Anyone else annoyed by this?

[basylica]

I've finally bit the bullet and started hanging out in vape shops once in awhile.

I have two major pet peves.

1 - the young vape shop guys totally ignore me. this bothers me for a host of reasons, for one i'm not a newbie and i'm fairly quick to take care of...but even more they should be paying attention to everyone. two I gots money to spend here - ha. When someone walks in with over 300 bucks in their hand worth of vaping equipment wouldn't you think to yourself....easy money? lol. I dunno. One shop I visit is super friendly and will just chat with you, but don't really SELL well. and i'm not talking pushy car sales either, i'm talking me "hmm...I've been thinking about buying one" them "oh, thats cool". seems like ideal time to say "hey, wanna try/touch/hold/whatever"??
second shop I visit they just flat out ignore me standing infront of them at the small sales area, I follow them around the U shaped display and they still ignore me. really?

2 - The fact that a bunch of the employees are using c4 tanks. I can understand different strokes for different folks and SOME people liking them, but c'mon. When I visit a vape shop, I expect them to be using slightly better equipment. Makes me not trust their opinions on any devices (I come here, but it makes me wary for other folks in the shops)

3 - when the manager has to ask what i'm using. I get it that my nintendo mod is cool, I accept hoopla. and I'd understand for RBA/mech mods. What I don't get is when they say "what is a provari?" "a sigelei?" "what is that on your tank? (couldn't say drip tip?)" "that must be a generic, we sell joytech batteries here" when they see a vision spinner....


I work crazy hours (salary, of course) and I have custody of my two kiddos, but part of me wants to get a parttime job 2 weekends a month at a vapeshop because they def seem to be lacking education, enthusiasm, and overall skill at retail.
Plus I would love to change someone's life the way mine has been changed.

maybe I need to try a third store....

 

[SupplyDaddy]

I've been to three shops in this area (well, two, since one is run by the other...) and I did have the same issues at one of them for the most part.
In the last B&M I hit, three folks were running it, one in the back "building things.." two up front. The youngest one just looked right through me.. I wasn't there.. Guess I looked liked I just walked in off the street.. (erm.. how else do you enter the shop???). The other, slightly older, at least took a minute to answer a few questions and let me "look around".. I had more info then he did on the items for the most part, but he at least tried!
Now the shop I visit the most, younger folks even still. But They say Hello, ask how they can help, and offer to show everything! They even (OMG) Ask about what You know... they are learning this stuff right along with the rest of the world and they aren't afraid to say so.

Ugh! Now I wish I had some cash so I can go see them again.. LOL

 

[Weizenheimer]

I have only been to one shop when some juice I ordered before going on a vacation didn't show up in time. The guys there were knowledgeable, friendly, attentive, told us to hit the tasting bar, pointed out the water cooler for pallete cleansing, and one of them had me take a couple pulls off of his mech with dual coil RDA attached. They had individually wrapped plastic drip tips for people to use for testing, and the main guy that let me hit his mech put on gloves before handling anything that we were going to handle. This was in LA.

OTOH my wife was at a store here where we live, and they seemed to get a bit confused when I told her over the phone to pick up some 510 cartos for taste testing (before I got a couple RDAs).

 

[OzarkTroutBum]

I posted a big rant about Dallas area vape shops a few weeks ago and I'm not even from Dallas.

It was like pulling hens teeth getting them to stop vaping or fiddling with their own gear and hand me something from the display case.

 

[aikanae1]

The first vape shop I visited (only one in town then) considered ego twists to be "advanced". Mods were off the scale, so was vv/vw and yup, everyone used ce4's but they didn't have them for sale. OMFG. They were clueless and still are. That shop is full of people daily. I wanted to open up a vape shop next door or across the street.

Since then, there's been a new store open in town almost monthly. Yeah! A few have a sincere interest in vaping, vapers, getting people to quit, stocking such that buying online could be a thing of the past. All the right things - except they are heavily into mechanicals and rba's to the exclusion on everything (and everyone) else. Provari's are blech when I coulda bought a bunch of mech's .... (so they say).

Recently one of the shop owners stated that > 60% of the customers were men between 25-40. HUH? They've got to be kidding. They are missing the FEMALE market entirely. The sexism is thick and I'm bored with it.

They can't even bother to carry 18350 batteries, but 18650's? Out the whazoo. I'm not interested in monster mech's or fussing with wires. I am interested in purple anything, etc. which they don't carry.

So I continue to buy online.

I'm craving a white Provari. Too bad no one in town carries them.

​

 

[Chadastrophic]

I'm lucky to live so close to Mr E Liquid. No matter how busy they are you are always greeted the second you walk in the door and they have no problem handing you product to fondle.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2

 

[DrillRX]

I've finally bit the bullet and started hanging out in vape shops once in awhile.

I have two major pet peves.

1 - the young vape shop guys totally ignore me. this bothers me for a host of reasons, for one i'm not a newbie and i'm fairly quick to take care of...but even more they should be paying attention to everyone. two I gots money to spend here - ha. When someone walks in with over 300 bucks in their hand worth of vaping equipment wouldn't you think to yourself....easy money? lol. I dunno. One shop I visit is super friendly and will just chat with you, but don't really SELL well. and i'm not talking pushy car sales either, i'm talking me "hmm...I've been thinking about buying one" them "oh, thats cool". seems like ideal time to say "hey, wanna try/touch/hold/whatever"??
second shop I visit they just flat out ignore me standing infront of them at the small sales area, I follow them around the U shaped display and they still ignore me. really?

2 - The fact that a bunch of the employees are using c4 tanks. I can understand different strokes for different folks and SOME people liking them, but c'mon. When I visit a vape shop, I expect them to be using slightly better equipment. Makes me not trust their opinions on any devices (I come here, but it makes me wary for other folks in the shops)

3 - when the manager has to ask what i'm using. I get it that my nintendo mod is cool, I accept hoopla. and I'd understand for RBA/mech mods. What I don't get is when they say "what is a provari?" "a sigelei?" "what is that on your tank? (couldn't say drip tip?)" "that must be a generic, we sell joytech batteries here" when they see a vision spinner....


I work crazy hours (salary, of course) and I have custody of my two kiddos, but part of me wants to get a parttime job 2 weekends a month at a vapeshop because they def seem to be lacking education, enthusiasm, and overall skill at retail.
Plus I would love to change someone's life the way mine has been changed.

maybe I need to try a third store....

We have a handful of shops like that in my area also. I think they all want to get in on the craze while it's fresh without knowing what is the "real deal". They even have kiosks in the mall selling pro tank 2 for around 30 bucks to kids and people that don't know any better. And Ego mega batts for $60.......for a mod that you can get online for 30 bucks you got to be kidding. They are out there.

My advice, stay away at all cost and buy somewhere else. If all else fails, buy online.

 

[SilentVapidity]

Basylica, you're educated and knowledgeable. You're definitely not their target market I haven't been to a vape shop for a while. I learned so much from ECF and trial-and-error that my knowledge and experience outpaced the staff at the vape shops that I went to. I also think it's growing pains of the industry in general. People are trying to figure out how to serve a broad spectrum. On one end is the person that wants a simple way to quit smoking. On the other end is the advanced vaper. And then, everyone in-between those extremes. From a business and marketing perspective it's an interesting thing to think about. I wonder how many of these vape shops are going to hit on a magic formula for their neighborhoods, and how many will cash out OR fail within a year or two.

 

[Recycled Roadkill]

I posted a big rant about Dallas area vape shops a few weeks ago and I'm not even from Dallas.

It was like pulling hens teeth getting them to stop vaping or fiddling with their own gear and hand me something from the display case.

I've run into the same thing and had to attract someone's attention while he messed with some stainless steel mesh wick, which I assumed was for his own stuff. I found a fairly new shop just a couple of blocks from my home. I understand if the place is busy with other customers but I'll only be ignored once. After that I'll just ignore they exist and go elsewhere.

 

[basylica]

Basylica, you're educated and knowledgeable. You're definitely not their target market I haven't been to a vape shop for a while. I learned so much from ECF and trial-and-error that my knowledge and experience outpaced the staff at the vape shops that I went to. I also think it's growing pains of the industry in general. People are trying to figure out how to serve a broad spectrum. On one end is the person that wants a simple way to quit smoking. On the other end is the advanced vaper. And then, everyone in-between those extremes. From a business and marketing perspective it's an interesting thing to think about. I wonder how many of these vape shops are going to hit on a magic formula for their neighborhoods, and how many will cash out OR fail within a year or two.

Yeah, I'm still trying to find flavors I love. I made mistake of buying online and being somewhat picky. I found a ADV at the one *friendly* shop, which is why i've been back a few times. They are the bad sales, c4 using guys.
They also carry several sizes of vision spinners which impresses me and i've become the goto person for the smokers in my dept at work. I've been lending and giving advice on starter kits like crazy!

The other place i've been to twice, once for a PT2 (which I hated) for a reasonable price and quick satisfaction...but everything else they are charging like crazy for. They also have comfy couches (no spanish inquisition!) and a nice tasting area which is cool, and they are stocking some botique juices. standard vape (which I tried in OKC while up there and purchased) and five pawns. The other store only carried 650 batteries and these guys had 490s which I liked for my zmax mini + ext before I got my provari. I got tired of the 2 battery cycle and popped in to see about buying a third.
Took me 25min of hovering directly infront of TWO sales guys before I finally said "hey, I need a battery please!"

they also carry some cool mechs, rbas, gennys, and provaris. I would have LOVED to hold a provari since I was still on the fence when I was there, but again it seemed a huge imposition.
The owner was there the first time and seemed a pretty cool and helpful guy who practically had to jockey his sales guys out of the way (who were ALL ignoring me) to help, and all i bought was the PT2....and he posted a pic of my nintendo on his FB.
I'm fairly tempted to email the guy and tell him how bad his MANAGER and staff are doing.

I feel like the old guy on the lawn waving my cane at the paperboy. I've worked retail in my youth....and I have to say I rather expect a TINY bit better service at a vape shop than say....walmart. you know?

 

[rico942]

1 - the young vape shop guys totally ignore me.

Had exactly the same issue at a well known chain vape shop, on two occasions. There was a cluster of 20-somethings on a couch, vaping a communal cloud and "phone petting". They looked up when I entered, saw the gray hair through glazed eyes, and promptly lost interest. Some of them were probably employees, the rest friends hanging out. I was completely ignored for over 20 minutes, and left after handling everything in the display case ...

Exited with my wallet intact and a better idea of the size and proportions of some of the mechs and mods. Can't imagine how they make a profit, it was more like a private social club house ...

Just found an online distributor right in the town where I live. No store, but I should be able to arrange for pickup instead of waiting for shipment ...

 

[Rabbit Chaser]

The first vape shop that I went to locally was awful and almost turned me off of vaping before I even started. It was a classy looking shop but full of all these younger Asians (nothing against Asians, mind you) that were not speaking english. When they did help me, they treated me like I was an outsider of sorts. They sold me what I found out to be a cheap knockoff and told me nothing, just went back to blowing clouds with each other.

Luckily, I yelped the area and found a fabulous shop that was like hanging out with friends from the first visit. I am in there a few times a week and they answer any questions I have at length, spend lots of time with me and rebuild my coils for free. They know me by name, my favorite types of flavors and what kinds of gear i may be interested in. Out of the five shops locally I have been to, this is the only one like that so I sympathize with those who live in cities with few choices. I live in the Bay area of California so I have quite a collection of options, but even with that it is rare to find a shop not just in it for quick sales. My guys know their stuff inside and out and care about promoting good and safe vaping. I don't know what I would do without such a shop.

We also have a place called The Vape Bar - exactly what it sounds like....a bar for vaping. It's industrial type decor with cool menus and free tasting all you want of local and national juice vendors. I thought it would be cool but I walked in and was the only one over 19 and felt totally out of place. They had good prices on juice but I didn't buy because I didn't feel comfortable enough to hang out and taste.

I feel for you.

 

[Racehorse]

It was like pulling hens teeth getting them to stop vaping or fiddling with their own gear and hand me something from the display case.

Some people think showing up to work is enough these days.

On that note, when I posted about not receiving email responses from vendors w/in even a 3 day time frame, I was pretty much not agreed with in the topic.

Here is what I know, and I use it in both my consumer habits and my personal life:

WE TEACH OTHER PEOPLE HOW TO TREAT US


It's a very simple concept. If a vendor doesn't answer your inquiries, and you continue to place a $200 juice order with them, then you have taught them how you like to be treated. If you walk into a retail B&B, and you are not given any attention, then you don't take out your wallet to reinforce that this is "okay." If you are in relationships where you are disrepected, and stay, then you have taught that person how you wish to be treated.

(BTW, my grandmother from "old country" gave me that above phrase when I was about 10 years old, and it has served me well. )

I can't fix people;s issues........but I can certainly avoid dealing w/them.

 

[MrStik]

I am a firm believer of supporting B&M stores. I have been very blessed with being surrounded by certain stores that are very helpful and knowledgeable. Their prices are of course higher than online pricing, but I am keeping the money closer to home.

I am a strong believer in customer service and being able to point me to what I am looking for. Usually I know exactly what I want, so be quick and courteous. And those guys at the stores I go to are like that, and they are also pretty fun to be around and hang out with too.

But honestly, if I wanted to hang out with a bunch of vapers, I would do so with my friends. We have a circle of about a dozen who vape...

 

[OzarkTroutBum]

Some people think showing up to work is enough these days.

We have good vape shops in Arkansas. Theres a few more that are good but the two I frequent are Rogue Vapors in Little Rock and Vape City in Conway. Both are top of the line owner operated and are the standards by which I judge vape stores now.

 

[patrao_n]

I have a tobacco shop near me that started picking up vape stuff. I go in every week. I even hang out with the owner and give him advice on what to start carrying. Which batteries are safe. He vapes sub ohm on a mech. This last time I went in I told him how to build micro coils. I have been into vape shops in the area too. Didnt like them at all. I make my own juice anyway. So I only go to the tobacco shop for anything I need now. And everything else I get online. I have also recently told him about reos and provaris. He is trying ro get those setup so he can sell them. I even told him how to drill the caps for rda and rba. I think I should quit my machining job and just work at his store lol.

Sent from my SPH-L900 using Tapatalk

 

[aikanae1]

You hit on another aspect. All the stock is behind glass. I think clerks size me up when I walk in and assume I want a cig-alike or something because I'm an older female. I bet there's a good chance that if you had gotten your hands on a provari then, it would have been a sale. I get tired of being brushed off when I ask about something - they don't know it's "too advanced" for me. Chances are my knowledge outshines theirs.

I guess I should say that there is a lot of stereotyping done that isn't accurate or necessary and most seem blind to it. It's limiting business and the expansion of vaping. I bet if a poll were done, there would be equal (if not more) women on ecf and equal numbers of those over 40. I have my bias too though. I'm not thrilled seeing 20yr old kids vaping.

Yeah, I'm still trying to find flavors I love. I made mistake of buying online and being somewhat picky. I found a ADV at the one *friendly* shop, which is why i've been back a few times. They are the bad sales, c4 using guys.
They also carry several sizes of vision spinners which impresses me and i've become the goto person for the smokers in my dept at work. I've been lending and giving advice on starter kits like crazy!

The other place i've been to twice, once for a PT2 (which I hated) for a reasonable price and quick satisfaction...but everything else they are charging like crazy for. They also have comfy couches (no spanish inquisition!) and a nice tasting area which is cool, and they are stocking some botique juices. standard vape (which I tried in OKC while up there and purchased) and five pawns. The other store only carried 650 batteries and these guys had 490s which I liked for my zmax mini + ext before I got my provari. I got tired of the 2 battery cycle and popped in to see about buying a third.
Took me 25min of hovering directly infront of TWO sales guys before I finally said "hey, I need a battery please!"

they also carry some cool mechs, rbas, gennys, and provaris. I would have LOVED to hold a provari since I was still on the fence when I was there, but again it seemed a huge imposition.
The owner was there the first time and seemed a pretty cool and helpful guy who practically had to jockey his sales guys out of the way (who were ALL ignoring me) to help, and all i bought was the PT2....and he posted a pic of my nintendo on his FB.
I'm fairly tempted to email the guy and tell him how bad his MANAGER and staff are doing.

I feel like the old guy on the lawn waving my cane at the paperboy. I've worked retail in my youth....and I have to say I rather expect a TINY bit better service at a vape shop than say....walmart. you know?

 

[basylica]

I honestly rather wish I could get a job working 2 weekends a month at a local shop just because I'd really love to share excitement and life changeyness with others.
I've worked retail, I know its tedius...but seriously??

I think my grey hair might be showing....because I wanted to slap them and say "SHOW PRIDE IN YOUR WORK!!"

reminds me of the humor video I found for dealing with millenials in the workplace.
"they expect raises and promotions for doing the least amount possible"
"they don't show up before 10am, and then only with a giant iced coffee drink of some kind"
etc...

 

[basylica]

You hit on another aspect. All the stock is behind glass. I think clerks size me up when I walk in and assume I want a cig-alike or something because I'm an older female. I bet there's a good chance that if you had gotten your hands on a provari then, it would have been a sale. I get tired of being brushed off when I ask about something - they don't know it's "too advanced" for me. Chances are my knowledge outshines theirs.

I guess I should say that there is a lot of stereotyping done that isn't accurate or necessary and most seem blind to it. It's limiting business and the expansion of vaping. I bet if a poll were done, there would be equal (if not more) women on ecf and equal numbers of those over 40. I have my bias too though. I'm not thrilled seeing 20yr old kids vaping.

I don't know for sure how I read, I guess to me I look about the same as I did 15 years ago
I've been TOLD by nearly anyone rude enough to say it that I look a few years younger than my sister who is 31. Mind you she's footloose and fancy free and picks up and moves whenever and lived in japan for a year....etc.
I've gained and lost 140+lbs with 2 pregancies (one was an 11lb baby) and gone through a messy and crazy expensive divorce, and I work in an industry (IT) that everything is more life threatening than doctors....so my last job I worked 18-22hr days, 7 days a week, for 6 years.

if I look younger than her, hooray!

I am infact 34, and I would imagine a pretty key demographic?
not to mention a nerd, I'll sit and geek on anything for hours. I'd love a shop that will sit and show me RBAs....

 

[basylica]

ok, wow.....I got an email back from the one shop that was really rude (the other shop is super friendly, but isn't great at sales. but I like going there) literally as fast as it probably took her to read it. Evidently the one "manager" who was really ignoring me is her son. Lovely.

She sent me a great response I feel, but my first thought was "oooh...on a second provari?" LOL

******************************

Shan,
First of all, thank you for visiting (The Store) and giving us the opportunity to serve your vaping needs. My husband and I opened the store 4 1/2 months ago, and the manager is my son, (his name). It's a family business and we opened it with all heart. To hear this feedback is very disturbing, and honestly it's our very first negative feedback. We pride ourselves in our customer service, so this comes as quite a shock. Customer services is our #1 priority; without it, we don't have a business.
I very much appreciate the maturity in which you handled the delivery of your expression/opinions. We would love for you to give us another shot. If you will visit us again, we would love to offer you 50% off your purchase, and my husband would like to speak with you personally. We never ever want to deliver anything but exceptional service.

Thank you for your feedback. We have made our gentlemen read your email, and it is our mission to never allow that to happen again.