Does anyone have issues with their local stores and a lack of customer service??

[brownboi]

I for one have found the OP's perception to be quiet true. A lot of the shops that I have been to have this high and mighty attitude up here but I haven't encountered it in Socal (yet). Like I would enter and they just stare me down until I ask a question which makes it for a whole uncomfortable experience. Whenever I would ask a question just to feel out their knowledge they wouldn't expand on their answer until a little prodding from me. I am talking about 3 different stores here. I finally found a store that was great in terms of being friendly but then I started asking about mechanical mods and would always shut me down saying, "oh thats for advance vapers" I am like, "i already told you that I have done some digging over the past year and vaping myself that's why I am asking you!" Then I hit them with the question, "What is so great about it?" All they can say (mind you from two different people and different times) "There are pro's and con's to both." dude, really? It almost makes me feel like they don't know themselves. I get more useful information out of other customers!

 

[koski88]

The local shop around here is good for the most part. The owners are always at the front counter and are very involved with the customers. My only problem is the lack of knowledge from a couple of the employees, and when they don't know what they are talking about they tend to get rude with you, but the majority of the staff are very friendly and knowledgable, so I continue to be a regular customer and support their business.

 

[Vicshalls]

my closest shop is very small, but they are very friendly. they dont have much of a selection and their own liquids are ok. they do have a few other vendors that they sell that are much better. there are two other shops that have a better selection and they are very nice as well. It seems to be mostly young kids and they dont seem to ususally do well with older folks. At least these 3 stores the kids are very nice and helpful. I say kids cause of my age not theirs. They are mostly in their late teens early 20's. But again they have all been very helpful and nice even when they were busy as all get out.

 

[Johnny Popular]

My town has about four B&M stores one in which I work at. Not tooting my stores horn or anything, but, we strive for excellent customer service. I see a lot of customers return because of the excellent shopping experience we offer. Many of them know the internet is less expensive, but will gladly pay a few dollars extra for a smiling face and good advice.

 

[Smallville]

Many of them know the internet is less expensive, but will gladly pay a few dollars extra for a smiling face and good advice.

This. 100% this!

I know I can ask questions here and they will be answered but there is something to be said for a face to face, hands on demonstration when you have a question. There are 4 stores in my area, two are owned by the same company. I try to stay out of those two shops unless I have a need for something and the other shops don't have it.

My first day I decided to vape I went to thier shop, as recommended by one of my best friends. I was ignored when I went in for 20 min, once I was helped, I explained that I knew nothing about vaping and only had experience with Blu's and didn't like them. I was ready to drop $100-$200 on the spot to kick my habit, yet they made me feel like they were wasting thier time explainging things to me. I was out of smokes, and didn't want to buy more, so I grabbed an eGo, clearo, and a small thing of juice and got out of there.

Next day found another shop in town, explained to them my experience at thier competitor, and they went through EVERYTHING I asked (and them some) step by step with me. Now I drop $20-$50 a week in thier shop.

Customer service is EVERYTHING.

 

[skatebreed]

I work at a shop called I-vape in auburn washington, I personally try to greet every customer warmly and treat them well but some times customers arent the nicest bunch and it can ruin a whole day.

 

[JBR3AK]

This would have been a much shorter thread if we had simply listed any local retailer who actually has customer service.

When everyone has to compete with Wal-mart, customer service is the first thing to suffer.

Now we are complaining that local vape shops aren't competitive with online stores. You can't have it both ways.

From experiences at wallyworld, trust me.. These B&M's are better the second you walk in the door than that circus.. That's a whole other rant..

Aside, I'd love to give a local B&M in my area here a good name too. However, customer service lacks. I go there for juice, and juice only. I understand $4.00/replacement head is pricey in all, and you pay for the convenience.. But when I walk in, they gawk at my provari, see my PT2, and try selling me on some itazte VV's and cartos. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. They just opened, and trying to expand their horizons. But if you try selling me and new vapers pre-punched cartos saying they're good cartos to use without a tank, I think you should get an eye exam, or rethink your career path. They're both friendly guys, but one of them needs to work on their sales strategy and research more into it. Like I said, they're new and helping the community. But you need the right people behind the counter to actually help the customers.


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[Muggs]

The one local smoke shop near me has no clue. They have cheap Chinese juice for $10.00 per 10ml bottle. It doesn't say what PG/VG ratio it is anywhere on the box so I asked if he knew and he said oh yeah I got 1.2, 1.8, 2.4 whatever you want, hahaha. I left.

 

[Smallville]

I'm an instant gratification kind of person, so online ordering is not the way I would go for anything consumeable. I am the guy that would rather pay $5.00 and have it now, than pay $2 and have it tomorrow. That being said, if the customer service isn't there, I am sure there is someone else who would be glad to take my money.

 

[Randyryansr]

It seems to me that you have to have an attitude to work in a vape shop. I've run into several shops where me (old man) and the kids working there seem to not want to waste time with me. I almost have to force them to sell me juice! I wanted to shop locally and build a relationship with a store but they did everything to prevent it.

I buy almost everything online now simply because of the way you're treated if you're over 60 and interested in vaping. I will spend $35 to $50 a week on my "stuff" but not at this chain store.


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[liquidzoo]

I have 2 stores in my "area" (20ish mile radius since I live in the sticks) that seem to be run by the same middle-eastern family. Both are generic "smoke shops" rather than vape-specific, but I did buy both my and my wife's eGos there. The older man (I'm assuming the family patriarch) is really quite pleasant. They don't have a lot of gear there (a few eGos, a couple of eGo-style more expensive units, some generic CE4 clearos, and a limited selection of 2 or 3 brands of juice) and seem to mostly cater to those looking for glass pipes or cigars; but they are worth my time when I'm in the area.

I wish there was a proper vape shop near me, but I'm pretty sure I'd have to drive into Phoenix, Tempe, or maybe Mesa before I found one. Thankfully shipping is cheap and the online selection is plentiful. I'd gladly pay a bit more for some face to face time if I could, though.

 

[Texasman2011]

We have a lot of stores in our area. I know I ask a lot of questions and am still learning, but it seems no matter what store I go into the staff seem very rude and condescending. I try to be very polite and friendly, but it doesn't seem to matter. This has happened in three local stores. I am all about buying local and love supporting my community but this experience has sent me to the internet to get what I need product wise. I tend to live in a very friendly area and am shocked by this.

I just think overall this would be very off putting for many people interested in changing from smoking to vaping which is a shame. Does anyone else have similar problems or better luck? I'm just curious if it is my area or just the industry.

have you come up north a little to lewisville or denton? there are some good shops up here and they have good customer service. Especially the one that i always go to. Denton Vape Shoppe

 

[jdanderson1449]

My local B&M store is run by a bunch of kids. 21-25 may be a high estimate. They are very knowledgeable about the things that they all use and sell, which are mostly AVPs, VV/VW big mods. I'm totally in to that too but I'm not that experienced with all of the ins and outs of these things yet.

That being said, they don't show much interest in much other than selling you what they have behind the counter, mixing you some juice and sending you on your way. It's a little hard for me to stomach the seeming lack of interest in growing the knowledge base of a quickly expanding industry. And, as I do work for a locally owned small business, I want to keep my dollars in this city/ state but when I can fire off an email to any of the highly reputed online vendors to get much better answers than "we don't carry that," or "we can't get those." And, I have no problem waiting for it. Their loss really. This is really a buyer's market with things be so cheap, you'd think they'd be busting their butts to make every dollar they can.

 

[hellokitty221989]

just got my first vaping device in the local vape shop. The staff are warmly. will pick up another mod soon

 

[itsmedave]

We've got some fantastic shops around here, but one stands above all of em. I went to a local shop (The Vape Shop) and bought a 4 bay battery charger. The shop is about 40 minutes away from me. Got the charger home and it wouldn't work. I sent a FB Message to the owner and he met me after the shop closed about 10 minutes from my house to give me another one. Fantastic Customer Service and the reason I shop there above online or anywhere else.

 

[NealBJr]

I don't know about your area, but the two dedicated vaping Brick and mortar stores I've visited here in Ga. have been more than nice. Both have been extremely helpfull, and the newest one even offers "how to" meetings once a week where they tell you how to build coils, or whatever they're talking about that week. While only window shopping, I've seen them show people how to build coils, troubleshoot atomizers, drill larger airholes, give opinions, recommendations, and warnings on what to stay away from. I am only a moderate vaper, but know my way around, and they're quite knowledgeable. It's been like that for almost the whole vaping community as a whole, whether online, or face to face.

I too love supporting local shops. I recently bought an item locally I knew I could buy online for cheaper just to support people who are opening such a business. perhaps it could be a new business opportunity for you when you get more knowledgeable.

 

[MrsP0721]

have you come up north a little to lewisville or denton? there are some good shops up here and they have good customer service. Especially the one that i always go to. Denton Vape Shoppe

I'm late, I know! But I agree, Denton has some GREAT shops! I go to three of them here and love them all. Denton Vape Shoppe is great, Ritual Peace is great and Full House Vapor is great! They are all VERY helpful, will sit there and just talk about whatever, prices at each of them are VERY reasonable and they are just really nice people. One of my pet peves is bad customer service, I mean, that's what they get PAID to do, but unfortunately some people just don't care about that.

 

[Bunnykiller]

went into my local shop and was met with inthusiasm, when I mentioned I wasnt into Mechs and cloud chasing I was instantly given the cold shoulder... when I looked at the "hi end" models in the display case, they were clones being sold at nearly hi end prices ( no way they were going to sell the real things at the price they had on it, too low for the real deal too high for clones)

 

[Koudotai]

Not at all. At my local B&M they're always really friendly and give you any info you ask for or if you're not sure about something. They don't belittle people new to vaping or make them feel stupid. They have great customer service. A friend bought a Nemesis there and was having problems with the firing pin, he went back and they have him a new one. Then he was having problems with a tank so they upgraded him to an RBA at no extra cost. You can meet a lot of local vapers there, they don't mind if you're just coming in to hang out and vape. Great shop, I try to go at least once or twice a week.

 

[PoeDung]

The customer service at my local store, Vapin' Midwest, is great.