Anyone else annoyed by this?

[danc13]

iv had problems at my local vape shop as well with poor customer service and lack of knoledge although all employees are not that way. Some are great and are always willing to help and have a friendly conversation while i try out close to every flavor of ejuice i could possibly want to buy One thing my local vape shop lacks that i would love is some RBAs and RDAs. Lots of egos and VV devices though

 

[WillyZee]

A good Vape shop will operate similar to a quality Tattoo shop ... knowledgeable and friendly ... word of mouth is everything.

The wannabes, only looking to get in on what they think is a golden ticket ... will fail miserably

 

[Lombaowski]

Yeah, this is pretty annoying. I know way more than most of these folks working at B&Ms which is fine, but many of them make no effort whatsoever to be knowledgeable or helpful and that falls on ownership.

I went to a local B&M (that shall remain nameless) with a buddy of mine who was trying to get off the analogs, and I explained everything to him and three other customers in there while an Army of 22-year-old employees walked to and from the back room. I made four sales that day, lol. Guy on the floor had ten customers and his explanation of replacement heads and equipment was equivalent to my knowledge of vape equipment on day 2.

My other local "Vaper's Knoll" has some fairly well-known juices and those guys are extremely helpful and knowledgeable. My advice to the OP is find another B&M, no reason to feel slighted in the U.S. consumer world. If Vaper's Knoll didn't have such great juices, I wouldn't even go in there with all the stuff we can get on the innerwebs. That other place I mentioned? I'll never go back unless I hear someone tell me it has changed.

 

[erikbal]

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.

Wow that seems like a very nice and professional response. Giving you 50% off is pretty impressive as well. You never know, this place might become your new favorite vape shop! I wish we had one in my area. We have one "head shop" that is selling some cheap juice and No 7 kits. Nothing too great in my opinion.

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[Zealous]

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....

^^^this has exactly been my experience at my local B&M closest to me. I didn't want to come here & whine about it though cuz I would have felt like a big complainer. So thank you for doing it for me so I could agree (lol).

Anyway, about the c4s they might be being told by the owner to try them out. When i was last in my local shop the CS reps all had the same tank & battery & were asked to try them out . Maybe this is what's going on with the ones you've been to.

I've also thought about trying to get hired at my B&M for the same exact reason you stated. I'm not really knowledgable about things like building perfect coils & that sort of thing but I know CS & I think I'm more knowledgable than some of the CS reps at that shop (which really bothers me).

 

[aikanae1]

Kudos that you spoke up and said something. That's something I never thought of doing unless someone was outright rude. I usually just shrug it off and go elsewhere. That owner seems to realize complaints can be gifts.

I bought my first (overpriced) starter kit based on what another customer told me. If it had been the staff, I would have walked out empty handed. Even then, there was no instruction and I proceeded to make a mess on my own. I never thought about looking up vids on YouTube back then.

I bet you could teach yourself rebuilding from videos and instructions here. I think it has more to do with the desire and motivation to learn. You might offer to start a rebuilding class on the weekends.

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.

 

[Dakota Jim]

Where I live we have a mall kiosk that opened Oct 1st and the "manager" just started vaping in Feb (when he got hired by this company) and had about 2 weeks of training before he was left to his own devices except for emails about new equipment. He did give me the sales pitch that a regular carto is the equivalent of 3 packs of cigarettes and 15ml bottle is the same as 3 cartons of cigs. They have no sample clearos to try flavors, a 510 cig-a-like batt (180 mah), nano clearo and usb charger was $60

Now I just found about a real B&M vape shop just opened up in the last 2 weeks by a nice lady that has vaped for over 3 years, recognized my vamo and protank from 30+ feet through the front window and had an assortment of different ohm replacement heads and a large tray of juice sample clearos on the counter by the time I got to the counter (of course it is a new shop so there was not a crowd this morning) she has a little vape lounge with comfy furniture and tv, an assortment of sticks, ego's, VV and VW mods, mech mods, tanks, clear's, cartos, and is waiting on RBA's to come in (there was an article in the newspaper on Saturday that mentioned her new shop and she got swamped by customers and sold out of all of her more specialized equipment). She also had all of the CASAA info printed out and ready to go.

I am excited that we will actually have a proper vape store in town - hopefully she does not get legislated out of business

 

[SissySpike]

Ive been to several shops from coast to coast. Some good and some not so good. You sure can tell the difference between a shop just chasing the gold rush and the ones who are run buy vapors.

I think we have two kinds ecig shops and Vape shops.

 

[JulesXsmokr]

Vaping is a personal thing, every thing we do with our products and knowledge of, is personal to you and me.
Having said that, to run a vape shop there needs to be very personal approaches to customers, one size does not fit all..
At first we go there to learn and be hopeful of giving up the cigs, is there anything more personal than that ?
As we get off the cigs, we continue to try and find ways to stay off the cigs, with different or newer products and liquids.
If the employees of these "so called Vape Shops" do not go to VAPE101 school, and are not taught customer care and service, we will not enjoy the experience and neither would anybody else.. as we see here ...
We are lucky to have a site such as ECF and threads like these so we "can learn our vape" -----
Burger flippers -Please "do not" apply to work for a Vape Shop, and owners, Please do an interview first !

 

[LinnaSaid]

Nothing gets to me more than when a vape shop doesn't know what they're taking about, wether it be products or competition in the area.. Grr. I went to a grand opening of a vape shop in the local area and the guy had the nerve to call my battery fake... I got it pretty much from joyetech itself (from one of the only authorized dealers in illinois).


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[nicetucu]

There has been a couple of shops that have opened semi close to me in a town I frequent once or twice a month. I checked them out online before even deciding on going there and one of them kinda looks legit and the other is clueless.

 

[aikanae1]

To add a little perspective, I just started reading this thread about what it's like from the other side of the counter;
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/general-e-smoking-discussion/490946-why-do-we-help.html

 

[Tbaggerr]

At the local vape shop I go to (it's in Salem Or. as I recently lived there and have customer loyalty to people who have been good to me), the poor guy is just starting off and trying to get it off the ground. He is knowledgeable and friendly and an all around good guy but the selection is pretty small. He is trying to improve it and has grand plans for the place, but it's expensive to start up a shop with everything an advanced vaper would want. I get my juice and carto's from him as much as I can to support the shop in hopes that he will achieve his end goal of having a large selection to offer and a lounge and all that good stuff. The main reason I go there is to try and help him get it going. If it wasn't for his customer service, I would never have returned nor sent many people there. It really goes a long way in this industry.

 

[basylica]

At the local vape shop I go to (it's in Salem Or. as I recently lived there and have customer loyalty to people who have been good to me), the poor guy is just starting off and trying to get it off the ground. He is knowledgeable and friendly and an all around good guy but the selection is pretty small. He is trying to improve it and has grand plans for the place, but it's expensive to start up a shop with everything an advanced vaper would want. I get my juice and carto's from him as much as I can to support the shop in hopes that he will achieve his end goal of having a large selection to offer and a lounge and all that good stuff. The main reason I go there is to try and help him get it going. If it wasn't for his customer service, I would never have returned nor sent many people there. It really goes a long way in this industry.

1 - gosh I miss portland. my previous job (I left about 18m ago) was based out of portland but i'm stuck here due to divorce/custody restrictions (ie, I can move but my kids cannot leave) so it was rough on me having to travel to PDX fairly frequently, but I loved it and if I can find a way i'll move there even without employment

2 - I wouldn't knock a shop for using c4s if they only sold starter kits, but when a store has hypertanks, carto tanks, protanks etc, but all the employees are using c4s? little weird right?

 

[basylica]

somehow duped post

 

[Daryl Glen]

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....

I was just in Colorado on vacation with my wife. We stopped in a vape store called Vapor Leaf. I was amazed, because their store was rather large, but the coolest thing, was that they had set up half of the shop for "beginners" and the other half was for "advanced". You didn't have to wait in line behind newer vapers (God love them), but instead, you could go right to the advanced section, and get what you needed.
The bonus was, that everyone who worked on the "advanced" side, knew their stuff. I walked in, told them what I wanted, and they got it immediately, without hesitation. I was rocking my Tesla in the store, and the guy who helped me, said, "I love the Tesla", and asked me how I liked it. That's the first time I've been in a store where the staff knew what mod I had.
If you ever are in Colorado, look them up!

 

[Steelgirl]

I live in the out skirts of Houston. Pretty big city and yet I don't know of one dedicated vaping shop. The dedicated tobacco store where I used to buy cartons upon cartons of analogs are who turned me on to vaping. Bless their heart!! I keep meaning to stop in there just to say Hi. Maybe even buy some juice just so I can "pay it forward" as they say. Another smaller smoke shop I've seen on my way to and from work, I've been tempted to go into and suggest they go electronic. They're missing the boat IMO.

 

[Steelgirl]

I live in the out skirts of Houston. Pretty big city and yet I don't know of one dedicated vaping shop. The dedicated tobacco store where I used to buy cartons upon cartons of analogs are who turned me on to vaping. Bless their heart!! I keep meaning to stop in there just to say Hi. Maybe even buy some juice just so I can "pay it forward" as they say. Another smaller smoke shop I've seen on my way to and from work, I've been tempted to go into and suggest they go electronic. They're missing the boat IMO.

YAHOO !!! I have a vape shop near my house. They just opened a couple weeks ago. YAHOO !!!

 

[dmadsen]

I feel your pain, Basylica! I have 4 B&M's with 15 miles of my house. The one I went to to get my first setup is only about 2 blocks away... great people, knowledgeable with the basics of vaping, but thats the extent of it. Only eGo batts, some CE2, CE4 tanks and the like. I stopped in there today just to see how they were doing and see if they had any drip tips for my 510 atty's... they didn't even know what a drip tip was! And they sell Vivi Nova's! Oh well... they're still good people with great customer service, and the DID get me started on my vaping journey! Another place has good equipment and juice, but the employees seem to lack much real knowledge about any advanced stuff. The owner (I think) even asked me what clearo I was using... it was an iClear16. Then I found AltSmoke in Lexington, KY. About 30 miles from home. Great assortment of products, from basic cig-a-likes, to mech's, VV/VW devices, re-buildables, Kanthal, wick, etc... and VERY knowledgeable people with great customer service. They even have occasional seminars on vaping gear, re-building, DIY, etc...

I have seriously considered offering some of my time (gratis, of course) to 1 or my of my closer shops, just to pay it forward and pass on any knowledge I have gained in my 6 months of vaping and research.

 

[Zelly]

And what is with the B&Ms that do not have prices on their hardware in the showcases???

Are they a secret? Do different people pay different prices? Do I need to negotiate the price?

There are several B&Ms near me. Some display prices, some don't.
Grocery stores to car dealerships have figured out how to do it...
- Those that don't will never get my hardware $$$.

</rant>