B&M Let down (venting)

[Sally_]

I've been sooo jealous of all the awesome stories about people having actual stores to go to and feel welcome to vape and try new awesome liquids, I couldn't help but picture it being like the Dylan's Candy Bar of vaping. (if unfamiliar Tour Dylan's Candy Bar - YouTube)

I searched and the closest shops were still a state away. But then I was trying to find a website for juice someone recommended.. and I just happen to see a story from my local paper's business section.. about what? Not one, but three, vape shops (same store different locations) one of which was really close to my house.

So I drop in.. and it doesn't even come close to all my fantasies.. I mean I didn't really expect anything that elaborate there wasn't much of a selection . There was a girl was sitting at the cafe table in front of the window chowing down, I assumed it was a customer and any moment a clerk would come from the back, nope. I girl's gotta eat I get it, but maybe it's just me.

I impulse bought a protank 2 (which now that I'm home and check sites I overpaid.. my bad) But what got me was their 'juice bar' there was a list, wasn't packed or anything, but they didn't have half of it available to sample. Ugh just disappointed and kicking myself.

 

[Cr0tchF4i]

Anything you find at a B&M is going to be FAR more expensive compared to deals online. So don't beat yourself up over it. There's a few solid juice vendors that have sample packs so you can try a few of their juices at reasonable prices. Find which one you are crazy about and order a large bottle. Just make sure you do not get too high of nicotine in case you want to drop down. Hope you have a better experience next time!

 

[Jarbs]

i was all amazed at my local b&m store until i saw their website where they sell the smoktek aro tank for $20.....

 

[Requiem33]

Depending where you are in VA there's a decent shop in Charles Town WV. So if you're in NOVA then not too bad of a drive... I drive to Herndon everyday for work...

The main vape guy there is Randy and he's an awesome dude and they have a a ton of juices that they mix in house. I like the place enough that I just told him give me 2 bottles of 18mg juice... he asks what flavor I said whatever is good

The shop is The Smoking Head. It is a smoke shop not a vape shop but they have a good selection of entry level devices and juice. They are more expensive than online but all B&M well most are more expensive as they have overhead to compensate for (building, power, employees, etc etc) so I get it and I don't mind shelling out a couple extra bucks. They will stock things on request. So say you have a protank or an iclear or something and they don't have atty's they'll put it on the list and then start stocking them so you have a local supplier for the gear you use/like.

ok... plug/rant over

 

[patkin]

^ OMG! that's not a B&M.... that's a shark B&M. Its just inexcusable in my book. Some markup is to be expected but that's just awful.

Ooops... two posting same time....
"^" is for the ARO tank.

 

[Sally_]

Depending where you are in VA there's a decent shop in Charles Town WV. So if you're in NOVA then not too bad of a drive..

It's a little far for me, but it may actually kind of perfect. I tagged along with my mom and her friend to the track/casino on an Abbott bus day trip to Charles Town, we had a lot of fun. We mentioned maybe we should just go on our own sometime for a day or weekend, more like just BSing but if it comes up again I will actually encourage it. Hell if we went back even on a bus trip, I can call a cab and go

 

[kbjoran]

If you're in the DC area, there's a big VapeFest coming to town. These types of gatherings are a lot of fun!

 

[Requiem33]

lol... call a cab... hahaha that's funny.... I don't think there are any around here

It's a decent shop but yeah depending on where you are in VA it could be a trip. I've heard of a couple in NOVA but I haven't been to any. I have a smoke shop (roll your own) down the street and they are starting to carry vaping stuff... so far just some ego's and juice and I keep pushing the owner to get in more gear and different juice... hoping I can get him to be my local supplier as it's close the shop owner is a cool guy and I buy my beer there anyways so would be a perfect one stop shop

 

[Requiem33]

If you're in the DC area, there's a big VapeFest coming to town. These types of gatherings are a lot of fun!

Oh I'm definitely planning on attending this!!!

 

[kbjoran]

Oh I'm definitely planning on attending this!!!

Yeah...we have VapeAPalooza here in the ATL. These things are so much fun and my money seems to slip through my fingers faster than water.

 

[Kuljit]

The closest B&M to me is a dissapointment (a mile away). I've gone in twice to pick up some juice, both times they say my battery will fit the sample tanks. When I say it doesn't, they ask to see it (Halo Triton) and proceed to make fun of it. Not very welcoming. Excuse me if I'm not quite into it yet to own a nice APV. Not going back there. I'd rather drive to the next city over where I have found 2 very friendly and better stocked B&M's.

 

[SamNapolitanke]

I wish we had one in tx

 

[Kuljit]

Since they've been so great, anyone in the Raleigh - Durham - Cary area of NC should check out Ecigs in Cary and Level Eleven Vapor, right around the corner from Ecigs. Both very cool shops with great service.

 

[chawk]

The hubs and I are going!!!

If you're in the DC area, there's a big VapeFest coming to town. These types of gatherings are a lot of fun!

 

[ElConquistador]

I'm in OKC and there's a ridiculous number of B&M's around here. There's almost as many shops as there are Starbucks stores. I've stopped into a bunch of them and about 1/3 of them are decent, the rest seem like would-be entrepreneurs trying to make an easy buck selling throw-away clearos and 650 ego batteries.

I'm not a power-vaper or anything, but several of them have asked me what I use and I told them I build my own coils and wicks and they had never heard of such a thing.

 

[zero7starz]

I feel your pain. Most vape shops around me are far away, and don't have the best selections. The closest two to me have very little out side the ego style, and they charge a bundle for them. (It has been nice to stop in on an emergency.)
One, granted it's a good 45 minuet drive away into a part of town I really hate to be in, has a good juice selection. They've turned me on to a few expensive juices of never of tried otherwise.

I take away from my experience is knowing what they all offer is good to know, but they're not all that's cracked up to be. Also, once one goes in around town, competition is sure to follow. Most of mine popped up with in a year of the first one opening.

For now, try something like eliquidsamples.com for sampling juice!

 

[jrenae4]

If you're in the DC area, there's a big VapeFest coming to town. These types of gatherings are a lot of fun!

Ooh awesome! I'm like 2 hours from DC but have been on the hunt for vape meets and such. Not much in my rural area so wouldn't mind the drive

 

[kbjoran]

Ooh awesome! I'm like 2 hours from DC but have been on the hunt for vape meets and such. Not much in my rural area so wouldn't mind the drive

The drive home with all the new toys will be nice.

 

[1wildman]

If you get a good B&M then don't worry about paying a few extra bucks. They got more overhead. But the advantage of having people to deal with is worth it.


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[Sucker_dad]

I've been to roughly 8 stores in Kansas City. We do not have any in Topeka. I have not been impressed with any of them except for one that is in Blue Springs Mo about 1.5 hrs drive from me. Almost all of them are too small, way overpriced and ignorant of products. It is mind blowing to me that these people think all it takes is opening a store with minimal products and they are going to be successful.