Buy from your local shop or go online???

[H Niemand]

Illadelphia,
What shops do you frequent? I've been a little disappointed with some of the shops. Would like to try some new ones.

 

[riouxk]

I'll buy my expensive mods and such at the local store, but kanthal and other small stuff gets bought online. My local store doesn't markup things that much, they just have a hard time keeping things in stock.

 

[whsbuss]

I like B&M stores for the reason of having a tangible person or place to hold responsible for the products that you buy. I haven't had any issues with any vaping gear from my local shop but, I did have a slight issue with the flavor of one of the juices. I brought it in and they made me a new one right away! They also have like over 900 flavors and they can customize a flavor for you as well so, I really find that aspect of this particular B&M to be very attractive especially since I'm a huge flavor junkie and like to try flavors before I purchase them. I have purchased juices online and have had a simply fantastic experience with Virgin Vapor and their customer service. Their 100% VG Peach, HoneyDew and Orange are delicious!!!! I want to try Heathers Heavenly and that Mixology place in New York soon

If I may ask, what B&M are you referring to? I'm local to the Philly area.

 

[firefighternickn]

Ever since I discovered that great e juice can be had online and the pricing was much cheaper, I stopped going to b&m.

 

[ewilson]

I buy some items online, but for juice I mainly buy at the local B&M. We have several in my area (and I just discovered another new one today, yay!) but two in particular that I frequent more than the others. One big reason is the prices are pretty on par with online prices, also I can try the juices in store to choose what I like. I've really come to like one certain store above all the others though, because they are the makers of my favorite juice line, and they keep lots of items in stock that I've had trouble finding even online.. and for close to, if not the same as, online prices. Not to mention the instant gratification of new vape goodies (although I do find vapemail exciting too!), or the fact that I am supporting local business and helping to keep a great vape shop within my reach. I'd say about 90% of my vape purchases are made at local stores versus online.

 

[Purplepeeps]

I do both

 

[fatpeopleunite]

I got a few recommendations for online shops, like mushroomvapes, so I'm trying those first. Ridiculously less expensive than the stores in San Francisco..

 

[Illadelphia215]

I think I'm going to do the same thing

Illadelphia,
What shops do you frequent? I've been a little disappointed with some of the shops. Would like to try some new ones.

Hey nice to meet another Philly Vaper!!! I'm pm you the shops, I just don't want to put the places on blast without permission

 

[HoneyGram57]

I'm new to this so I'm doing a bit of both. I use a local shop for their knowledge, which I'm finding thru the forums is limited but it's more than I possess at this time. I'm a fast learner however, and can't learn enough, fast enough right now! I bought my initial equipment there but I'll probably order the next one. They have some decent liquids reasonably priced but I'm now having fun making my own & I buy the supplies I need for that on-line.

 

[Caridwen]

Hey nice to meet another Philly Vaper!!! I'm pm you the shops, I just don't want to put the places on blast without permission

You can post the names- if it's OK with them. If not, send me a PM too!

 

[crimedawg1972]

I do both. The "local" shop is 50 miles away, but I like to taste juice before I buy. They have also helped me out by teaching me how to build coils, etc. You can only learn so much from YouTube.

 

[Illadelphia215]

I think I'm going to do the same thing

Illadelphia,
What shops do you frequent? I've been a little disappointed with some of the shops. Would like to try some new ones.

Hey nice to meet another Philly Vaper!!! I'm pm you the shops, I just don't want to put the places on blast without permission

 

[Feraloxide]

I bought my first mech mod/juice bottle from a local vape shop. Paid a lot for it too for what I got. Got a disposable tank, an 18500 battery and some basic mech mod for $65. Had that for about 2 weeks until my MVP 2 and K1000 came in the mail, along with a bunch of juices. I intend to go back because of the large variety of juices they offer. Shame they don't have tasting.

 

[nanodragon]

I started researching online, thats where I bought my first ecig (Halo Triton). I used that for about a month then realized I wanted more vapor. I have a shop that is about an hour and a half away (the closest one) and there I was able to get a feel for the difference styles and that really helped a lot. Led me to buying my Innokin SVD. I also went to a shop to look at mech mods. It was very nice having a shop that could educate me on mech mods and how to be safe with them. The shop even walked me through building my first coils and even drilled out the top cap for more airflow. I also think it is fun visiting new vape shops, talking about the different things out there and trying some of their juices.

 

[dannyrl]

I buy juices at my local shops and hardware online.

I'm pretty picky when it comes to flavors so I don't want to waste money online on a juice I'll vape once and end up hating. I've spent a lot of time sampling flavors at my local shops' "vape bar" to make sure I love a flavor before I spend money on it. My local shops mark up their hardware pretty crazy though. Ego twist 1100mah batteries for nearly $30 with the charger and beauty ring sold seperately? What?? MVPs with ugly pre-installed skins for $60? No way.

Don't get me wrong, I love my local shops a lot, but when I can get two pieces of the same hardware shipped to my house for the price they're charging, I don't love them that much.

 

[chunkystan]

I can only speak for my region in France,the Charente.We have two vape shops in Angouleme,both run by the same lady.I can pick up,for example a aspire nautilus for 40 € ,the same on line 30€.For me there would be the convienience if I decided tomorrow I wished to buy said product, to use the same day.Overheads for a business are high here & I accept that that charge must be passed on.Also a lot of tabacs in the region have noticed the gradual change over to vaping & have started to stock starter kits,basic clearo's like the CE4 & a basic range of juices.For me it's good to know that if I am running low on juice I can purchase some the same day relativly easy (even if it would not be my prefered favourites & a bit dearer).Having said all that the bulk of the vaping stuff I buy is on line (great excuse to purchase several things at the same time to justify posting costs.To sum up my ramblings ,I use both b&m stores & internet,totaly dependant on a need to buy basis & budget but it's good to have the choice.

 

[Vaslovik]

I don't bother with the B&M's at all anymore. I make my own juice and since I use a mech and RBA all I need is mesh and kanthal, which most of the B&M's around here don't have. They don't even have the batteries I'd need if I didn't already have a bunch of them bought online. I started making my own juice because the juice I tried in their testers didn't taste at all the same in my RBA at .7 ohm, so I make juice for what I'll be vaping it in instead of paying them money for bad juice. I save a LOT of money this way.

I have lots of mesh and kanthal on hand, and plenty of juice mixing supplies, so online is where I shop. If I want a new atty I'll get it online too, because anything I'd want the B&M's here would never have, and the same goes for any new mech I'd want. Then too, the closest B&M to me wants $4 a foot for kanthal! Yeow! I don't know where they get the guts for that.

 

[sawman65]

like to keep my local shop going but i picked up some coils yesterday and was charged $3.00 each...i am now searching them out on line

 

[Boiler]

When I started there wasn't much to choose from locally. Now there are at least a half a dozen shops within reasonable distance and have expanded to include a wider selection of gear and supplies that I don't need to look anywhere else, except for a few things.

 

[Pod99966]

Sarasota, Fl must be a hotbed for vaping then. We must have 15 or more B&Ms in town, and there are new one popping up almost weekly. Some are "head shops" with selections of Hooka, water pipes..ect. Some are tobacco/cigar shops that have expanded into vaping. And some are Exclusively vaping. Some are National/International Brands and some are Local brands.

This makes it real easy to shop around locally and online and find a good price. I tend to buy locally because I want the instant gratification and the customer service is easier if I have a problem. A lot of the shop owners and workers go to local Vape nights. It's a pretty good vaping community here.