Liquid is insanely expensive.

[Anjaffm]

I am referring to people that are vaping $30 juice ... 5-10 ml a day.

There are a lot of people that have never heard of a MBV and think the local B&M is it ... then, there are people who are vaping a $10 disposable daily, or a couple of Blu carts daily.

Are you kidding me?
There is no reason whatsoever to buy such expensive liquid. And if you ever buy such expensive liquid - as a very special treat - you will most certainly not vape that every day
And of course, those pre-filled cartridges are much too expensive. Better to get a setup that is refillable.
In addition, disposables are not good for the enviroment. Creating all that plastic garbage - and paying a lot of money for the privilege, no less - can easily be avoided. (This opinion is coming from Europe - we do not encourage the use of disposable things that create a lot of garbage, we much rather re-use things, especially if the re-usables are much cheaper)

To me, buying completely overpriced liquids (30$ for 10 ml would be inconceivable in my country) and then complaining about the price sounds as if I ate only premium fillet steak - each slice wrapped up in a very expensive plastic wrapper that I then throw in the trash - and then complained that "food is so expensive". Uhm......

....
Also, where are the links to the online shops that sell decent liquids at decent prices? - Or is that not permitted in this forum?

In my home forum in Germany, when somebody comes in and writes like "Liquid so expensive / not tasty in my offline shop - where can I get cheaper / better tasting liquids?", then many people will come in and reply like "Premium liquid costs up to 6 Euro / 8 US$ for 10 ml. And that is '"premium", as in "special flavor mixtures". Everyhing higher is a ripoff. You can get good liquids here (link, link, link). Or consider DYI. But please take care to read up on DYI before you start that."

- And I am still rubbing my eyes at the one shop selling 10 ml liquids for 49.00US$ - are they grinding diamonds up in that?

..........
disclamer:

No, I am not a cheapskate
Yes, of course, vendors have costs. Labor, employees, taxes, storefront (if applicable), and also the little bottle (which costs money, smart vapers keep the good ones, for future DYI times...). And yes, of course, a premium mixture such as "Before Nine" (=After Eight taste) costs more. You have to honor the work that went into creating a mixture that tastes exactly like that yummy peppermint chocolate candy. And if you want to treat yourself to that yummy candy-tasting liquid, you gladly pay for it. And vape it as a treat.

In addition, of course it is much cheaper to DYI.
Once you have vaped for some time and know that you will stick with it. And once you have read up on the subject. DYI'ers are handling nicotine, after all. - I personally buy the 36 mg base and the 0 mg base, mix them 50/50 to get 18, and add the flavoring, in 10 ml little bottles. UNLESS I have done precisely the same mixture before and like it. Starting with mixing one flavor per little 10 mg bottle saves on crappy tasting liquid that must be thrown out. And here is where the little bottles come in Washed out with hot water, they are reusable.

Happy vaping!
And it is a choice whether to dine on fillet steak every day, dine on crappy tasting food for the price of fillet steak , or eat down-to-earth meat loaf on normal days, with a fillet steak as a treat once in a while.

...........
And what is an MBV please? (I am from Germany)

 

[happydave]

MBV
Best E Cigarette | Buy Electronic Cigarettes | E Cig Juice - MT Baker Vapor

 

[Anjaffm]

Thank you, happydave!
And that liquid there sure looks affordable and yummy

 

[happydave]

here is a little secret, sticker shock is an important factor when selling consumable items. people want to feel like they are using a product that few people can afford. Gurkha makes a cigar that retails for $750 per cigar (the HMR). people do buy them and smoke them. Bill Clinton is noted to have smoked a lot of them. from the few reviews i have found about the Gurkha HMR people say that its a well constructed cigar, but nothing so amazing that they could never go back to $5 or $10 cigars. the same thing holds true with e-juice. a very original flavor with very original packaging and presentation could sell for quite a bit because of the Woah factor. after the novelty wears off your left with the same buzz you could have gotten for a lot cheaper.

 

[Anjaffm]

@happydave:

thank you for the explanation.
Yeah, that does make sense. Like people serving a very expensive bottle of wine to their friends. Or driving a very expensive car. To me, that is mainly the "Hey, look what I can afford!" factor.

However, how does that apply to e-liquid? Who on earth cares what you put in your PV? Unless you keep the bottle - with the price tag - in your hand at all times. Like the guys who used to wear those big huge diamond rings on their pinkie

 

[Mitey F]

This stuff is even MORE than $1 per ml. I tried some out at the vape bar, and it's pretty ding-dang tasty I have to admit, but it's WAAAAY over-priced IMO. I would have to be in a *very* self-indulgent mood to buy it.

https://fivepawns.com/shop/

I didn't say there weren't juices available that were $1/ml or more, I said it's not "common" like you had said.

 

[bones1274]

This stuff is even MORE than $1 per ml. I tried some out at the vape bar, and it's pretty ding-dang tasty I have to admit, but it's WAAAAY over-priced IMO. I would have to be in a *very* self-indulgent mood to buy it.

https://fivepawns.com/shop/

This is incorrect. It is $27.50 for 30 ml which is $0.91 per ml. Factor in the $5.50 you save from free priority shipping and that brings the price down to $22 per bottle or $0.73 per ml. At $22 per bottle, there are many other quality vendors in the same range or higher.

 

[ambientech]

No, the resistor in a circuit is what you are selling if you're selling circuit boards. The cost of the resistor is included in the markup on the board. You don't itemize every component, mark them up and then mark the board up again. Or I guess it sounds like you do.
That's bad business 101.

I'm sure you do stay in business passing everything on as an excuse to charge more. If I caught you doing that to me I may be stuck with it but you can bet you would lose the future business of everyone I know. And just like the scammers in your business who add on a few extra charges I'm sure you don't care because the extra makes up for the losses of getting caught because most of the customers are clueless and don't catch it.

Between my business and yours, mine is closer to mixing eliquids and running a retail store.

The way I price my services is standard in the industry. Either you have reading comprehension problem or you are trying to put words in my mouth. You claim I said I mark up each part then combine and mark up again. That is not what I said, I said you take the sum of all and mark up. I far from the most expensive and am not getting rich, if I charged less my employees would be making more than me. You trying to lump me in with people who scam is hilarious.

Sure my business isn't at all close to juice. That doesn't matter. Business is business. You want something similar? How about perfume? You think the perfume manufacturers are not marking up the bottle? If so you are clueless.

 

[symphonic18]

It's pretty well known juice is a giant pseudo scam, basically. Stuff costs like 2-3$ or less per 30ml bottle to make and places sell it for 12-20 usually. 1/ml is a complete rip off and I'd stay away from that B&M on that basis.

 

[Butch]

Ok one more try. Juice prices range from dirt cheap (dyi) to very expensive (5Pawns). You can choose what to pay in that price range, nobody is forcing you to pay. You can stop vaping & pay nothing. The dealer has the right to set his price wherever he wants it. It is only my decision that says if it is right or not.
If you want a real rip off look at what the government is doing to your pocket book. They make juice dealers look like pikers(armed robbers too).

 

[symphonic18]

The bottle is part of the product as a resistor is part of a circuit board. You take the sum of all parts and mark them up. That isn't price gouging that is business 101 LOL. I don't worry about what my competitors are doing. My product stands on it's own. If it isn't worth what I charge I will fail. The quickest way to bankruptcy is the competition to see who can charge the least and see who makes it out on the other side. The HVAC business is highly competitive in my area. I chose not to play that game and I am still in business while over 90% of those who had startups about the same time as me, who played who can be the cheapest went bankrupt.

what's your business name so I can know not to purchase from you?

 

[patkin]

@happydave:

thank you for the explanation.
Yeah, that does make sense. Like people serving a very expensive bottle of wine to their friends. Or driving a very expensive car. To me, that is mainly the "Hey, look what I can afford!" factor.

However, how does that apply to e-liquid? Who on earth cares what you put in your PV? Unless you keep the bottle - with the price tag - in your hand at all times. Like the guys who used to wear those big huge diamond rings on their pinkie

I had to laugh when I read this because I said similar to a gal friend years ago. She spent more on her under pinnings than she did on her outer clothes. I mean she spent a ton on underwear and not for any guys eyes... just her own. And, her unders had to match her outers... same colors.. so she had to have a set of unders for each outfit. Never made any sense to me.

 

[symphonic18]

I make mine, not as good "yet" as some great flavor makers, but I only spend about 30 cents for 5 ml. worth.

And like, let's say I buy the premixed flavorings (a premium one, 4.99 for 15ml) from mbv. So, if I dilute to 17%, I get ~90ml of juice out of a $5 bottle of flavoring. Adding in the VG/PG/Nic and a little bottle, that's what, like 90ml of juice for $7 bucks? yeah, these guys that charge $15-20 for 30ml are redefining markup and milking the customer base.

 

[hrlyhart]

at the vape stores in San Antonio theyre going $15 per 30ml
$22 for 100% VG which I feel is dumb!

 

[ambientech]

what's your business name so I can know not to purchase from you?

LOL you are funny. Spoken like a consumer who understand absolutely nothing about running a business.

Don't worry I am not local to you. Plus my customers understand that quality equals higher price. I have no time to deal with those looking for cheap. My name is on the product so no way in hell am I going to risk it giving my customers crap. If you want cheap you can call someone else. Pay them $6K for crap equipment built in PRC and crap install that will require replacement in less than 10 years. Or you can pay me $9K and have quality system made in the USA with a quality install that will last 20-25 years. Not to mention the higher utility costs that go along with crap equipment and crappy installs. I can tell you that those selling you crap for cheap have a higher profit margin than I do. I know I have priced the crap equipment and have been behind them and seen their bids. The real rip offs are those selling you crap made in PRC !!!!!!

 

[WillyZee]

Are you kidding me?
There is no reason whatsoever to buy such expensive liquid. And if you ever buy such expensive liquid - as a very special treat - you will most certainly not vape that every day
And of course, those pre-filled cartridges are much too expensive. Better to get a setup that is refillable.
In addition, disposables are not good for the enviroment. Creating all that plastic garbage - and paying a lot of money for the privilege, no less - can easily be avoided. (This opinion is coming from Europe - we do not encourage the use of disposable things that create a lot of garbage, we much rather re-use things, especially if the re-usables are much cheaper)

To me, buying completely overpriced liquids (30$ for 10 ml would be inconceivable in my country) and then complaining about the price sounds as if I ate only premium fillet steak - each slice wrapped up in a very expensive plastic wrapper that I then throw in the trash - and then complained that "food is so expensive". Uhm......

....
Also, where are the links to the online shops that sell decent liquids at decent prices? - Or is that not permitted in this forum?

In my home forum in Germany, when somebody comes in and writes like "Liquid so expensive / not tasty in my offline shop - where can I get cheaper / better tasting liquids?", then many people will come in and reply like "Premium liquid costs up to 6 Euro / 8 US$ for 10 ml. And that is '"premium", as in "special flavor mixtures". Everyhing higher is a ripoff. You can get good liquids here (link, link, link). Or consider DYI. But please take care to read up on DYI before you start that."

- And I am still rubbing my eyes at the one shop selling 10 ml liquids for 49.00US$ - are they grinding diamonds up in that?

..........
disclamer:

No, I am not a cheapskate
Yes, of course, vendors have costs. Labor, employees, taxes, storefront (if applicable), and also the little bottle (which costs money, smart vapers keep the good ones, for future DYI times...). And yes, of course, a premium mixture such as "Before Nine" (=After Eight taste) costs more. You have to honor the work that went into creating a mixture that tastes exactly like that yummy peppermint chocolate candy. And if you want to treat yourself to that yummy candy-tasting liquid, you gladly pay for it. And vape it as a treat.

In addition, of course it is much cheaper to DYI.
Once you have vaped for some time and know that you will stick with it. And once you have read up on the subject. DYI'ers are handling nicotine, after all. - I personally buy the 36 mg base and the 0 mg base, mix them 50/50 to get 18, and add the flavoring, in 10 ml little bottles. UNLESS I have done precisely the same mixture before and like it. Starting with mixing one flavor per little 10 mg bottle saves on crappy tasting liquid that must be thrown out. And here is where the little bottles come in Washed out with hot water, they are reusable.

Happy vaping!
And it is a choice whether to dine on fillet steak every day, dine on crappy tasting food for the price of fillet steak , or eat down-to-earth meat loaf on normal days, with a fillet steak as a treat once in a while.

...........
And what is an MBV please? (I am from Germany)

No I am not kidding you ... some people are spending $5-10 per day on juice.

I did not say it was me nor did I say it was wise ... just some people are.

I am mixing DIY ... cost me $1.25 per day


Sent via iPhone

 

[KjAthena]

I spend about $2 a day using a combo of Fantastic purchased juices at 60 cents per ML shipped and DIY...still under 1/2 what smokes cost. Works for me

 

[TTerri]

I am not defending them at all as I am a DIY juice maker for personal use, but there is alot of time/labor that goes into mixing a bottle of juice. Im sure MBV or similar places mix it up in buckets or large containers or some such thing which is WAY more cost effedctive than me or a small mom and pop shop doing it.

Look at prices from Fasttech....that stuffs very very cheap.

Coca Cola and Pepsi have mult- million dollar mixing machinery and sell Billions of cans/bottles of product, thus cheaper..... Niot a fair comparison.

WoWZa!! Fasttech IS CHEAP!!
BUT!! It's a foreign company....it says FDA pretty big on the bottles, but would you trust them??

$1.91 Dekang E-liquid for Electronic Cigarettes (10ml) - Marlboro flavor / medium nicotine at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping

 

[Kropotkin]

Spoken like a consumer who understand absolutely nothing about running a business.

And like an American who doesn't understand what the phrase "race to the bottom" means, or why this strategy harms consumers and workers.

 

[Caridwen]

I do not compare juice on price. The bathtub analogy comes from the way it tastes, and many running a juice business from their home. I lost count how many times a juice I got tasted/smelled like soap or dirty socks or rotten food. Most of the juice I have tried that was cheap flat out sucked. Some exceptions, I absolutely love Bounty Hunter and it was one of the cheapest juices around at one time. I tend to like very complex flavors and most come at a premium. The ability to try a juice before buying, that is also complex is well worth $1 per mil. If I wanted one or two flavor juice I would DIY.

There are long time suppliers here that put a lot of time and effort into complex flavors, BWB comes to mind. He's been a supplier for probably close to 4 years, and I don't think he's raised his price more than once or twice in that time. Many others I could name.

I think a lot of newer members think expensive liquid, fancy bottles and gimmick names equate that with with quality liquid and it's not always the case. Many of these suppliers open their business and then start mixing (they post in DIY asking how) whereas many others started out as members and perfected their recipes then got into the supply end.

Just marketing.