Getting local vendors to carry quality vaping products? How did you do it?

[jsm1289]

I've been buying my analogs (1 1/2 packs/day) for over 2 years. It's a family owned gas station who are amazing to me. If my paycheck is a day behind, they give me a pack or 2 on credit, give me great deals, and are extremely nice to my daughter and I. When I went in this morning to get a few packs to last me til my setup arrives, I explained the V4L company and how it's 100x better than anything they currently have. I explained to him about the vendor specials and promised him that I would absolutely get my supplies from him if he would participate. He went into the million reasons he didn't want to, but told me he'd look into it (only to shut me up). If you have won the battle over local vendors, how'd you do it? I would love to be able to run out and get carts if I run out instead of waiting for a frantic order to be shipped and arrive.

I cross-posted this in the V4L board cause the more ideas, the better!
Thanks so much!!

 

[Zeroa4]

It depends on what set up you are using. I know more and more gas stations, stores like CVS, and even head shops are caring more and more e-cig supplies. (at lest in FL) I would try and google and see if there are any places around you are already caring supplies.

As to how to get your fav gas station to start caring, i think its going to be hard to get these channels to open up yet due to the small size of the e-cig community. I do see that community is growing, ive been vapping for about a month and a half and have already had more than a hand full of friends start making the switch. So with some hope and lucky we should start seeing more and more stores selling supplies.

 

[thinkingaboutit]

I was pleased when I perused the mall stand the other day. Not cheap, but there were egos, twists, passthroughs, lavatubes, and an assortment of juice with tanks, cartos and attys to put it in. The guy knew his business.

If I got desperate I know where I could get supplies.

 

[jsm1289]

All anyone around here stocks are the cheap "Blu" type products. Nothing like flavored carts, juices or mods.

 

[DummyMe]

The only thing I ever find locally is NJoy's & Fin disposibles. And Walmart carries Mists. No juice, no empty cartos, no nothing. I'm moving to NC in May & the town I'm moving to has at least one Smoke Shop that I've seen that carrys at least cartos, atomizers & juice! I was in a hurry & didn't get a chance to price anything out. Hopefully. when we get down there, they'll still carry these items & more!

 

[cwolfman13]

The gas stations here don't carry much...nothing to write home about anyway, mostly cheap disposable type stuff. I haven't been to the mall to see what they're doing in those kiosks in quite awhile, so can't comment there. We do have a local vapor shop though and they're awesome. Good quality hardware and excellent selection of juices, many of which they concoct themselves. The owners really know there stuff, and it's a good thing they do. So many newbies like myself rolling in there completely lost.

I think one issue that gas stations would run into is not really knowing the product. Vaping is a pretty niche specific thing with a very specific knowledge required. The average gas station employee would have no idea how to answer any questions. It's just easier for them to carry cheap disposables than mucking things up with stuff they would have no idea how to market and sell.

 

[SlimXero]

I've worked for both chain stores (Circle K and ExxonMobil) and independent stores, so maybe I can help. I currently work for Circle K, and I'm responsible for the tobacco orders and I deal with our novelty vendor that brings in the ecigs (Petrey is the vendor, Infiniti and Fin are all we carry, replaced 20th Century Smoke or something like that). At corporation stores like Circle K, 7-11, etc., you're generally wasting your breath. We have set suppliers and any new product must go through the marketing department. You can refer your favorite vendor to your favorite store's marketing department and hope they hit it off, but even that has little to no chance of success.

Independent stores, on the other hand, are relatively easy to get to carry the product you want, you just have to give them incentive, and it's the same incentive every vendor needs: money. Even if you shop there every single day and spend 10-15$ a day on parts, liquids, etc., it's not worth the initial investment to cater to YOU, as uncaring as that sounds. Get 5-7 of your friends who also vape to frequent the store 3-4 times a week and give them that incentive to make money, and it could very easily change their mind. Make it profitable for them, and they will generally cater to you.