Is it just me, or is anyone else getting fed up with b&m's raping peoples wallets? It's getting pretty hard for me to even buy juice from some of these places because of the prices. Let alone the prices for some equipment. I saw a sentinel m16 clone being sold in a store today with a price tag of $65. I understand the need to price a little higher to keep the doors open, but come on... I think these people are trying to capitalize on the fact that people want to quit smoking and a lot of the people that walk into these places know nothing about vaping and don't know what the prices should be. When an ego starter kit reaches prices like $50, they have crossed the line from helping people get healthy, and padding their own wallets. Just curious to see if anyone else is getting tired of this. My $.02
Getting harder to support b&m's
- Thread starter JKnight5
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They aren't all bad. Some around me have reasonable prices, only a few bucks over online prices.
I agree there are some bad ones out there though..
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I agree there are some bad ones out there though..
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I base my support of the B&Ms based on a few things other than price of their products.
Do I like the employees?
Are they honest with customers?
Are they clean?
Do they carry the rebuilding supplies I want?
If any of the above get a no, I walk out.
Maurice
Do I like the employees?
Are they honest with customers?
Are they clean?
Do they carry the rebuilding supplies I want?
If any of the above get a no, I walk out.
Maurice
I do have to agree. I would love to walk in and get on-line prices, but I know that's unrealistic. However, when I walk into a shop at random, having already research what items I'm interested in and I see the exact same item for 3 times what I can get it from on-line..... Where's the line between "helping them out" and getting raped on the deal?
The juice prices at the ones around me aren't too bad; at one store, it's the same price as online, and I save the shipping charge, so I always go there to buy it. At my favorite store, it's a little higher than online, but I save shipping costs, so it works out about the same, plus I get to taste before buying, so that's a win.
You're right, some of the hardware is overpriced, and it probably is to catch the unwary unenlightened who don't know online prices, but then some of the hardware, for the lower end stuff, isn't much higher than you'd pay online, and you save shipping and having to wait for it. It's just necessary to know which items are way overpriced, and which are reasonable *retail* prices. Retail will always be higher, because of the overhead; it's just a matter of, do you need it right now, or can you wait up to a week for it?
Andria
You're right, some of the hardware is overpriced, and it probably is to catch the unwary unenlightened who don't know online prices, but then some of the hardware, for the lower end stuff, isn't much higher than you'd pay online, and you save shipping and having to wait for it. It's just necessary to know which items are way overpriced, and which are reasonable *retail* prices. Retail will always be higher, because of the overhead; it's just a matter of, do you need it right now, or can you wait up to a week for it?
Andria
I read a lot of these threads... and I always think the same thing.
I'm a 'support the local economy' sort of guy. I often go way out of my way to avoid a box store and support a mom n' pop. I am often willing to pay a premium for something locally instead of getting it from Amazon....
Not my vape. I've been vaping since sometime in early 2010. I've been settled in to what I like and what works for me for a long time. I know most of the online vendors I use for different items/juice/etc by their first name. I've had email conversations, forum conversations, and even a few phone conversations with all of them. - There are a few places locally and in nearby towns to buy vape gear, juice etc now... but there sure were not when I started vaping. There sure were not for almost 4 years of my vaping and longer for other people.
Supporting "my community" means something very different to me with my vape supplies. ECF-ers, and vendors who have been good to me this whole time are "my community". The ones who survived the FDA making US Customs seize their orders and kept in communication with their customers. The ones who stood up and defended their businesses. The ones who expanded their manufacturing and took a risk so that they could keep serving people like me.... The people who have contributed to *this* community are *my* community. I don't care if my best friends mom opens a B&M half a block from me. She isn't getting a nickel from me because I'd rather give it to Ben at AVE or Mark at Madvapes or Rob at REOs mods or Bruce at COV or ...... etc etc etc. I'd rather keep it in *my* community and she isn't part of it.
I'm a 'support the local economy' sort of guy. I often go way out of my way to avoid a box store and support a mom n' pop. I am often willing to pay a premium for something locally instead of getting it from Amazon....
Not my vape. I've been vaping since sometime in early 2010. I've been settled in to what I like and what works for me for a long time. I know most of the online vendors I use for different items/juice/etc by their first name. I've had email conversations, forum conversations, and even a few phone conversations with all of them. - There are a few places locally and in nearby towns to buy vape gear, juice etc now... but there sure were not when I started vaping. There sure were not for almost 4 years of my vaping and longer for other people.
Supporting "my community" means something very different to me with my vape supplies. ECF-ers, and vendors who have been good to me this whole time are "my community". The ones who survived the FDA making US Customs seize their orders and kept in communication with their customers. The ones who stood up and defended their businesses. The ones who expanded their manufacturing and took a risk so that they could keep serving people like me.... The people who have contributed to *this* community are *my* community. I don't care if my best friends mom opens a B&M half a block from me. She isn't getting a nickel from me because I'd rather give it to Ben at AVE or Mark at Madvapes or Rob at REOs mods or Bruce at COV or ...... etc etc etc. I'd rather keep it in *my* community and she isn't part of it.
This is exactly the way I feel to a T. My biggest problem is, sometimes I'll go into these places and act like a "new guy" and try and get info, and these people don't try in the slightest bit to suggest product that would be good for a beginner. They always push mech mods, or other rebuildables. I feel this is only to make a profit. But I have a really hard time trying to tell myself that a sentinel m16 CLONE is worth $65. That was my first mech, and I got it at the best b&m (IMO) that I've ever seen. (Saturn vapor in clarksville tn.) I walked out with that thing, a vtc4, and a nimbus rda for $55. These people are getting ridiculous.
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I wish I knew you personally. You seem like a kick a** person. I love your view of this.
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I went to a local b&m and got fleeced for my first set-up. I didn't do my research. My fault. If stuff is too much, I just won't buy it now...but I'll happily buy from Darrel at Fantasy in montrose, houston because he is friendly, helpful, the shop is clean, and the prices are similar to online. But i'd happily pay a little more, even. I just had to poke around to find my place. I wish i'd learned more before buying my first one...but now I know, and I either buy from shops or I don't. The other guys...I pay them no mind (or $$). It's just easier that way. It does frustrate me that fellow noobs may get turned off because of shops like these...but ultimately, it's up to each and everyone of us to be self-informed, and help others out when we can. 
The thing that brought me to posting this, is the fact that I recently got out of the army and moved back home to Louisville ky. In my search to find a good shop to go to, I've learned that shops are VERY VERY hit or miss. I guess I just miss my favorite store. [emoji20]
as OP said, increased price beyond online sale, I get it
but gouging due to the fact of unsuspecting customers and
the giant ecig wave crossing the country/world is just beyond belief
a lot of these shops seem to be trying to get rich qwik and it has a reverse effect IMO
I can meet nice people anywhere and everywhere else
so I don't buy the line - "they're nice and I want to support them"
I'm all for promoting my community, but not with a knife in my back...
there are many many shops around my area and they almost all price gouge
and plenty of them don't know what there selling and sit in back room watching TV
most of the day...
I have to drive 30 min to find a fair vape shop
and overall I'm talking about 30-40 stores...
it's sad
but gouging due to the fact of unsuspecting customers and
the giant ecig wave crossing the country/world is just beyond belief
a lot of these shops seem to be trying to get rich qwik and it has a reverse effect IMO
I can meet nice people anywhere and everywhere else
so I don't buy the line - "they're nice and I want to support them"
I'm all for promoting my community, but not with a knife in my back...
there are many many shops around my area and they almost all price gouge
and plenty of them don't know what there selling and sit in back room watching TV
most of the day...
I have to drive 30 min to find a fair vape shop
and overall I'm talking about 30-40 stores...
it's sad
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!.
I found a shop that is pretty good. Their prices are slightly higher then online but not by a ton. The staff is really cool and just has a good vibe. I was hosed by a smoke shop with a fake Evod starter kit. When I went to this shop the guy was sympathetic. I was looking at regulated tube mods but he kept steering me towards the MVP with a nautilus. Both cheaper then what I was looking at but he said I needed to walk before I could run. Told me to learn about battery safety and watch some you tube videos. Told me just when I was ready to start building coils and he'd show me how. Really awesome experience and I go out of me way to give them my business. Shop is about 15 miles out of my way but I don't mind!
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
I was in a B&M shop in Green Bay the other day and they were discussing how another local shop sold a clone to an unsuspecting customer at the high end/ legit price. Forget what mech it was but the customer got completely screwed over. I tend to ask the clerk if they carry authentic devices. How is a consumer to know? Besides the obvious fact that most high end devices are hard to come by.
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
everyone has different experiences at different shops.
Like I said before, there are few shops in my town that are great, and some that I'll never revisit.
Defiantly do your research and shop around.
I too like to play dumb some times to see what kind of remarks i get toward what devices. Good shops I'll give them a favorable review on google. Bad ones I usually give a second chance, then a review based on both experiances. Some times its just the guy behind the counter, sometimes its the shop. either way I like to give them the benefit of the doubt.
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Like I said before, there are few shops in my town that are great, and some that I'll never revisit.
Defiantly do your research and shop around.
I too like to play dumb some times to see what kind of remarks i get toward what devices. Good shops I'll give them a favorable review on google. Bad ones I usually give a second chance, then a review based on both experiances. Some times its just the guy behind the counter, sometimes its the shop. either way I like to give them the benefit of the doubt.
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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 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.
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.
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