anyone feel awkward in vape shops

[young gotti]

my guess is most vape places have couches and bars...i feel weird when the place is filled with what look to be regulars just sitting around but know the workers and just take their time from other customers with normal conversations about anything not vaping, not potentially buying

i have 4 shops around me sort of...one is a gas station that has a bigger selection than the shops but i'm not a fan of the owner so i don't look too much, just get my gas and leave

1 shop i went into and felt like wow if i'm the most experienced vaper here including the owners i'm in big trouble...didn't know what a mech was and asked where to change the voltage on it...but the couch was filled with his friends who literally stared at me and i think it was their first day vaping

another shop is super nice but from my 3 times in it only 1 of the guys really knows his stuff but he's usually busy showing off his sub ohm builds to ppl that don't know what it is and impressing them with clouds, none the less the place is exactly how i picture a vape shop should look...sat at the bar one time waiting for like 10 minutes before i get service, alone

the other is a tiny place and my only experience was me and some kid, i didn't stay long but i got the feeling like he didn't vape and only worked there

didn't mean to turn it into shop reviews...yes i feel weird in a shop, i don't think of myself as a normal vapor...without getting into stereotypes, i feel like i stick out like a sore thumb

 

[MN_Mike]

I've never really felt awkward, but there are shops that are much more welcoming than others. The one thing that bugs me is if I'm looking for juice I already know what's in it, I know all the flavors are food grade, I know the propylene glycol is FDA food grade, I know the VG is food grade, yada yada yada. I don't need or want the 45 minute long "lesson" on e-liquid. I hate to be a jerk, but by the end of the presentation, my desire to shop there is pretty much non-existent. I just want to sample a few flavors, shoot the breeze for a little while, maybe pick up some coil/wicks, check out and possibly buy a tank or whatever and leave. That's all I ask of a shop.

 

[gatorguy]

Nope! My local b&m has been super helpful getting me started!!

 

[Maisiedoodle]

Nope, I'm lucky enough to have a B&M that I don't ever feel uncomfortable. @Gatorguy, Go Gators! Orange and blue all the way!

 

[Killowatt]

I learned at least 90% of what I know right here, no shops near me when I started. Now there is 1 shop, but they don't know much, sell junk and knock offs, and are only interested in a sale. Not helping new vapers. I've heard so much crap out of their mouths, I've quit going there.

Tap'n on my S5

 

[Johnny Phatsaqs]

I live in Humble, Texas. I have 3 real shops in town. 2 are nice, and I'm comfortable. One more than the other. The third are a bunch of pompous punks that have an over inflated self worth because they are scene douches. Like their world revolves around vaping and spend 90% of their near minimum wage check on legit vape tools. All they're concerned with is blowing obnoxious clouds and bragging about ohms and volt drop with the cool kids. Ya know, the clique with the gauged ears and random tattoos. Paying customers with money annoy them.

 

[BMH70]

I have 2 local shops, and both are fantastic and knowledgeable. One near my job and one near my home, doesn't get any better then that!! Both shops make me feel very welcomed!

 

[TheProphet]

I live in Humble, Texas. I have 3 real shops in town. 2 are nice, and I'm comfortable. One more than the other. The third are a bunch of pompous punks that have an over inflated self worth because they are scene douches. Like their world revolves around vaping and spend 90% of their near minimum wage check on legit vape tools. All they're concerned with is blowing obnoxious clouds and bragging about ohms and volt drop with the cool kids. Ya know, the clique with the gauged ears and random tattoos. Paying customers with money annoy them.

I think putting them into a "clique" just because they have "gauges" in their ears and tattoos is a tad unfair. Not everyone with gauges and tattoos are douchebags, actually some of the best, most honest and nicest people I have met dress like that. Also, scene is something completely different. The gauged ears are more common in the pop punk area, scene is it's own area, they are more bright clothes, pierced lips and noses, few if any tattoos. One fashion sense does not dictate their attitude.

 

[Johnny Phatsaqs]

I think putting them into a "clique" just because they have "gauges" in their ears and tattoos is a tad unfair. Not everyone with gauges and tattoos are douchebags, actually some of the best, most honest and nicest people I have met dress like that. Also, scene is something completely different. The gauged ears are more common in the pop punk area, scene is it's own area, they are more bright clothes, pierced lips and noses, few if any tattoos. One fashion sense does not dictate their attitude.

As are some of my friends and family. This particular shop has employees that dismisses people that don't look cool to them.

 

[rastapete69]

Only when I walk into a shop geared toward beginners and I have a ProVari. Often the clerk realizes I won't buy anything and kind of dismisses me.

+1
I had a shop that I loved when I started vaping and the guy who was so helpful selling me my MVP wouldn't even look away from his Sopranos video when I walked in with my Provari bought online.

I never stepped foot in there again and rarely in any other shop

 

[gatorguy]

I have tattoos and my left cartilage is gauged (all personal choices and not to fit into a "scene"). I'm 30 and married with children. Im also a manager of a retail store so I have a "professional job". Don't judge a book by its cover!

Sent from my HTC One_M8

 

[ILoveNorCal]

I think putting them into a "clique" just because they have "gauges" in their ears and tattoos is a tad unfair. Not everyone with gauges and tattoos are douchebags, actually some of the best, most honest and nicest people I have met dress like that. Also, scene is something completely different. The gauged ears are more common in the pop punk area, scene is it's own area, they are more bright clothes, pierced lips and noses, few if any tattoos. One fashion sense does not dictate their attitude.

I don't think that's the 'scene' he was talking about... but it took me a minute to realize it at first too. At first I was like 'you have scene kids in your shops? are they even old enough to vape?'

I think he just meant the cloud chasing scene.

 

[TheProphet]

I don't think that's the 'scene' he was talking about... but it took me a minute to realize it at first too. At first I was like 'you have scene kids in your shops? are they even old enough to vape?'

I think he just meant the cloud chasing scene.

To be fair I'm 21 and would qualify as a combo of scene and pop punk if you looked at me outside of my work clothes. Sans piercings, since I can't get my lip pierced until I get my own place and clear it with my boss.


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[Tangaroav]

At first I went in all vape shops I saw hoping to find/learn someting. Now I never go in anymore.

Like most here, after being in a few vape shops, I found that most were poorly stocked and had hardware mostly for new vapers They were mostly e-juice oriented. They make huge profits on e-juices as this is what keeps them in business. I almost never buy juices there since I am a DIYer. I only buy online.

 

[Stephanie0221]

I'm in Houston and I've been to that shop in Humble you are talking about. I'm 40, no tattoos, no piercings other than my ears and I'm sure they got a good laugh at the "soccer mom" in the shop. It's the ONLY vape shop I've ever felt uncomfortable in.... Until my husband came in. He had been on the phone in the car. He's in law enforcement and quite large - he used to be a pro wrestler. They were pretty nice then. Lol.

Still won't go back though.

 

[technowiz]

I live in a small town and we just got our 2nd shop here, the first was about a year ago. Luckys and La Cig (if you can even consider this a vape shop). Lucky's only has 2 people that work there and one is very nice and helpful the other I just come back later lol. The La Cig is very uncomfortable as they try to be high class and are very snobby there.

 

[Blckphoenix]

I have one full service cape shop near me and they are nice, knowledgable, have competitive pricing just an all around good place. Over the weekend I went to a store close to my hometown and while massive and great selection, they were constantly packed and it took me 45 minutes to get helped while waiting in line to pick up a bottle of five pawns juice. So it helps to check out many shops and stay away from the elitist jerks that live in the shop and do nothing but blow huge clouds. Unless that's what you're into but as a beginner it shouldn't be that way when you walk into a new shop

 

[AlabamaWoody]

The guys standing around clouding up the place, continuously pouring juice in and chain vaping clouds gets old. It's cool if thats what you want to do but get 3 or 4 around you and its quite annoying. I like my vapor to simulate analog smoke or less. What the heck were these guys smoking before they started vaping ? !!! I don't get it. Plus thats a lot of juice !!! Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

 

[Johnny Phatsaqs]

I'm in Houston and I've been to that shop in Humble you are talking about. I'm 40, no tattoos, no piercings other than my ears and I'm sure they got a good laugh at the "soccer mom" in the shop. It's the ONLY vape shop I've ever felt uncomfortable in.... Until my husband came in. He had been on the phone in the car. He's in law enforcement and quite large - he used to be a pro wrestler. They were pretty nice then. Lol.

Still won't go back though.

Let's just say they were rather....unCivil.

Look, I'm not trying to start an argument here. Seems like THEY are the ones passing judgement on folks that look too buttoned down.

 

[ILoveNorCal]

To be fair I'm 21 and would qualify as a combo of scene and pop punk if you looked at me outside of my work clothes. Sans piercings, since I can't get my lip pierced until I get my own place and clear it with my boss.


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Ahh sorry, I don't mean to offend, it's been years since I've been around scenesters-- and when that was big in my area, the majority of them were under 21 (and most under 18). I will admit I'm a nice combo of eurotrash and pop punk outside of work. My girlfriend also refers to me as the 'original hipster' for many of my actions -- but not the stereotypical, commercial, urban outfitters psudo-hipsters with dumb hats that plague most vape shops. I hate to admit it, especially on here, with the negative connotations surrounding it. But when you look at the root definition more and the stereotype less I have trouble denying it to her. okay, that's enough talking about myself.

BTW-- I quite like your political stance(s) listed in your signature. I've noticed that a lot of vapers on here tend to lean to the libertarian side. Gives me hope.