B&M vs. value Online e-liquid - Online isn't winning

[jleeper]

Where I live, there are several B&M stores, some sell e-liquid I like, a couple I don't like so much. But the better ones are a bit of a drive, and the prices aren't as good as some of the value (Mt Baker, vape Wild) online sources. I thought I'd save some money and some time by ordering online. But I got my orders in, and I'm just not impressed.

For both orders, I ordered juices similar to those I buy at the B&Ms. I'm not comparing these to premium juices, but the B&Ms regular store brand stuff, basically fruit flavors, fruit candy flavors, minty-menthol, and cinnamon flavors. In all cases, the Online juices don't have anywhere near the amount of flavor as the B&M juices. For online juices, I ordered 18mg, 50/50, with no extra flavor shots. The B&M juices are 18mg, with whatever the store's standard mix is.

I'm seriously disappointed in the online juices. Vape Wild did send instructions to 'steep' their juices, but I'm having a hard time believing that it will make that much difference. I hope it does. Anyone else have this experience? Will steeping really make that much difference? Any other comments?

Thx

 

[dulltongue]

Steeping makes a huge difference, so will breathing...

 

[Train2]

Steeping might help, but maybe not for those kinds of flavors. I was never impressed with Mt Baker - I think you might do well to continue occasionally trying an online brand you see recommended here though.
There are DEFINITELY better prices, and certainly all the variety you could want...

For low cost simple, I'd try MrELiquid.
For a step up in creative blends, I'd try GoodLifeVapor.
For custard, Nicoticket. For tobacco, Halo. Both are a little pricier...

It's an adventure, for sure!

You want REAL value, you may end up like me - I make my own. I love it, and it costs me about $0.05/ml.

 

[sparkky1]

The best thing about a shop is the ability to sit and sample 100's of different vendors juice, if your getting a better ( satisfying ) flavor / price from the shops juice stay with what works .....but if you ordered custards / bakery ya there gonna be about 2-3 weeks from when you get them to come around....

The Top 10 "Craft" E-Juice Makers & E-Liquid Companies | Cig Buyer.com
http://......................./vote-for-the-best-e-liquid-flavors-2014
VZ Flavored E-Liquid USA - E Cig eGo, E juice, Mods, Cartomizers, Liquid Nicotine, DIY Flavorings

 

[sparkky1]

The best thing about a shop is the ability to sit and sample 100's of different vendors juice, if your getting a better ( satisfying ) flavor / price from the shops juice stay with what works .....but if you ordered custards / bakery ya there gonna be about 2-3 weeks from when you get them to come around....

The Top 10 "Craft" E-Juice Makers & E-Liquid Companies | Cig Buyer.com
http://......................./vote-for-the-best-e-liquid-flavors-2014
VZ Flavored E-Liquid USA - E Cig eGo, E juice, Mods, Cartomizers, Liquid Nicotine, DIY Flavorings

 

[KurrptSenate]

your comparison doesn't sound very good

the manufacturer's (mixers) you've mentioned aren't regarded that highly

I think it would be better to talk about the benefits of "try before you buy" in a store rather than rolling dice on ejuice you little to nothing about

 

[jleeper]

@dulltongue, Thanks, I hope it does. But its going to have to improve 2-3x for me to even considering reordering. I'm relatively new at this, and in all honesty, I'd think these guys would do well to pre-steep at least the most common combinations, Fresh e-juice isn't impressing me at this moment.

@Train2, again Thanks. Honestly, if steeping doesn't radically improve the intensity of the flavors, I'm going back to B&M. I just checked out MrELiquid and GoodLifeVapor., and the prices aren't bad, but not good enough to make it worth not trying the juices out before purchasing. Halo, I can get locally.

 

[xtwosm0kesx]

Im confused, i highly doubt any B&M is selling juice at less than $.50c a ml (likely closer to .60-.65a ml), so in this price range you should be comparing to much higher quality juices than MBV or the other one.

No offense to those who like it, as taste is subjective, but MBV is far from a 'premium' juice.

 

[man00ver]

When you're not impressed, ignore them for a few weeks and try again. You'll learn what I did: Steeping Matters (for all flavors, to one degree or another). In the meantime, you can patronize your B&M to help the local economy. The locally-bought liquids you enjoy have probably been sitting around for a while.

 

[AndriaD]

Where I live, there are several B&M stores, some sell e-liquid I like, a couple I don't like so much. But the better ones are a bit of a drive, and the prices aren't as good as some of the value (Mt Baker, Vape Wild) online sources. I thought I'd save some money and some time by ordering online. But I got my orders in, and I'm just not impressed.

For both orders, I ordered juices similar to those I buy at the B&Ms. I'm not comparing these to premium juices, but the B&Ms regular store brand stuff, basically fruit flavors, fruit candy flavors, minty-menthol, and cinnamon flavors. In all cases, the Online juices don't have anywhere near the amount of flavor as the B&M juices. For online juices, I ordered 18mg, 50/50, with no extra flavor shots. The B&M juices are 18mg, with whatever the store's standard mix is.

I'm seriously disappointed in the online juices. Vape Wild did send instructions to 'steep' their juices, but I'm having a hard time believing that it will make that much difference. I hope it does. Anyone else have this experience? Will steeping really make that much difference? Any other comments?

Thx

Steeping can often make a difference, between a so-so juice and a really good one; if it doesn't taste at least passable (or maybe just bland) before the steeping, steeping usually won't make it better.

But I've also experienced that many online juices just aren't very strong, don't have much flavor; with High Desert Vapes, I always ordered the extra flavor shot, and also at ECBlends. Since I started DIYing, I've figured out that they just don't use much flavoring, but I can add as much as I like. Sweetener can also make a really bland juice *POP*.

However I still prefer buying ejuice, if I buy pre-mixed at all, online, from vendors that allow you to customize the PG/VG -- I can't tolerate much VG, and unless a store actually mixes its own juice on-site, you won't usually find that customizability with B&M juices -- the ones around here just sell "name" brands, like Halo, Pipe Sauce, Nicquid, etc. I've never been financially able to afford the "premium" juices, but my favorite, the only one I still buy, is Blueberry Muffin,from sweet-vapes.com; it's $9.95/15ml, not exactly cheap, but not the most costly either. It's very good, very true flavor.

Andria

 

[man00ver]

Andria's post reminds me that higher-PG ratio is probably what you're getting when you buy non-premium house liquids. Not always, but usually, high-PG carries more flavor and requires less steeping.

 

[jleeper]

the manufacturer's (mixers) you've mentioned aren't regarded that highly

I think it would be better to talk about the benefits of "try before you buy" in a store rather than rolling dice on ejuice you little to nothing about

I don't know, Mt Baker gets mentioned a lot, and not that many mentions are negative. And Vape Wild has a 170+ page thread here where people talk about what they've gotten from VW, and most aren't panning the juice.

I will agree that being able to try-before-you-buy is a big advantage, but I was hoping I could find the 'Amazon' of e-liquid: same quality, better prices. I can get that online for my vaping hard goods, mods, tanks and such, why can't I get as good a value when buying e-juice online?

 

[jleeper]

Im confused, i highly doubt any B&M is selling juice at less than $.50c a ml (likely closer to .60-.65a ml), so in this price range you should be comparing to much higher quality juices than MBV or the other one.

No offense to those who like it, as taste is subjective, but MBV is far from a 'premium' juice.

I wasn't looking for premium juices, but since I can get mods and tanks for significantly less online than I can in a B&M, I thought maybe I could find the same value online. Guess that's not the case. But I would think that online lower cost of doing business and volume might make lower priced, good quality e-juice online possible. I'm not expecting Suicide Bunny, but was hoping the 'value' online vendors would equal B&M juice, not convenience store e-juice.

 

[AndriaD]

I don't know, Mt Baker gets mentioned a lot, and not that many mentions are negative. And Vape Wild has a 170+ page thread here where people talk about what they've gotten from VW, and most aren't panning the juice.

I will agree that being able to try-before-you-buy is a big advantage, but I was hoping I could find the 'Amazon' of e-liquid: same quality, better prices. I can get that online for my vaping hard goods, mods, tanks and such, why can't I get as good a value when buying e-juice online?

ECBlends is pretty good; they do tell you up-front that most of their juices need at least some steep time, and tobaccos, pretty long steep time, maybe 3 wks. They have 5ml for $2.50, so it's easy to try their stuff; they offer extra flavor shots, more sweetener, menthol and/or "cool hit" koolada shots. Places that mix to order this way, their juice nearly always needs a bit of steeping, though gettng the extra flavor shot, if offered, can substantially cut down or eliminate the need. The Blueberry Muffin I mentioned, I don't steep it, in fact I usually tear it open while I'm coming in the door and it tastes fine right away, but after it's been in the drawer for a few days, it might be even yummier.

Andria

 

[jleeper]

Andria's post reminds me that higher-PG ratio is probably what you're getting when you buy non-premium house liquids. Not always, but usually, high-PG carries more flavor and requires less steeping.

I wondered about that, too. You may be right. If I give some of these shops a try again, I'll try the highest PG.

 

[xtwosm0kesx]

I wasn't looking for premium juices, but since I can get mods and tanks for significantly less online than I can in a B&M, I thought maybe I could find the same value online. Guess that's not the case. But I would think that online lower cost of doing business and volume might make lower priced, good quality e-juice online possible. I'm not expecting Suicide Bunny, but was hoping the 'value' online vendors would equal B&M juice, not convenience store e-juice.

Mt. Baker juice is between $.14-$.22 per ML depending on the bottle size/quantity so we'll say $.18 a ml average.

I'm willing to bet that your B&M juice is a MINIMUM $.45 per ml, so comparing the two is like comparing a $25 bottle of wine with a $50+ bottle of wine, they're not going to be the same.

Its inevitable that you won't like all the juices out there, trial and error is basically the only option, but letting Mt Baker's poor quality cause you to write off all the wonderful liquid vendors our there is just crazy.

Best of luck!

 

[jleeper]

-- the ones around here just sell "name" brands, like Halo, Pipe Sauce, Nicquid, etc.

Andria

Interesting, most of the B&Ms around me only have their own juices, which only have a choice of nic levels. I'm pretty sure most of the B&Ms pre-mix or purchase their juices. Only one has a good selection of premium juices, which I've only tested, and hot liked that much (flavor, not strength), but I'm in Dallas, TX, and there are a lot of B&Ms around I haven't tried.

 

[Thundernoggin]

Interesting, most of the B&Ms around me only have their own juices, which only have a choice of nic levels. I'm pretty sure most of the B&Ms pre-mix or purchase their juices. Only one has a good selection of premium juices, which I've only tested, and hot liked that much (flavor, not strength), but I'm in Dallas, TX, and there are a lot of B&Ms around I haven't tried.

Ask if you can see their clean room.

 

[dulltongue]

there's a store in Carrollton that has good juices an they're relatively inexpensive. I think it's called Vapelounge. The Plume Room has a flavor of the week (FOTW) special every week which is 30ML for $11 plus shipping, and they include a free 5 ML sample...

 

[oh u mad]

this is an obvious troll thread. no one is stupid enough to make a point by comparing B&M juices to the absolute dirt cheapest juice like Vapewild.