This is a long post, sorry, but it's been a year long journey and has evolved, so here goes......
I have gone through the same thing many of you have with people wanting to "try" my PV.
For me, this is what works best personally most of the time.
When out and about in public, not just run to the store, but out in public for the day (or longer/travel) I carry my extra various PVs, different styles, etc. I also keep with me some extra carts, either prefilled or blank in order to have to experiment with various flavors I carry. I have all of this in the car in a little tote ready to "display" to them if they are interested.
If it's someone I know, I even let them try a few various devices, so they can get a feel for the various PV's, hands on. I ask them to pay for the cartridge most of the time and have had no one decline or complain.
This way they are getting hands-on experience with different models, something that quite frankly cost me several hundred dollars of trial and error.
Then, if they think they would like to get one, we go over which one they prefer and what flavors they seem to like on first go (we all know this will evolve with use).
If they have PP and want to order, I can give them cards for several different suppliers, based on their needs/wants and my experience with vendors.
If they for some reason DON'T have PP yet, I will take their cash in advance and order for them for a consulting fee (that's what I call it, pay for my time), then let them know when the package arrives and they become responsible for picking it up. With most vendors, if I notify them that I am purchasing for someone else, they are willing to let any warranty transfer to the new owner, as the purchaser will have a copy of the invoice if needed.
When I order for others, and there is a big discount code and/or free shipping, I may include in the order the smaller quantities of goods I might need to get it also in the discount. AND, any freebies or "gifts with purchase" I also keep, so I do benefit from the transaction, but don't really "take them to the cleaners", as I could if I was up to it.
The more I do this, the easier it becomes, as I get more experience on where/what/when to order, don't have to lay out my OWN cash and get a bonus for myself, using very little of my own time.
These ideas might be workable for those whose workday is made up of hourly time when the time it takes to make the transaction would be interfering with work, but I have my own hours and a bit of time to use to demonstrate and then later to help others get used to where/what to order, or order the first time for them.
works for me, and I end up with a little cash or a little savings or a few goodies in the packages shipped to me. I found that the orders shipped to me really work better, as when the person picks it up, I can have their batts charged and be ready to demonstrate and get them going, saving a lot of time later with distress calls from them after they get home.
Of course, I always advise reading the forums, checking out the varous vendor sites and becoming educated, but the entire experience will be a LOT more positive for them if they don't have to feel so alien to the whole thing when they receive that first order. It's ALREADY their friend....
Yes, I do realize that some of these people start off as strangers, but I, like Mark Twain, feel that a stranger is a friend I haven't met yet.
So far, I have done these types of deals with about 20 people, most of them family and friends, but a few simply "new" friends.. and have not been burned once.
Being a little older and maybe wiser (56) I think gives me a little advantage in choosing who I wish to do business with, but if someone seems a little flaky to me, or they are a total stanger or I am not certain of their age and hesitant to ID them, then I just let them see the device, tell them I enjoyed the time spent introducing them to it, give them some cards with ecf forum address on back, wish them luck and go about my business.
But some have become close friends who I share new finds, new knowledge and good and bad experiences with.
