anyone feel awkward in vape shops

[txjim]

I didn't feel awkward going into the place I bought my first Ego. It was the same smoke shop I'd been buying my cigs from for years. Originally I thought the guy running the little vaping kiosk in the store was the owner. Later I found out the owner of the smoke shop hired him to set it up and run it. The prices are quite high compared to the internet, but I don't know if the owner or the employee sets the prices. If it's the employee and he's getting a percentage of sales, he's making a killing. He seems like a nice enough guy, but he makes excuses for everything and that makes me leery. His sample rack for the juices is all in cheap clearos that are leaking. Kind of a dirty looking nasty set up. He mixes his juices right there in front of you and doesn't have a running water supply for cleaning anything. Everything just feels tacky. And he don't mind blowing a cumulus cloud in your face while he's talking to you. I suppose he knows more than me about vaping, but I get the impression he's a bit impatient with newbies and that's not a good combination for business. But, he seems like a nice guy and I wish him luck.

 

[ILoveNorCal]

I saw Styx in '76, the Grand Illusion tour. Just awesome.

Another band that can STILL really bring it, is Foreigner. They were awesome in 1975, and they may be fat and gray-haired now, but they can still rock like madmen! We've seen them several times over the last decade, were just amazed at how great they STILL are!

Andria

So I just asked my mom if they had plans for my dad's birthday... and she told me they're going to Washington. Styx and Foreigner are touring together. So they bought tickets for back to back shows up there. So they're going to see Styx AND Foreigner on the first night.... and Styx AND Foreigner on the second night! haha I laughed at the relevance.

 

[kiler]

I'm lucky. I live near MBV and the youngsters that work there are always helpful and professional. I also like supporting the local economy. There's a couple of other shops around but MBV is very welcoming so I haven't bothered.

 

[Jaylah]

Wow, $8 for a 10ml bottle of juice?

I pay $8 for a 30ml bottle at my vape shop.

 

[R Coy]

I'm lucky. I live near MBV and the youngsters that work there are always helpful and professional. I also like supporting the local economy. There's a couple of other shops around but MBV is very welcoming so I haven't bothered.

I envy you, I live in Kitsap county and feel the need to road trip up there.

 

[txjim]

Wow, $8 for a 10ml bottle of juice?

I pay $8 for a 30ml bottle at my vape shop.

The guy with the kiosk in the smoke shop charges $18 for 30ml bottle and $8 for a 10ml and it's not top shelf stuff either. He mixes his own.

 

[AndriaD]

I feel awkward in some shops when I know more then the staff/owners do. Some owners seem like they are jumping on the wagon fir a quick buck.

That true, I'm sure there are lots doing that, but it's not such a bad thing to have more info than the store people -- recently while tasting some new flavors at my fave B&M (the Vaping Shack) I mentioned that I had started using rayon wicking, and the owner was very interested, asking all kinds of questions about it; he said he had heard of it, but didn't know anything about how well it worked, and it felt nice to be able to impart useful info to someone who's been very helpful to me, since I started vaping. Since he's in a position to talk to a lot of different vapers at different levels of experience, he can share that info with others who might like to know!

Andria

 

[Midniteoyl]

Makes me think of the eagles 94 show where they're all sitting in chairs on stage rocking out. Shoot what was the name of that... I should know, I bought my parents the blue ray of it for Xmas. Oh well.

But yes, it is refreshing to see the old guys who can still rock. Especially when thinking about how many bands from my youth can't hack it anymore. And that wasn't all that long ago.

Prophet you should be able to sympathize with that one. I mean, how was The Used at Warped tour? Can Burt sing at all at this point?

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

Hell Freezes Over

 

[Midniteoyl]

I live in a tiny town in CT, and just found out 2 days ago that there was a vape shop in my town, while I was waiting for my things I ordered from the internet to come in. I thought I'd check it out today, and it was fun. The woman that owns it was very nice, showed me lots of stuff, and was very helpful. I only went in there because my iTaste 134 mini came in the mail today, but my batteries are still in transit, and I couldn't wait for a battery! Even though it cost more than what I could get on the internet, I ended up walking out after probably an hour and a half with an eGo-C upgrade battery, Innokin iClear 16 and replacement coil, a little stand and lanyard for it, a drip tip, a Kanger AeroTank as a spare for my 134, a little bottle of some nice custard juice with no nicotine (so I didn't OD on my first day with my new equipment. LOL), and a needle cap top for my juice.

There was a couple there buying their first e-cigs, and I chatted with them, told them I'd been 9 days without an analog....had a nice conversation.

Did you get any batts for the 134? LOL

 

[SammyKablammy]

I feel the same way at the shop around the corner from my house... It's juss people my age that are in a group vaping that OBVIOUSLY see me come in and look at stuff but choose to ignore my presence. Also the ridiculous price of an Igo--w4 for 45 bucks..

 

[jumphour]

Did you get any batts for the 134? LOL

LOL Yes, I got one battery. Forgot to put that in the list. My spares (2 18350 and 2 18500) came in the mail today, so I'm good for a while!

 

[IntriguedByDIY]

I did when I first went but that was because I had not a clue about what I was doing. Now, after about 9 months, I can go into the shop and know exactly what I want and not ask so many questions. It did help that my brother knew the lady who owned the vape shop. She instantly recognized me since my brother and I look alike. I was part of the family from there on out. Lucky for me, I don't have to do much visiting since I've gotten into DIY. Now I just spend all my money on DIY supplies.

 

[MamaTried]

I don't live in Sacramento.

Why did you want me to tell you that?

lol. cuz your post was hilarious and i do live in Sac.

ETA: i share your annoyance

 

[Keld]

All online for me. NO stores here and don't know why, especially as cigs are nearly $30 a pack!!

 

[msingletary]

I've never bothered to check the other stores nearby. I've been impressed with the store and staff at Stormy's since I first walked in back in February. I can honestly credit them with being a large part of me giving up analogs for vaping.

 

[ilivetofly]

I dont have a dedicated store as such but I know a indoor market "stall" (it has temp walls its strange) thats cool I feel like a kid in a candy store but I also feel awkward and out of place I think its because the nature of what your buying they usually know what there doing and are keen to help so I feel like I have to really chat with them while im looking, then I feel like I have to buy something anyway. Though they usually offer good suggestions so I like it.

 

[ILoveNorCal]

lol. cuz your post was hilarious and i do live in Sac.

ETA: i share your annoyance

Thank you!

This was about a shop in sac (well Folsom, actually) but you told me to please tell you I don't live in sac. So I did.


But, most of all thank you, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who is irked by that.

 

[0dBu]

The staff makes all the difference. Here in the DFW area of TX you can't go a block without hitting a b&m. I've found that some are staffed with elitist types and I pretty much stay away from them. What's the point of opening up a place to essentially shun customers? Especially that one that's going in knowing nothing and just wants to get off the analogs, I just don't get it. Luckily I have 2 pretty close that are full of friendly, knowledgeable folks. One has a long bar where people are just kickin back and chatting about mods and flavors and whatnot, all super nice folks.

 

[Darkmornings]

Ive been to one that i felt a bit uncomfortable in and also felt very pushed. Being new to vaping it may have just been my ignorance. Im still a little confused of how a glass bottle made the juice worth $10 more a bottle. I am very comfortable in the shop that i purchased my starter set and also very happy. Greatful for the help and freebies im getting while i/we sort out my nicotine levels and everyday flavor.

 

[Jeska]

Im still a little confused of how a glass bottle made the juice worth $10 more a bottle..

The short answer to that is: it doesn't. I've come across several online retailers of vape juice that offer glass bottles and have very reasonable prices. Mount Baker Vapor is the most recent one I've been browsing and their prices beat the local shops by far (I just bought 10ml for $7.99...never again). I'm sure there's a list of online retailers that the folks here at ECF have had positive experiences with, and I suggest looking into that to see what you may find!

Edit: To answer the question in the OP, I've definitely felt awkward in vape shops. Part of my "problem" is that I want to try every darn flavor they have and feel like I'm being a nuisance. My rule is that if I linger and taste a bunch of flavors and take up the salesperson's time, I'll buy at least one 10ml of my favorite. I understand that it has to be frustrating for them to take the time to assist customers with trying out every flavor under the sun only for them to walk out empty-handed, so I try to avoid being "that guy".