Hey everyone--
I have read a lot of threads recently on the general attitudes and disrespect of some B&M establishments out in our communities. It is sad to hear some of pathetic customer service examples out there. Given how supportive and positive the ECF community is, we take for granted that fellow vapers are always positive and helpful, no matter the forum, vendor, or establishment. All of us on ECF have a distinct advantage of getting the best prices, the top of the line supplies, and excellent customer service (usually) from our online vendors. But not everyone utilizes online purchases. Many people in the vaping world do not know that ECF exists! For them, mall kiosks and B&M are all they have to keep them off of the stinkies. And it is successful for them. They have either completely quit or substantially cut back on the amount they smoke from purchasing equipment outside of the help from the ECF forum.
So here is what is stuck in my craw. And I am guilty of it as well. There seems to be an elitist attitude forming about the superiority of certain vaping methods and shunning of others. Provoking and demeaning a mall kiosk employee while puffing clouds of vapor from a Provari is not nice. That kiosk employee is doing his job--selling their brand of equipment, albeit at a large inflated price. BUT..it WORKS for some people! B&M cannot carry the vast array of PV's and juices due to high overhead. They cannot compete with the lower online prices. BUT....it WORKS for some people! I, like most of you, look for great deals and shop to save money and maximize my dollar. But online shopping is not always the most convenient. For some, convenience trumps saving a few bucks. And that is why kiosks and B&M are so important. The more people that quit smoking the better, no matter where or what they purchase to do so.
I look at it this way. I am a nurse. And nothing makes me madder than someone telling me how to do my job. I hate it when family members compare how we do things at my hospital versus how another hospital does it. And I am sure all of you feel the same way too. We don't want someone coming into our home or our place of employment and comment about how our methods or practices are substandard compared to theirs. This is what is happening when we whip out our grippers or Provari's or zens or SB's when in an establishment that does not sell them. We are sending the message that hey, your stuff is crap, my mod is better, I would never spend my money here on inflated priced items, and then walk away. A year ago I purchased a silver bullet at a B&M. Paid nearly double what they cost online. But I also had a full hour of sit down time with the salesperson who showed me how to punch cartos, fill my tank, and threw in a couple of free batteries. You don't get that kind of facetime when you purchase online.
Anyways, sorry for the rant here. I just think we all need to remember that everything has a target audience and a purpose. I am in no way excusing the poor behavior of a B&M or a kiosk employee, but perhaps they have been walked all over and been faced with negative attitudes from one too many people and are at their wits end. And remember too, they are a business trying to put food on their table and a roof over their head. They will naturally become defensive if they feel their livelihood is being threatened.
I have read a lot of threads recently on the general attitudes and disrespect of some B&M establishments out in our communities. It is sad to hear some of pathetic customer service examples out there. Given how supportive and positive the ECF community is, we take for granted that fellow vapers are always positive and helpful, no matter the forum, vendor, or establishment. All of us on ECF have a distinct advantage of getting the best prices, the top of the line supplies, and excellent customer service (usually) from our online vendors. But not everyone utilizes online purchases. Many people in the vaping world do not know that ECF exists! For them, mall kiosks and B&M are all they have to keep them off of the stinkies. And it is successful for them. They have either completely quit or substantially cut back on the amount they smoke from purchasing equipment outside of the help from the ECF forum.
So here is what is stuck in my craw. And I am guilty of it as well. There seems to be an elitist attitude forming about the superiority of certain vaping methods and shunning of others. Provoking and demeaning a mall kiosk employee while puffing clouds of vapor from a Provari is not nice. That kiosk employee is doing his job--selling their brand of equipment, albeit at a large inflated price. BUT..it WORKS for some people! B&M cannot carry the vast array of PV's and juices due to high overhead. They cannot compete with the lower online prices. BUT....it WORKS for some people! I, like most of you, look for great deals and shop to save money and maximize my dollar. But online shopping is not always the most convenient. For some, convenience trumps saving a few bucks. And that is why kiosks and B&M are so important. The more people that quit smoking the better, no matter where or what they purchase to do so.
I look at it this way. I am a nurse. And nothing makes me madder than someone telling me how to do my job. I hate it when family members compare how we do things at my hospital versus how another hospital does it. And I am sure all of you feel the same way too. We don't want someone coming into our home or our place of employment and comment about how our methods or practices are substandard compared to theirs. This is what is happening when we whip out our grippers or Provari's or zens or SB's when in an establishment that does not sell them. We are sending the message that hey, your stuff is crap, my mod is better, I would never spend my money here on inflated priced items, and then walk away. A year ago I purchased a silver bullet at a B&M. Paid nearly double what they cost online. But I also had a full hour of sit down time with the salesperson who showed me how to punch cartos, fill my tank, and threw in a couple of free batteries. You don't get that kind of facetime when you purchase online.
Anyways, sorry for the rant here. I just think we all need to remember that everything has a target audience and a purpose. I am in no way excusing the poor behavior of a B&M or a kiosk employee, but perhaps they have been walked all over and been faced with negative attitudes from one too many people and are at their wits end. And remember too, they are a business trying to put food on their table and a roof over their head. They will naturally become defensive if they feel their livelihood is being threatened.
But at the same time, is it really our place as a patron of a business to educate them and tell them what is good and bad? Should we educate them about what cartos or clearos are best and that what they sell is not top of the line? I can see both sides of the fence, and I wonder if we are overstepping our boundaries by trying to educate some of these business owners. I just prefer to stay out of a B&M and purchase online. That way I do not run the risk of saying something I shouldn't! 
