E-cig sold at convenience stores?

[Deathbox]

there are a couple of stores here in Tampa that sell SmokeSticks, but that is all i have seen in terms of hardware. i have found a couple of cigar and smoke shops that sell juice. they are obviously more expensive than online but they make for a convenient backup in emergency situations or if you get a craving for a flavor you dont have.

 

[Vaporista]

Until someone comes up with a PV that has a super long life battery, indestructible atomizer, and a cart that holds a pint of liquid any brick-and-mortar store selling them is asking for a major headache with all the complaints and returns and demands for refunds they're likely to get.

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You're not far off. We do have at least 3 brands of e-cigs in South Africa which retail in Pharmacys and other stores. The bricks and mortar stores sell the "starter kits" which include a few prefilled carts of various strengths and if you are lucky, you'll have a few liquids on display, however, the problem comes in with the store staff- either they know their stuff- or they don't. The same goes for the sales reps supplying the bricks and mortars- the few I've spoken to just don't see the big picture since they work on a commission basis so no doubt with all the returns of broke attys and dud batteries they are losing money because replacing these is on their dime- time and petrol costs as there is no sale involved. So the more the starter kits fly off the shelves, the more returns there will be and the more disenchanted with their jobs the sales reps become so there builds a resistance to supplying other stuff like requested liquids because these need to be special ordered because the pharmacy doesn't want to outlay the cash and hold stock they can't sell...and so it becomes a model doomed to failure as the shop owners waste time trying to get the reluclant reps back and meanwhile the impatient vapers have long gone...well you guessed it, to order online. The trick is in educating the key players in the supply chain, correct pricing (far too overpriced right now) and consistency- all which are lacking. The best model that works is the kiosk system in shopping malls - we have one I know of, maybe there are more but these are owned and operated by the brands.
The foolproof method of success in a bricks and mortar operation would be for the distributor to get shelf space in the retailer and place products on consignment with selection and spares. I saw this and for about a month everything gathered dust then when the usual reps gave up (as above) the consignment shelf products started moving at warpspeed. So that would be the model to try and get in place.

 

[TripperDay]

I've seen them in two stores in Conway, AR but none in Little Rock yet.

 

[nvrbdun]

[/quote] Until the first generation of foolproof e-cigs comes along,[/quote]


As I see things, When they make something foolproof..... they make a better fool.......

Remember, Even the clouds are vapor, Keep looking up...

Jay