my rda in with a fresh wick if they would soak it down so I could get a good taste. I am not their best customer but I have spent over$200 in their shop. He said no he couldnt do that. So guess what I don't buy there.

Just crack open their CE4 and pour some in - I'm sure they won't mind.
 

twall

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The B&M I frequent the most (and have spent HUNDREDS in) loves to have the drippers drop in (pun intended). There aren't many of them, so they kinda hang out for an hour or two and try different flavors from the dripper bottles. I'll be darned if they don't sell a TON of juice that way.

They also have the CE4's. Nasty little things. I used to love them - now I can't taste a thing. It doesn't help that some look like they haven't been filled since they opened the shop. Or there are flavors in the testers they forgot how to make. :laugh:

By creating a "hangout" atmosphere, it encourages people to buy there for a little bit more money, than go online. I think it's the relationship that gets built.
 

Vicshalls

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I kinda see why they dont use the best things to show off liquid. If you use, say a kayfun, and the taste is awesome and everyone wants it that is great. Then that same 70 yo lady comes in trys the flavor and it is awesome the liklyhood of her building a kayfun and having it work properly is probably slim. Now if you are some of us that build then you get a flavor that is ok in a ce4 or something like that. you can taste it and you are like, "ya ok that will work" then the likelyhood of it being great in what ever we build is better. To me at least that makes sense. But what do i know i dont own a shop or even own one. One thing i have told people about when talking to people that ask me about my set up is not to get discourage when the vape tounge hits. People i have talked to say "ya we tried it, but a few days (weeks0 into it i cant taste anything and i got back to my cigaretts." I wish someone at a store had told me that when i first started at least. Then i knew what to expect vs having to research. again just my two cents. take it for what its worth. lol But it is really nice to see someone that is really excited about their job. I like the shops close to me and they have been a great help. I go there often and know most of the people in the ones i like. Down side is i had a friend go to one for help and she was shot down and basicaly made to feel like she was stupid. She has sworn off two shops because of that. I know she can be a little harsh and most times goes in in a hurry, but does not mean the shops have to blow her off so easily. Now i dont know if i will ever get her back to vaping.
 

yoitstj

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By creating a "hangout" atmosphere, it encourages people to buy there for a little bit more money, than go online. I think it's the relationship that gets built.

I couldnt agree with this more. I love hanging out at my one local B&M. I always meet cool people. Sometimes a little debate. Always a good time.
 

PapaSloth

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One of the local places here has a self-serve tasting bar with about 20 or 30 Protanks loaded with different juices. The owner hands you an eGo battery and a sterilized drip tip, and you're free to try out whatever you want on reasonably good equipment. Then, he'll mix you whatever you want to your specifications on the spot. I think that's a great business model.
 

Rocketpunk

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Like I said in a prior post, get ready to hear "This thing leaks", and any variation thereof, umpteen gazillion times. "This thing keeps spitting liquid into my mouth". "It gurgles". "I woke up and the oil was everywhere." "It tastes like burning" (I give this one props, chest bump to Ralphie Wiggum).

The interrogation begins:

What tank are you using
How high do you run your battery
How old is it?
May I see it?
Is the tank always this tight?
How old is the coil inside?
The coil.
The little thing you screw into the tank.
The tank. The thing that holds the liquid.
Ok.
Do you typically vape your tank until it gets low like this?

I could go on and on...
 
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