Local vape shops very unwelcoming? Online shopping from now on...

[R211]

Why are my local vape shops very unwelcoming? I'm assuming it's just because of the area I live in.. I don't live in a huge city, I actually live in a smaller rural town, and have to drive about 30-40 minutes into a mid-sized city to get to the nearest vape shop.

I've been vaping for about 3 years. I started on the cig looking batteries and cartomizers, upgraded to a basic Ego style battery and tank, and then last year upgraded to a variable voltage, high quality ego battery and some higher quality tanks. I never found the personal need to get a mod and dripper or anything expensive or extravagant... the setup I have is completely fine for my needs.

Anyway, I decided to check out the local vape shop to pick up some new juice. I've been ordering premium juice online for years, so I was interested in seeing what a local shop would carry. I get into the shop and see they have a 'menu' of all of the juices they carry. I ask the owner about a certain brand, and he asks "do you have a dripper or tank". I told him I had a tank. He told me "well these juces are 70 percent VG so tanks can't handle them, any premium juice is basically made for a dripper and a mod so none of these premiums are really what you're looking for." uhhh.... what? I've been vaping for years and have ALWAYS vaped 70 VG in my tanks with no problems. I have a wide variety of tanks and coils (single and dual coil tanks), I started off with 50/50 juice, but moved to 70 VG and messed with my coil resistance and voltage some and got a more satisfying vape from these juices.

So, I busted out my setup and was like "... I mean, this is some 70 VG I got online from a site called Vapor Chef that I've vaped literally for over a year... no problems here". He told me "oh well if you have a dual coil im sure it vapes fine but these are really designed for mods and you probably don't want any premium juice for a tank" One of the customers sitting down at the desk said "that's like the same setup I had when I first started off LOL" and took a giant drag off of his mod.

I didn't end up buying any juice and left kind of ...... off. Very off-putting experience. The vape shop reminded me of a low-end hookah bar... {Edited} 20-something year old guys working there, tons of rolling papers, {Other Stuff} behind the counter. I've been to two shops that were exactly like this.

I vape because it's a healthier way to inhale nicotine. I've found a good setup for me... I don't need to be a part of a "fad" and be talked down to while shopping like this. Kind of annoying to me.

 

[rgerber]

Sadly....this happens more than we hear about.

 

[Papa_Lazarou]

Yeah, some vape shops have become hang out spots for the cool guys. I suppose it works like this...

* You recognize a new business opportunity in a growing industry. Barrier to entry is just some cash.

* You include a juice bar, since a) it a high turnover commodity, and b) it's a good reason for people to come to your shop instead of buying online (which doesn't have your overhead baked into the price).

* People who hang around the juice bar talk to the staff and to each other to share experiences and info about this new and quickly changing scene. It becomes a club or sorts, like the regulars at a cocktail bar.

* The "inner circle" feedback loop escalates, gathering and sharing cutting edge developments, with the shop itself fuelling supply - the grist for more discussion.

* A sense of tribalism forms - supply, support, kinship, and reward all in one place. This tribalism includes a sense of empowerment and prowess, leading to confidence... plus a definition of "us" (those in the tribe) versus "them" (those not in the tribe).

* You walk in, aren't wearing the right war paint, and bounce off the surface tension of the tribe.

I think the contributing factors are: a fast changing ever more "sophisticated" industry, a cohort of downtrodden (largely male) ex-smokers ripe for anything that gives them a sense of power, and inexperience businesspeople too naive to see their business vector being off target.

 

[CassiusCloud]

Don't ya just love the guys walking into shops talking to each other loud enough so that they make sure everyone hears how awesome they are?
Yeah bro,nobody is vaping at the levels we are..

At the local shop i go to all the time,we have a nickname for them.
Roosters..

 

[Susan~S]

Consider writing a letter to the OWNER of the business describing your experience in his/her shop. That might be a real EYE OPENER for them to read. We could even help you write a GREAT letter.

Knowledge is POWER!

 

[Thrasher]

I know around here if you walk in looking like you know anything 90% act like your a threat

I cant remeber the last time i didnt buy something from online or the ecf classifieds first.

 

[AutoGibbon]

OP I FEEL YOU. A guy in one of the shops in Edinburgh pretty much gave me the same 'holier-than-thou' vibe about my tank. At the time I was running a JoyeTech Delta 19. I viewed it as an attempt to squeeze an extra purchase out of me, ignored it, and bought the juice.

It's just ignorance with a hint of elitism. Half the time you'll get a better price online anyway.

 

[LuNar]

I only shop online now. It was good to have a local vape shop to get me started on vaping. I like shopping online because of all the great options at great prices.

 

[Paramaniac413]

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience. I've had mixed experiences with B&M's. I've been to 3 really good ones, and a couple of really bad ones. Some are better than others. Don't be afraid to try again! They aren't all bad.

 

[SHOCK COLLAR]

only been to 1 store 1 time didn't have a bad experience maybe because I was the only person there and the guy there was studying but was polite the marked up prices is whats stopping me from going back.

 

[samwest]

I'm a regular visitor to one of the four shops in my town of 16k and I never buy anything. The owner knows this and still treats me with respect. Why? Cause we both know what were talkin' about and appreciate the fact that you don't rip customers off, you don't give customers bogus info, you don't treat customers ( newbies) like idiots, and you give customers a reason to come back. Shops that don't know what they are doin' are dangerous, over priced and rude. beware you. buy on line. read every review and make sound decisions based on what you read on this forum.

 

[v1k1ng1001]

Yeah, some vape shops have become hang out spots for the cool guys. I suppose it works like this...

* You recognize a new business opportunity in a growing industry. Barrier to entry is just some cash.

* You include a juice bar, since a) it a high turnover commodity, and b) it's a good reason for people to come to your shop instead of buying online (which doesn't have your overhead baked into the price).

* People who hang around the juice bar talk to the staff and to each other to share experiences and info about this new and quickly changing scene. It becomes a club or sorts, like the regulars at a cocktail bar.

* The "inner circle" feedback loop escalates, gathering and sharing cutting edge developments, with the shop itself fuelling supply - the grist for more discussion.

* A sense of tribalism forms - supply, support, kinship, and reward all in one place. This tribalism includes a sense of empowerment and prowess, leading to confidence... plus a definition of "us" (those in the tribe) versus "them" (those not in the tribe).

* You walk in, aren't wearing the right war paint, and bounce off the surface tension of the tribe.

I think the contributing factors are: a fast changing ever more "sophisticated" industry, a cohort of downtrodden (largely male) ex-smokers ripe for anything that gives them a sense of power, and inexperience businesspeople too naive to see their business vector being off target.

Good analysis. The problem with solely cultivating your tribal loyalists is that 5% of your clientele is taking up all your time while alienating the other 95% of your potential clientele. Meanwhile the tribal loyalist market is saturated real quick. Many of these folks opening shops know little or nothing about retail. If I were in this market today, I'd be targeting the newbs and intermediates who just want to stop in and pick up some juice/gear and get on with their lives.

 

[samwest]

I'm a regular visitor to one of the four shops in my town of 16k and I never buy anything. The owner knows this and still treats me with respect. Why? Cause we both know what were talkin' about and appreciate the fact that you don't rip customers off, you don't give customers bogus info, you don't treat customers ( newbies) like idiots, and you give customers a reason to come back. Shops that don't know what they are doin' are dangerous, over priced and rude. beware you. buy on line. read every review and make sound decisions based on what you read on this forum.

 

[DellaAngel]

I have 5 vape shops in 3 miles if me. 1st time in as a newbie I noticed same thing in 4. (But the 1 was great sold me 1st set up,n juice. isreali guys but only carried their brand. I was there 3 days a week on lunch breaks and they made me a coil for my 1st rda) I wanted different juices went back to other snooty store . Then when asked what I use in said nautilusw ego twist. I got the eye roll handed a menu and they walked away. I called em mover and asked to try 6 different premiums. They had a rude Way And we're about to put some on a loaner mod. I pulled.out mine box mod w rda wicked it and sampled. They were shocked (in q 5 ft 100 lb 35+ female) in ur face snobs. I bought one bottle. Thanked them and told them im going to recommend 2 of the brands to my regular B&M. LoL

 

[samwest]

Those are the stores ya hear about where the mod blows up n bounces of the ceiling and starts a fire in the corner.

 

[LMS62]

There are a good number of vape shops in the Phoenix area, and I have been to most of them at one time or another. With the exception of just one shop, I have always received great service and respect. Maybe I've just been lucky so far.

 

[samwest]

I know of three situations where dangerous situations arose that were not in the news. Like I said befuggin' aware and read this forum front to back. be safe and buy with confidence.

 

[thefleck]

OP, this has been my experience at 95% of the vape shops I've visited. There are a lot in my city. For whatever reason they seem to attract a really irritating, low-life type crowd. Lots of trying to be cool and to fit in with some sort of scene. It's really sad, but that's the vapor culture for whatever reason. My guess is that juice prices have such a high markup that it attracts a similar type of vendor, who see an easy chance to make a killing (or maybe just stay in business), but have no retail experience or care for the customers. There are exceptions, but it's very rare.

Good analysis. The problem with solely cultivating your tribal loyalists is that 5% of your clientele is taking up all your time while alienating the other 95% of your potential clientele. Meanwhile the tribal loyalist market is saturated real quick. Many of these folks opening shops know little or nothing about retail. If I were in this market today, I'd be targeting the newbs and intermediates who just want to stop in and pick up some juice/gear and get on with their lives.

Nailed it.

 

[Bunnykiller]

I DIY and use 100VG to mix with and use tanks... no issues here.... the people in the shop are not up to date on juices or equipment.... find another shop or look online...

 

[Puttyandnapalm]

The stores I regularly go to seem to have a lot of these types. If its somewhere I haven't been before, I'll usually buy a new flavor. Most places are welcoming, but some just kind of brush off newbies/strangers