Getting harder to support b&m's

[pufZeppelin]

I kind of look at going to the BM like entertainment expenses.
I know that on an rda I will probably pay 5 dollars more than FT.
But if I hungaround the shop a while and had a good time then he deserves his profits. I save trips to the BM for spur of the moment purchases.
Sometimes I am too impatient to wait for vape mail I gotta have it and I gotta have it now!.

can totally agree with this

if that's how ya wanna play it, that's great, agreeable

right it off as entertainment expense , so be it...

a couple beers in a bar, or take a 12 pak home kinda mentality


but it didn't address the point of gouging

$119 SALE $88 MVP kit (online $24)

or $99 bucks for an EVOD kit I get online for $29 bucks...

just a point of view

 

[JKnight5]

Two months ago, knowing zero vaping lingo and having zero vaping culture knowledge, I would have thought by the title, that this was some sort of thread on the virtues of .... retentativeness.

You've succeeded at making my day!

 

[JKnight5]

Welcome back to Louisville, I suppose we might run into one another one day. I stopped into (Vapor Lab ... meh), others; (Simply Vapors ... men), (Derby City ... good juice selection otherwise ... men), (Maxx ... double men), (DFW ... love the employees, juice is okay, nice, but not fabulous) ... Can we get a great shop please?

There are others I've not been in as of yet, but I always cart my happy .... to DFW and they give a veterans discount.

Maurice

I've been going to vapor lab on outer loop. (I live off of Preston) they seem to have decent juice selection, and prices aren't bad either. The staff is pretty chill, so that's my go-to for now. I had a shop around fort Campbell that I loved, and found myself there for hours at times without realizing it. I haven't been able to find "that" shop here yet. I went to altsmoke and got a bad vibe and left as soon as I walked in. I'm with you though, we need a good shop!!

 

[rygen87]

I do almost all of my shopping, not just for vape stuff, on the internet, since I'm so far out in rural North Dakota that there aren't any other choices. But my daughter and I are trying to get my ex started going vaping, and he hasn't figured out email yet, let alone online shopping.

I was going to just order a basic setup, but my daughter thinks her dad may be more interested if he picks it out. They live in Minneapolis/St. Paul, so there are B&Ms around, but since neither of them knows anything much about vaping (he does use a cigalike sometimes so he doesn't have to go outdoors) I'm a little worried about what they will end up with. Especially after reading some of the threads in the new members forum.

I have visited a few different b&m's in the past few months traveling and I can say that most good ones, although they are trying to make moneyof course, wouldn't let someone new to vaping walk out of the store with something overly pricey or too advanced when they are just getting started and don't know if it is going to work for them. I've heard some horror stories. Like most I started with the cigalikes and struggled until I got and ego kit. That is usually the direction a good shop will send someone new to vaping. Not overly expensive. No giant learning curve. And everything they need is easily and readily available.

 

[TimV30]

I support one local b&m more than others around here because they have reasonable prices, they are knowledgeable, and they have been good to me. I bought my authentic vanilla from them. After doing some looking and window shopping, I decided that I had to have a brass vrex, which is a 26650 vanilla. It is not an easy mod to find and most places are out of stock. The owner actually tracked one down and ordered it just for me. That is awesome customer service.

 

[AndriaD]

While I understand that overpriced items in a shop may dissuade some people from making a purchase, I feel it is sometimes false savings to shop online for products that are best held in your hand and inspected with your own eyes. A greatly priced atty online may well look like a great product, then in hand or use you realize it isn't all its cracked up to be can be a total loss, something unlikely to happen in person.

I've made bad purchases both on line and in person, most were online though and not just vape gear. I think I've a bit of a bad taste in my mouth mainly from the not so great online purchases where I feel the separation of the item from my ability to directly inspect it makes me feel cheated more so than if I made a bad decision in person.

Maurice

That makes sense, but I'm thinking of the Nautilus I bought online, for a really excellent price, and ended up selling within 2 wks because I hated it. I can't see how that would have been any different if I'd paid 2 or 3 times as much in my local B&M; I still wouldn't have known I disliked it until I actually vaped with it, but I would have paid a lot more, but still only been able to sell it for $20. If it's a mod, then sure, handling it could make a big diff, but any kind of atomizer or tank, you won't know until you use it, and no shop will let you do that.

When I got my iTaste vv3, it came with 4 or 5 iclear16 tanks, and I found out right away that I hated them. So some folks here told me I'd probably prefer a bottom-coil tank, so I went to the B&M, asked about them, and of course, at first he tried to sell me a Protank II or a Mini Protank II, and both were pretty pricey, so I pointed to some down in the bottom of the case that he hadn't mentioned and said what about those, are they bottom coil? He said yes. I said how much are they? He said $9. Ok, that's a doable price for being able to take a T3S home with me and vape with it right away, and realize what I'd been missing with cigalikes. When I saw I could get them for $6 online, I ordered another right away, and later a couple more.

It's really just a matter of being a smart consumer, and realize they're always going to really push the stuff with the highest profit margin, it's just good business. But you don't have to take the first thing they offer.

Andria

 

[tayone415]

In my experiences some B&Ms are complete rip offs, while other shops have decent prices and some have certain products that are competitive with the internet, doesn't happen often though. I realize that a B&M has to pay rent, electricity, internet for credit cards and a phone line....so I can't expect prices as low as online. One thing that keeps cost high is if a shop doesn't have good suppliers and are charging more for products because of what they pay themselves. But, a B&M is still good for convenience when a person can't order online and needs something right then and there and needs a person to explain everything to them. But, there are some places that sell certain products for a ridiculous price, I seen a "clone" copper Nemesis not even with silver plated pins for about $90 some where and $20 for a VTC5.

 

[stvan1]

The thing about getting ripped off is you don't know it until after it happens. It hasn't happened to me but then I found this forum days after I started vaping. There are a ton of shops around me and I can say not one of them is ripping folks off. The prices are a little higher in most cases but that is to be expected. If you are new to vaping the locals are happy to spend a lot of time helping you. At least that is what I have witnessed.
I am fortunate I have Mister-e down the street, Ahlusion and Killer juice an hour and a half away and many more excellent sources. Probably more than is good for me.
But I am sure there are many or there going for the quick buck but they won't be around for long.

 

[stvan1]

Oops. I forgot there is one place way overcharging for mods etc ($80 for a vamo v5 but I got one of eBay for $33.00). He can do this though since he mostly sells RYO supplies and cigars and hukkas (sp) and that sort of stuff. Vaping is something he just added since the market was more than he could resist. Eventually he will lower prices or drop vaping stuff. Just way to much competition in the area.

 

[Sir Realist]

Theres this place by my house thats hard to support the shop itself is nice and clean but they Rip people off really bad and alot of their mods are opened and dont giv e you the box and stuff

 

[AndriaD]

Oops. I forgot there is one place way overcharging for mods etc ($80 for a vamo v5 but I got one of eBay for $33.00). He can do this though since he mostly sells RYO supplies and cigars and hukkas (sp) and that sort of stuff. Vaping is something he just added since the market was more than he could resist. Eventually he will lower prices or drop vaping stuff. Just way to much competition in the area.

LOL... I ordered a Vamo V2 for $17, from an online place in china. It's been sitting in customs in NYC since Sunday night, and I'm getting frantic. It's "black chrome" to go with my gun-metal Smok UDCT.

Andria

 

[yellowrider]

I first remember my first raping at the b&m when I walked out with 2 1000mah egos with shatty clearos that leaked and a bottle of juice for $100...
Week later I ordered the same kit for 30 bucks from china and made my own juice since... I never shop retail anymore, and know better on most items!!... Since waiting in lines and paying more lost it's fun.. Thus, b&m gets no love from me.. But when I do go in, I never spend any money anymore and usually know much more then their "expert"... I walked into a b&m six months ago and walked out with 1100.00 in my pocket..
I unloaded most of my collected mods to them and due to the rarety of the items I got retail price on most. Even bought the provari that I was puffing on, lol..

 

[tayone415]

LOL... I ordered a Vamo V2 for $17, from an online place in china. It's been sitting in customs in NYC since Sunday night, and I'm getting frantic. It's "black chrome" to go with my gun-metal Smok UDCT.

Andria

I first remember my first raping at the b&m when I walked out with 2 1000mah egos with shatty clearos that leaked and a bottle of juice for $100...
Week later I ordered the same kit for 30 bucks from china and made my own juice since... I never shop retail anymore, and know better on most items!!... Since waiting in lines and paying more lost it's fun.. Thus, b&m gets no love from me.. But when I do go in, I never spend any money anymore and usually know much more then their "expert"... I walked into a b&m six months ago and walked out with 1100.00 in my pocket..
I unloaded most of my collected mods to them and due to the rarety of the items I got retail price on most. Even bought the provari that I was puffing on, lol..

I know most B&Ms charge a lot more than most online stores, but are you guys talking about buying clones?

 

[TimV30]

I don't buy clones from my b&m. I only buy authentic mods from them. They have gotten me mods I like that are hard to come by

 

[AndriaD]

I don't buy clones from my b&m. I only buy authentic mods from them. They have gotten me mods I like that are hard to come by

No I'm pretty sure the Vamo is a real one, but it's an older model, and stuff in china is dirt cheap; I've gotten some good deals from a Hong Kong place too.

Andria

Sorry, it appears I quoted the wrong post -- meant to reply to tayone!

 

[jshorty1219]

There's a ton of shops around here, but I've only been to two. They both have reasonable prices for most of their stuff and the staff are really friendly and helpful. Some of the gear is a little overpriced, but not too terribly bad. The one only carries 80/20 juice, and I can't use it plus it's further away and hard to find parking. The other one carries juice that I can use, prices are the same as online, and they are the best. Super awesome customer service, cut down the pg in one bottle I bought after I got home and realized I couldn't use it, gave me a free sample of another kind they will be carrying, and made sure of what kind of coils I was using before offering the juice I bought today. I probably won't be buying my gear there, they are a small shop and don't carry a whole lot, but they'll help me with anything I buy, whether it's from there or not. It's nice to have good shops within ten minutes, and I really feel for those who don't have good shops nearby.

 

[nynvolt]

I support my b&m's. I think a markup of ten to twenty bucks on a clone is fair. They are providing jobs to locals and experience (since most actual vape shops are run by vapers). I've noticed authentic items are just about the same price you can find online. I have my limits and if they're charging too much I'll go online. I told a local shop I'd get a particular item online, a cheap drip tip, and he gave it to me for half price.

They don't open shop to help anyone, they do it to make a living. If you prefer to save a few bucks ordering Chinese, that's your option and how the system works. Stores will have to complete or go out of businesses. I've been to awesome shops that provide real value with knowledge. Those shops I return to. Others, mostly smoke shops, who just sell junk for inflated prices and have no idea what they're selling I walk out. That's the free market.

 

[GrandSam]

I stopped purchasing from b&m's awhile ago. The prices are simply unreasonable. Why would I pay $12 for a 15ml bottle of juice, when I can make my own 30ml bottle for a fraction of the price? I actually prefer my own DIY juices over the ones I buy at B&Ms anyways. Sorry, but I am not going to pay $50+ for a cloned metal tube.

 

[Johnnie Price]

Only 2 shops locally. The one by my house, I've supported and will in the future. Even took a co-worker in who ended up bjying some stuff. The staff is friendly and personable, and the prices aren't too unreasonable compared to online. Add in shipping costs and they are nearly even on some things.

The other one, they're not so friendly and are only into sub-ohming. Not my thing, so I don't go there.

 

[tayone415]

No I'm pretty sure the Vamo is a real one, but it's an older model, and stuff in china is dirt cheap; I've gotten some good deals from a Hong Kong place too.

Andria

Sorry, it appears I quoted the wrong post -- meant to reply to tayone!

If it's an authentic piece that is a GREAT deal. I would order online if I had patience to wait, and had better luck with not having defective or damaged things. Luckily I found a good B&M that is pretty reasonable compared to online stores.