is my brick and mortar overpriced?

[jacob vining]

so the only b&m in my town i think may be overpriced there a mom and pop mix there own blends idk how to rate them because ive never had another juice anyways the juices are 699 for a 10 ml and recently i bought a battery and felt ripped off it was a segalei 2200mhr 18650 and was 20$! its an icr too! give me some input guys stick with b&m or online stores? if so what do you recomend for online stores??

 

[8dragon9]

Online is always going to be cheaper. You have to take into consideration the prices they pay for goods, the cost of overhead and about a billion other expenses for a shop to arrive at the conclusion that their item is values at (X) what it boils down to is are you happy with what you got, at the price you got it. Do you enjoy the shop, the people, do they provide you with good service etc etc. Do some digging online, see what kind of price you can get online-vs-the B&M and make a judgement call there. I order a lot online because of prices, but there are a few things that I have no problem paying a little more for because I like my B&M and I like supporting local business.

 

[ImThatGuy]

Overpriced compared to what? Online?

Online will always be cheaper due to low overhead because it is what it is...an online store... Physical b&m's have a lot of overhead. How do you think they can afford to show and service the public? They have to raise prices compared to online. Usually about a 10% to 20% difference.

 

[dragonpuff]

The battery sounds like a huge rip off, I would demand my money back if I were you (you can get efest IMR 18650's for less than $10 online). Experienced forum members now highly recommend against using ICR batteries - due to the high voltage e-cig usage requires, we need to be very concerned about battery safety. They recommend IMR batteries only now.

The juice in your shop sounds like a decent deal actually, but I wouldn't trust any vendor that's willing to sell you that battery for such a high price. I wouldn't bother going back after you get your refund, there's much better juice on the internet anyways.

 

[dragonpuff]

Oh, how did you get ripped off? 20$ for a mod and a battery sounds like a good price. What were you expecting? Great quality for that price?

Good point, he made it sound like he just got the battery there... OP did you get both the mod and the battery for $20, or just the battery?

 

[ibndevilish]

The OP said just a battery and if it was just the battery he got ripped off for $20.00 that is for sure

 

[jacob vining]

Good point, he made it sound like he just got the battery there... OP did you get both the mod and the battery for $20, or just the battery?

Overpriced compared to what? Online?

Online will always be cheaper due to low overhead because it is what it is...an online store... Physical b&m's have a lot of overhead. How do you think they can afford to show and service the public? They have to raise prices compared to online. Usually about a 10% to 20% difference.

just the battery they only have 6 non starter kit mods to choose from.... i got a x gun vv a smok trophy v2 clearomizer and sigeli battery all for 130 i feel like i got terribley ripped i dont think ill be going back i asked the lady what there pg/vg blend was and she didnt even know what i mean... just very dissatisfied

 

[Lurch]

I agree that while on-line prices will almost always be cheaper having a good local B&M is always great! I buy the vast majority of my stuff at my local. I have developed a relationship with them and typically get a discount of some type, which helps.

By supporting a local business I am not only helping within my own community, I am supporting vaping (after all, if it wasn't for them I wouldn't have started vaping), and I have somewhere to go back to if I am having a problem.

I have made a few purchases on line, bulk juice purchases and my ProVari (got my second through the classified section here) and some things that my local B&M doesn't carry. I am willing to pay a little more to deal with individuals versus an "anonymous" business behind a web site. If the prices were majorly different I would probably purchase on line.

 

[dragonpuff]

Yeah get the money back for that battery, you definitely got ripped off.

It's common for B&M's to have a small selection and to overprice a little, but $20 for an ICR 18650 is out of control.

 

[8dragon9]

just the battery they only have 6 non starter kit mods to choose from.... i got a x gun vv a smok trophy v2 clearomizer and sigeli battery all for 130 i feel like i got terribley ripped i dont think ill be going back i asked the lady what there pg/vg blend was and she didnt even know what i mean... just very dissatisfied

Knowing that information, go back and explode in a cloud of vaporious fury...and get your money back.

 

[dragonpuff]

I agree that while on-line prices will almost always be cheaper having a good local B&M is always great! I buy the vast majority of my stuff at my local. I have developed a relationship with them and typically get a discount of some type, which helps.

By supporting a local business I am not only helping within my own community, I am supporting vaping (after all, if it wasn't for them I wouldn't have started vaping), and I have somewhere to go back to if I am having a problem.

I have made a few purchases on line, bulk juice purchases and my ProVari (got my second through the classified section here) and some things that my local B&M doesn't carry. I am willing to pay a little more to deal with individuals versus an "anonymous" business behind a web site. If the prices were majorly different I would probably purchase on line.

I agree, but not everyone has a good B&M. Some are real shady, like the OP's shop where they don't even know their own equipment.

 

[jacob vining]

Knowing that information, go back and explode in a cloud of vaporious fury...and get your money back.

i cant bring myself to go and ask for a refund. im no confortational....

Yeah get the money back for that battery, you definitely got ripped off.

It's common for B&M's to have a small selection and to overprice a little, but $20 for an ICR 18650 is out of control.

 

[ibndevilish]

just the battery they only have 6 non starter kit mods to choose from.... i got a x gun vv a smok trophy v2 clearomizer and sigeli battery all for 130 i feel like i got terribley ripped i dont think ill be going back i asked the lady what there pg/vg blend was and she didnt even know what i mean... just very dissatisfied

Well if they don't even know what they are making for juice I would stay clear from them but that is my opinion and you know what they say about opinions don't you? lol But shop around. I have a few B&M places around me well kinda about 1/2 hour to 1 hour away and would love to buy the juice from them but they charge 22.00 for 30 mls of juice that isn't really known but from the few people who buy it as it's a convenience as they are right at the store. You should see what they charge for kanthal wire. 4.99 for 6 inches of wire..Now tell me anyone would want to pay that? So as to support my local B&M I would if they didn't gouge you to death. So I will continue to shop online and deal with the web for all my vaping needs. I did however shop on here for a couple of mods

 

[8dragon9]

I agree, but not everyone has a good B&M. Some are real shady, like the OP's shop where they don't even know their own equipment.

This to me is the downfall of many vape shops, we have a few like that around here, hire pretty cashiers who are exactly that, cashiers, zero product knowledge there just there to get your money and send you on your way.

 

[ibndevilish]

i cant bring myself to go and ask for a refund. im no confortational....

Well I would do it for you if I could. I'm not confrontational unless I have to. I'm normally a laid back person unless you rip me off or something. Have your wife/GF or someone do it for you if you can't. Tell them that battery isn't safe or something.

 

[8dragon9]

i cant bring myself to go and ask for a refund. im no confortational....

No confrontation necassary, infortunaly most B&M that operate that way have no return policies. Just go into the store, and let them know you are completly unsatisfied with the product and you would like your money back, the juice is not returnable thats industry standard. The tank is iffy, the battery and mod is likely that you can return though. I would bring everything and just ask for your money back. Just make sure you ask for a manager or owner and don't deal with the cashiers.

 

[8dragon9]

Well I would do it for you if I could. I'm not confrontational unless I have to. I'm normally a laid back person unless you rip me off or something. Have your wife/GF or someone do it for you if you can't. Tell them that battery isn't safe or something.

this is another valid point, bring up that you should have never been sold that battery with that mod. Most the time when you start phrasing things with unsafe etc, the manager is more concerned about not losing the other custemors in the store, or damaging their reputation and will probably take it back.

 

[dirtybirdy]

Everything is always higher in a B&M. I only buy juice from the B&M unless I need a coil or something. If I am going to buy batteries, tanks, or mods I will always buy offline.

 

[ImThatGuy]

gun mod = 80+ online, Smok trophy = 11+ online, Battery = 7$ online, bottle of juice $6+ (online should've been about $104+-)

So, it's about a 20% difference without tax. What you don't have on an online store is the customer service and you actually physically see the product you're buying and able to touch it and even maybe try it out.

While it is true that it was a bad deal on that battery, you actually got a discount on other items. You almost evened out (based on estimates).

(also, who said it was unsafe to use an ICR in a regulated mod? if the battery matches and are within the mod's amp limit then it is safe, per se. My evic came with an ICR battery. It still works fine almost 2 years after purchase of 11/2012 and its the first version. the battery is still fine and functions properly)

 

[jacob vining]

gun mod = 80+ online, Smok trophy = 11+ online, Battery = 7$ online, bottle of juice $6+ (online should've been about $104+-)

So, it's about a 20% difference without tax. What you don't on an online store is the customer service and you actually physically see the product you're buying and able to touch it and even maybe try it out.

While it is true that it was a bad deal on that battery, you actually got a discount on other items. You almost evened out (based on estimates).

i just dont see why the charge me three × on a icr unsafe battery...