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

[Angela728]

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.

 

[BostLabs]

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.

It is not the industry. My local store is very friendly and helpful. It's just not in Tx where it can help you. Sorry.

 

[Patrick O'Brien]

I wouldnt go back! to hell with them if they dont want customers who leave satisfied. I dont think anyone has time for it and their business will suffer because of it. My guys are cool, but I suspect they underestimate my knowledge on the subject (I know more than they do on some things) which makes it interesting. Always research everything and walk into situations informed..............which is what this forum provides. Makes the trial and error process less daunting and less expensive. I wouldnt go back to those stores.

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

Went to a local B&M near the cottage to buy my very first bottle of juice ($1.00 per ml). Quite rude and I never returned. Also got to meet many local vapers and have since sent sent them to Canvape for far better service and prices It wasn't only about price but also more importantly quality of service IMO.

 

[nevrdowhatheydo]

The fellas at my local b&m are great. I make excuses to go in there and just shoot the breeze, talk apvs, and compare gear all the time. As someone who has worked in retail for a number of years I don't see any excuse to not provide stellar customer service--it takes only a minimal amount of effort to do so, and besides, from the retail worker's point of view, it makes work more fun. Hopefully you'll have better luck in the future.

 

[syeroc]

I have bad luck (with some of the staff) at my local b&m as well. I don't necessarily blame it on the industry though. I think it is just rude people. Some of the folks are great to work with. The others make me never want to go back in there. And in fact if they are the only ones working when I go in, I will turn around and walk out. There is nothing I need that badly that it can't wait a day or so. I also buy a lot of my stuff online as the pricing is so much better. I mean come on...$9.95 for a 15ml bottle of so-so juice??? No thanks.

 

[candik]

Sad to say, bad customer service is not exclusive to a type of store or stores, but rather, pandemic in the service industry. (Restaurants, bars, phone service as well!) Too many people just don't seem to care anymore. The best way to resolve the problem, is to talk to the manager. Let him or her know that you were dissatisfied with the service. If it isn't resolved to your satisfaction, let them know you are taking your business elsewhere and they have lost a regular/repeat sales with you. Managers are ultimately responsible for the experience you have and want it to be a good one. They can't fix a problem unless they know there is one. OTOH, once in a while, you get a manager who is just as apathetic as their employees.

Sorry your experience was less than pleasant.

 

[SkuttleBug]

The first local store I went into had bad bad BAD customer service. All the research that I did before getting my first starter kit lead me to having way more knowledge than they guy behind the counter did. He has only been vaping for 4 months at the time. Basically ruined all the cartros that I got with the starter kit by ripping off the bottom plastic of them, cause that’s how you fill them, which resulted in a leaky leaky mess. This was a piece of info that I didn’t know about with the research that I did. So I went back to the store to hoping that I would get a different associate. No such luck. Told him that he messed them up and that I wanted to get some clearomizers. I got 3. Went home, all hopefull that I wouldn’t have a leaky mess anymore, filled one up and gave it a puff, which resulted in a small amount of vapor. Very unimpressed. Went back to the store because I wanted to return the 2 unopen ones. He then told me that only the owner could do refunds and to come back. Went back and she still wasn’t there….he finally refunded me my $6. Haven’t been back since. I found another store, which happens to be on the opposite side of town from me, but they have better wouldn’t say great but better customer service. Now that I kinda know what’s going on I think I’ll be doing most of my shopping online. Prices are better and wider selection. Maybe it’s a Texas thing. I know I haven’t been impressed with customer service really anywhere since I moved to “the lone star state”

 

[SkuttleBug]

Sad to say, bad customer service is not exclusive to a type of store or stores, but rather, pandemic in the service industry. (Restaurants, bars, phone service as well!) Too many people just don't seem to care anymore. The best way to resolve the problem, is to talk to the manager. Let him or her know that you were dissatisfied with the service. If it isn't resolved to your satisfaction, let them know you are taking your business elsewhere and they have lost a regular/repeat sales with you. Managers are ultimately responsible for the experience you have and want it to be a good one. They can't fix a problem unless they know there is one. OTOH, once in a while, you get a manager who is just as apathetic as their employees.

Sorry your experience was less than pleasant.

Amen! Totally agree. Customer service is bad everywhere!! Its a breath of fresh air when you actually get good service.

 

[mommafish]

I have found two shops one is great lets u do all the testing u want and always talks about the new stuff and the things they use and sometimes its off the internet. but one store i checked out was full of 20 somethings and didnt want anything to do with a 40 something very rude... I got more help from one of the customers then the staff.. so i guess its hit or miss! And the rude store looks like they only sell ego sets and i would love to step up to a mod. Ill just have to see what my nice store can do for me price wise cuz i love to support a nice new shop.

 

[AngelsBreath]

Our local vape store is very friendly...but then again, I am in Alabama. Sorry about your bad experience, perhaps you should email the owner and let him/her know about the way the staff has treated you. If he/she wants to keep their customers then they will do something about it and fast.

 

[BostLabs]

I think Nick (my man Nick!) was a bit leery of me when I walked it.
I'm 53, very close (sometimes shaved) hair, a Harley Davidson muscle shirt, a biker mustache and to top it off I almost always wear my USMC cap (ball cap not the uniform cover).

Nick, young guy (20ish), long hair and usually wearing a (nice) rock concert t-shirt.

So this old fart walks up to his counter, stares him right in the eye... then gave him a big grin and said 'Hi!'. Totally threw him off his game. LOL!

This weekend was my 3rd or 4th visit. I think we are buds now.

It should be fun when I visit with my bike and all my biker gear on. It is amazing how many people don't recognize me when I have my jeans, boots, chains, vest and do-rag on. (I don't try to scare people... It just happens. I'm a teddy bear.)

I just realized that I never said the name of the place. Hi Tech Vapor.

 

[Scot Thomas]

I've had some bad experiences in a couple stores in the DFW area, one near Austin, but for the most part I've gotten decent service from the other B&M's I've visited. Probably doesn't help them that I know more than most people working in the stores. I attribute my problems to the fact that I was correcting them a few times during the visit.
But one of the other people was right. Bad customer service is rampant in the whole world. Kids these days. *gets cane and threatens whipper snappers*

 

[Wrainn]

We are current trying to get a B&M opened downloads here. Not easy but will be worthwhile it in the long run. Customer service is so important as it can male of break you.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747

 

[syeroc]

I have found two shops one is great lets u do all the testing u want and always talks about the new stuff and the things they use and sometimes its off the internet. but one store i checked out was full of 20 somethings and didnt want anything to do with a 40 something very rude... I got more help from one of the customers then the staff.. so i guess its hit or miss! And the rude store looks like they only sell ego sets and i would love to step up to a mod. Ill just have to see what my nice store can do for me price wise cuz i love to support a nice new shop.

I completely understand you wanting support a local new store. I like to do the same for my local community. My issue comes when the local store feels the need to price their products so out of line with other places that you break the bank to shop with them. I understand how overhead and bulk purchasing work but sometimes its not that as much as it is greed I think.

 

[Symbolik]

I think its either a hit or miss.. I went to a few shops when I was visiting my better half's family in phoenix and in one of the shops the guy behind the counter just acted like a know it all. Since he decided to act like that I started to give him a taste of my Vape knowledge... I could tell he had no clue what I was talking about but he continued to shake his head but say next to nothing.. Peoplr can be so arrogant

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[basylica]

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.

I live in the same town! Welcome!
I'm rather wary about local B+Ms anyway...for pretty much anything. I'm a nerd, I work odd hours, and I usually NEED to be super educated before I goto stores for anything, and then I get frustrated when I ask questions and they tell me the totally wrong answer. I've had lots of my cohorts go to the store in mckinney, but I haven't been yet myself.

I'm tempted to check out that one off parker I think it is? just to see about juice really. I'm fidgeting around with clearos, but I'm liking my spinner quite a lot. Fewer people stock them it seems.

 

[Angela728]

I have a list of the stores in my area... I'm going to just keep on trying them until I find one that works for me. Thanks for giving me hope, lol. As for emailing the owner/ manager, I think that is an excellent idea.

Quite honestly, if I could find a good friendly store in my area I would be handing out their cards left and right. Vaping has really taken off in my office and my circle of friends and we are all looking for a good local place to go.

 

[Vale46]

People just cashing in. My local vape shop, looked at me stupid when I said I want 100% vg and has any of them tried ave juice. Like I said they are just cashing in!!!

 

[HauntedMyst]

I don't know of a dedicated vapor store in Chicago. Most are just head shops and their .... chugging staff where they carry a minimal amount of liquid and a few vaping devices.