anyone feel awkward in vape shops

[AndriaD]

Quit going to vape shops. They seem to have nothing for me anymore. You go in and quickly realize that you have more things in my bedroom than the store has. At 52 years young, I seem to be turning into a grumpy old man. LOL

I realized I'm heading for curmudgeon status myself, when I had the sudden revelation that the world is just going to hell, and nobody seems to care. I'm 53, and apparently that's long enough/old enough to realize how bad things have gotten since my youth.

Andria

 

[AndriaD]

The only B&M vape shop I've found are head shops that have a small section for e-cigs. As a grandfather I also feel uncomfortable at these types of places.

I don't feel uncomfortable with "head" shops, but in my area, the only stores of that type are "Starship" which are also, apparently, porn and porn-wear shops -- which wouldn't make me uncomfortable browsing online, but I'm 53 and look it, I feel a bit stupid in a store with all that S&M wear on display. And anyway, Starship's prices on vape *anything* are just flippin unbelievable; when I saw those prices I was kinda relieved, and hustled on out, really glad to not have to encounter the whips and chains and latex stuff in there ever again.

Andria

 

[Feraloxide]

There's one that I go to occasionally that's near me called Danny Vapes. As far as I can tell only two people work there, Danny and a guy I graduated with a year ago. It's a relatively small store and they don't have a large selection of products, but damn do they have good juice. All of it's store made and I swear they have over a hundred flavours. They have a sampler board they change every week, and everything's made once you order it.

 

[LDS714]

Most shops around where I live are friendly and fairly knowledgable. The only issue I have is with one particular shop. Even though they are extremely friendly, they have bar stools all down and around the juice bar where you sit and test juice. Every time there's 2 guys sitting at the corner where the Five Pawns juice testers are. They aren't testing juice, they are vaping their own juice and hanging out there! There's no way to try that juice like that. I just try it elsewhere but its aggravating. It's their most expensive juice and that keeps people from testing it. I tried at least 4 different visits before going elsewhere. It's usually the same guys. Sometimes 1 guy will be different. They just sit and Vape in that spot which happens to be right in front of their most expensive juice. If I owned that store those dudes would be over on the couches, not there. They have a huge area with couches where you can Vape. Ugh.

Other than that issue, the other stores are awesome.

"Hey guys! Digging the Five Pawns? I'd sure like to give it a shot, let me know when you're done."

 

[Nuclear Cowboy]

I'm a youngish old guy (52) and I feel a lot more comfortable going in the shops that young people work in. The one where I made my first vaping purchase at the young man that owns that store still remembers me by name. That makes me feel good when I walk in.

There is another shop about 5 mins down the road from him that a grumpy old hippie runs. I looked at a MVP 2 there and went back and asked to see it again the next day. He grumbles and hands it to me. After looking at it for about a minute he asks me in a very surly irritated voice "you gonna buy it today?" I handed it back and said, "Yes, but not from you." and left. What a jerk! Needless to say I don't spend any money there anymore.

 

[seanpdx]

"Hey guys! Digging the Five Pawns? I'd sure like to give it a shot, let me know when you're done."

Nope. Rather it ought to go something like:

"Excuse me...". Then crowd in and make them feel as uncomfortable as humanly possible while you force your way to the juice selection.

>.>
<.<

 

[AndriaD]

I'm a youngish old guy (52) and I feel a lot more comfortable going in the shops that young people work in. The one where I made my first vaping purchase at the young man that owns that store still remembers me by name. That makes me feel good when I walk in.

There is another shop about 5 mins down the road from him that a grumpy old hippie runs. I looked at a MVP 2 there and went back and asked to see it again the next day. He grumbles and hands it to me. After looking at it for about a minute he asks me in a very surly irritated voice "you gonna buy it today?" I handed it back and said, "Yes, but not from you." and left. What a jerk! Needless to say I don't spend any money there anymore.

On behalf of grumpy old hippies everywhere, I'd like to apologize; being grumpy or hippy shouldn't make a difference, but when one is old, one should have learned how to treat potential customers with money to spend.

Andria

 

[jstraw20]

I have really mixed feelings about my local B&M. On the one hand I love them because had they not opened I probably wouldn't be vaping right now. On the other hand they do seem to be of the type that caters to the crowd that is primarily interested in blowing massive clouds because for some reason they think it's cool. When I first went there to buy a rig the guy behind the counter immediately started off by showing me a rather pricy mod and tried to close the sale by blowing a huge cloud. To his credit the second he realized that I wasn't impressed he immediately switched tacks and showed me the system that I ended up buying, an Ego twist with Aspire tanks. Sorry, I'm in the entertainment industry and if I want to see huge clouds of vapor all I have to do is fire up my Rosco 1600 fogger

On subsequent visits I went in the mid-afternoon and found the service to be quick and courteous. The one time I went in the evening the place was full of people sitting around blowing clouds, and I definitely felt like I was intruding.

I'll still support the place as they are the only game in town and I'd like to see them succeed. They also do their own fluids in house and I have to admit they're pretty tasty.

 

[zetajunkie]

I've been to 3 B&Ms in Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan. Some places have better staff than other places. Some staff have bad days. I like to think bad visits were just bad timing, and not the counterhelp being total asshats all of the time. I've bought most of my hardware online, and will continue to do so (pricing), but I don't mind supporting local business by getting my instant gratification juice purchases. I admit, where I've thought the service sucked I wouldn't exactly rush back, but it's nice to know that there are options around in case another shop closes up.

 

[Vosblod]

Only been in to my local vape shop twice - first time they were OK; I just went in as a total newbie, asked for a starter kit and they plonked a £30 kit in front of me and didn't really ask anything or offer options. In fact I had to ask how much the slightly bigger Ego cost. Got the feeling it was just buy and go please. Put me off a bit so headed online.
Second time was fairly recently to buy a plinth (or whatever you call it) to make my Aerotank look better on the Vision Spinner 2. The guy looked at the Vision as though it came from outer space and said "I don't think we have anything to fit that". Then the, I guess more experienced, guy behind him said "of course we do" so he must of recognised it was just an ego type head. Weird as I had got good feedback re the shop - I think, as they are a locked franchise, they do THEIR products only and are lost if you have/want anything beyond that.
Upshot is I would only probably go there again if I needed emergency juice.

 

[Chelonian]

we need to start up "Ye Olde Curmudgeon Club"

We could wander into random threads, and grumble at the OP

 

[p7willm]

Just like any other type of store you can find some you love and some you hate. Vaping can have more of a variety since there are different kinds of shops.

The one by me is great and I feel fine there. Everyone there is friendly to everyone who comes in, they just will not sell to under 18 but they are still friendly. I am 64 and the owners are in their 30s and the help is around 20 and we all get along well.

There is no talk of drugs, They did mention they existed when pressed but that was about it. Looking back they made some great suggestions abut what was right for me at the time but would sell me what I wanted. It is a friendly place and I often stop in for a vape when I am out for a walk.

When I want something, a common occurrence, I see if they have it first and if they do not have it they are fine with my ordering it on the web.

They built my first RBA for me and looked at my first build before I used it, all for free if it was one of their attys.

I hear they are on the latest pbasardo review of the expromiser.

 

[p7willm]

Grumble, grumble, grumble. When I was a kid ... You young people have it all .....

GET OFF MY LAWN

 

[monkey39]

Went to my first actual vape shop recently while on vacation, South Vapes in Miami Beach. Friendliest people I ever met! I ended hanging out there while my wife went shopping!

 

[porkchop_express]

Quit going to vape shops. They seem to have nothing for me anymore. You go in and quickly realize that you have more things in my bedroom than the store has. At 52 years young, I seem to be turning into a grumpy old man. LOL

I've only been in two proper vape shops and a few head shops that sell juice and odds n ends. It's usually like this.

 

[Jaylah]

I'm usually very uncomfortable in situations where I think it's obvious that I have no idea what's going on. I don't like making a fool of myself.

When my doctor first suggested e-cigs to me, there weren't any grocery stores in the area that sold stuff like Blu, etc. The only way I knew you could get those was over the internet, and I wasn't about to do that because they all wanted your credit card information and then they'd "automatically" send you refills. Um, no. I'm sorry.

Fortunately, I had noticed a new store on on of the main drags in town called, "VapeOn." It was an e-cigarette store according to their sign. So I went in. And saw this counter with what seemed like a dazzling array of "stuff" (I had no idea what any of it was at the time.)

It's owned by two women. One is normally in the back, making e-juice and doing whatever else she does back there. The other is always out in the front helping customers. (If they get busy, the one in the back will come out and work the counter, too.)

Doris, the one that usually is out front, seeing that I had no idea about any of this, was terrifically helpful. She helped me pick out what I needed for a basic set-up. Not the absolutely cheapest stuff in the store, but not the most expensive. I was just learning about this, so I didn't really need the Cadillac of vape-gear. She sold me an Itaste VV and a Smoktech Pyrex Aro II. Then she took me back to their "tasting bar" so I could try different e-juices while she also explained how my set-up worked. She never, at any time, gave me the impression that she thought I was dense because I didn't know anything about vaping. And she told me (as well as other first-time customers I've seen since then) that if I had any problems or questions, to just stop by and ask.

I've never seen them try any high-pressure sales techniques. You tell them what you want out of your equipment and they'll make suggestions. But they won't try to sell a beginner the most expensive stuff.

I've been quite comfortable going in there ever since.

 

[Chelonian]

That's a good vape shop you have there.

They guided you to an excellent choice to start with...heck a good combo to continue with, even

 

[Fuzzy Bruce]

In my mind, I am still a child of the fifties and sixties. In reality, I am an old derilect but still feel comfortable going into head shops, adult toy store and various other types of stores that sell vape gear and e-juice. I find that I may know more than the employees when it comes to vape stuff.

There are some true e-cig/vapor stores around me that are decently stocked, some with lounges to sit and vape in. Mostly, the owners/employees in these shops are at least well versed in the products they sell. Usually I buy a replacement coil or some e-juice and feel out the help for any knowledge I might gain. Most of the local vape only shops are very expensive, more so the closer you get to the beach.

 

[Juff]

I think I appear standoff-ish, but I just have a direct personality. It has created some tense, awkward moments in the past. Especially vape shops where everyone is relaxed. There's one store in particular that attracts a younger crowd, and even though I'm in my mid 20s I carry myself a bit older, and that adds to these situations. Once they get used to me though it aint bad.

 

[Chelonian]

Another thing to that throws me off is how fast this market has moved. Show up in a vape shop with a Genesis atty and people either don't know what it is, or can't believe it works.

I've yet to meet anyone in a Vape Shop that knows what a Super T or a Paps is either - but mention a Big Nasty, or some first version mod with a design on it from an early 2000's Ed Hardy T Shirt, and they all nod their heads.