Buying local (B&M) Vs the Internet

[nyiddle]

sketchness brought up a point briefly..

Why the hell do B&M's overprice drip tips so much?! A good drip tip from a reputable site is, max, 10$. I've seen some stores asking 50$ for simple, acryllic ming-style drip-tips! What the crap is that? And these will be stores that have reasonable prices on everything else (devices, etc.)

It seems like the mark-up for drip tips is always ridiculous.

 

[Shipmonster]

I know the internet will always undercut B&M prices. I know that one huge advantage of a good B&M is that ability to hold and examine X and even the possibility of walking out with X in your pocket. So why do i feel so upset that my local B&M "almost got me" to pay $50 for a full size Nautilus? Is it because they ran out of stock and I was able to walk away? Is it because for the same $50 I could get 2 online right now? Is it that I just wanted a new tank that day and got disappointed to go home empty handed?

I like my local B&M. They haven't really done anything to get my ire. I kinda wish they had tried to be more pushy when I first went in there, my starter kit left me wanting and was replaced within 3 days. They have good suggestions on juice, and a good range. They have helped me ease into the idea that there are wider juice flavors than I had ever imagined. That said I find myself drifting away form them with every purchase. They are woefully undercut on almost every major piece of tech in the place, almost every thing can be bought online for less than 50% of their asking price. They are getting less willing to talk flavors, they just want to talk Mod building.

Sadly it's starting to feel like if you aren't one of their inner circle of friends they just don't have time for you anymore.

Does this mirror anyone else's experience? Is it just the staff here or does this happen often?
Do you but online, or in a nifty B&M?

Some may have already seen this but I go to lots of B&M's and this is my take on it....

 

[Kloudz]

I tried to support my local B&M but found that flavors and mixing as well as the cleanliness of the shop had a big part of my decision making. Some places would not wear gloves when mixing flavors and the taste was always hit or miss.The customer service aspect is very important as if I plan to return to as said establishment, was I greeted or did I feel as if all they wanted was to get me in and out while in the process of taking my money. Also the knowledge base is important because we all have questions and some people don't have the answers or they will give you wrong information. I recently went to a place here in aurora and found out that they get there juice from Oklahoma city and bottle it as there own, who knows when it was made, how long it's been sitting somewhere and was it made in a lab or somebody's basement? I found that when dealing with online companies you also don't really know where your getting it from but most online companies (if reputable) have been in business for awhile and the reviews of there products are a good place to start before placing orders and the taste is always consistent and customer service is key.

 

[SpyderBite]

I shopped a bunch of B&M when I lived on the east coast. Most of the equipment I purchased in those stores is sitting in plastic baggies in an old lunch box that I use to store retired equipment. It wasn't bad equipment. It was just in my price range at the time. I couldn't afford the high end stuff those stores had displayed.

Then I really did my research and discovered a whole world of affordable "high end" stuff online. Shipping was easily justified because with shipping I was still paying 20-60% less than the prices in the B&M stores.

As for juices.. I've only been in one B&M that had really good juice. However they charged an arm and a leg to ship the stuff. After spending money on juices that were terrible or mediocre I finally found juice suppliers that delivered delicious juice for terrific prices. And after that I moved on to DIY.

With the exception of selling juice and replacement parts, I don't think a B&M's target audience is the experienced vaper. It is the new or relatively new consumer who they can educate right in to the mod-of-the-month. And if the customer breaks it or doesn't like it.. then obviously they're using it wrong.

 

[ncargrl]

Unfortunately, I'm in the same place with B & M shops here. When I was shopping around for my MVP 2, the B & M shops here were at least 15.00 more than they were online. That also goes for replacement parts, tanks, etc. The only juice they seem to be selling is the high end that costs much more and my best bet to buy affordable juice is at the Quick Stop that sells 3 bottles of 10 ml for 12.00. Look, I understand that retailers have to make a profit to stay in business. I also realize that the B & M stores have overhead like rent, electricity, water, and employees. I get that...
But...I don't understand the cliquey attitudes. Recently, I went into a local B & M shop to buy some replacement coils. I was not greeted or even acknowledged. I don't care- but a lady came in right behind me, and it was very clear that it was her first time in a vaping shop. She just wanted an Ego type piece of equipment so that she could quit smoking. She wasn't greeted, either. Everyone, except for the employee assisting her, including the owner, was sitting in the lounge area, vaping big ole clouds on their big ole mechs and chatting. When the lady finally bought a full kit, and got ready to leave, the only two who wished her "Good Luck" in her efforts to quit smoking were myself and the one that helped her decide what to buy. Look, not all of us want to own a big ole honkin mech mod. I don't want to learn to build my own mods or rda's. So, I don't count, or get ignored because I wasn't there for the "Clouds of Vapor" get together or "Top of The Line" tasting party last Saturday afternoon?
All that said, it's o.k. Really, it is. I will continue to buy eliquid, parts and equipment online. I want to support my local vape shops, but not to the inclusion of others. And I just hate that someone who wants to try vaping to quit smoking might be discouraged by these attitudes.

 

[snails1023]

I stopped by my neighborhood B&M on Friday afternoon after work. My normal internet juice order didn't come in right away and I was worried about not having enough juice for the weekend.
I totally support area business vape related or not. They must carry 10 different vendors of juice. I asked if they could recommend a good bakery/sweet/ or custard juice. It was like pulling teeth for a recommendation. So finally I chose a 10 ml. bottle and a 15 ml. bottle of two separate juices. I go up to the register to pay. 4 people behind the counter doing the following :1 drinking a coke and socializing with the other employees , 1 checking out her phone and socializing and 1 putting on make up with her make up bag spilling out on top of the counter blocking the mods. She offered to move her make up so I could check them out ( how nice!). None of the employee's even acknowledged me ( a.k.a. " the customer")
So 2 bottles of juice equaling 25 mls. For a total of $28.00 ( yes that's right not even a premium juice) . I have had better service from the drive through at Mickey D's!! I really felt like I was the one intruding on their happy hour!
I repeatedly stop in and try to give them my business, but after this last episode of the peanut gallery. I will chose to give another B&M my hard earned money!

 

[MoochieAndCrow]

One thing I like about going in to a brick and mortar is that I have access to live tech support. Troubleshooting many common problems with hardware is just much easier in person. Especially for people who are unlikely to successfully research issues on their own, a B&M may charge more up front but will generally provide free maintenance and troubleshooting. After all, they want people to be able to vape with as little hassle as possible. When shopping at a B&M keep in mind that they have a lot more overhead than exists in an online-only format. Paying rent on a retail location, decor, utilities, and wages all equal higher out-the-door prices. For many, the higher cost is worth the increased services provided.

 

[snork]

The Internet *is* my brick and mortar. I know them from way back when, we grew up together. I've met many of them in person, they're cool and intelligent.
Vape shops around here are posers. My Internet friends and I know way more than them and have much nicer more reliable equipment. There's no reason to spend a dime with them, my local establishments are out there.

 

[TonyD64]

I'm happy with the two liquids I'm vaping right now that I bought at the vape shop, so I'll keep buying it there. $6 for a 10ml bottle is reasonable to me for the amount I use. My hardware I'll buy online as the shop can't compete with the prices. I would say take notes when you're in the shop, most of the stuff you'll see can be had alot cheaper if you study the net. When I first started looking at setups in the shop I almost said I can't afford this hobby. Naturally I went looking for more economical options.

 

[Alien Traveler]

Whatever I can buy on the net I’ll buy on the net.
I am not in a business of supporting other businesses.
I’ve never visited a B&M and I have no need to visit one.
Internet is not just cheaper, it is much more convenient.

 

[Gnarlyy]

I have two main local B&Ms. One I go to for miscellaneous small items(cotton bacon, replacement parts) and help with hardware. The staff is extremely helpful and even know me by name. The other, I only go to for juice. They have a huge selection of shop made juice that is so tasty and completely custom made(any ratio, any Nic, etc) plus they offer coupons on their juice.

Any major hardware like mods, rdas, wire, etc I buy online strictly for the huge price difference. I love being able to have a balance. I guess I'm lucky?

 

[klynnn]

I can buy a kayfun for 80.00 down the street from people who don't know how to build it or I can buy online for 15,00 and learn how to build it from ECF and Youtube.

 

[Hulk]

I only buy from B&M and it is more expensive but I like to try all the eliquid before i buy, Only down side is i want to make my own coils but i don't know where to get wires form B&M

 

[klynnn]

Learn to make your own coils. Watch youtube videos buy your wire from Temco. If I as a 64 yr old female can do it with no previous knowledge of electronics so can you. Learn to make your own liquids there is a whole Diy forum here with many helpful people. Excuses don't save you money.

 

[LMS62]

For me it just depends on the B&M, along with what it is you're looking to buy. Most of my hardware I buy online, but when I was looking for a polished SS Russian91% a few months ago, the average price was $99.00, and my B&M was charging $105.00. In that case, I didn't mind shelling out the extra $6.00 so that I could have it right then and not have to worry about shipping.

I do agree though, because of their overhead, B&Ms normally have to charge much more for the same item compared to online.

 

[caroloto]

The B&M here is a joke, the e-juice House is a brand from China they mostly buy in gallons and place in 10 and 30 mg plastic bottles then place a House Brand label on it. They charge $10 and up for the 10 mg and $20 and up for the 30 mg. For what little preimuin e-juice they carry I can get it on line cheaper including the shipping, plus you better check the dates on the juice or you will be leaving the store with out of date e-juice. For clone 650 ego battery it depends on the week for $25 to where I heard a customer ask and buying one to $40. The coils (top) a single one starts at $4.50. My friend just a few weeks ago bought a MVP 2 for $80 and was only sold the battery it didn't include the tank or the cords to plug it in if she wanted the cords it was a $20 extra. Now we know the MPV 2's are sold in a kit. She didn't and the battery had to be returned/exchanged as it wouldn't charge. I wish I had gone with her when she went to get it. Since she doesn't have the scatch off code who knows if it's even real? I paid under $50 for mine including shipping from a great online vendor and the code is Authentication number

The B&M will be having a special like a 10% off sale running ads in the newspaper but I'm not sure if the employees know or are told don't give it unless the customer ask for it. The employees seem like they don't know what they are doing or know the product. This B&M has 3 other stores so I'm thinking it's more of a chain type of store then a true e-cig store. In fact it's changed it's name not too long ago makes you wonder what is up with that??? I know for sure it wasn't a buy out.

I edit to say I am a big believer in supporting local business but the local B&M is not one to be supported as it does more harm then good I feel.

 

[Riff]

$9 for a 10 ml of in house juice. $50 for the Nautilus. $30 for a Kanger 2 mini. The more I look the worse the local shop stands up.

 

[moonlite]

My local B&M is very reasonably priced, maximum 5-10% markup from OTD online prices on most items, plus they have a vape lounge where you can sample all the juices that are made in-house and nic'd to your preference. Great guys, great help, very knowledgeable and excellent prices, so the only time I purchase online is for clones atm.

 

[Riff]

And the coffin lid is nailed shut. They have a very small chance to get my return business when I go in to talk to them Saturday. I went in and bought some juice and a pair of coils for my iclear 30. The first on read as .5 ohm out the wrapper, supposed to be 2.1 ohms. The second looks like it just crapped out after the 1st 24 hours, on a work day where I couldn't vape for close to 9 hours and slept the night before. So I'm guessing maybe 4 hours life span. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 550 puffs on the puff counter. If they don't help me out on this at all I'll be disappointed and most likely stop shopping there all together. Guess I'm going to start looking at getting my juice online as well. Cheers.

 

[cad99]

I went to a local b&m I got a ego starter kit from many moons ago haven't set foot in since.but I was really low on juice and didn't want to buy stinkies asked for a bottle of juice that been around for a bit and ready to rock.he said I got you this is our best seller kind of a house wine bought a 30ml and loaded up the dripper and if there was ever a chemical version of cat urine this was it.bought a pack of smokes and waited for the nickoticket to come Monday morn.i now rember why I haven't been back.but another one a couple hours from home was selling nataluis minis for 25 a crack.i guess it's just where you go.


Living the dream one nightmare at a time.