Is DIY juice really cheaper?

[JohnnyDill]

....The tough part about DIY is finding flavors that work for you. So you will waste some cash on flavors you don't like. The only way to find this out is by trying them.

Once you find your "go-to" recipes, DIY is far, FAR less expensive. And anybody can do it.

 

[DebiK]

I have bought nic from a few places, but MyFreedomSmokes is the best deal. The gallon each of VG and PG at Essentials Depot is a great deal! I (mostly) only use The Flavor Apprentice flavorings. For 4 ounce or smaller, I buy flavorings from Wizard Labs. (they have other brands as well) I start with their 8ml bottles to sample. For flavors I use a lot (creams, sweeteners and vanillas) Wizard's 4 ounce bottles are cheaper than The Flavor Apprentice, but the larger sizes are the best deal at TFA. 1ml syringes are best bought in bulk, but they are also available at Wizard Labs. Tractor supply has good prices on 3ml syringes and up. Tractor supply also sells gallons of PG for $23. However, there is a debate as to if you should buy it there or not. (It is USP grade)

Wizard labs has everything from flavorings, syringes, graduated cylinders, nicotine, VG, PG and safety equipment. Although their nic is pricey, its a good place to get everything in one place to get started.

 

[Jdurand]

Think of it this way, there is not a B&M vape shop out there that could stay in business without juice sales. Huge mark up on Juice. So much I almost feel guilty, as I love my local vape shop, for not suppoting them anymore.

 

[this is my name]

I am with the MFS/essential depot/wizard labs crowd. I spent just under $150 and now have 1L of 100mg/mL nic, a glycube (3gallons vg/1 pg), 2 60 mL and 1 30mL of flavor, a few different syringes and a graduated cylinder.
I did the math and with all that I will end up with 14,600 mL (and still have about half a liter of nic left).
If I bought that much premium e juice, 30mL at a time, it would cost $10,500.
Net savings.... $10,350

 

[this is my name]

Think of it this way, there is not a B&M vape shop out there that could stay in business without Juice sales. Huge mark up on Juice. So much I almost feel guilty, as I love my local vape shop, for not suppoting them anymore.

I feel the same but I vape about 7-10 mL a day and there is just way too much money to be saved. After seeing the math for myself (which I posted above) I realized we are pretty much being ripped off. It got to a point where I was almost spending the same as I would on cigarettes and started thinking that juice makers are pricing it that way on purpose.

 

[Capt.shay]

Well, I'll go solidly against the flow on the nic choices here. I haven't ordered from MFS in a year or two but was not impressed with their nic. I found it quite "dirty" with a strong taste and it darkened even more quite quickly.

If your in to a stronger taste and just want inexpensive then try Vaprs Tech Throat hit at $25 for a Liter. Great Deal

If you a cleaner cleaner but still inexpensive, try Hartland Vapes at $44 for a liter. IMHO cleaner and still a better deal than MFS.

 

[Capt.shay]

After seeing the math for myself (which I posted above) I realized we are pretty much being ripped off.

Hardly being "Ripped Off". It cost a whole lot of money to be in business and I am pretty sure no one in the juice business is getting filthy rich. Not that the juice cost much but bottles do and pay roll does and taxes do and rent does and well etc. etc.

It is one thing to mix at the kitchen table on the cheap but doing it as a business has a ton of expenses. I was working at a Coke bottling plant one time and one of the managers told me the can cost twice as much as the soda in it. Same with juice, it is relatively cheap for the ingredients but developing, manufacturing and delivering it is quite expensive.

 

[AzPlumber]

I feel the same but I vape about 7-10 mL a day and there is just way too much money to be saved. After seeing the math for myself (which I posted above) I realized we are pretty much being ripped off. It got to a point where I was almost spending the same as I would on cigarettes and started thinking that juice makers are pricing it that way on purpose.

When you factor all the expenses a business needs to cover, like, Licenses, Insurance, Marketing, Payroll, Taxes, R&D, Bottles, Labels, Equipment, Cleaning Supplies, PPE, Rent & Maintenance, Etc. The ripoff doesn't seem so great.

 

[this is my name]

Hardly being "Ripped Off". It cost a whole lot of money to be in business and I am pretty sure no one in the juice business is getting filthy rich. Not that the juice cost much but bottles do and pay roll does and taxes do and rent does and well etc. etc.

It is one thing to mix at the kitchen table on the cheap but doing it as a business has a ton of expenses. I was working at a Coke bottling plant one time and one of the managers told me the can cost twice as much as the soda in it. Same with juice, it is relatively cheap for the ingredients but developing, manufacturing and delivering it is quite expensive.

When you factor all the expenses a business needs to cover, like, Licenses, Insurance, Marketing, Payroll, Taxes, R&D, Bottles, Labels, Equipment, Cleaning Supplies, PPE, Rent & Maintenance, Etc. The ripoff doesn't seem so great.

Ok I see your point. Unfortunately I can no longer justify paying that much more for juice. Like Jdurand, I too, feel a little bad that I won't be back to any of my local shops for juice.

 

[Jdurand]

Well, I'll go solidly against the flow on the nic choices here. I haven't ordered from MFS in a year or two but was not impressed with their nic. I found it quite "dirty" with a strong taste and it darkened even more quite quickly.

If your in to a stronger taste and just want inexpensive then try Vaprs Tech Throat hit at $25 for a Liter. Great Deal

If you a cleaner cleaner but still inexpensive, try Hartland Vapes at $44 for a liter. IMHO cleaner and still a better deal than MFS.

Thanks, I'll look into Heartland. MFS was the first I used, so had no comparison other than others opinions, and you know how they are! lol

 

[sparkky1]

Liquid Barn - Everything you need to make premium eLiquid

 

[Jdurand]

Hardly being "Ripped Off". It cost a whole lot of money to be in business and I am pretty sure no one in the juice business is getting filthy rich. Not that the juice cost much but bottles do and pay roll does and taxes do and rent does and well etc. etc.

It is one thing to mix at the kitchen table on the cheap but doing it as a business has a ton of expenses. I was working at a Coke bottling plant one time and one of the managers told me the can cost twice as much as the soda in it. Same with juice, it is relatively cheap for the ingredients but developing, manufacturing and delivering it is quite expensive.

I think we all agree with this Capt., No one disputes costs and such. The OP asked IF it was cheaper, not WHY. My example of how a shop stays in business was without bias. Juice pays for all you listed, unquestionably. Hence the guilt... My Name got how I meant this to read.

 

[Capt.shay]

I think we all agree with this Capt., No one disputes costs and such. The OP asked IF it was cheaper, not WHY. My example of how a shop stays in business was without bias. Juice pays for all you listed, unquestionably. Hence the guilt... My Name got how I meant this to read.

I totally understood what you were saying and JD and I kind of agree. I was responding specifically to This Is My Name and his use of the term "being ripped off". That's why I quoted him. And, I think he kind of gets what I meant.


Getting all kinds of warm and fuzzy in here

 

[shawnw1561]

Whoa now guys!
Seriously, thank you for all the advice. I definetly appreciate it [emoji1]
And I get where you're coming from with the "ripped off" thing, this seems like the best route to go. Both cost and "enjoyment" wise.
I will definitely check out those sites. I'm picking up a starter kit next payday!

 

[Train2]

Lotsa questions!
WAY cheaper. I spent about $80 to get started, and half that stuff I didn't really need.
My cost is exactly what someone above said: $1.65 for 30 mls.
Time? I whip up 100 mls in about 20 minutes. If I whip up 200 mls, then it's about 23 minutes. It's mostly moving slowly and carefully and cleanup time...
No definitive answer on shelf life, but Nic in the freezer for a year to to years is a pretty safe bet.
Flavors, I keep dark and dry, and they're not going to get hard to get so I don't buy in huge volume.

I get PG and VG from Essentials Depot - direct or on Amazon depending on shipping cost.
Nic I get from Nude Nicotine or Wizard Labs. I'll probably try Vapers Tek next.
Flavors I get direct from The Flavor Apprentice, but have gotten a few from Wizard Labs too.

For a "get it all in one place" order to get started, I'd try MyFreedomSmokes, or DIYFlavorShack or RTSVapes...

Have fun, save money!

 

[Jdurand]

Getting all kinds of warm and fuzzy in here

We're cool Cap! All warm, all fuzzy. I need to learn to use more emoticons, I can sound like I'm mad at the world sometimes.

To all future readers to any of my posts, I apologize in advance! lol

 

[Train2]

Oh definitely use the emoticons.
You can get away with all kinds of stuff if it's got a smiley after it.
Like this:

Spoiler: example in here

Dear _____,
You are a wad. Just a big 'ole smelly sac of poop.

See how that changes everything?

We're cool Cap! All warm, all fuzzy. I need to learn to use more emoticons, I can sound like I'm mad at the world sometimes.

To all future readers to any of my posts, I apologize in advance! lol

 

[shawnw1561]

Train2- awesome! I'm a sucker for specifics. Great stuff!
And Jdurand- I know the feeling. Haha
No need to get crazy over vaping! All good stuff in here.

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[shawnw1561]

And when you said half the stuff you didn't need- (new question!) What did you need? Would it be better to buy the individual pieces of hardware versus a kit?
Just trying to be as cost effective as possible!

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[shawnw1561]

Oh definitely use the emoticons.
You can get away with all kinds of stuff if it's got a smiley after it.
Like this:

Spoiler: example in here

Dear _____,
You are a wad. Just a big 'ole smelly sac of poop.

See how that changes everything?
[emoji38][emoji14]

If I could double like this, I would.

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