Headshops and e-cigs

[Codex Gigas]

I noticed that a thread about e-liquid flavored to match an illegal smokable substance turned into a huge flame war and then got shut down, so first off, out of respect for Joe's wishes, let''s remember where we're at - you can make your point without a dozen "......"s in your post.

Given the tone that Joe's attempting to maintain here on ECF, no references to illegal substances and the strongly supportive nature of some of the posters here who seem to feel that ECF could conceivably be a "public face" of the e-cig community, how do you feel about e-cigs and e-liquids being available in headshops? In San Francisco, I find headshops to be the best place to go for emergencies - I can buy disposables, starter kits and a limited variety of e-liquids in many of them, and at a reasonable price - more reasonable than 7/11, at least.

Given that we as a community are making an effort to avoid being associated with illegal substances, what are the implications of e-cig accessories and liquids being sold in these sorts of outlets?

 

[FreakyStylie]

I have been playing with this idea with a few local businesses. One that popped up was So-And-So's Smoke Shop. I walked in and they sold zero tobacco. All manner of devices for smoking were there, but zero tobacco. Attach e-liquids to it, and the community (that votes) will liken it to where it is sold.

I think it's best not to mess with those establishments. We still have to get firmly placed as far as the law goes. I feel it would be better to talk a tobacco shop or liquor store that sells tobacco into carrying vaping supplies.

 

[kmac]

Yeah I think putting them in headshops will only help to stigmatize them unfortunately. Either way, the other problem is that most headshops/tobacco shops just rebrand ecigs/juices and way over price them. I've had to resort to that when in a bind but I hate to see people getting screwed because they don't know any better.

It would be great to see a good local shop I could go to for supplies but unfortunately most available in smoke shops and gas stations is overpriced crap. If they actually started stocking reasonably priced, good products maybe I could get behind it, but until then I don't think associating ecigs with headshops will do anything but cast a negative light on it at a time when there is already a movement to ban them.

 

[Carless]

Actually, A head-shop owner was the first to introduce me to e-cigs a couple of years ago. To be fair, he also sells all kinds of tobacco as well as beer & wine and even carried some of my product line for a while. Since his business was near mine, that's where I bought my analogs. I didn't buy the kit he had at the time, but told him I would research it and then decide. At $100.00 for his starter kit, I just thought it was a bit too pricey and decided to wait until the prices started leveling off before getting one.
I've since moved away, but the next time I go back up there I plan to speak with him about carrying better products and lowering the price. I really think he could do well with it with the right approach.

 

[Dwindacatcher]

I see no problem with them in there. I live in an area wih a great deal of them. Or at least selling pipes etc. I'd love there to be a place I could snag some juice if I run out. Best I can get is prefilled carts for smoke 51/green smoke carto super minis.

 

[Codex Gigas]

I personally never thought twice about it, aside from my problem with some of them thinking that the business day begins at noon. I guess it does, for them, LOL. I just noticed that the negative association is a real concern here on ECF.

 

[Moonflame]

The people that think negatively of them will never go in them for the most part. I get Tasty Puffs flavoring to DIY with and was showing them mine over a year ago and they had already looked into selling e-cigs. I was able to tell them about what products were getting good reviews at the time and steer them away from some of the more expensive crappy ones. I don't know if they started selling them or not since I haven't been there in a while. I do need some Orange Tasty Puffs (I love mixing it with Menthol liquid) so I have an excuse to go out of my way to swing by there. Usually when I go to town I just don't have the time for extra errands that aren't essential.

 

[jazdale]

Some day in my fantasy future...
I had 60.00 in gas on pump 2, this candy bar. bottle of pop and a mocha cartomizer for the 510 please.

Until then, I don't know if a store front can support itself on just vape products. It has to be a side item.

If the gubmint, FDA, Big tobacco, and big pharm could settle down, the distribution of e-liquid could be just as available as getting a pack of Marlboros.

I'm not holding my breath on that one.

 

[tenzip]

Some day in my fantasy future...
I had 60.00 in gas on pump 2, this candy bar. bottle of pop and a mocha cartomizer for the 510 please.

Until then, I don't know if a store front can support itself on just vape products. It has to be a side item.

If the gubmint, FDA, Big tobacco, and big pharm could settle down, the distribution of e-liquid could be just as available as getting a pack of Marlboros.

I'm not holding my breath on that one.

You only put 5 gallons in?

 

[Zal42]

One that popped up was So-And-So's Smoke Shop. I walked in and they sold zero tobacco.

Wow. There are at least a dozen head shops in my town (which is one where wacky-tobaccy is commonly used and largely accepted), and every single one of them sells tobacco. Packs of cigs, to be sure, but also a wide variety of ryo and pipe tobaccos, cigars, and related equipment. The owner of the one I used ot go to when I smoked said that about half of his business was unmistakably of the tobacco-related variety, and it wasn't safe to bet someone was a "head" just because they shopped there.

So I guess it all depends...

Obviously, I don't think there's a stigma in selling pv eqipment and juices in head shops, but then... where I live there wouldn't be.

 

[Codex Gigas]

I lived in San Fransisco until recently, and the one thing with it was that co-workers who were interested in my e-cig ended getting links to web sites to pass on to their friend or family member who they had in mind when they asked me about the e-cig. In the work environment, I didn't feel comfortable sending them to the headshop to buy a starter kit or a disposable, but I'm certain that 2 out of the 3 who I gave links to never moved forward since e-cig websites come in two flavors: well-stocked with good prices but confusing to navigate or learn anything about e-cigs from, or easy to use, helpful and designed to sell overpriced crappy e-cigs.

 

[FreakyStylie]

...e-cig websites come in two flavors: well-stocked with good prices but confusing to navigate or learn anything about e-cigs from, or easy to use, helpful and designed to sell overpriced crappy e-cigs.

This. A little OT, but suppliers really need to pay somebody a little extra to clean up their sites. Not all of them, but really, the best ones seem to need more help.

It's a one time set-up thing. You can keep doing the maintenance yourselves. Please . . . just think about it.

 

[Codex Gigas]

This. A little OT, but suppliers really need to pay somebody a little extra to clean up their sites. Not all of them, but really, the best ones seem to need more help.

It's a one time set-up thing. You can keep doing the maintenance yourselves. Please . . . just think about it.

This is why I'm going to become a vendor. Aside from the riches and the fame, I can use my day job skills to build a site that I like and market to people who aren't "hobbyists" - WhiteCloud, Blu, Smoking Stick - they're selling RN4081 type things at up to 400% markup to people who'd who'd give up in frustration at even the best of the "real" e-cig sites.

 

[BuzzKill]

Any tips you guys have on web site design you are more than welcome to pitch in ! !

I see no problem with e-cigs in head shops at least in California , hell pot is basically legal here .

 

[zig-zag]

Wow, I need to go check my local headshop to see if they have anything. It should be ok as long as they dont start selling e liquid spiked with those synthetics that the herbal incense used