Buying in person vs buying online
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If you can find a store close to you, that has some things to get your started, I'd go with in store. Then once you kinda figure out what works for you, and what type of set up you like, then you could certainly shop online. Plus the employees at the store can hopefully help answer any questions you may have. Welcome to ECF by the way. 
I'm not a vetran!!!! My opinion is if you have a local store you can trust, you will probably get quicker service and have someone that can supply almost all your vaping needs.
I found a seller online who was located not too far from where I live. I was so desperate for flavour (having hit 'the wall') that I arranged to go to his house (he ran his business from home) to pick some up. I took a rugby player with me because it struck me as a little peculiar as to what I was doing but it all worked out well in the end! As it turned out, the vendor was a lovely young man!
When I started out, I found a company with a telephone number and gave them a call for some advice and to check that they were actually a company and not about to defraud me. Again, they were lovely and I bought my first e-cig by telephone!
If you're able to find a vendor close to your home and you'd prefer that, go with it! It's all about personal choice! Maybe you'll venture into purchasing online and there are plenty of reviews and people to advise you here on the forum if you decide that online shopping is for you later down the line.x
When I started out, I found a company with a telephone number and gave them a call for some advice and to check that they were actually a company and not about to defraud me. Again, they were lovely and I bought my first e-cig by telephone!
If you're able to find a vendor close to your home and you'd prefer that, go with it! It's all about personal choice! Maybe you'll venture into purchasing online and there are plenty of reviews and people to advise you here on the forum if you decide that online shopping is for you later down the line.x
Buy your hardware from a shop. Buy your juice online. Buy me some juice while you're at it too....
I'm not crazy about the store we have here. They don't have a great selection and are pricey. At first I thought that even though they were more expensive I would save on shipping costs, but having to pay sales tax made it higher. I find the members of ECF more knowledgable, but for some people it's more helpful to see a product in person to understand how it works.
If I'd had a local store with good customer service to go to when I first started I certainly would have so I could see in person and hold the different ecigs I was considering before buying. Being able to try out some juice samples before purchasing would have been a huge money saver. Even if my store purchases had cost me a bit more then ordering on line it certainly would have been worth it when I was first starting out.
I do now have a good local storefront that I can purchase from, RW Vapors. His prices are good and his customer service excellent. I appreciate the importance of having a good local storefront, especially for new people just starting out, so I gladly make some purchases from the store to show my support
I do now have a good local storefront that I can purchase from, RW Vapors. His prices are good and his customer service excellent.
I appreciate the importance of having a good local storefront, especially for new people just starting out, so I gladly make some purchases from the store to show my support 
I find most stores charge more for hardware and dont have the latest versions of somethings such as clearomizers and what not.I buy all my hardware online and all of my juice as well.Only go to local store if Im super low on juice and cant wait .Plus with having the deals and steals thread here you can always find great deals on both juice and hardware
I've only been to one B&M so far and it was more of a head shop and had 15mL bottles for $10 of not that good liquid. I got two bottles as I was dangerously low to out. Not much of a selection, basic ripoff cigalikes I recall. Was stuck in the corner. So by no means a true vape store.
I tend to make snap decisions when I buy stuff like PVs in person, so I've stuck mostly online. Plus there aren't any B&M shops that I know of near by. Been awhile since I did a google search. ECBlends is 60 miles north and I think I saw a company trying to start up 60 miles south.
But when USPS flat rate shipping is only $4-6 its so much cheaper for me to ship than to drive. Also ordering out of California will allow me to skip the sales tax.
Plus selection of online vendors is so impossible to beat. I doubt if there were any local stores they'd carry RBA, SS mesh, kanthal/nichrome just to name a few of the bits & pieces I require. Even if they did it'd likely be more expensive.
Local rite-aid has the Krave e-cigs and tbh I've been tempted to try one of the disposables. But they come in at about half the price of an SDK and that is a far superior device.
I tend to make snap decisions when I buy stuff like PVs in person, so I've stuck mostly online. Plus there aren't any B&M shops that I know of near by. Been awhile since I did a google search. ECBlends is 60 miles north and I think I saw a company trying to start up 60 miles south.
But when USPS flat rate shipping is only $4-6 its so much cheaper for me to ship than to drive. Also ordering out of California will allow me to skip the sales tax.
Plus selection of online vendors is so impossible to beat. I doubt if there were any local stores they'd carry RBA, SS mesh, kanthal/nichrome just to name a few of the bits & pieces I require. Even if they did it'd likely be more expensive.
Local rite-aid has the Krave e-cigs and tbh I've been tempted to try one of the disposables. But they come in at about half the price of an SDK and that is a far superior device.
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We have a decent store in town and I enjoy shopping there. Nice folks too. I like being able to sample juices before buying and being able to just pop in for a new battery or whatever without having to wait for shipping. The prices are pretty decent - about what I'd pay with shipping from an online store. I also like the idea of supporting local small business.
i find there is pro's and con's to each option. in store you can actually see and touch everything to see if its comfortable. this works out great for a noob as they will get more from the experience. however most stores will charge a bit more in order to cover building expenses and employee payroll. as where online can be a bit cheaper, but you loose the touch and see aspect plus the option to chat about things and gain more info on that product.
i do both for different things... juice and mods online works best for me.. things like clearo's, atties, and other delivery systems there is a good shop near by that i can try out and see them before i buy and the cost isnt much higher then online
i do both for different things... juice and mods online works best for me.. things like clearo's, atties, and other delivery systems there is a good shop near by that i can try out and see them before i buy and the cost isnt much higher then online
I buy from both, but I really do prefer a store. You get the face-to-face customer service from a store than online. I favor that kind of service than electronic. At a store you can view and use their hardwares, be informed of what to do and what not to do, test flavors available to see what your taste preference is, and most have a store warranty. Yeah a bit pricier, (10% or so more than online), but you don't get that kind of interaction purchasing online, and you have to wait.
Where in California are you from? Some of us maybe able to direct you to a store close to you.
Every time you buy online you take a risk, maybe the device or part your ordering will work, maybe it won't.... most of the time you are good if you buy online from a reputable vendor with a DOA return policy (dead atomizers cartos etc) but i know when i used to order i was always taking risks and when i got a bad device most of the time i just chalked it up and said no more of those then... if you have a good shop with employees that are actually into the job because they are passionate with vaping you should be able to get set up no problem. I know i have walked into many a shop where they are paid commission and all they do is upsell upsell upsell... i know a few local shops that are not commission and they are really helpful with purchases, sure sometimes they are biased to some over priced PV cut most of the time its a good experience, also most B&M shops have flavors you can test in store which is a major perk.. just food for thought
Ive found with my local B&M that over half the time I know what Im talking about more than the staff so thats another part of the reason I tend to go with online.
I buy many things online, but I am a fan of supporting local small businesses where possible. I only have juice available in a smoke shop locally, and it's cheap import juice for over $1 per ml. I'm a beginning bike rider. I go to the bike shop with the old 75 year old dude that is passionate about bikes. His stuff is more expensive than Walmart, but it's better stuff. I am getting a better deal in the long run.
Especially for a new vaper, a store with even moderately experienced employees can provide a great service, by letting you see and try both devices and juice.
I was shopping for some hiking boots recently. I went to a local retailer, there were lots of people trying them on, and saying "There's my size, now I'm off to Amazon". I could get them online for $40 cheaper. I told the retailer that, and asked if they could match the price. They offered to throw in $40 worth of good wool hiking socks, that I would have eventually bought anyway.
If it's locally owned, you may have a better chance of asking for a discount if you get more than one thing, perhaps. If you buy a device, ask if they'll throw in juice. Juice is incredibly cheap to make, that is a good offer to make them.
Especially for a new vaper, a store with even moderately experienced employees can provide a great service, by letting you see and try both devices and juice.
I was shopping for some hiking boots recently. I went to a local retailer, there were lots of people trying them on, and saying "There's my size, now I'm off to Amazon". I could get them online for $40 cheaper. I told the retailer that, and asked if they could match the price. They offered to throw in $40 worth of good wool hiking socks, that I would have eventually bought anyway.
If it's locally owned, you may have a better chance of asking for a discount if you get more than one thing, perhaps. If you buy a device, ask if they'll throw in juice. Juice is incredibly cheap to make, that is a good offer to make them.
Well I wished I lived where you do because in my case Ive never got one sample or discount from my B&M at 30mls for 15 bucks and over 26 for 50 mls you might get a little something once in a while.I will say the owner has always been very friendly and helpful but when it comes to some of the staff I feel like Im being talked to like I have no idea what Im talking about.Thats why at this point I think Ill stick to online but I have heard plenty of reviews of other stores that are terrific so I think it just depends where you are .
Welcome to ECF! A local store can be a great place to check out equipment and e-liquids. My local shop is great and the staff is knowledgeable. I also like being able to try e-liquids before I buy them. Prices are a bit higher, but not enough to deter me (plus I like supporting local small business owners).
I also buy some things online. I'm beginning to buy some samples of e-liquids in flavors that aren't available at my local shop. I'm also thinking about moving up to an APV, which I will probably buy online.
If you have shops in your area, check them out and see what options they have available. See if the staff knows what they're talking about. If not, there are plenty of folks on ECF that have a lot of knowledge and are willing to share.
I also buy some things online. I'm beginning to buy some samples of e-liquids in flavors that aren't available at my local shop. I'm also thinking about moving up to an APV, which I will probably buy online.
If you have shops in your area, check them out and see what options they have available. See if the staff knows what they're talking about. If not, there are plenty of folks on ECF that have a lot of knowledge and are willing to share.
i totally agree with purchasing from a local vendor before purchasing online... best to help the local economy vs some online vendor anyway
If I had the option to purchase in person I would totally do it, mostly because I'm a toucher... I'm the weird girl in the store that likes to pick up things and fondle them, run my fingers along towels and blankets as I walk past sort of thing. The only reason I purchased online is because I had no choice.
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