Flea Market Vendor Experience

[Wil]

Hi all... Just thought I'd post an experience I had over the weekend...

Was at the state fairgrounds flea market yesterday, and happened across a vendor I didn't know was there. They were set up inside, and it seemed like a relatively stable, semi-permanent setup. It was pretty mobbed! Seemed like mostly people who had no idea that these existed.

So, I wait my turn to talk to one of the three or four sales-people. I figured while I was there I'd pick up some attys and juice. The woman assumes I don't know what I'm looking at and starts her spiel. I tried to politely stop her, and tell her I needed a couple of 510 attys, and asked about the source of their juice (it was all dekang). She offers to let me try some, so I agree...

She starts to load an atty on what looked like a pretty vanilla joyetech or something, and I whip out my ProVari. I'm not sure if she'd ever seen one before, but she didn't seem TOO taken aback. So I loaded up my own and sampled a few juices, bought two, bought my attys and a G4 just to play with.

We talked a bit about juices, and diy-ing seemed like a total mystery to her. When I mentioned that I can produce liquid for less than a nickel a mil, she seemed a bit dumbfounded.

I eavesdropped on a couple of conversations, and I approved. They weren't giving out any bad information. They had mostly 510 kits, eGos, and eGo-Ts along with the Chinese juices. They were slightly overpriced, but not ridiculously so. ($60 Joyetech 510 kits, $7.50 10mL Dekang bottles, $6.50 Boge attys, etc).

It was great to see that there IS IN FACT a local alternative. It's great to know that they're there on the weekends if I'm ever in a pinch. Overall, a pretty good experience. They were somewhat knowledgeable (though not like walking into a full-blown store or walking into MadVapes), friendly, and most importantly, SPREADING THE GOSPEL.

 

[donnah]

I live in NC too. Haven't been to the state fair in years! Good to know they have a booth there.

Oh wait.. just saw where you said.. flea market!

 

[Wil]

Hey Donnah... They have a big flea market on the fairgrounds every weekend, with lots of outside booths and a building full of inside vendors. It seems like the inside folks pay rent by the month or longer, and are pretty set up to stay there...

I've never been before, but was just looking for something cheap to do to kill an afternoon, so I made the drive from Chapel Hill to see what it was all about, and stumbled across these folks. That's the only money I spent there though. Lots of antiques, lots of Chinese import garbage, some home-made goods/crafts, some fruit/vegetable stands, that sort of thing.

Oh, and I've never been to the state fair... But the flea market is a good way to kill an afternoon if you're bored!

 

[Iffy]

SPREADING THE GOSPEL

What else would ya expect from Chapel Hill...?

At least they had some decent PV systems. The big flea market here only sells cheapos.

 

[Wil]

Hey, I came here for school, started working part time while taking classes, that turned full time, and I'm never leaving this little spot of heaven (as long as I'm gainfully employed)! I love it here, even if it is a little too hippy and a little too politically correct at times... but I suppose many college towns are that way...

Yeah, they didn't have any garbage... all quality stuff, and not at all like the mall kiosks. I'm not a big fan of chinese juices, but that's just me. Having never had a proper dekang RY4, I just had to buy a 10ml bottle, even if it was overpriced. I mostly diy, but how could I copy an RY4 if I'd never had one?

 

[Cronus6]

If it's anything like my house (and maybe yours) there is generally one person that "gets into it" (me) and the others just listen to them.

Since it's a flea market business, it's probably a "family" business. The "sales person" is maybe a wife or aunt. I'm sure who ever "runs the show" would know a ProVari, or at least realize it was a nice mod and that you probably knew you crap.

As long as they weren't dispensing bad advice, I'm cool with it.

*note to self : check my local flea market, as I can't find a local vendor (except mall garbage) to save my life*

 

[hollyberry]

I love the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area (I just moved to MD from Wilmington a few months ago). Happy to hear there is a place to get supplies and that they are spreading the word about e-cigs. If you are ever in Wilmington and need juice or hardware, there is a brick and mortar store called Vape Hut. It's where I bought my first pv. I spent hours in there trying to decide whether I wanted a 510 or an eGo (ended up getting an eGo) and tasting juices.

My son goes to college in Raleigh, so it's good to know there's a place to go if I'm ever in a pinch when I'm down that way.

 

[Lambch3p]

My fleamarket vendor ony sells 901 kits and for $100 a pop! I pulled out my blue ego-t and they kinda just stopped trying to talk to me. I wonder what would have happened if I had brough and pulled out my reo mini.

 

[Wil]

If it's anything like my house (and maybe yours) there is generally one person that "gets into it" (me) and the others just listen to them.

Since it's a flea market business, it's probably a "family" business. The "sales person" is maybe a wife or aunt. I'm sure who ever "runs the show" would know a ProVari, or at least realize it was a nice mod and that you probably knew you crap.

As long as they weren't dispensing bad advice, I'm cool with it.

*note to self : check my local flea market, as I can't find a local vendor (except mall garbage) to save my life*

That's very possible. It clearly wasn't the first mod she'd seen, but she did look perplexed when I changed the voltage from 4.3 down to 3.7 (which is where I always test new juices).

My fiance is pregnant and quit as soon as she suspected she might be (and I switched to vaping shortly after). She keeps mentioning that she's afraid she'll start again when she's able. Even still, she sees me vaping as kind of a cheat, and I don't know if I'll be able to sell her on it if she does go that way. I'm never going back, as I like this so much better than smoking analogs.

I'd much rather her vape than smoke... But with her super-sensitive pregnancy sense of smell (try saying that three times fast) she doesn't like anything I vape, calling it all super-sweet (even savory or tobacco flavors).

I love the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area (I just moved to MD from Wilmington a few months ago). Happy to hear there is a place to get supplies and that they are spreading the word about e-cigs. If you are ever in Wilmington and need juice or hardware, there is a brick and mortar store called Vape Hut. It's where I bought my first pv. I spent hours in there trying to decide whether I wanted a 510 or an eGo (ended up getting an eGo) and tasting juices.

My son goes to college in Raleigh, so it's good to know there's a place to go if I'm ever in a pinch when I'm down that way.

I grew up in Kinston, and I've lived most of my adult life in the Triangle, and I really love it here. I spent 4 years in Raleigh and I've now been in Chapel Hill for 6 years. Raleigh's a great place to go to school... I spent two years in red. I'll pull for the Pack as long as they're playing anyone but us!

I hear there's a full store on Hwy 70 just outside Clayton... A tobacco store that has some supplies, but I've never been there so I can't verify that.

 

[hollyberry]

I grew up in Kinston, and I've lived most of my adult life in the Triangle, and I really love it here. I spent 4 years in Raleigh and I've now been in Chapel Hill for 6 years. Raleigh's a great place to go to school... I spent two years in red. I'll pull for the Pack as long as they're playing anyone but us!

Go wolfpack! (yep, he goes to State)

 

[Wil]

I spent two years there before I realized that it wasn't the right place and time for me to be in school. I dropped out and worked for a couple of years, then I got a couple of associate's degrees, then came to Chapel Hill to finish up.

The only thing my BS is good for is so that I can say "I have a BS from UNC!". My BS is in psych, one of my AAs is in network management... Guess what I do for a living?

 

[Cronus6]

TEven still, she sees me vaping as kind of a cheat, and I don't know if I'll be able to sell her on it if she does go that way. I'm never going back, as I like this so much better than smoking analogs.

I'd much rather her vape than smoke... But with her super-sensitive pregnancy sense of smell (try saying that three times fast) she doesn't like anything I vape, calling it all super-sweet (even savory or tobacco flavors).

To me it's more a matter of controlling the addiction, in a healthy way.

I still smoke analogs (about 3 a day now, down from about 30) and I DO love cigars once in a while. Hey, it's south Florida, good, real Cubans aren't hard to find, and there is nothing like them.

But I don't "need" them anymore. And that pleases me to no end. Living well is all about moderation IMO.

 

[Wil]

Yeah... I smoke about one cigar a year, always a Cuban... Not sure if I'll still like it when that time comes again. I won't turn it down when the opportunity presents itself!

 

[hollyberry]

I spent two years there before I realized that it wasn't the right place and time for me to be in school. I dropped out and worked for a couple of years, then I got a couple of associate's degrees, then came to Chapel Hill to finish up.

The only thing my BS is good for is so that I can say "I have a BS from UNC!". My BS is in psych, one of my AAs is in network management... Guess what I do for a living?

I can *totally* relate. I got an AS Paralegal degree, worked as a Real Estate Paralegal for a number of years & was laid off several times when the housing market declined. Went back to school for my BS in Management Information Systems so I could switch fields...ended up working as a Paralegal again, as I could never break into the IT field, then ended up working for a mortgage company. Go figure.

Not working at the moment...trying to decide if I should go back to school and dealing with some health problems.

 

[Wil]

I'm sorry to hear that... I'm a career student, so I'm always a proponent of taking a couple of courses if it's not too difficult while dealing with other issues... Especially these days when you can get a respected degree from a good university or college online. I'd definitely go through a good school though, and not the online only schools... NCSU has a fantastic online degree program, as does ECU.

MIS is a tough field to get into. I kinda fell backwards into it. I was working at the hospital in a department that runs its own patient management system (as a supplement to the overall patient management system), but I was doing something else completely. They'd never had anyone who did nothing but run that program, and it kinda fell in my lap. They offered me the opportunity to stay and run it, so here I am. I'm in IT, but I don't work for our IT department, I work for a clinical department, which definitely has its upsides... I eventually want to get my masters in health administration, because I'm not sure how much further I can go without it...

Oh, and I just realized what your avatar is... Where in the world did you find a shot of Toonces?

 

[hollyberry]

I'm sorry to hear that... I'm a career student, so I'm always a proponent of taking a couple of courses if it's not too difficult while dealing with other issues... Especially these days when you can get a respected degree from a good university or college online. I'd definitely go through a good school though, and not the online only schools... NCSU has a fantastic online degree program, as does ECU.

MIS is a tough field to get into. I kinda fell backwards into it. I was working at the hospital in a department that runs its own patient management system (as a supplement to the overall patient management system), but I was doing something else completely. They'd never had anyone who did nothing but run that program, and it kinda fell in my lap. They offered me the opportunity to stay and run it, so here I am. I'm in IT, but I don't work for our IT department, I work for a clinical department, which definitely has its upsides... I eventually want to get my masters in health administration, because I'm not sure how much further I can go without it...

Oh, and I just realized what your avatar is... Where in the world did you find a shot of Toonces?

I'd love to be a career student. I love learning. I'm close to some good schools here in MD. Once I have my health issues sorted out, I'd love to go back....just need to decide what I want to be when I grow up (I"m 41, lol).

That's awesome how you ended up in your field. I used to date a guy who went to college to be a teacher, and somehow ended up in IT. Life is funny like that.

I'm pretty sure I found the pic of Toonces on google images. It always makes me smile when someone recognizes him.

 

[redheadone]

I wished we had an e-cig vendor here that i could buy locally from We have a flea market but I doubt i will see anyone carrying e-cigs anytime soon. I live in the western part of the state and so far the only vendor I have seen is in our mall and he sells them in the middle of the mall in one of the booths that are set up. He has them so over marked it's ridiculous. I wish we could get someone to start a large storefront here or someone gets a brainstorm and starts selling them at the flea market. Until then I guess I will just keep buying online which isn't too bad because there are a coupe of nice vendors in Charlette

 

[Wil]

I'd love to be a career student. I love learning. I'm close to some good schools here in MD. Once I have my health issues sorted out, I'd love to go back....just need to decide what I want to be when I grow up (I"m 41, lol).

That's awesome how you ended up in your field. I used to date a guy who went to college to be a teacher, and somehow ended up in IT. Life is funny like that.

I'm pretty sure I found the pic of Toonces on google images. It always makes me smile when someone recognizes him.

I fought being a computer geek for so long! Actually fought it, wanted to do something else! Then when I kinda got more into it professionally I've really come to enjoy it. I've always had that gift, but didn't want to spend my life in front of a computer...

I hear ya... I just added my avatar tonight (maybe a little inspiration from you?). I like the obscure. Even if you've seen the movie mine's from, you may well not realize what it is... it's background noise even in the movie.

@redheadone: I typically order from Charlotte (both vendors). I find I can usually get my orders very quickly, which is nice. It's just good to know that there's somewhere local if I'm really in a pinch. I will continue to order most of my stuff from MadVapes or MFS. Between the two of them, they have almost everything I need...

 

[M_FactorX19]

*note to self : check my local flea market, as I can't find a local vendor (except mall garbage) to save my life*

i need to do this as well. i looked every where i thought might have supplies locally and came up empty handed. it would be nice to have somewhere to go if i were in a pinch like you said.

 

[hollyberry]

I fought being a computer geek for so long! Actually fought it, wanted to do something else! Then when I kinda got more into it professionally I've really come to enjoy it. I've always had that gift, but didn't want to spend my life in front of a computer...

I hear ya... I just added my avatar tonight (maybe a little inspiration from you?). I like the obscure. Even if you've seen the movie mine's from, you may well not realize what it is... it's background noise even in the movie.

That's great that you love your job. I hope to one day find a job I love (you know what they say, when you love your job, you never work another day in your life ).

Hmmmm, I'm curious now what movie your avatar is from. If I had to guess, I'd say 'Thank You For Smoking.'