Amazed that only overpriced junk is available at retail stores!

[sandybeach]

Yesterday I went shopping around for a backup PV or extra battery. I tried the big box stores, a gas station, convenience stores, and a couple of drug stores and a mall kiosk. Junk! It would be nice to be able to pick up a decent 510 PV like an Ego at a retail store. Instead, what I found was slim devices that looked like cigarettes for $30 to $75. Nothing that would last very long between charges. What a waste of money. And there were $10 disposables that would last a day or so.

It almost gives me an idea. Get a bunch of Kgos or Egos and wholesale them to retail stores so people have something decent to buy without having to go online.

 

[DaveP]

I haven't been to check, but I hear that Walmart is selling the KR808 kit in the tobacco aisle. That's probably the best slim ecig out there for the price, since it has a 280mah battery. I don't know what they are getting for it at retail, though.

I went to Walmart's web site and and searched for electronic cigarette and ecig, but found nothing related to ecigs. Only electronic devices came back in the search.

 

[Fazed]

I didn't price check it, but I noticed my local Wally world had the mystic brand in the tobacco area.


Sent via cellular communication device...

 

[sandybeach]

It was Mystic brand at my WalMart too.

 

[dandelionwings]

mystic was the first ecig that i ever tried and it was bought at a truck stop near louisville. i was actually excited that our walmart started to carry them a few weeks ago---because when i first quit analogs---i couldn't find them anywhere local. they taste better than the 21st century or the njoy [if i remember correctly], i'm just excited that there is something out there for those quitting that haven't found this site, yet. it sure would have made my life easier lol

What a waste of money. And there were $10 disposables that would last a day or so. .

for that price, you won't believe how long one would try to make that stretch....that is, until you know what a real th is and that there are other options

 

[Stormiefury]

At 10 bucks a day or so you're spending more on that then a PAD smoker like I was would have. I would never have quit. I'm only a little over a month and I'm finally getting to the point where I'm about to start saving money. I sold some stuff I bought and now I mostly only buy juice and cartos. But the Blu for 8 bucks at Walgreens was the first one I tried and got me going. But I only bought one and started researching for cheaper when I found ECF woot and a local vape shop all in one day.

Stormie

 

[bassworm]

I stopped by the totally vapor kiosk at the mall over the weekend just to see how much they would sell ONE STANDARD CARTOMIZER for. ........

$12.99

 

[XMit]

Retail - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Retail pricing

The pricing technique used by most retailers is cost-plus pricing. This involves adding a markup amount (or percentage) to the retailer's cost. Another common technique is suggested retail pricing. This simply involves charging the amount suggested by the manufacturer and usually printed on the product by the manufacturer.

In Western countries, retail prices are often called psychological prices or odd prices. Often prices are fixed and displayed on signs or labels. Alternatively, when prices are not clearly displayed, there can be price discrimination, where the sale price is dependent upon who the customer is. For example, a customer may have to pay more if the seller determines that he or she is willing and/or able to. Another example would be the practice of discounting for youths, students, or senior citizens..

And there you have it.

 

[whitepony]

well thats abotu typical ecigs are still a niche item

 

[classwife]

I look at it as a good step...they are getting out in the public so more can try e-cigs as an alternative...$10 for a disposable (even if it's not a very good one) could lead to a person having enough interest to check it out further...

 

[StotheK]

Most of the stuff you're going to find in big box retail stores is big box e-cigarettes. Mostly because those brands have enough resources to be able to get product on store shelves on a national level. They also have enough clout to be able to get big players to the table in the first place.

Also, there's the markups. Wal Mart squeezes suppliers pretty heavily, some our favorite vendors work on pretty slim margins so there's not a lot of room to play with to be able to price the product for retail and still have anything left.

 

[D4rk50ul]

Volcano E-cigs is based here in town and I regularly use them as an emergency source of supplies. Perhaps there is a local PV vendor with a brick and mortar located close to you?

I always wondered if those smoking shops like Cigarettes are Cheaper would sell E-cigs or if the stores are even around still. Haven't been back to California in years so I have no way to check.

 

[VpnDrgn]

A lot of people don't seem to realize just how much overhead is involved in a brick
and mortar store. I was talking to someone who runs a cafe in my neighborhood,
and their electric bill alone was $1300. Then you have rent, insurance, employees salaries,
and many other required payouts like workmens comp. You could easily see the need
for a heavy markup just to have any kind of gross profit.

On the other hand, when you have an established retail storefront ( *cough*Walmart*cough* ),
and you are just adding another product to the shelf, some of the markups are ridiculous.

I saw a generic 808 kit selling for $40 in a gas station, and I am pretty sure it was the same
kit you could get from China for like 6 or 7 bucks if you bought 100 units or more.

 

[sandybeach]

...Perhaps there is a local PV vendor with a brick and mortar located close to you?..

Sure is! I am in Chicago, and there are quite a few. On Sunday night, I went over to one of the vendor's homes, and he sold me a new battery and a couple of chargers! I'd rather deal with the little guys anytime. V4L is here, but is not my cup of tea. I went in there once. Cignot is also here, but I've not been there.

 

[RichieRich]

Which is why I am glad Cignot has a brick and mortar near me. Sandy, you should check them out. They are in downtown Elmhurst.
Cignot ® Retail Locations

 

[sandybeach]

Elmhurst is kind of a schlep for me. What does Cignot have that's good?

 

[jacquelyn]

Volcano E-cigs is based here in town and I regularly use them as an emergency source of supplies. Perhaps there is a local PV vendor with a brick and mortar located close to you?

I always wondered if those smoking shops like Cigarettes are Cheaper would sell E-cigs or if the stores are even around still. Haven't been back to California in years so I have no way to check.

In CA we have slim ones sold such as never light again and cig2o and premium at the cig stores. Sadly we need better quality ASAP

 

[moonlessnight]

There is a company here in Spokane that has a quality product with a nice variety, however they are highly over priced. I understand there are costs to the company for rent and employees, but, all their products are the same price through the website as well. Because they do have a good base product I have and still hit them up on occasion when I am in a fix or if they have a decent sale on something (not that that happens all that often).

 

[robblundberg]

i used to work at (and am still loosely employed) one of the dreaded mall kiosk's. were we overpriced? you betcha, but as has been pointed out, we're the ones actually exposing e-cigs to the public, we're the ones with employee wages, rent, electric bill, etc. etc. etc.

as far as e-cigs and storefronts, it's the same thing as every other business now aday's, can you find it on the internet for cheaper? hell yes, you can find anything on the internet cheaper, but that doesn't make us evil like everyone on this site so commonly thinks. we have to have some type of mark up or there's no profit, and if there's no profit what's the point of running the business????

i still buy alot of my supplies from that kiosk, and will continue to do so as they're the ones that got me off of cigarettes and i applaud them for that.

now, all that being said, the company that i work for yes is overpriced, but we do sell a quality 808 product, and we have a very knowledgeable sales staff. so you either pay for the convenience or you don't. i can tell you i have alot of customers who bought from me because i was able to take something that basically appears "alien" to a smoker who's never tried one and by the time they left they knew everything they needed to know. not many websites can do that.

my .02

 

[moonlessnight]

I agree with you...I still buy from my local on occasion. I like the hands on approach they offer. They let you try the different equipment and flavors they offer. And as you and I stated there are reasons for a mark up. However a 50% plus markup is outrageous. I can understand a 10 to 20 percent markup over the website but when it is way over priced both in person and online its a joke.