Am I the only one?

[Paramaniac413]

Am I the only one that feels like a total idiot when:
...I go into a new vape shop for the first time?
...I go in search of a new flavor and can't figure out what I want?

I went to a different shop today just to see what it was like and look for a new flavor.
It was a nice shop, but parking wasn't that great (small lot, hard to get in and out of), and it seemed like everyone there was all about the 'cloud,' which I am definitely not into having a cloud and haze around my head (wasn't when I was a smoker, either). First I felt like an idiot, because the batteries they were using for testers had threads that were so awful I could hardly screw a tank on, then when I went to take one tank off, only the top came off and I dumped the juice down my hand - the threading was so tight to the battery and my fingers weren't entirely over the right section and I still occasionally have some issues with the feeling in my fingers (I had neck surgery), so I felt like a schmuck. lol. After I found a flavor (Bumble Bee Strawberry Shortcake), I wanted to get a second tank to vape it, so I asked about a tank with compatible coils since they didn't sell the tank I have (I have a Kanger GeniTank), and he questioned me about how I knew that's what it was. Um...'cause I bought it new and still have the box? Anyway, ended up with a Kanger EMOW Mega full of Strawberry Shortcake. I went in thinking I wanted Vanilla...came out with something MUCH better! And I think I like the look of the EMOW Mega better than my GeniTank...may end up switching that at some point. I still felt like a total idiot and am thinking I may not go back there for a while. lol

 

[CampbellMC]

Some shops are better than others in the customer service side of things for sure. I have 2 vape shops in my town, and I have gone to both, but only ever end up buying from 1. They are great with all their customers, new, advanced, younger or older. The other shop just tries to rush people through basically, and they seem to give out some poor advice from what I have heard, and never seem to have coils (always up selling a new tank though ;P). Good customer service means everything in this market though, the shop I like going to is smaller, and a bit more out of the way, but it is always busy, and I am guessing its because they are so good with all their customers.

 

[Rat2chat2]

to ecf Paramaniac413. I have only been in two myself but I was not very impressed. With just the information I have learned on ecf. . . well, let's just say I didn't think the person I talked to was a member here. If he had been, I know he would have been more knowledgeable. I am sure there are plenty of wonderful B&M's out there. Maybe try another shop. Good luck to you and happy vaping.

 

[GretaGarbo]

I visited Breatheasy in East Bridgewater MA today for the first time!! What a great experience!! The staff was awesome and very helpful..sharing with me what were the best sellers and giving me suggestions for flavors of juice I might like.

 

[frankenkristin]

My favorite shop, is a customer service nightmare!! Elitist hipster shenanigans....but their juice and pricing is amazing so i'll have to deal. I go to a closer shop, with AH-mazing customer service, but alas, the prices are ridiculous. So for me, at least, it's how much quality human interaction I need vs pricing. If I have the money, I usually go to the better one I usually avoid the hipster place as much as possible! they make me feel stupid, and I dislike them greatly...boo on them.

 

[Rather be at the beach]

Take heart, the learning curve is pretty short. To your point, most of the shops I've been in remind me of the old head shops from the 60s. I like the vibe in some and others not so much. And, hasn't everyone spilled juice while testing? I've done it, and have seen others do it so don't sweat it. Guy told me it happens all the time. Just relax and do your thing. Unless you're running for office or something, who do you have to impress? lol Grats on your EMOW, that's a good one.

 

[twgbonehead]

Hi, Paramaniac, Kristin, Greta, and Rather! Great to see so many new faces (well, names, anyway!)

I agree with your experiences; the shops I've been in (here in MA, and down in NJ) have been pretty dismal. There are good ones out there, apparently, but there's also a lot of really bogus ones. Not your fault!

And unscrewing the wrong part of the tank, spilling the juice? EVERYBODY has done that!!! (In my case, many times.... I'm a bit better now, haven't done that in at least a month. Or at least a couple weeks.).

Welcome to ECF, and enjoy vaping! If you can't find what you're looking for in a local store, get it online. (Or try a different store!)

 

[javarivanhans]

You are not alone. I have had the same experiences. Many of these shops are brand new and do not know how to run a business. Most of the employees are cloud chasing kids with no stake in the business and while nice do not know how much harm they are doing to vaping with "regular people". They have still not invented a good testing station device. ALL of the taste testing stations I have been to are inadequate. They often have substandard tanks with burnt out coils and what you taste there are often different than what you will taste in your tank or RBA.

 

[Paramaniac413]

Glad to know I'm not the only one that's dumped juice! lol. The first shop I went to was awesome. The ladies that run the place were super helpful and I got a decent first setup. I took a friend there when she wanted to quit smoking (I didn't even know she had started) and they hooked her up and I got my 2nd setup. I like going there, but I'm not sure they have the other juice I just got (the bumble Bee strawberry shortcake), so I may end up ordering online or just going to the other shop only when I need more. There are apparently 1 or 2 more shops in my area, so I may check out one of those other ones. I'm one that likes to see and feel (and taste) things before I go online and get something, so it's definitely going to be an interesting journey! Here's to a great !

 

[twgbonehead]

Glad to know I'm not the only one that's dumped juice! lol. The first shop I went to was awesome. The ladies that run the place were super helpful and I got a decent first setup. I took a friend there when she wanted to quit smoking (I didn't even know she had started) and they hooked her up and I got my 2nd setup. I like going there, but I'm not sure they have the other juice I just got (the bumble Bee strawberry shortcake), so I may end up ordering online or just going to the other shop only when I need more. There are apparently 1 or 2 more shops in my area, so I may check out one of those other ones. I'm one that likes to see and feel (and taste) things before I go online and get something, so it's definitely going to be an interesting journey! Here's to a great !

Yeah, the first time you do it, you feel like an idiot. The second time, you feel like a bigger idiot. By the third time you start to figure out it's not just you!

With all the relevant disclaimers (YMMV, taste is subjective, etc) I just this morning got my first juices from ITCVapes, and there are 3 you might like to try: Spoonlicker (OG), Spoonlicker V2, and Strawberry Shortcake. All of these are strawberry-cream type vapes, and I like them all. (I got them all with an extra flavor shot; the way they do it is kind of weird; you order the bottles, and then order the flavor-shots separately). I am just offering this as a suggestion, if you want to take a chance on online juices, these would be the ones I'd recommend to try, in the small bottles!

ETA: Although I just got the ITC liquids, I've tried a lot of others, from the Hangsen, Dekang, Liqua, through the Mount Baker, High Desert, Killer Juice, etc, and Good Life Vapors (who do make my favorite e-liquid, "Deadly Sin"). The ITC stuff really is great for the price IMHO.

 

[jcolom]

Hi, I'm in PA too, Pittsburgh. Almost 3 weeks into vaping. I walked into a vape shop tonight for the first time knowing what I wanted but had to wait behind two groups of newbs. Then the sales person sold me the wrong coil. Not really into B&M shops but in a pinch they are there.I was all like get out of my way (not in a rude way just knew what I needed) after only almost 3 weeks. It gets easier to shop. If it helps, I found I like ry4 from local shops, do all my special blends online.

 

[Zazoie]

I always feel like an idiot in the B&M because I always manage to find yet another question to ask

 

[Paramaniac413]

These are some really good suggestions for flavors - Thanks!

 

[Ou2mame]

Depends on the shop.. Some shops aren't set up well.. Juice too far away to read, no menu, no samples, sealed bottles so you can't smell them... That's annoying. The place I normally go has a sample for every flavor, it's great. But I already tried the I ones they have so I have to venture off to new places with worse setups.

 

[amtseung]

There are times when I dump juice, but usually, I take all the little bits of leftovers and collect them in a spare squeeze bottle. May the completely random flavour mixing begin!