I've been buying everything online but needed something yesterday that i couldn't wait to be delivered so i ventured out to our 4 relatively new e-cig stores and was stunned by the prices. I understand overhead, but $149.99 for a V5 Vamo??? Most other things were comparatively priced. Obviously they have the right to sell their stuff at whatever prices they want and i have the right not to buy from them but it's kind of depressing as i would always choose to buy local even if it costs me a little more. I do that with some of my other hobbies (guns and saltwater aquariums). However, in my opinion these guys are just taking advantage of ignorant people and i won't darken the doors of any of them again unless something changes. I also think they will quickly lose business to the internet as people figure out what's happening, it will be interesting to see how many of the 4 survive and for how long.
how are the prices at your local B&M?
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some of my stores are way crazy and some are really good. There is one that sells the Loki ring for 22. Considering on line from Loki Labs it is 20 and i have to wait for shipping that is not a bad deal. Down side they were out when i went in so either way i am having to wait. lol
All of my "local" B&Ms are 30+ minutes drive time from me. One is pretty outrageous in their pricing but others are pretty decent, depending on what you are after. Like you, I'd prefer to buy local when I can.
I do have a couple of online stores that are local and do local pick-up, but they don't have B&M storefronts.
I do have a couple of online stores that are local and do local pick-up, but they don't have B&M storefronts.
My guess is that the problem is that this thing happened so fast a proper distribution network was never established
I think the people who run B&Ms get their stuff the same place we get our stuff and pay the same prices. You really need to come close to keystoning (make twice what you pay for the physical) on a niche product to make it worth running a store, having employees, paying rent, advertising, etc. The common denominator of people who try to shave it thinner than that is that they go out of business. I think the people with the best chance of making it have a direct line and their own brand of juices, which is where you can really add up some good margins. Running a business isn't easy. There's one guy here who sort of runs a "mobile" shop. I try to get something from him every now and then, but he's about 30% more than ebay.
The vape shop has awful prices and the head shop has ok prices on a couple things.
The one I started with I won't go back to. $14.50 for a knock off Kanger Evod?? For Real?? I don't think so, Scooter. I can get the real thing for $4.49 on line.
My local B&M has some really great prices that are competitive to online prices. The only things they mark up a bit are their starter kits but their ADV's/and rebuildables are spot on! They don't sell online but they definitely are close to the online prices from other vendors.
Their only gouging price I have found, that the employees agreed was too high, was their kanthal...1$ a foot. We looked at each other and laughed then I pulled out a 100' roll of 30guage that I got for 5 bucks from temco and said ill sell this to you for 100$.
I did not get the sale
LOL!
Their only gouging price I have found, that the employees agreed was too high, was their kanthal...1$ a foot. We looked at each other and laughed then I pulled out a 100' roll of 30guage that I got for 5 bucks from temco and said ill sell this to you for 100$.
I did not get the sale
LOL!
I have two new shops in town about 1 mile apart. One charges $59 for an itaste VV. The other charges $39. The first one calls an evod a T3. The second calls it an evod. Guess which one I go to?
The one "good" B&M near me has very fair pricing. Yes, it is a *little* more than online (10-20%, 10% more prevalent), but it is very convenient, and the staff is always kind and knowledgeable. Even kanthal is priced well enough. They sell 10 meter rolls for $5. Yes, I can 100' rolls for the same off ebay or Temco or whatever. But it sure beats the $1-$4 a foot some of you are seeing. THAT is highway robbery. Don't know about silica prices, I don't use it.
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Ridiculous to the point that I don't want to go back Lol. On the other hand, This new shop that just opened up is a GREAT B&M. Nevada Vapor, Earned a customer with me
Mine has a presence on line too but some how they feel the need to charge you more when you get in your car, spend your time and money to go and visit them. In my experience, vaping B&M's suck. They offer little to no value and charge a premium for it. Vaping is a 21st century business and vaping B&M's can fade away for all I care. I see no value in them. Online store provide great service and pricing and the vast majority of the time when you have a question, they answer it pretty quickly.
My local tobacco shop only sells a hand full of vape related items- blu kits, disposables, tsunami PV's, some juice, and Ce4's. Only thing I've looked at was a ce4 $9.99, and some juice $10.99. Ended up only buying some hookah coals $2.99. Would like to open the first vape shop in my city.
We now have four near me, Some of the stuff cost way to much but some is reasonable pricing. I paid 19 for a "ghost vapor" protank. Wasn't to bad seeing how I didn't have to wait on shipping.
Unfortunately I have no B&M stores in my area (except I found out Great Lakes Vaporizors is just up the road a piece)
That leaves just the tobacco shops and what they carry.
One particular 'chain' appears to be stocking their stores with decent entry level stuff
Not outrageous prices, but certainly beatable by most every on-line source.
One thing I've noticed in the 4 tobacco shops that carry vapor stuff is that they almost always charge suggested retail prices!
For example, I'm looking at the itaste MVP v2.0 (kit) which prices at $40 at 101vapes (IF it ever comes back in stock), or $54 at Mt. Baker Vapor assuming one of the "rare" 10% discount codes can be found (FYI - the codes are plentiful!)
The tobacco shop is at full 'sticker' price of $89.
Knowledge-wise: no training coming from their corporate, so they're learning pretty much like I do - hang out here, YouTube & read read read.
I needed Kanger coils last night and paid about 2x (5 / $16) what I could on-line.
They had what I needed to get me through to an order & delivery, and that's okay to support the local guy... this time.
For someone getting started, new users are not being totally ripped-off like some of the stories I've read here. But they're certainly paying premium pricing.
Which will get them through to getting their feet on the ground, and, time to come to ECF and tap into this wealth of knowledge, support, and guidance!)
That leaves just the tobacco shops and what they carry.
One particular 'chain' appears to be stocking their stores with decent entry level stuff
Not outrageous prices, but certainly beatable by most every on-line source.
One thing I've noticed in the 4 tobacco shops that carry vapor stuff is that they almost always charge suggested retail prices!
For example, I'm looking at the itaste MVP v2.0 (kit) which prices at $40 at 101vapes (IF it ever comes back in stock), or $54 at Mt. Baker Vapor assuming one of the "rare" 10% discount codes can be found (FYI - the codes are plentiful!
)The tobacco shop is at full 'sticker' price of $89.
Knowledge-wise: no training coming from their corporate, so they're learning pretty much like I do - hang out here, YouTube & read read read.
I needed Kanger coils last night and paid about 2x (5 / $16) what I could on-line.
They had what I needed to get me through to an order & delivery, and that's okay to support the local guy... this time.
For someone getting started, new users are not being totally ripped-off like some of the stories I've read here. But they're certainly paying premium pricing.
Which will get them through to getting their feet on the ground, and, time to come to ECF and tap into this wealth of knowledge, support, and guidance!
)
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My local store is very reasonable with some things, and completely ridiculous with others.
Most tanks, clearos, cartos, etc are reasonably priced. Protank 2 is $22, compared to $20 from kanger themselves its not bad.
Mods are crazily overpriced. A k101 for example is priced at $80, starter kit for it is $110.
Kanthal and other rebuilding supplies are similarly overpriced. Not as bad as other places, $2 per 3 foot of kanthal. What does really bother me is that 3 foot of yarn is a buck. The same yarn I get at walmart for $1.50 per 100 foot.
The juices are reasonably priced. Most stuff is around 8 bucks for 10-12 ml. Their higher end juice like five pawns, suicide bunny, etc, are more expensive, but not unreasonably so.
I buy juice from them on occasion, and have picked up most of my protanks from them.
Most tanks, clearos, cartos, etc are reasonably priced. Protank 2 is $22, compared to $20 from kanger themselves its not bad.
Mods are crazily overpriced. A k101 for example is priced at $80, starter kit for it is $110.
Kanthal and other rebuilding supplies are similarly overpriced. Not as bad as other places, $2 per 3 foot of kanthal. What does really bother me is that 3 foot of yarn is a buck. The same yarn I get at walmart for $1.50 per 100 foot.
The juices are reasonably priced. Most stuff is around 8 bucks for 10-12 ml. Their higher end juice like five pawns, suicide bunny, etc, are more expensive, but not unreasonably so.
I buy juice from them on occasion, and have picked up most of my protanks from them.
I was surprised when I first went in and their prices were reasonable. $10 for the bigger glass BDC Aspire.(Too bad it tastes like burnt poo for me.)
The ProVaris were not marked up at all.
I will go back when I want something quick.
The ProVaris were not marked up at all.
I will go back when I want something quick.
My local B&M is a little pricier than what I see online but I would rather buy from them knowing if there's a problem they will make it right and I don't have to wait.
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