B&M rant!

[Mailablemage]

So I do realize that it is in fact cheaper to shop for vape gear online, however I live in a smallish town where most of the vape shops are locally owned. I am a huge fan of supporting local businesses, so I try and shop at B&Ms as much as possible. There is a small vape shop a block away from me where I get most of my gear, however they d not carry IMR batteries yet, as they are a new shop and are still talking with suppliers. So I decided to call around to a few local shops to see who had what.
My first mistake was not just going to a shop across town that an acquaintance of mine runs, I knew he had them, and I had been meaning to stop in and try out a few juices he had emailed me about. I instead googled local stores and checked out some of their websites. the only one I found on the list with them in stock had a post about them on their facebook page, so I called them to see if they had any in stock.

this was my conversation

shop employee: thank you for calling BLANK BLANK how may I help you?

me: Hi I wanted to know which IMR batteries you had in stock.

shop employee: um hang on let me check... I have some that say lith... lith ion? is that the battery you were looking for?

now at this point I reaized she had no idea what I was talking about, which I thought was fine, she might be new, so I continued

me: would you be able to connect me with another employee? im looking for a specific battery and you kinda need to know what you are looking for.

her (in a snotty voice): no we don't have those *click*

she friggin hung up on me! I wasn't even trying to be rude, nor was I upset that she didn't know what I was talking about, all I asked for was to speak to someone who knew what I was looking for! is that so wrong? is it wrong to expect an employee in a shop devoted to a niche market to know about the products they sell?


agh I'm so mad!

the worst part was when I posted to their yelp page, I gave them one star and made my complaint known, and all they did was post this BS excuse in response.

"We at BLANK BLANK strive to be as knowledgeable as possible about all items in our store. We sell hundreds of batteries and do understand the specs on each of them. Miscommunications happen and we will do our best to solve any issues and meet the needs of all costumers now and in the future."

WHAT KIND OF LAME EXCUSE IS THAT??? CLEARLY YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE SPECS ON ALL OF THEM OR THERE WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM HERE!!! are you telling me you sell 'hundreds' of batteries and your employees don't even know that ALL OF THEM ARE LITHIUM ION???? If I were to walk in to a sporting goods store I would expect the employees to know what a baseball is, can I not expect the same from an employee at a vape shop? what is wrong with these people?


this is exactly how accidents happen, ignorant shop employees sell to ignorant customers and someone gets hurt.

 

[stevegmu]

Sounds more like you wanted a gotcha moment, rather than actually shop for batteries... I would have just gone to the store a buddy runs, rather than make a big deal about it...

 

[Mailablemage]

Sounds more like you wanted a gotcha moment, rather than actually shop for batteries... I would have just gone to the store a buddy runs, rather than make a big deal about it...

actually what I wanted was a "lets pop a fresh IMR in my brand new nemesis mod' moment. they had a post on their facebook saying they had them, and they are a lot closer, like a 15 minute drive closer.

 

[stevegmu]

I wouldn't have gone out of my way to post a negative Yelp review or thread about it...it's just batteries...

 

[Ou2mame]

I would have just gone there. I hate calling stores, because you get responses like that. They can't hang up on you in person and I also like to browse. I get where you're coming from though. I wouldn't even bother writing a bad review..i just can't be bothered. Maybe I'd write them on their Facebook page so I could have a dialogue with them about my issue with them. Anyways, she probably doesn't represent the owners intent,
selling stuff.. So I wouldn't blame the whole store.

 

[stevegmu]

It's like negative reviews about restaurants. I'm not going to try to hurt the business because of an employee who was having a bad day...

 

[Mailablemage]

I wouldn't have gone out of my way to post a negative Yelp review or thread about it...it's just batteries...

its not about the batteries. its about the fact that instead of getting someone else that knows what they are talking about, she hung up on me, instead of going 'hey pete, this guy on the phone is asking for something and Im not sure what it is, can you take the call?' she hung up on me. its about the fact that she did not even know what a lithium ion battery is. do you not understand what this means? this means that this employee is selling devices that have the chance to catastrophically fail if improperly maintained, and she knows nothing about them.

 

[Mailablemage]

well after further reading their yelp reviews they are obviously doing something wrong, considering the only good reviews they have are from employees, and the rest are 3 stars or less.

 

[Rickajho]

Bad analogy department: Batteries are a lot more complicated than baseballs. (And yes - I do know the construction of a baseball.)

 

[stevegmu]

its not about the batteries. its about the fact that instead of getting someone else that knows what they are talking about, she hung up on me, instead of going 'hey pete, this guy on the phone is asking for something and Im not sure what it is, can you take the call?' she hung up on me. its about the fact that she did not even know what a lithium ion battery is. do you not understand what this means? this means that this employee is selling devices that have the chance to catastrophically fail if improperly maintained, and she knows nothing about them.

They are a retail store, not a training seminar. Is it the job of a car dealership to provide driving lessons?

 

[Mailablemage]

Bad analogy department: Batteries are a lot more complicated than baseballs. (And yes - I do know the construction of a baseball.)

maybe I worded that wrong... actually upon further thought it's just a bad analogy.

 

[Mailablemage]

They are a retail store, not a training seminar. Is it the job of a car dealership to provide driving lessons?

no, however it is their job to know their product, to know the difference between a camry and a carolla, to know what cars they have on the lot, to know what car has what engine, and how many miles it will get to the gallon. I would expect a wal mart employee to not know the ins and outs of their product, hwoever a vape shop is a SPECIALTY STORE, they sell specific products to specific people. I would expect a card shop employee to know the difference between a magic the gathering card and a yu gi oh card, I would expect a sports memorabilia store to know the difference between a baseball and a football, I would expect a vitamin shop employee to know the difference between soy and weigh protein, I would expect an autozone employee to know the difference between a carburetor and a transmission.

 

[stevegmu]

no, however it is their job to know their product, to know the difference between a camry and a carolla, to know what cars they have on the lot, to know what car has what engine, and how many miles it will get to the gallon. I would expect a wal mart employee to not know the ins and outs of their product, hwoever a vape shop is a SPECIALTY STORE, they sell specific products to specific people. I would expect a card shop employee to know the difference between a magic the gathering card and a yu gi oh card, I would expect a sports memorabilia store to know the difference between a baseball and a football, I would expect a vitamin shop employee to know the difference between soy and weigh protein, I would expect an autozone employee to know the difference between a carburetor and a transmission.

I think your expectations of those earning minimum wage are a little high...

 

[LMS62]

I can understand you being frustrated, I honestly can....but by your initial post, holy crap, you're going to give yourself a heart attack.

 

[Mailablemage]

I think your expectations of those earning minimum wage are a little high...

ok vitamin shop and autozone employees maybe, however sports memorabilia store employees probably get commission, car salesmen deffinetly make more than minimum wage, and you don't get a job at a card shop not knowing about trading cards. i wasnt expecting her to know the ins and outs of the battery, i expected her to know if she had them, what brand they were, what mAh they have, and what the amp rating is. considering in most cases this is all printed on the side of the battery she should have been able to figure it out. instead I got hung up on.

 

[stevegmu]

ok vitamin shop and autozone employees maybe, however sports memorabilia store employees probably get commission, car salesmen deffinetly make more than minimum wage, and you don't get a job at a card shop not knowing about trading cards. i wasnt expecting her to know the ins and outs of the battery, i expected her to know if she had them, what brand they were, what mAh they have, and what the amp rating is. considering in most cases this is all printed on the side of the battery she should have been able to figure it out. instead I got hung up on.

I wouldn't know that information, and I only use AW IMR batteries...

 

[Mailablemage]

I wouldn't know that information, and I only use AW IMR batteries...

what? then how do you know what resistance you can safely wrap your coils to?

 

[stevegmu]

what? then how do you know what resistance you can safely wrap your coils to?

I don't make coils... I only use the Kayfuns on vacation when I visit a buddy who owns a vape shop. He gave them to me and sets them up...

 

[Mailablemage]

I don't make coils... I only use the Kayfuns on vacation when I visit a buddy who owns a vape shop. He gave them to me and sets them up...

wait... so to clarify you only use your vape when on vacation? or d you use a different set up in day to day life and have your friend et up your mod when you visit?

 

[stevegmu]

wait... so to clarify you only use your vape when on vacation? or d you use a different set up in day to day life and have your friend et up your mod when you visit?

I use carto tanks mostly and Halo Tritons at home. When In Prague on holiday, I stop by my friend's vape shop. He is a Svoemesto dealer. His coil maker sets me up with 2ohm coils and Alpaca wicks for the Kayfuns he gave me.