I had an interesting discussion with a B&M owner today.

[cmdebrecht]

So I have a fun little part-time job at Dairy Queen (have to pay for vaping stuff!) I love my job because almost everyone that comes to DQ is happy (ice cream has that affect on people), and I love to chat with the customers.

Two guys came in today and I noticed that one of them was wearing a shirt with the name of a local vapor shop chain. (I think there are at least 4 in the St. Louis area). We were all having a few laughs and after I spotted his shirt I asked him if he works there. He said yes (I got the feeling he was an owner), do you vape? Yes, I said, almost three months. He asked me where I shop and I told him the name of my favorite place.

Then he asked me to share with him why I shopped at that place. I told him that I loved the people there, that I always got great service, they were friendly and always happy to see me, and they know me by name. (I didn't say anything about price or selection, interestingly enough).

Then he asked me if I had ever been in his store. I said yes, the one right across the street. He asked me what I thought. I said it was ok, but nobody really seemed to care that I was there, and just an overall lack of friendliness.

The cool thing was that his buddy chimed in and said yeah, you have had some problems like that there. The owner said he has been cleaning house and getting rid of employees like that; that there has been a lot of turnover due to that very reason.

He then asked me if I'd be willing to give his shop another chance, that he thinks I'll have a better experience next time. I said sure.

Anyway....if you're still following me here...I thought that was a neat conversation all around.

I know things like price, selection, etc.are important to a lot of vapers when looking for a B&M but as far as I am concerned, customer service is my first consideration.

 

[SmellYaLaterCigs]

Cool story, you should have pushed for some discounts though

 

[Sickkboy]

Nice, I wouldn't be happy too if I was there and no staff really give a crap to help me.

 

[Katcandoo]

Maybe you could swap the DQ part-time job for one at the vape shop? Sounds like a win-win plan to me!

 

[Iffy]

What a refreshing post!

I do think that many B&Ms only survive due to the new un-vaped traffic. Kinda tough to build a clientele when they don't want to come back due to the initial exposure, lack of information and personal interaction.

"Hey, here's watcha need. Wha... nawh, it'll last ya at least carton's worth."

 

[SorryNameTaken]

It is always really nice to know that owners of stores are willing to listen to concerns of customers even when it isn't praise.

I agree with you that customer service trumps cheapest prices. I love to support local businesses. The closest B&Ms to me are over an hour away. Both are fairly well known online, and in my town, and I had high expectations going to the one most highly recommended by friends. I haven't been to both of them, but I took my boyfriend to the first one so he could see different batteries and get a feel for what he wanted. The experience was so lackluster that I can't bring myself to go back. The employees were all hanging out in the back and none of them seemed interested in coming out to greet customers. I'm not sure if the employee who finally did come out was new, or just timid, but he really didn't know the equipment and left me to answer all of my boyfriends questions. It was, honestly, disheartening to drive all that way for poor customer service. This particular place has 2 stores in the area so friends tell me that I should try the other location, but if I am going to try again I'd just assume go to the other B&M in hopes of a better experience. I do enjoy the first place's liquids and will probably order from their online store, but my experience has made me even feel hesitant to do that. I know at some point I will give their store a second chance and I have high hopes it will be a much more pleasant experience.

I travel to Virginia fairly often to see family. There is one store there that, no matter how broke I am or how little time I have to spend, I will never leave VA without heading to their store. The customer service there was above and beyond my wildest expectations. The prices are fair for a B&M, but the people there make it worth being a returning customer.

 

[toddrhodes]

My town is getting our first, true B&M starting tomorrow. I've purchased a few of their juices online and if that is any indication, these people know what they are doing. As far as customer service, I have high hopes and here's why - I've "liked them on facebook" and all that and that's fine, left a few comments, etc... So I get a note in my feed tonight that they're opening for the first time tomorrow at 11 am. Well, it just so happens I got my first RBA yesterday but have no wire with which to build it, dohhh! So I responded to the post that I'll stop by tomorrow and check it out, afterall I am a fan of at least two of their flavors. I asked as an aside, do you guys have any kanthal in stock? They messaged me back about an hour later saying no, they don't have any RBA or rebuildable supplies yet, but one of their suppliers gave them a bunch of kanthal samples and they'll let me have some to get going. That, to me, is awesome. I have absolutely no need for any more juice but I'll be damned if I don't walk out of there having spent more than I needed to. I want/need places like that to keep the doors open. This area doesn't seem to be huge with regard to vaping but I hope they can influence some change. I believe they make everything themselves at this point and if that's the case, they have a wonderful start.

Sorry for the anecdote but I thought this was as good a thread as any to relay it

Oh yea, and I 2nd the notion that you should talk about swapping your DQ job for a job at the vape shop!

 

[cmdebrecht]

Maybe you could swap the DQ part-time job for one at the vape shop? Sounds like a win-win plan to me!

I would do both! I love me some DQ about as much as I love my vapey. I couldn't possibly choose!

 

[nobreak1970]

That is very cool!
You have to let us know how your visit goes!!!!

 

[toddrhodes]

I'm going to talk to them about being a sponsored vendor here. Truly, they make first class juice. I have a tobacco flavor and a "thin mint" flavor they make. I've taken to combining the two and it is really good.

OP - if that Vape shop across the street produces their own liquids, maybe you can (I said steal originally) buy some snickers and some DQ hot fudge so they can incorporate those into the vaping community's first ever snickers blizzard juice. I'd <3 you forever. Seriously.

 

[Huckleberried]

This is how I feel at my b&m, too. My first time there, my juices wizards were in there dropping off orders. THEY knew my full name just by the flavors I mentioned. My 2nd time in, the employees of the shop knew my name and greet me by name every time. They've texted me when items I was interested were in stock. When I discovered them, thanks to ECF, I was able to say goodbye to the other 2 crappy places in town. I think they fed their employees lemons all day.

 

[smacuser]

Wow Cee Cee, a vape shop across the street from where you work and the bosses coming in to where you work: Serendipity. You might be set.

 

[cmdebrecht]

It is always really nice to know that owners of stores are willing to listen to concerns of customers even when it isn't praise.

The prices are fair for a B&M, but the people there make it worth being a returning customer.

I agree. I thought that this was a smart business owner! Asking why I shopped where I did and answering my concerns with his place. He didn't get snippy or defensive.

As for my fave place, I LOVE the people and that is why I go back. Too bad more businesses don't make customer service a top priority.

I do think that many B&Ms only survive due to the new un-vaped traffic.

"Hey, here's watcha need. Wha... nawh, it'll last ya at least carton's worth."

These kinds of places are popping up on every corner here. It's like they just want to sell as many overpriced starter kits as possible; to heck with the success of the individual who is trying to quit. What a missed opportunity.

My town is getting our first, true B&M starting tomorrow. As far as customer service, I have high hopes ... I have absolutely no need for any more juice but I'll be damned if I don't walk out of there having spent more than I needed to. I want/need places like that to keep the doors open.

Sounds like they have a good start on pleasing their customers. I always buy something at my fave spot even if I didn't find what I was looking for lol. I just value them. And they are good to me so I know they value me as well.

 

[degnr8]

That's a great story! I really think great customer service is the only way a B&M can survive. There's no way they're ever going to compete with the online stores on price so the only thing to make us want to spend money with them rather than online is to make shopping there pleasurable. The B&Ms near me have "vape meets" for vapers to socialize, and one at least has been advertising raffles, assorted contests and even barbecues to get people in the door. The last time I stopped into the other one I just bought a couple feet of Kanthal and spent 20 minutes talking about modding with the guy behind the counter. Nobody ever acted like I was wasting their time and the guy actually asked for my handle on here so he could look me up. I'll spend a few extra bucks with them for that kind of experience

 

[Katalyst81]

The people who opened my local shop were very helpful, but they opened a second location in a town 20-30mins away and now they hired some people who really seem to have no idea what they are doing, I have learned more from these forums than I have from the shop, while I was having problems with leaking, by the time I turn this into a hobby and my desk is nothing but my computer and vape supplies i'll know enough to be a full time employee in their shop, customer service is about the only job i'm really good at anyway.

 

[toddrhodes]

I'll provide a contrast to my narrative above... we have a shop in the city next to mine (incidentally the city I work in) and while it's great to know I have a resource I can go to if I am in dire need of a working anything, it's funny to parallel the two experiences so far. At the other shop which isn't a true vaping B&M, just a tobacco store that is stocking some vapeware, they have a guy who DIY's his own juices. These juices are fine, but nothing out of this world. To put it more bluntly, when he asked what my favorite flavor was and I said I'm mostly prefer a flavor profile like RY4, he stared blankly and asked me what RY4 was. A guy who makes his own juice asking me what RY4 was is, to me, like saying you enjoy Jack Daniels and they ask what type of liquor that is. He then told me that in the next week "he has 120 new flavors coming out." I had the urge to tell him to stick to 3-4 flavors and make them *really* good but I just took my Vivi Nova, thanked him, and left. Some people just don't understand quality or customer service, though I can't really accuse him of the latter. I think he just thinks all flavors are the same and whatever. To some, maybe?

 

[Mark Anthony]

Maybe you could swap the DQ part-time job for one at the vape shop? Sounds like a win-win plan to me!

This^^^^^ and grab me an application!! LoL

 

[cmdebrecht]

I'm going to talk to them about being a sponsored vendor here. Truly, they make first class juice. I have a tobacco flavor and a "thin mint" flavor they make. I've taken to combining the two and it is really good.

OP - if that Vape shop across the street produces their own liquids, maybe you can (I said steal originally) buy some snickers and some DQ hot fudge so they can incorporate those into the vaping community's first ever snickers blizzard juice. I'd <3 you forever. Seriously.

If I could have a hot fudge snickers blizzard juice I would love them forever. You would love me forever. Vaping: it's all about the love Seriously, though, you're right. How amazing would that be?

 

[toddrhodes]

If I could have a hot fudge snickers blizzard juice I would love them forever. You would love me forever. Vaping: it's all about the love Seriously, though, you're right. How amazing would that be?

Oh it would be amazing but I notice you're still typing and not furthering this endeavor.

 

[dirttrack]

Hey op if you ever get to Alton, check out nima on broadway. Tell them tesla sent you. Great prices and very friendly. Cody and Mike both are great guys and
knowledgeable.

They are opening up a coffee lounge pretty soon too at that location. Huge space with a pool table and a great view of the big muddy, and clark bridge. Very nice hangout.

Two things I love in life coffee and breathing smoke. I know it's not smoke, gave up a 2.5 pad a day habit a couple of months ago. And never looking back.