Are all B&Ms like this??

[Sa Da Tay]

Quite a few vape shops have opened in Austin over the past 2 years- 5 that I know of. I've been to two here and one in San Antonio and they are all the same: nicely-sized storefronts that are 80% empty except for a sparsely-furnished "lounging" section and a service counter with ALL the merchandise hidden behind it. They all have interiors with the charm of a drab empty sales office.

I will say that everyone working in the shops have been helpful and pleasant to deal with, but what's with not displaying the merchandise? Other than the rare occasions when I need an emergency piece of (cheap) replacement kit, the only other reason I would spend real money in a B&M is if it offered me something that the internet can't offer: up close, hands-on browsing. I'm not going to purposefully go to a B&M to pay 20-40% more for gear, but if I go there for a 510-ego connector and spy an evic sitting nicely in a display case, I might just impulse buy that bad boy.

So are most shops around the country like this?

 

[OBDave]

I've been pretty depressed by the state of the B&M in San Diego - I frequently find good people with a lot of knowledge to share, but selection is horrendously limited at most places, and prices are outrageous - I can understand a markup of 20-30% above online prices, but 200%+ seems to be the norm. Before I knew better, I paid $14 for an Evod - then bought the same thing for $6 through a US vendor and $2.50 via fasttech...

 

[texasguy4]

Quite a few vape shops have opened in Austin over the past 2 years- 5 that I know of. I've been to two here and one in San Antonio and they are all the same: nicely-sized storefronts that are 80% empty except for a sparsely-furnished "lounging" section and a service counter with ALL the merchandise hidden behind it. They all have interiors with the charm of a drab empty sales office.

I will say that everyone working in the shops have been helpful and pleasant to deal with, but what's with not displaying the merchandise? Other than the rare occasions when I need an emergency piece of (cheap) replacement kit, the only other reason I would spend real money in a B&M is if it offered me something that the internet can't offer: up close, hands-on browsing. I'm not going to purposefully go to a B&M to pay 20-40% more for gear, but if I go there for a 510-ego connector and spy an evic sitting nicely in a display case, I might just impulse buy that bad boy.

So are most shops around the country like this?

Pretty much the same in Dallas, and it's kind of funny, it seems like every store I go to, there is one person thats really knows their stuff,
and several "kids" that don't have a clue what they are talking about.
I had a guy today tell me that I would not like the ProVari, since I adjust to taste. I really need a VW to do that. They didn't sell ProVari, just the import stuff.

 

[Leithan]

There's a few good ones, you just got to look. Out of the 7 that I would consider local, only 1 is worth the drive, they have a good online selection but frequently stock certain mods and such "In store Only". It's an incentive to make the drive. It does have the "lounge" but it's nice to hang out and wait for your turn at the tasting bar.

 

[Huskysibe]

That's exactly like my local shop. 2 round tasting tables, wide open sales floor, and products behind a counter.

 

[popcornplaya]

I agree. Its like Best Buy vs say a Fry's. You go to get basic electronics not what you NEED for them....I was trying to support them till I found MBV and wholy sheeez...My biggest thing now is why waist the gas when they can't answer any of my more advanced questions and juice is average of $10x10ml. We do have Electronicstix in Utah. As I get more into RBA it would be nicer to go to a place that new more than I do, which wouldn't be hard.

 

[Sa Da Tay]

There's actually a new shop that opened up 3 blocks from my house that has very reasonable prices- I paid $8 for an evod- so I guess on one hand I should stop griping The owner is super nice too. But it's still weird to me how all these unrelated shops have somehow all plugged into the collective unconsciousness of horrible merchandising. If you're going to have 70% of your space be a "lounge", throw some pictures on the wall, or plants, or something to not make it look like I'm going into some strange, clandestine speakeasy office space that is hocking wares under the table. This got more ranty than I wanted but in the end I want these businesses to succeed and Im not confident they will.

 

[Nkayy]

Yeah, pretty empty. Mine doesn't even really have a lounge. I bought my first e-cig there and I'm glad they exist because otherwise id be really confused on how to fill a tank, etc. After you know the basics, online shopping is best.

 

[Jfaria1891]

Got one here in RI with pretty awesome prices $7 evod and $110 for the evic for some examples and everything is displayed in glass front cases and they will let you hold anything ud like and have display modles of most of the stuff so you can actually try it out. Now if they would only get a provari so I can see what all this hype is really about haha.

They have bcc tanks evods protanks they have rbas and carto tanks and probably 7 or 8 apvs some mechanicals and what not and a ton of juices and u can try them all. I was there for a little while messing arround with the owner working on some of his diy stuff lol.

Oh and a metric crap ton of ego batts haha and some starter kits like the joyetech 510 and eroll which hes asking online prices for. I was so happy to see he wasnt screwing new people

Guess im pretty lucky to have them 20 mins away lol.

 

[bhswmc01]

The main local B&M 'chain' here is set up the same way...very sparce looking, with tables set up to sample, and limited merchandise in locked cases, and staff with limited knowledge. Don't care for them at all. There's another shop that has more of a lounge feel - he has limited merchandise as well, but has 100+ juices to sample.

 

[WhatSheSaid]

The only b&m I've been to is the same way, layout-wise. Their prices are pretty good, though, at least comparable to online prices.

Sent from my Galaxy Note II on Straight Talk

 

[bebop.rocksteady]

The vape shop I work in is stuffed to the gills with e liquid, mods, different tanks, drip tips, batteries, and starter kits. I have experienced B&Ms that are similar to your description. But no they are not all like that. Not at all.

 

[Visus]

Woot my local B&M while expensive, reasonable for a few dollars more, they have everything up to date.
They sell higher end products and are just opened two months ago.
The owner is an electronics guy and has built the cutest/coolest mods you did see.
I knew about the nivel chip before the dna20 and then I knew about it and saw it in action haha..
His advice has been spot on and weekly they host vape meets with meals and alcohol lol..

Makes for a great new horizon.. Ha mines is better than yours lol jk


Very nice juice tasting set-up too
So many juices to choose there's over 70 different juices maybe more to try..
I was dizzy, so many juices to sample whoa
Good rapid biznuss model there, hope many follow in

 

[heinz]

my b&m about 20 miles away sells a
sigelei (just by the mod itself) for $59.95
itaste mvp (ON SALE price) $69.99
kanger protank $29.99
510 T drip atomizer - $7
$10/10 ml of juice, but you get to choose any vendor you want, they have alot (mbv,psv,highbrow,fuzion,etc)
i think they charge 200+ for a provari

my other b&m thats closer to my house sells a
K100 kecig (china) with batteries, and a charger - $79.99
their only ecig juice is ECG (taste like poop) - $10/10ml

 

[razor4432]

The B&M I normally go to has a huge selection and they are starting to add more in the line of mechanicals and rba's. their prices are higher than online but it is to be expected with having to cover operating costs and paying the employees (25 for Protank and only $7 for 5 pack of replacement coils, eVic is $105 for starter kit). There's about 10 people that work there who All seem pretty knowledgable. All in all I don't mind paying a little markup for being able to drive 10 minutes and get whatever I need on an impulse decision.

 

[heinz]

$12.95 for 5 pack of 3ohms boge cartos

 

[grad2003amd]

That's how ours looks! Pretty empty! Some chairs and then the counter with all juice/merchandise behind, and that's it!

 

[Susan W.]

There are several B&M's in my area. I've been to some of them. The prices are what I'd expect from a small business B&M store for the stuff I usually buy. One had high end equipment that was all custom stuff. Majorly expensive little works of art. All the shops and nice customer service, seemed knowledgeable and the best part, are opened 7 days a week and in the evenings. A plus in case of emergencies.

 

[vrodder]

First off, no not all shops are set up like that. The Columbus, Ga area has 2 B&M shops & a flea market vendor.One B&M is in a nice little storefront in a strip type shopping center. Nice open area inside the door with seating for just hanging out if you wish. An well laid out l-shape display case towards the back w/ a tasting bar. Some price examples:
Evod - $7
Ego batteries - $12 - $25
Vamo kit (tube, 2x 18350 batts, charger, iClear16 & case) - $75
Home crafted juice - $6/10ml

The other is in a double office space in a storage unit complex between 2 main roads. One space is the retail area with a small seating area & a well stocked display case. Unfortunately no tasting bar. The other side is a lounge area in the front for hanging out & will soon have a pool table. The back room on this side is the juice lab. Some price examples:
Evod - $7.99
Ego batteries - $12 - $25
Tesla kit - $72.99 (tube, 2x 18650 batt, charger & case)
House crafted juice - $6/10ml
High Caliber juice - $6.50/10ml
Will soon be carrying another juice from a well know supplier.

Both stores have a good stock behind the counter & will let you try out the devices in the display case. They carry other items but, I used the items as an idea for comparison. Both stores staff is very knowledgeable & very customer oriented.

The flea market vendor has limited variety of items mainly batts, clearos (Vivi Novas, evods, Pro Tanks & CE4). They have a tasting bar. Vendor is knowledgeable tho, not as much as the other store's staffs.

Whoa,,,,got more in depth than I intended. Well, time to shut up &,,,,,

VAPE ON !!!

 

[Rocketpunk]

First, OP, I freakin' love your User Name.

Secondly, I had the pleasure to visit Chattanooga's first e-cig B&M, Vintage Vapers, last weekend. It had a couch and stuff, but the owner really did it up like an old saloon. At least that's the feel I got. Wood, brass, very dim lighting. The tasting bar actually felt like an old turn-of-the-century bar. I believe the owner said he was into "theme" businesses, and went with the "vintage" as in literal vintage -- old southern saloon feel.

They also had a SWEET custom Steampunk mod...



Wa da tah.