"fake" vape shops?!

[FLOOD425]

We have several new excellent b&m shops popping up in the area. Wonderful. Great service, selection, knowledge, etc..

Right down the road is a store called Happy Price Star Mart Vapor. (the name is enough right?). This is a re-purposed smoke shop that now sells almost exclusively vape supplies. My problem? The staff knows NOTHING about what they are selling. Most of their selection are clones, which is fine. They also sell some pretty great juices. If you are an experienced vaper, this shop would be great.

After buying my first mech mod, I decided i would skip the b&m and head to the closer "vape shop", to purchase a second battery. They guy sold me a Samsung ICR18650-26F, and ASSURED me that this was safe to use with my rda (igo-w5).

Thank god for this forum. Anyone else seen these kind of stores pop up? Should i let the guy know the batteries hes selling are dangerous for low ohm vaping??

-s

 

[epicdoom]

I would let him know and return that battery no sense buying something you can use.

 

[eGoinMD]

If they both have a physical storefront, would they not both be a "vape shop" and a "b&m"?

Unless there is some kind of west coast nomenclature that I am unaware of....


As someone who never uses a mechanism, what's wrong with the battery?

 

[Singaw]

I travel a lot and out of curiosity can't resist stopping at any place where I see an e-cig sign in the window. I have come across everything you can imagine. What I find a lot are places that have only a dozen or less ego kits, can't even buy a clearo or battery separate, and one brand of some unknown "premium" e-juice. The few times I've pulled out one of my mech mods with a KFL or dripper I am stunned that they haven't got a clue what it is. When I get the "what is that?" or "I've never seen anything like that." it just confirms I am truly in the wrong place. I have gone as far as asking a few if they vape and got responses like "not really very much" or "what is vape?" I guess we all start somewhere but I would like it would not be as the owner of a vape shop.

 

[FLOOD425]

If they both have a physical storefront, would they not both be a "vape shop" and a "b&m"?

Unless there is some kind of west coast nomenclature that I am unaware of....


As someone who never uses a mechanism, what's wrong with the battery?

Sorry for the confusion. Total Noob. I refer to b&m in context of established and well known Vape Shop. The "vape" store is really a converted smoke shop that sells liquor and cigarettes as well. Although I have seen cheap supplies in smoke shops when I started, this place advertises as being a "vape only" store, and clearly, is not.

 

[Nuclear Cowboy]

We've got a few Vape shops about 15min from home but the problem I see with them is they only cater to the "masses." Some have pretty good e juice but I've found better online. Most just sell starter kits and if you're an "upgrader" they have Vamo's, MVP's, Nautilas Aspires and Kanger Aerotanks. Nothing a matter with any of that but I wish they had a few mech mods and such. I've never owned a vape store though and they probably know what they are doing.

 

[epicdoom]

I travel a lot and out of curiosity can't resist stopping at any place where I see an e-cig sign in the window. I have come across everything you can imagine. What I find a lot are places that have only a dozen or less ego kits, can't even buy a clearo or battery separate, and one brand of some unknown "premium" e-juice. The few times I've pulled out one of my mech mods with a KFL or dripper I am stunned that they haven't got a clue what it is. When I get the "what is that?" or "I've never seen anything like that." it just confirms I am truly in the wrong place. I have gone as far as asking a few if they vape and got responses like "not really very much" or "what is vape?" I guess we all start somewhere but I would like it would not be as the owner of a vape shop.

I have the same stuff happen because I travel all over the state and surrounding states for work, I get the chance to pop into some shops along the way some I'll look up prior to going, but many I just see a sign and stop in. I get a few times folks rushing over to see what I'm vaping off of. WOW what is that, who makes that, how much was that, and where did you get that. LOL I think most places have cought on to the vaping thing, but there are a few stores who sell eGo blister pack starter kits and the cig alikes and have not seen or heard of anything else. Then there are the stores who sell the cheapest junk on the planet some of it actually resembles stuff that would be hammered together in a Bosnian outhouse/toolshed. Its always fun no matter what to visit new shops

 

[DreamWithin]

Should i let the guy know the batteries hes selling are dangerous for low ohm vaping??

There are quite a few shops like that popping up nowadays. People smell an easy buck and dive right in with no knowledge

I certainly don't think it would hurt to try to educate them a little bit. If they take it well and act on their new knowledge, great. If they don't care or want to hear it, that would be the last time I set foot in there ;-)
That's just what I'd do. If they don't educate themselves about their products then they won't last too long, anyway IMHO

 

[cope]

vapers today need to be well informed... most vape stores i have been in the staff dosent know nearly enough to sell the gear they have one place the juice maker dosent even vape..he tastes it.. really they also color their juice....why... sometimes its anoying

 

[Bsweat75]

Yep. Entrepreneurs expecting to get there piece of the pie during the "Vaping Boom". Problem is, many of these guys popping up have quit on regular joytechs, and assume they can setup with a few batts, juices and carto's because nobody is selling vapes in a 20 mile radius. knowing nothing about the other facets of the industry. I don't understand it. I'm lucky, I have TLC vapes right down the road in foley. I stopped in a shop yesterday and asked if they had kanthal wire. The clerk's response, "what's kanthal wire?

 

[bribo54]

I would let him know and return that battery no sense buying something you can use.

Or something you can't use.

 

[FLOOD425]

Thanks for all the replies everyone! First post.

Well I did head back to the store after reading a few comments. I spoke with the owner, and while i think I communicated the issue pretty well, and he did feel bad, he still said the standard "sorry no refunds", with a smile at the least.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Well, if you have a regulated mod under 20w, it can be used in that... Or your LED flashlight


The problem with the converted Smoke Shops and Head Shops is that the owner prolly never really wanted to get into vaping but got talked into it by thier distributor. I have actually talked to several owners of both types of stores and this is what happened. The distributor just wants to sell stuff, and the owner gets talked into the 'booming' vaping scene..

 

[DasBluCig]

Lately I'm finding several of the "smoke shops" in my area are starting to stock vaping supplies.....VERY limited quantities and marginal quality at best, IMHO.....From all appearances they're just trying to "expand" their client base, but have no real knowledge of the product(s) they're selling....
Ask them about RYO.....and they'll talk your ear off!!! Ask them about an RDA....and you get:
Did I mention....I've yet to actually BUY ANYTHING from one of these places....!!!??!!
Happy (vaping) Trails!

 

[Seleya]

I haven't really experienced this, but I live in a small town where there are only two b&m vape shops. The one I go to is a good 30 minute drive, and they at least seem pretty knowledgeable and have a wide selection. The other shop I have yet to try. Sadly the shop I go to is a small business in a tucked away place, and since its a small business starting up, they have a pretty good mark-up. When I wanted to upgrade to my MVP, I considered going there to support a local business, but I couldn't justify paying $65-70 and a 30 minute drive for something that is $40 online. I mostly use them for juice and small supplies, plus their knowledge.

 

[DFireOnly]

I went in a B&M vape shop in Waco. Asked them about dripping RBA. They all looked at me like I was crazy then asked one guy there that happened to know what it was but they had none. I was vaping a omaga at the time. Its my back up RBA lol. If that one guy isnt there then it might be a problem. I dont know how much he knew about them cause I left. They had one Kayfun in the building sitting on the counter next to the register but I dont think most of them knew a thing about it. The had some RBA RDA coming next month. Sounds like trouble. I wish them luck. lol

 

[JMarca]

Thanks for all the replies everyone! First post.

Well I did head back to the store after reading a few comments. I spoke with the owner, and while i think I communicated the issue pretty well, and he did feel bad, he still said the standard "sorry no refunds", with a smile at the least.

That right there should tell you what you're next move should be. Never go back there if the owner refuses refunds even on products he knows might hurt someone that's a clear cut indicator that the guy can't be bothered and all he wants is the money.

My local vape shop just got into mods in the last 2 weeks they only sell innokin mods because they don't want the responsibility that could come from someone blowing their face up with a mech. I tried to calm them down on that but they are extremely cautious about user safety. I give this company alot of business because of it. Their retun policy is one of the best I've ever seem also, you buy a mod there and anything goes wrong within a year you bring it back to the shop with the receipt you leave with a new mod, period! No if, ands, or buts.

 

[Torrque]

vapers today need to be well informed... most vape stores i have been in the staff dosent know nearly enough to sell the gear they have one place the juice maker dosent even vape..he tastes it.. really they also color their juice....why... sometimes its anoying

I agree with Cope, vapers need to be informed and educated on what they are using, and that is doubly true for vendors. I would absolutely take the battery back and politely inform him of your findings.

 

[Vaslovik]

I met a young man who works for a new local vape store last night while out with my old man, and he didn't even know what my Nemesis and RSST were. My old man was vaping on another mech/RBA I set up for him, and the kid had no idea what that was either, or even what a mech was. Nevertheless he did his best sales pitch at me, telling me how they were number one in customer service in the area, and had the very best juices. I told him I make my own juice thank you, and he grilled me about that, hoping to shoot me down, but could not. He asked me what mg I was vaping and I told him 12 mg. He then puffed out his chest and told me HE was vaping 36 mg. I gathered I was supposed to be impressed. This kid was maybe 22, and had his eGo vape on a lanyard around his neck, and when I asked if his store carries the Vamo or the Provari he didn't know what those were either.

I don't think I'll be visiting his store.

 

[sheishreviews]

I have found 1 shop near to me like that selling "genuine articles" and everything that they sell is the best thing since sliced bread!