B&M Vape Bars.. The good, the bad and the down right awful.

[CajunCloud]

Being somewhat new to the vaping world it hasn't taken me long to realize that juices are so subjective to each person with regards to being awesome too terrible. That said I have now visited 3 different local B&M stores that all have vape tasting bars setup. I really like being able to go in and actually try some flavors before buying and taking the online crap shoot at a good tasting juice.

The thing that I find detracts from the tasting is the fact that most of their juices are in eGo style tanks with no air flow or VW. This to me does not give an accurate portrayal of the juices flavor. Often times the little eGo test batteries are almost dead as well which kills the vape or the crappy little tank is all burnt tasting.

Today I visited a shop where they actually had some of their higher end premium juices in better tanks with airflow and bottom feed and they also had a couple of Vamo units to use for tasting. This IMO was far superior to the eGo setups for sampling juices. But they also had the little eGo and top wick plastic tanks that suck for all their in house mixes. Soon as I got to those it was all down hill on the tasting.

Does anyone else notice this and wish they would go ahead and invest in some better atomizer tanks with airflow and some decent VW mod setups for the bars? I think they would sell more juice overall if people could access the true flavor in a decent mod and tank. The guys in the shops know that airflow and VW are how you dial in the flavor and vape. I know it would be a bit costly to do say 50 tanks but in the end they are tossing the little crap ones anyway and not giving their customers the benefit of fully trying the flavors. They would probably sell more APV setups as well to those people using the eGo etc after they learn what a real vape tastes and hits like with airflow.

I've been pretty lucky with my online orders so far with only a few revolting me. I have 90ml worth on the way from MBV as my first order with them so I am hoping to find some more online that float my boat and can order more in quantity in the future.

How you do like the Vape Bars in your area and how are they setup with equipment to let you taste them all?

CC

 

[Michael Power]

As a fellow native from the swamps of N.O. , meaning the westbank, Gretna ,Harvey,Marrero and Westwego to be precise, maybe we should start up our own line of juices! we could call it GatorJuice! Or SwampJuice! Damn, I just gave away a great idea. Nice to meet someone from home on here! Vape On!

 

[HMav]

Small bottom airflow single coil RDAs can be had from China for under 5 bucks each, kanthal wire and rayon wick can be had for cheap monies (a single vaper's lifetime supply could cost as much as $60). Build 1.8 ohm coils for them and run them on twist style VV batteries. The coils can last months, the wicks can last days to weeks depending on use.

It is more labor intensive, but it will provide the best presentation of the character of the juice for non-sub ohm vapers. Unfortunately the typical clearo style tank will not deliver the same flavor.

 

[Michael Power]

Now to address Cajuncloud's post, I too have had problems getting the real taste from the test tanks they have set up at the local shops. I also realize that cost is the biggest problem when it come to that. the thing is, some juices are meant only for glass tanks and some mixes only for sub ohm. Maybe there is a way to set up a pay per tank or pay per dropper full for taste test. Say $1 for a dropper full would be just enough to get a good taste from a tank or a dripper. There is also the hygiene side of it. Sure they have those little plastic covers to use but what about blow back? germs can still get inside the tank from other people breath. There just has to be a better way. Any thoughts on this?

 

[beez0527]

My local B&M still has the cheap clearos at the vape bar but the have started putting some rba/rta tanks and some isticks so you can get more of a pure taste. Now they have over 150 flavors so i do understand it would be hard to have enough rba for each flavor but they are at least giving you the option to use one now. Their bar is huge and always packed as they are really good people heck i think some people sit up there all day just vaping free juice. They are very actice in the vaping community holding vape nights and having a game night party for our Buckeyes in the NC game monday night. Maybe you should suggest to them getting a couple of devices to drip with, never know till you ask.

 

[WendyM]

One thing to consider at the end of the day is that these shops really need to make money in order to stay in business and the math is pretty simple. For example if they have 3 brands of e-juice and each brand has 30 flavors (being conservative here) and the upgraded atomizer is only a dollar more that still comes out to costing the shop $90 more than using the eGo and that's presumably before even selling a single bottle of juice. Also take into account that some customers are prone to abusing the snot out of whatever any business offers for free, and the shop will have to replace those upgraded attys and batteries in relatively short order and in order to do so (and still stay in business) that would require bumping prices.

Those price bumps add up, and soon enough your vape bar is going to wind up being the place where people go to try flavors before heading home to order online because they are so expensive at that shop. That is, it'll be that before it closes because it's not profitable.

That being said, there's no one sized fits all vape. The minute they pull the CE4s people will whinge about there being too much vapor (including me, I actually dig the CE4 and found with a 900 mAh eGo battery it's my favorite daily beast) or still not enough or something. There's always something. There's a really delicate balance between listening to your customers and letting them run you out of business.

 

[caroloto]

One by me uses only those cheaper top or bottom feeders with all now. When the premiums juices first came in they were using better tanks. But do to high theft of tanks which still happens all the tasting e-juice is in cheap tanks. Yet you have to bring your own battery to test too. Funny part is at times when I go there I see where people have forgotten their high end tanks on the test bar, at those times I give them to an employee to put behind the counter as I'm sure once the owners of those tanks mistakenly left with the tester tank. Oh and once while I was there someone can in with a tester tanks saying they were sorry they forgot to take the tank off.

 

[Harlen]

That's why I DIY juice always good with my rig
I just gave up on store juice .
Vape on

 

[warace]

the local b&m near me has a couple lines including 5pawns in kayfun and stilaire clones. and also have tester bottles for peeps like me who use drippers. It definately makes picking a juice much easier when you can taste test on your own atty with a preferred build.

 

[dgm76513]

DIYer here too. However, I can contribute to this thread.

Back when I first started ecigs, the vape shop closest to me was 60 miles away and was 1 of only 2 in Austin, TX at the time.

They were smart about it. They had 510 bridgeless dripping attys that they would throw on an ego. Wanna try a flavor? They put a few drops in and you try it with either your own drip tip or one of the house ones. Hand it back and they clean it with some PGA. Rinse and repeat.

That's not only cheaper in the long run, in my opinion, but also offers superior flavor than a clearo. They are a very successful shop now.

The shops that popped up a few years later in my town and the neighboring town do the clearo thing.

 

[wheelie]

I hear you and repect what you are saying but bigger tanks and higher watts = more juice. Or someone dialing it up to high and burning the juice for everyone else after saying I don't want that stuff as it tastes burn. Put little one speed ego's and that burning is unlikely to happen. Was testing a new line of juice today as a matter of fact and was offered to use my own battery and said no yours are fine mainly for that reason of not overpowering his tanks.

 

[Chesh97]

After experiencing higher quality juices, I have no intention on ever buying a B&M store brand again. I just need to find a few flavors that I just love. Haven't found them yet.

 

[faeriekitsune]

I kinda like what my local does. The inexpensive stuff is only available in CE4s with Evod batteries available but higher grade stuff as well as the house specialty blends available in CE4 and bottles for dripping in your own RDA setup. They just keep an eye on the dropper bottles (they're next to the register anyways) to make sure nobody is abusing them. The dropper bottles are all 0mg, so that helps.

 

[Fuzzy Bruce]

Since starting to drip, I do not do juice bars. I do however like to go in and get a small bottle of juice and be able to sit and enjoy a vape.

As a cigar smoker, I always enjoyed going to the local cigar shop, hang out with others and smoke a cigar. Just do not understand why the vape shops do not have air exchangers like the cigar bars to get rid if the vape a little faster.

 

[HecticEnergy]

the local b&m near me has a couple lines including 5pawns in kayfun and stilaire clones. and also have tester bottles for peeps like me who use drippers. It definately makes picking a juice much easier when you can taste test on your own atty with a preferred build.

Several shops near me let you drip on your own setup too. I think this is a great way to do it in addition to having ego's for new vapers just looking to get a setup to try.
Even when they build RDAs/RTAs and put them on high end mods the vape will be different with your build/setup. I prefer a cooler vape, a lot of people seem to prefer a warm/hot vape. To each their own, but I don't think there is a setup that will taste like yours, unless it is yours.

 

[HecticEnergy]

DIYer here too. However, I can contribute to this thread.

Back when I first started ecigs, the vape shop closest to me was 60 miles away and was 1 of only 2 in Austin, TX at the time.

They were smart about it. They had 510 bridgeless dripping attys that they would throw on an ego. Wanna try a flavor? They put a few drops in and you try it with either your own drip tip or one of the house ones. Hand it back and they clean it with some PGA. Rinse and repeat.

That's not only cheaper in the long run, in my opinion, but also offers superior flavor than a clearo. They are a very successful shop now.

The shops that popped up a few years later in my town and the neighboring town do the clearo thing.

All about vapor, right?

 

[HecticEnergy]

I kinda like what my local does. The inexpensive stuff is only available in CE4s with Evod batteries available but higher grade stuff as well as the house specialty blends available in CE4 and bottles for dripping in your own RDA setup. They just keep an eye on the dropper bottles (they're next to the register anyways) to make sure nobody is abusing them. The dropper bottles are all 0mg, so that helps.

At the ones near me they have a clerk serve you the sample bottles. I'm not sure if they do that during their busy times, as I usually go at odd hours...

 

[HecticEnergy]

Being somewhat new to the vaping world it hasn't taken me long to realize that juices are so subjective to each person with regards to being awesome too terrible. That said I have now visited 3 different local B&M stores that all have vape tasting bars setup. I really like being able to go in and actually try some flavors before buying and taking the online crap shoot at a good tasting juice.

The thing that I find detracts from the tasting is the fact that most of their juices are in eGo style tanks with no air flow or VW. This to me does not give an accurate portrayal of the juices flavor. Often times the little eGo test batteries are almost dead as well which kills the vape or the crappy little tank is all burnt tasting.

Today I visited a shop where they actually had some of their higher end premium juices in better tanks with airflow and bottom feed and they also had a couple of Vamo units to use for tasting. This IMO was far superior to the eGo setups for sampling juices. But they also had the little eGo and top wick plastic tanks that suck for all their in house mixes. Soon as I got to those it was all down hill on the tasting.

Does anyone else notice this and wish they would go ahead and invest in some better atomizer tanks with airflow and some decent VW mod setups for the bars? I think they would sell more juice overall if people could access the true flavor in a decent mod and tank. The guys in the shops know that airflow and VW are how you dial in the flavor and vape. I know it would be a bit costly to do say 50 tanks but in the end they are tossing the little crap ones anyway and not giving their customers the benefit of fully trying the flavors. They would probably sell more APV setups as well to those people using the eGo etc after they learn what a real vape tastes and hits like with airflow.

I've been pretty lucky with my online orders so far with only a few revolting me. I have 90ml worth on the way from MBV as my first order with them so I am hoping to find some more online that float my boat and can order more in quantity in the future.

How you do like the Vape Bars in your area and how are they setup with equipment to let you taste them all?

CC

I've found that MBV isn't very good in drippers - the flavor breaks down too much. Maybe if you build really high ohms and keep the power really low you'll be ok, but I don't think many vape that way on rebuildables
I hope I'm wrong and you get lots of delicious juice for cheap!

 

[Danbrooks2k]

Swamp Vapor in lafayette La uses mostly CE4 clearos that are half burnt on half dead ego batteries... They have boxes of alcohol swabs so you can disinfect the mouth piece before using it...

Yes, you heard right. The mouth piece stays on the CE4 and gets used over and over again. I am a paramedic and very familiar with Personal protective Equipmet ( PPE ) and BSI, Body Substance Isolation. I find the practice to be disgusting. Rubbing alcohol will not kill all bacteria and blood borne pathogens.

The vapor Lair in Houston gives you a mouth piece to keep when you want to sample juices. they were last using Aspire BDC clearos. I believe they would let you drip into your own set up.

Golden Triange Vapor in beaumont was using carto tanks on my first visit, but oddly enough they did not sell carto tanks at the time as they thought they were too advanced and mostly sold egos and clearos.

I have tried a place in the Tampa florida area that used long barrel atomizers that were dropped in anticeptic after a single use. They gave each customer a rubber drip tip. Sampling the juices took longer but it appeared to be the safest method for sampling I have seen.

If I had to run a shop I would not have anything battery powered for testing. Instead I would have rows of the usb powered cords with 510/ego connections on the end. I would probably use the long barreled atomizer system and the one per customer rubber drip tip.

I have a pretty good selection of favorite vendors and juices... I am moving into DIY. I wont be sampling juice in anything but perfectly aseptic conditions.

 

[MrStik]

Since starting to drip, I do not do juice bars. I do however like to go in and get a small bottle of juice and be able to sit and enjoy a vape.

As a cigar smoker, I always enjoyed going to the local cigar shop, hang out with others and smoke a cigar. Just do not understand why the vape shops do not have air exchangers like the cigar bars to get rid if the vape a little faster.

Standard ventilation should be fine for most shops, unless they advertise as being a lounge where they encourage people to hang out and blow clouds. There is a local shop that is basically a hallway and when it gets too cloudy, they open the door and point a fan towards the door for fresher air.

On topic, I asked a B&M why they use what they use, and their reason is that is the product they push. Ex. that shop gets lots of new business from people who want a simple ego with a simple tank as starters. This store at the time were pushing a lot of Carto Tanks, so they would fill everything in carto tanks. Then when they were selling a lot of protanks, they started using those. They want their majority customers, which were newbies, to be able to test juice on devices that they more than likely will be using or purchasing. And for the rest? Most will just test what they have anyways and be ok with it. If you want to use a dripper, they will accommodate IF they have opened bottles available.