[B]Tip to vape store owners!! [/B]

[Rocketpunk]

If anyone's from the Chattanooga area, you should most definitely check out Vintage Vapors in East Ridge, Chattanooga, as well as Mountain Oak Vapors, in Cleveland, TN.

Vintage Vapors B&M is amazing. It's owned and operated by a guy who also does "themes" for other businesses. He's totally made it up to look like some kind of steampunk saloon. Dark, very dark inside. Everything is made of wood, brass, and glass. If I recall, he even has a smoke shop Indian statue in the store. His juice bar actually looks like a bar. He's also incredibly cool and humble. He makes his own juices, as well, and carries Jamesons' and The Standard juices. He has a custom steampunk mod that is beautiful. Check them out on Facebook, I don't think he has an actual website.

Mountain Oak Vapors in Cleveland, Tennessee. Man, it's crazy. Their location is literally out in B.F., Egypt, but people drive for miles to go there. I've only been there once, but I was highly impressed. Interesting counter setup and the "back of the house" is slightly open to customers. Their stock must be freaking huge because it literally looked like a warehouse behind the counters. They carried almost everything and anything. They were kind of short-staffed the day I was there, but the woman behind the counter helping the customer was doing an excellent job explaining an Ego twist battery and clearomizers. I was highly impressed by their juice selection. My ONLY complaint was they were testing them in Pro Tank minis. I know some people swear by their Pro Tanks, but I dislike their draw and they mute the flavor in my opinion. A few of the juices I tried tasted burnt, as if the heads were old. The juice bar is kind of a ways away from the counter and centered around some couches. It would have been nice to be closer to the counter and alert the staff immediately when the wicks have crapped out and taste burnt. But other than that, they are awesome. And their B&M prices are amazing. Almost internet level pricing.

EDIT: Also, if you're from the Chattanooga, SW Tennessee area, be sure to check out Scenic City Vapers Forum on Facebook. It's an open group, anyone can join. A lot of helpful people there, all local.

 

[tapout1003]

3 opened in the canton area. I held a mini 5 min class at one of them to explain my eroll. None of the employees or the "manager" had ever seen one. I wish I could find one of these places with a real owner and a budget and i'd do it part time for fun.

Oh and juice is a buck a ml.

 

[Amd6547]

Thanks for the tips on local shops...I had searched the directory here on the forum and found nothing.
I will check out the one in Macedonia...it isn't too far from my job.
You folks are great!

 

[Katya]

I like this:

Electric Cigarette | Eliquid | Supplies | Electronic Cigarette | Ejuice | Vapor Search USA

OP, I feel for you. I'm lucky to have several nice vape stores in SoCal.

 

[OzarkTroutBum]

I like this:

Electric Cigarette | Eliquid | Supplies | Electronic Cigarette | Ejuice | Vapor Search USA

OP, I feel for you. I'm lucky to have several nice vape stores in SoCal.

Not a big deal at all, instead it was an eye opener. I feel for the shop owners and appreciate our guy that much more. Some of these shops had multiple locations so if it was happening there it was happening elsewhere.

 

[StacyInOkla]

Thanks for the heads up. I occasionally go to Dallas for shopping and to visit family. Your misadventure makes me appreciate my local B&M. They have a store in the town I work in and their original location close to home. I get my juice online but support them by buying my gear and hubby's juice from them. When I got my eVic not only did they explain how it works right then but when I had questions a couple days later the owner made sure she was giving me the correct information.

 

[danca90]

If anyone's from the Chattanooga area, you should most definitely check out Vintage Vapors in East Ridge, Chattanooga, as well as Mountain Oak Vapors, in Cleveland, TN.

Vintage Vapors B&M is amazing. It's owned and operated by a guy who also does "themes" for other businesses. He's totally made it up to look like some kind of steampunk saloon. Dark, very dark inside. Everything is made of wood, brass, and glass. If I recall, he even has a smoke shop Indian statue in the store. His juice bar actually looks like a bar. He's also incredibly cool and humble. He makes his own juices, as well as Jamesons' and The Standard juices. He has a custom steampunk mod that is beautiful. Check them out on Facebook, I don't think he has an actual website.

Mountain Oak Vapors in Cleveland, Tennessee. Man, it's crazy. Their location is literally out in B.F., Egypt, but people drive for miles to go there. I've only been there once, but I was highly impressed. Interesting counter setup and the "back of the house" is slightly open to customers. Their stock must be freaking huge because it literally looked like a warehouse behind the counters. They carried almost everything and anything. They were kind of short-staffed the day I was there, but the woman behind the counter helping the customer was doing an excellent job explaining an Ego twist battery and clearomizers. I was highly impressed by their juice selection. My ONLY complaint was they were testing them in Pro Tank minis. I know some people swear by their Pro Tanks, but I dislike their draw and they mute the flavor in my opinion. A few of the juices I tried tasted burnt, as if the heads were old. The juice bar is kind of a ways away from the counter and centered around some couches. It would have been nice to be closer to the counter and alert the staff immediately when the wicks have crapped out and taste burnt. But other than that, they are awesome. And their B&M prices are amazing. Almost internet level pricing.

EDIT: Also, if you're from the Chattanooga, SW Tennessee area, be sure to check out Scenic City Vapers Forum on Facebook. It's an open group, anyone can join. A lot of helpful people there, all local.

A shop pretty close to my house (probably the closest) carries mountain oak liquid. I am loving it.

 

[Kirkwood]

If you own a shop in Depew NY, don't charge $25.00 for a 30 ml bottle of juice or $65.00 for a Itaste vv (express, just the battery and charger). Hint: there is only one shop in Depew NY

 

[danca90]

If you own a shop in Depew NY, don't charge $25.00 for a 30 ml bottle of juice or $65.00 for a Itaste vv (express, just the battery and charger). Hint: there is only one shop in Depew NY

They can't last too long at those prices. I think a lot of us (self included) paid way too much for our first kits just because it was bundled, and we could get it the day we were motivated enough to walk in.

 

[OzarkTroutBum]

They can't last too long at those prices. I think a lot of us (self included) paid way too much for our first kits just because it was bundled, and we could get it the day we were motivated enough to walk in.

I paid $48 for a cigalike kit and I have heard worse. It did get me off cigarettes and into bigger and better gear. I gifted it to someone else who is damn near off tobacco too. It was $48 well spent in my mind.

Had I known then what I know now I would have skipped that and gone to the next step. However I wasn't confident enough and hadn't really found and read into ECF to figure out what everything was and what it did and how to apply it to me.

 

[Myrany]

I paid $48 for a cigalike kit and I have heard worse. It did get me off cigarettes and into bigger and better gear. I gifted it to someone else who is damn near off tobacco too. It was $48 well spent in my mind.

Had I known then what I know now I would have skipped that and gone to the next step. However I wasn't confident enough and hadn't really found and read into ECF to figure out what everything was and what it did and how to apply it to me.

Exactly there is nothing wrong with cigalike kits. Heck I just recently bought a cigalike kit and I have big devices and mechs. I just like the small form factor of a cigalike when driving. Cigalikes are not inherently BAD, they have their uses.

I Started with an $80 EGO-C with the EGO-C tank system. Inside 2 weeks I was so frustrated with that tank system I wanted to hit someone. The batteries from that kit however are still in use.

 

[TiMe_1]

Got a couple new stores here in my town (first ones). Went to check one out one day and the owners had their kids in there watching cartoons in the "lounge" area of the store. Thought it was a lil weird but maybe its just me...

 

[twgbonehead]

I like this:

Electric Cigarette | Eliquid | Supplies | Electronic Cigarette | Ejuice | Vapor Search USA

OP, I feel for you. I'm lucky to have several nice vape stores in SoCal.

Sadly, only confirms what I already knew. 5 stores listed under MA, all in the boonies, and 1 of the 5 is in Maryland!

 

[Magma]

I would agree that there are a ton of stores here in the DFW area. THe main issue I have is after visiting the Freedomsmokeusa store in Tucson, well...They know how to do it right. the majority of the local shops are decent, but I have only found 1 that truly delivers in the customer service department. Since I started DIY and stocked up on devices I haven't visited a B&M in a while.

 

[OzarkTroutBum]

Got a couple new stores here in my town (first ones). Went to check one out one day and the owners had their kids in there watching cartoons in the "lounge" area of the store. Thought it was a lil weird but maybe its just me...

Aaaahhhhhhhh. No.


Lets just hope that was an anomaly and not a regular thing. Kids and vape shops shouldn't mix.

 

[Coastal Cowboy]

Y'all are doing it wrong.

You have to bring a HAWT chick with you anytime you visit the local B&M. Most of the guys that work in those places are hopelessly single, 20-something hipster losers. The other day, I picked up a smoking HAWT Asian spinner wearing her favorite LBD and killer pumps. I gave her $20 to come to the B&M with me so I could get some new heads for my Protanks and Evods and try out some of their new jooses.

Those dudes dropped their RBA's like they were hot as soon as we walked in the door. I got heads for half off, one free bottle of Love Potion and a 25% discount on my next purchase. We left as the guys were wiping their drool off of the glass display cases.

The issue is that there are very low barriers to market entry in this industry. Sign a lease, acquire or build some display apparatus, get some inventory from China and you're open for business. If it works, you make money. If it doesn't, you aren't walking away from very much at all. Eventually, the establishments that do it right and pay attention to the customer will thrive, even with the typical large B&M markup over internet outlets.

People like touchy feely shopping. They want to hold that Tesla, that Vamo, that Zmax. They want to try the liquids before they buy, and they want knowledgable, friendly folks to help them through the entire experience.

 

[OzarkTroutBum]

Y'all are doing it wrong.

You have to bring a HAWT chick with you anytime you visit the local B&M. Most of the guys that work in those places are hopelessly single, 20-something hipster losers. The other day, I picked up a smoking HAWT Asian spinner wearing her favorite LBD and killer pumps. I gave her $20 to come to the B&M with me so I could get some new heads for my Protanks and Evods and try out some of their new jooses.

Those dudes dropped their RBA's like they were hot as soon as we walked in the door. I got heads for half off, one free bottle of Love Potion and a 25% discount on my next purchase. We left as the guys were wiping their drool off of the glass display cases.

GREAT idea. Nobody rushing to help an older guy with a receding hairline and an expanding mid section. In fact I may well be invisible to hipsters as they DO NOT want to see what they will soon turn into whether they like it or not.

 

[peterforpats]

I wouldn't pass any by based on my recommendation. 2 of them I went based on recommendations I got here so I guess its a YMMV situation.

None of them were just outright rude or anything. Just poorly managed and in dire need of a tuneup. Pretty sure they were all in their first year of B&M business and they'll either find their way or fail. They occupy expensive real estate and have multiple employees and letting money walk out the door isn't going to keep them open.

yeah, so by all means run home to the computer and write it up in a forum. a little passive/aggressive are we?. why not say something why you are in the store? or is this way much easier and makes you feel better? how do you even know if any store owner will see this post and because you conveniently omitted names, how would they know it was there store anyway? sorry, the time to criticize or critique is when you were there.

 

[Fulgurant]

yeah, so by all means run home to the computer and write it up in a forum. a little passive/aggressive are we?. why not say something why you are in the store? or is this way much easier and makes you feel better? how do you even know if any store owner will see this post and because you conveniently omitted names, how would they know it was there store anyway? sorry, the time to criticize or critique is when you were there.

Disagreed. The onus isn't on the customer to volunteer himself for a potentially confrontational conversation. Although I'm sure all of us, as vapers, would like to see B&Ms succeed, each individual must pick his own battles on a day-to-day basis.

When a store makes a bad impression, like it not, most customers just leave without saying anything. No muss, no fuss, no outward effort to hurt anyone's feelings -- it just isn't worth the time and energy to stir up the drama. If you think it's more honorable to open your mouth every time you're dissatisfied, then have at it; more power to you, but it just isn't realistic to apply the same standard to everyone.

That said, I tend to think that many customers have unrealistic expectations. Whether they realize it or not, those customers are doomed to perpetual dissatisfaction and a lifetime of needless and fruitless effort spent either arguing or searching for better alternatives. There is definitely a middle ground. I usually err on the side of the vendor/employee, but then I'm pretty easy to please. Mileage will vary.

EDIT: In the OP's case, I think most of his complaints were reasonable. They also weren't framed in a particularly acrimonious way, nor did he describe any conduct that I would deem to be unacceptable. Certainly none of the behavior described in the OP warrants naming and shaming. The OP posed his negative observations about the various B&Ms he'd visited as generalized advice to the current or would-be proprietor.

 

[DC2]

yeah, so by all means run home to the computer and write it up in a forum. a little passive/aggressive are we?. why not say something why you are in the store? or is this way much easier and makes you feel better? how do you even know if any store owner will see this post and because you conveniently omitted names, how would they know it was there store anyway? sorry, the time to criticize or critique is when you were there.

Wow, really? Where did that come from?