Hardware prices at the local B&Ms

[chopdoc]

I buy a fair amount of juice from my local B&M since they have some decent house blends at $5/10ml, and they stock some of the premium brands like Jimmy's. I've also bought both a nautilus Mini and Atlantis from them, both on a whim and both $45, and individual coil heads at $5 a pop from time to time. High, but not out of line, and I didn't mind it so much for the convenience.

But I was in the store last Saturday getting juice and picking up a "reasonably priced" LG HE2 for $12 when another customer came in and bought a Siegeli 150w box mod...for $150. That's at least a 50% markup on internet pricing. Kinda made me sick, but I didn't say anything.

I was in a B&M a while back shooting the bull with a couple of the guys in the shop and an older couple came in browsing and joined our conversation. I mentioned that the local B&M juice prices where not bad and in line with some of the internet juice vendors. The girl behind the counter became irate because I mentioned Internet companies and started bad mouthing Internet companies saying they was unsafe and you didnt get quality from them. This is the same store that charged me $30 for a 900 mhz Ego. I dont see what the issue is with saying the local store prices is comparable with online vendors but this young lady was rude just the same.
The guys in the shop was all 20 years younger than me and some good kids. We discussed coil builds and diferant set ups a few times and they was always eager to chat and make you feel welcome and they was very knowledgeable about vaping. Tell them what your thinking about a juice to try and they would make up a bunch of samples for you to try and came up with some real winners. Kinda miss those discussions.

 

[MrStik]

i love how people are posting things like this as if it's the general public's responsibility to keep local business afloat......

Nevermind......

 

[rhelton]

Most items at a vape shop are 100% profit compared to online shopping. I say most because the high dollar items at 100 bucks and above or the reasonably priced authentic like Inokin, ipv, segelei etc are priced normal or close to it.

Its just the way it is, oh and the juice your vaping starts life around 0.05 to 0.10 per ml, not including overhead of course but still it is what it is if you want to look at the big picture.

 

[Kloudz]

I get local house juice from my b&m $2.99 for a thirty ml bottle but I asked for 10'of 28g kanthal and the dude says it was 12 bucks, ...???? I just buy juice from there and by my gear online. But they sell premium juice like space jam, moonshine, and cuttwood for the price you can find it for online, go figure.

 

[Croak]

I get local house juice from my b&m $2.99 for a thirty ml bottle but I asked for 10'of 28g kanthal and the dude says it was 12 bucks, ...???? I just buy juice from there and by my gear online. But they sell premium juice like space jam, moonshine, and cuttwood for the price you can find it for online, go figure.

I think they are contractually obligated to sell a lot of the premium US-made juice at MSRP. Some of them, they won't even tamper with, like adding more nic (even for a fee) because they'll risk losing their deal with the supplier.

But with the stuff out of China via a plethora of different distributors and almost none of it direct from manufacturer other than Joyetech stuff, there's no such obligation. It's whatever the market will bear.

 

[jrenae4]

I guess I'm lucky. Most things at my b&m are about 5-10 dollars higher than online (online price not including shipping - just me browsing). I can deal with that. They're nice people, and again I understand the overhead and all that. Those with the rip off prices of 2 and 3x higher than online, well that's just sad.

 

[gummybear00]

It's unreasonable to expect brick and mortar stores to have internet prices. Obviously they have extra expenses like hiring employees, rent, electricity, etc. Plus you can try out the products before you buy and it may be more convenient than online sometimes. Still, if you know what you're buying and you see a huge rip-off then just leave..

Lately a ton of shops have opened in the California bay area so there's much more competition and selection. It's the guys in the middle of nowhere that should order online.

 

[dgm76513]

My question remains unanswered. How does an online store not have rent, employees, electricity, etc?
Someone has to make and maintain the website, and they have to buy server usage. Then they have to have someone stock the shelves, fill orders, take inventory, and order product. Someone has to do the taxes, they can't work in the dark, a building, even a house or garage as storage still costs money. They need shipping supplies, shelves, and insurance like any other business.

Oh, I get it.

Online retailers don't have to buy those fancy high-dollar glass display shelves.

Yeah, that's it.

 

[Danbrooks2k]

Online sellers dont need electricity or storage space dummy...

havent you heard of storing stuff in the cloud?

Geeze... some people!

 

[dgm76513]

Online sellers dont need electricity or storage space dummy...

havent you heard of storing stuff in the cloud?

Geeze... some people!

Ha yeah that's about what some people are saying in here.

Heck, I think I'm gonna move to the cloud. I hear it's got plenty of room.

 

[Danbrooks2k]

Here let me fire up the Atlantis... I will make a nice big kiwi strawberry flavored one!

 

[Trailz]

Comes down to this: Folks will decide where they want to spend their money. The majority of new vapers are referred to a B&M by a friend, colleague, etc and have no idea what the pricing is for the hardware & juice. The B&Ms may be friendly, professional and helpful which keeps the customers returning. Some may discover etailers and say "Whoah, not paying those prices anymore" and some won't and continue to do business with their B&M. I bought an Atlantis coil at the local B&M for $5 last night because it burned out while I was there. Even though I had 3 5 packs of coils that I bought for $12.95 each, I bought the coil, partly because I needed it but mostly in support of them. I also discovered that the flavor I paid $17/30ml from the B&M (their house brand) tastes the same as the $10/60ml flavor I bought from an online vendor. More than likely, I won't be buying their house brand juice any longer but then again, maybe I will, who knows.

 

[dgm76513]

Hey every little bit helps. I'm running my doge with a .3 ohm dual 24ga coil at 80 watts with some 90/10 blueberry thug I made. My neighbors were about to call the fire department when I opened the front door