Hey guys - my question to you is What is a fair price to pay for e cig supplies at a brick n Mortar?

[flexsr]

Just a fun question.....

What do you think is fair for both parties. I mean its gonna vary by product hugely ! They not gonna charge a 200% markup on a provari making it what 500 dollars ?

Just online i see huge discrepancy - i see the mvp for 39 and as high as 69

Keep in mind they have to pay rent, insurance, credit card fees, phone fees, unwanted inventory, possibly employe wages, and im sure i left out a bunch of other fees.

Can a brick and mortar even cater to a newbie vaper and an experienced vaper?

Newbie vaper you can take advantage of: but in same respect the newbie gets your years of knowledge on which products to stick with and a lot of vape shops let you try products out (that feature is worth big bucks) !!! So does he sell the newbie the mvp for 99.99$ ???? Would that be fair ?? I think so ... What other prices in general would be fair ?

And how does a vape shop keep intermediate vapers and experienced vapers when there is no way on the planet they can compete on price with online retailers let alone fast tech lol


Its being done - not by many and not easily but its being done by some

 

[EvilZoe]

It all depends upon how badly you need said item...lol

 

[doghair]

It all depends upon how badly you need said item...lol

Exactly, convenience store pricing. Get a feel for what things are going for and go in educated. There are things you will get at a b&m you will not get from online purchases like small town service and you will get better pricing online but will often only have the garbage can as an option if it doesn't work out.

 

[xanderxman]

The B&M I frequent has no issue keeping experienced vapers coming back, myself being one. It is about more than product offered. We all hang out and shoot the breeze. We taste liquids and help each other with new coil builds. We basically socialize. And most of us buy a fair amount of product as well. I just dropped $60 tonight on some house made liquid that I can't buy anywhere else and it is one of the top 3 liquids I have ever tried.

They get plenty of new vapers looking to get started and they turn into experienced vapers that shop there out of loyalty, because every single person that works there treats every customer the same, whether they be new or experienced. And that is how you build a proper and profitable vape shop. Price is generally not the deciding factor in where I shop.

 

[EvilZoe]

I'll be checking out more local B & Ms as soon as I finally get my license back. I'm in the process now but it's taking a godawful long time. *sigh*

 

[Stosh]

I'll be checking out more local B & Ms as soon as I finally get my license back. I'm in the process now but it's taking a godawful long time. *sigh*

after all the warnings about dripping and driving...shame on you...

 

[EvilZoe]

after all the warnings about dripping and driving...shame on you...

lol

No, it was something a tad more....uh....on the illegal side. Way back in 2008 and I never bothered to get my license back because I sold my car to pay up my mortgage.

 

[PaulBHC]

I don't mind paying 10-20% more than I think I can get it for online. When it is double, I pass.

The money is in consumables. Juice is mostly profit but I bet liability insurance gets some of that. Batteries and coils is another. Give away the device for close to cost and get them coming back for the other stuff.

 

[Bunnykiller]

Normally I see 50-100% markup from internet store prices. In some cases Ive seen stuff at the same price in the store as what Fasttech offers. I just payed 13$ for a 30A 18650 at a B&M. Probably could have found it for 8$ online somewhere and waited 2 weeks to get it...

 

[xanderxman]

I just bought two Sony VTC4s for $25 at my B&M. I took them home with me tonight and didn't have to wait for shipping. I am fine with paying a reasonable amount over internet prices to have it now and support local business.

 

[TimV30]

I have no issues with paying at the b&m here. I like the people there and I don't have to deal with online ordering. I consider the markup my tax for not having to deal with shipping or ordering online. Plus I get it right away.

 

[JaxMike]

Just a fun question.....

What do you think is fair for both parties. I mean its gonna vary by product hugely ! They not gonna charge a 200% markup on a provari making it what 500 dollars ?

Just online i see huge discrepancy - i see the mvp for 39 and as high as 69

Keep in mind they have to pay rent, insurance, credit card fees, phone fees, unwanted inventory, possibly employe wages, and im sure i left out a bunch of other fees.

Can a brick and mortar even cater to a newbie vaper and an experienced vaper?

Newbie vaper you can take advantage of: but in same respect the newbie gets your years of knowledge on which products to stick with and a lot of vape shops let you try products out (that feature is worth big bucks) !!! So does he sell the newbie the mvp for 99.99$ ???? Would that be fair ?? I think so ... What other prices in general would be fair ?

And how does a vape shop keep intermediate vapers and experienced vapers when there is no way on the planet they can compete on price with online retailers let alone fast tech lol


Its being done - not by many and not easily but its being done by some

Welcome to retailing 21st Century style. I don't know why anyone would want to go into that business.

(I love having retail stores and try to support them when I can, but can't imagine how most of them stay in business... someday I'll tell you my Sears washing machine/internet price match story..._

 

[ampanda]

It's absolutely understandable to see a mark up at a brick and mortar to charge a mark up of what you see online. But I have seen some B&M's charging exorbitant prices. For example I got my MVP 2.0 kit at my local B&M for 69.99 and that included a free 10ml bottle of juice and a wrap of my choosing. They offer the same set up on their website for 59.99 I am more than willing to pay the extra $10 for instant gratification and not checking usps 20 times a day wondering when it will get here, and the helpful guys at the store helped me overcome any doubts that it was the right mod for my needs.

In the same area is a shop that is selling evod clones for 8.99 and trying to pass them off for the real thing. And to the OP any shop trying to pass off an MVP for 99.99 is blatantly price gouging and I would definitely not patronize them.

 

[Tomthern]

I think that there are a lot good points made. I think that as a consumer research what you buy. I support the local B&Ms but I look at prices. I like that they can answer questions and show me how the products work. I am new and like when someone shows me how to fill a tank or charge a battery. That you don't get online. I just bought juice online and I'll see how it goes. I bought some not great juice in a B&M. I know that there are B&Ms that do overcharge just like there are other stores that overcharge. I do price shop and I think that will help me. When I bought my first set up I wouldn't have done that without a shop. I am worried about paying full price for a clone and I will be very cautious. Well that is my 2 cents.

 

[KODIAK (TM)]

And how does a vape shop keep intermediate vapers and experienced vapers when there is no way on the planet they can compete on price with online retailers let alone fast tech lol

One word... "Juice Bar"

I don't know any online e-seller that lets you sample everything for free. Right now I'm trying to use up all the crappy $5 samples I bought online before I went DIY. I would've bought just one or two kinds from a B&M if there was one nearby. And I don't mind paying a few extra bucks to keep a working stiff's doors open (If it helps). Good for the community.

Ok, I guess "Juice Bar" is really two words. Another example of why I'm not allowed to write checks anymore.

 

[PaulBHC]

My local goto is a kiosk in a mall. They sell a starter kit for 32.99. 650 ego, easy to use H2 clearo, charger and 15ml bottle of juice. They make their juice at home and have stock on the kiosk. They have a tasting bar and show new vapers how to use everything. They explain that you have to buy coils and batteries and juice and how to use it all. They have batts and twists and other bits at higher prices than online but give repeat customers a discount. Juice is 10 for 15ml, 3 for 25, 4 for 8 each.

 

[GPC2012]

There are so many varialbles to this. First The B & M itself. You need to remember all the expenses involved in it. rent, utilities, insurance, possible security, warehousing space, employees, the list goes on and on.
Now consider the buying power of the store. The little corner shop run by mom and pop probably doesn't have the buying power of a multi location store. The mom and pop may also not have the warehousing space or do enough volume to order big even if they have the money,

So the cost in a B & M is going to be higher. But remember this you go in and buy something whether it be ejuice, mods, batteries what ever and something is just not quit right about your purchase. E juice doesn't taste right, wrong nic strength, wrong PG/VG ratio, or the charger doesn't work or well the possibilities are endless. Back to the store you go. Resolve the problem in person more often than not that day.

With an online store you open a ticket, jump through whatever hoops they want you to mail it back and wait for however long.

Also, a real Vape shop owner/manager is probably a vaper and can assist, suggest, and educate you if you need it. I've only encountered two that were arrogant or ignorant enough to stop me from going back.

Conclusion: You have asked a question with in my opinion no right or wrong answer.

 

[coalyard]

I must be one of the lucky ones. I bought my VTR from my local shop, it had the rotating 510 connection. I let them know before I bought it that there were potentially problems with it. Sure enough, the problem of varying resistance popped up. My new unit is on the way now. I paid $105 for it, which is slightly more expensive than online, but when I had problems with it, I got no BS and a fast resolution.

They have a good juice selection, and their tanks and coils are again slightly more expensive, but they are there now. I don't have to wait for it, and pay shipping. I buy juice online mostly now, and rebuilding supplies, as well as items they don't have.

 

[flexsr]

The B&M I frequent has no issue keeping experienced vapers coming back, myself being one. It is about more than product offered. We all hang out and shoot the breeze. We taste liquids and help each other with new coil builds. We basically socialize. And most of us buy a fair amount of product as well. I just dropped $60 tonight on some house made liquid that I can't buy anywhere else and it is one of the top 3 liquids I have ever tried.

They get plenty of new vapers looking to get started and they turn into experienced vapers that shop there out of loyalty, because every single person that works there treats every customer the same, whether they be new or experienced. And that is how you build a proper and profitable vape shop. Price is generally not the deciding factor in where I shop.

Exactly - i think thats a great way to keep intermediate and and expert vapers frequenting your shop and either purchasing and paying the premium for the convenience of having a place where you can trade ideas builds try devices etc. stay away from the wife when have a fight. See whats coming out in the market (not everyone spends countless hours on ecf like me and many of us!

Exactly too coalyard: you have a place ti take it too ! Its worth the little extra!

 

[Zealous]

hm, a "fair" price. I definitely think it depends on the product. An Ego Twist @ $50 is imo too expensive. However a Provari @ $200 doesn't seem unreasonable.

For me, I was willing to pay the huge cost of buying my evod coils from my B&M. I don't actually remember how much they were but I think it was double, at least, what I would have to pay online for authentic evod heads. But for me it was very convenient to pick a couple up at the store so I did it.