Brick and Mortar Store Etiquette ... feedback desired

[KarenB]

UPDATE: Went into the store tonight and spent about 2 1/2 hours there talking to the guys and testing flavors. I ended up picking up an atomizer for dripping and a drip tip as well as 2 ViVi Nova Mini's, 3 bottles of fluid and a couple of clearomizer replacement tips. Spent about $ 80.00. I also took note of all the flavors we tried and which manufacturers they were made by. I plan in purchasing online many of those flavors ... BUT they know that we spend money as Luis looked up my charge from last week when I said that I didn't receive a receipt. In 2 weeks I have spend close to $ 150 in there so I don't think they will complain if we come back and dont' buy anything as they know that we will.

As a side note; my BF is a Free Mason and struck up a convo with one of the workers there about it and I got into a discussion with the other guy about the benefits of staying well hydrated especially while vaping.

I will go back for sure and likely spend more money there but for the majority of the stuff I think it's going to be online shopping. the experience and community of going into a BM store just can't be beat though. We made a number of new friends today!

 

[LongHaul]

I tend to buy something when I go to the stores but my main reason with Atty in pocket it to get new ideas for mixing juices. I try them then go order the flavors. Usually I walk out with a battery or drip tip. I look at it this way if you want to charge so much that you put yourself in the "rip customers off" category then I don't have much sympathy for you it cost me less than a penny to mix DIY juice per ml so to charge 1.00 per ml I really don't see the need and think its just greedy.


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[Lbox88]

Dang, $1.00/mL. If I get 36 mL bottles at the place I go to, it's $0.50/mL and if you order over $50 worth of stuff online they ship it for free, so I guess I don't have any way to relate to this and help lol.

 

[X P3 Flight Engineer]

I tend to buy something when I go to the stores but my main reason with Atty in pocket it to get new ideas for mixing juices. I try them then go order the flavors. Usually I walk out with a battery or drip tip. I look at it this way if you want to charge so much that you put yourself in the "rip customers off" category then I don't have much sympathy for you it cost me less than a penny to mix DIY juice per ml so to charge 1.00 per ml I really don't see the need and think its just greedy.


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Wow!

I would be interested to see your cost break down for mixing e-juice because I can't buy even VG or PG separately for less than a penny per ml.

 

[LongHaul]

Wow!

I would be interested to see your cost break down for mixing e-juice because I can't buy even VG or PG separately for less than a penny per ml.

I'm sorry it's .16 a ml the penny is for my 0 nic juice. A liter 1000ml from ecigexpress is 159 for 100mg I break it down to 12 mg and after the no nic base is added the nic base comes out to .019 a ml pluses .004 for the 0 nic then the expensive part is the flavorings.....hope you followed and I got it right

Either way I pay about 2.5 cents per ml before flavorings


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[johnnytwofingers]

Good to see you bought in store Karen, they're offering a very valuable service so supporting them is the right thing to do IMHO.

 

[LongHaul]

Good to see you bought in store Karen, they're offering a very valuable service so supporting them is the right thing to do IMHO.

That's why I always buy something no matter what.....


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[KarenB]

I buy a lot of stuff ... so it's not really a question BUT I know I can get fluid much cheaper online. I know I will buy at least one thing every time I go but not $ 80 worth of stuff each time as I am not made of money

 

[mostapha]

Having worked in retail sales, it's really annoying when people do that. As an owner, I'd probably get really .......

But realistically, the B&M Owner's only chance to make it is a combination of people who are hard up for consumables or things that fail (juice, batteries, attys) and people with whom he develops a relationship.

Don't do anything to destroy that relationship, but if he's just reselling other people's juice, I don't see a probelm buying it from the source, just be up front about it. Maybe he can beat price + shipping for you if you buy juice often enough or make some other kind of deal.

You're dealing with a business, but it's run by people……treating them like people sometimes benefits everyone.

 

[hrlw817]

The Brick and Mortar store I use also has their items on line. I first started buying from the store, and so did my wife. We usually just buy juice and maybe a clearo here and there. So as of now, she still buys her juice from the store, while I buy their juice online simply because they don't offer 8mg at their stores. That's the only thing I buy online from them. Anything else, we just run up to the Brick and Mortar for stuff we need.

Now, we could just buy everything online, simply because it is cheaper, but the guys/gals working the stores need to get paid too. Another reason is for info. Another reason is to actually hold an item, like a PV. So, I don't mind helping out the stores one bit buy buying from there.

 

[bubbadreier]

I buy from my local store because after shipping they come out to only be a dollar or two more expensive. I am impatient and I like to support a local business!

 

[KarenB]

Sorry, I guess you did't see where I said I've purchased quite a bit over the last 2 weeks from them. As I've said, if we go in we will buy something but it may not be $80.00 worth of stuff every time.

I believe in supporting local business and the intent of this thread was simply to ask if it's ok to note flavors and mfgs as I'm tasting.

Having worked in retail sales, it's really annoying when people do that. As an owner, I'd probably get really .......

But realistically, the B&M Owner's only chance to make it is a combination of people who are hard up for consumables or things that fail (juice, batteries, attys) and people with whom he develops a relationship.

Don't do anything to destroy that relationship, but if he's just reselling other people's juice, I don't see a probelm buying it from the source, just be up front about it. Maybe he can beat price + shipping for you if you buy juice often enough or make some other kind of deal.

You're dealing with a business, but it's run by people……treating them like people sometimes benefits everyone.

 

[Buggs5347]

You are only trying 2 or 3 drops of a flavor, right? That's nothing. You have purchased plenty to make up for the few drops of a few flavors you tried. Even if you only purchased one bottle of juice or one clearomizer they've more than covered the expense of the juice you tested. I think it's good to support local businesses when you can.

 

[LongHaul]

You are only trying 2 or 3 drops of a flavor, right? That's nothing. You have purchased plenty to make up for the few drops of a few flavors you tried. Even if you only purchased one bottle of juice or one clearomizer they've more than covered the expense of the juice you tested. I think it's good to support local businesses when you can.

That's basically what I'm saying I know shod that sell juice for a buck a ml and struggle crying overhead and I know a shop that charges 17 for 65 ml custom mixed on the spot when I go there I buy 5 bottles at a time and they double the nic and flavors so I can cut it in half to double it......end fact if you get greedy then expect window shoppers


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[mostapha]

I believe in supporting local business and the intent of this thread was simply to ask if it's ok to note flavors and mfgs as I'm tasting.

That was my point. It's obvious you're not a terrible person. But I'd talk to him about it. If he's charging (numbers made up) $10 for a a bottle of juice that costs $8 with shipping from the source, either he knows that it's available cheaper or it's not actually the same juice. Either way, talking to him could lead to you both being happier than if you just bought the flavors from somewhere else.

 

[KarenB]

Mostapha ... yeah, totally. What I really need to do is figure out cost with shipping vs. cost of going to the store. It might just be a wash there. They carry all the major brands, Halo, Highbrow Vapor, EC Blends, Rawr, etc. and also make house blend (which I haven't tried because they are more tobacco based).

Buggs ... yes they have a 4 drop per flavor policy, lend you attys and tanks and are very helpful. I love the BM because now I won't waste money on juice that I don't like anymore and if there is a flavor I simply cannot wait to have I can buy on the spot.

EDIT: I should add that I may buy hardware from them because if it's faulty it's easier to return then shipping back and forth

 

[JKuro]

I went to a local BM shop. The sales people were very nice and informative, but it was alittle busy. It took about 15-20 minutes before getting waited on. I purchased about 100.00 in hardware and was looking to try and purchase some juices as well. Thats where it fell off a bit. The sales person seemed slightly anxious to get on to the next customer. I only tried 3 flavors, but bought 5 just from looking at the list. After getting home and trying them, some of them were horrible. I gave it a chance and let them steep, but they never got better. I ended up dumping a few 30ml bottles down the drain. Now, I buy the sample packs that many sites offer. For 2-3 dollars per 3-5ml bottle, I can try alot of different flavors.

 

[mostapha]

Man…a local B&M that actually carried real brands of juice would be dangerous.

 

[Lbox88]

Man…a local B&M that actually carried real brands of juice would be dangerous.

I won't lie, it kind of is lol. Especially one with good owners and a nice shop.

 

[filter]

i would try out a bunch of stuff there then buy a few of your favorites, just don't buy 30ml or anything, get like 5-10ml of each flavor. that way you get to try out a bunch of stuff, he makes a sale and you're not out too much cash. there's a big difference between getting 5ml for $5 and getting 500ml for $500. use this place to try out stuff and to make small batch purchases. use online to buy bigger bottles.