Lowe"s bans the use of e-cigs on it's property

[scinsc]

And I don't think a single one of us is at all upset about the fact that you can't vape in the store. We can understand that. It's the fact that it's now banned in the parking lot as well. Wait and vape on the way to, or even in your car? Think again, it's in Lowe's parking lot and the management is now within their rights to tell you not to.

Please don’t take this as a slam because except for the first two lines of your post I agree with what you are saying …but… please tell me why I should understand that you can’t vape in a store or anywhere else for that matter. I’m upset that the use of a PV is banned anywhere. When you get down to the bottom line there is only one thing a person that vapes does that could remotely have an effect on anyone else… exhaled nicotine. When you consider that the e-liquid for a PV has a very diluted amount of nicotine and most of that is absorbed by your body, the nicotine that is being exhaled is so miniscule that it’s insignificant and on par with someone using nicotine gum. I wonder what the reaction would be if Lowe’s decided to ban nicotine gum? If they want to be consistent in their policies they should ban that too. While that might sound ridiculous and far-fetched it’s no more ridiculous than what they are doing to us now.

 

[StormFinch]

Please don’t take this as a slam because except for the first two lines of your post I agree with what you are saying …but… please tell me why I should understand that you can’t vape in a store or anywhere else for that matter. I’m upset that the use of a PV is banned anywhere. When you get down to the bottom line there is only one thing a person that vapes does that could remotely have an effect on anyone else… exhaled nicotine. When you consider that the e-liquid for a PV has a very diluted amount of nicotine and most of that is absorbed by your body, the nicotine that is being exhaled is so miniscule that it’s insignificant and on par with someone using nicotine gum. I wonder what the reaction would be if Lowe’s decided to ban nicotine gum? If they want to be consistent in their policies they should ban that too. While that might sound ridiculous and far-fetched it’s no more ridiculous than what they are doing to us now.

No, I know what you're saying, but what I said was that we understand it, not that I necessarily believe it's right. Look at it this way, the inside of Lowes is their "house" and they are perfectly within their rights to dictate what can and cannot be done in their house. I have the right to tell any visitor to my house to leave if they're wearing a perfume that I don't like. I would look like a donkey's behind doing it, but I still have the right. Telling someone that their perfume is bothering me while standing in my yard though is just completely asinine. It might be my yard, but it's free public air floating around in it. Any cop that I might call to enforce my ridiculous 'no nasty perfume in my yard' rule is probably going to just laugh his head off before getting back in his cruiser to leave.

Personally, I do believe that e-cigarettes are myriads of times safer than cigarettes. Do I know that they are completely harmless? No, we just don't have the science behind us yet to be sure. I'm in no way worried about the nicotine; you'd have to sit in a car with a smoker for an hour with the windows rolled up to get the same nicotine found in a pound of potatoes. I don't worry about the PG; it's used as a base for breathing treatments on lung transplant patients. I'm not even all that worried about the VG and flavorings because I've inhaled a lot worse, but I'd like to see more studies on both. In a perfect world, everyone would know that it's safe and we'd be allowed to vape where ever we wanted. Unfortunately we don't live in a perfect world though, and for now all we can do is educate, and support groups like CASAA who are trying to fund the studies we need to prove vaping is safe.

 

[bigtimeweb]

...we just don't have the science behind us yet to be sure.... but I'd like to see more studies on both. In a perfect world, everyone would know that it's safe and we'd be allowed to vape where ever we wanted. Unfortunately we don't live in a perfect world though, and for now all we can do is educate, and support groups like CASAA who are trying to fund the studies we need to prove vaping is safe.

Stormfinch,

PG has been used in hospitals and other institutions since the 50s as an air sanitizer. It has EPA approval for such, and because of that very designation that means that there were tons of studies done on the effects of inhalation. one such was a study in the 40s of it being used as an air sanitization in a childrens convelescent home where they noted a marked decrease in lung infections. It is still used to this day for this application. There are LOTS of studies going back to to the 40s and 50s regarding the glycols.

Flavorings not so much, so it is this that I think should be the focus of attention in future research. Anyone that wants to increase their safety in vaping should be monitoring what is in the flavorings used in their juice. That is the ONLY unknown at this point, and VG ? Maybe a little more research on this one too, but PG, no, and VG is a close relative.

I agree that Nicotine is a non issue as well. The ONLY harm in nicotine is that it promotes new blood vessel growth, which is a GOOD purpose to help treat diabetics with circulation issues, but a BAD issue should you have a tumor that needs treatment as it could assist that tumor in growth.

Im with SC on this one. I think its ridiculous and ill informed byproduct of the FDA scam.

 

[scinsc]

We are pretty much on the same page. Only a couple of disagreements.

No, I know what you're saying, but what I said was that we understand it, not that I necessarily believe it's right. Look at it this way, the inside of Lowes is their "house" and they are perfectly within their rights to dictate what can and cannot be done in their house. True enough but I draw a big distinction between a public house and a private one. I should have made that clearerI have the right to tell any visitor to my house to leave if they're wearing a perfume that I don't like. I would look like a donkey's behind doing it, but I still have the right. Telling someone that their perfume is bothering me while standing in my yard though is just completely asinine. It might be my yard, but it's free public air floating around in it. Any cop that I might call to enforce my ridiculous 'no nasty perfume in my yard' rule is probably going to just laugh his head off before getting back in his cruiser to leave.

Personally, I do believe that e-cigarettes are myriads of times safer than cigarettes. Do I know that they are completely harmless? No, we just don't have the science behind us yet to be sure. Nothing is completely harmless and I think that there is plenty of science behind us. Particularly when you compare the ban with what Lowe's is exposing its customers to every day. I'm in no way worried about the nicotine; you'd have to sit in a car with a smoker for an hour with the windows rolled up to get the same nicotine found in a pound of potatoes. I don't worry about the PG; it's used as a base for breathing treatments on lung transplant patients. I'm not even all that worried about the VG and flavorings because I've inhaled a lot worse, but I'd like to see more studies on both. In a perfect world, everyone would know that it's safe and we'd be allowed to vape where ever we wanted. Unfortunately we don't live in a perfect world though, and for now all we can do is educate, and support groups like CASAA who are trying to fund the studies we need to prove vaping is safe.

 

[Grammie]

The same corporation that owns Lowes also owns the Wal-Mart stores

 

[tigerlily]

That is apparently an urban legend......check out
snopes.com: Lowes (is not) owned by Walmart

I'm beginning to wonder if the "no vaping" thing is an urban legend also.

 

[quovadis]

How Lowes can you go?

 

[Civitasdei]

Fluck Lowes. I'm no longer a customer now.

 

[scinsc]

I was so upset about this I emailed Lowe's using the link from the OP. One week and no reply so I called this afternoon and asked about this policy. The service rep could not find it and said that it might be a local ban. Since it appears that I'm going to be eating a good deal of crow for my next few meals I thought I should get a definitive answer. I emailed again from their website and asked for the facts. I'll report back when they reply.

 

[rons29445]

I had called my local Lowe's and spoke with the store manager. He confirmed, It is a Fact!
I sent an email awhile back and received a reply last night

Replied On 05/03/11 19:36:38

Dear Lowe's Customer:

Thank you for giving Lowe's an opportunity to respond to your e-mail. We are extremely proud of our customer service, however; we are eager to hear customer feedback so we can identify opportunities to improve our service and customer satisfaction.

Your information has been forwarded to the appropriate department within Lowe's for review.

If Lowe's can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us by replying to this email.

Thank you,

Lowe's Executive Support




Received On 04/21/11 11:22:14----------------------------------------

To Whom It May Concern,

I have just receive word that Lowe’s has banned the use of Electronic Cigarettes / Personal Vaporizers on their property, as part of the company and storewide No Smoking Policy.
I for one, am a Vaper and use an Electronic Cigarette. I have also been a customer of Lowe’s for many years.
While I agree of a No Smoking Policy and have no issue with that portion of your policy.
I do have issue with the including of the Electronic Cigarette.
I use my PV at any given time as it does not have Fire, Flame, Smoke, Smell, Ashes. It does not give off any second hand smoke or odor.
The Electronic Cigarette is a viable alternative to Tobacco and is becoming more and more commonplace.
By enacting this policy, you are going to make Vapers go elsewhere for their home improvement needs.
I will be one of those Vapers to take my business elsewhere.

Please forward this letter to those responsible for the policy decisions of Lowe’s

Thank You


I would like to add that while it is within Lowe's "Rights" as a business to set policy as they see fit. It is my "Right" as a consumer to take my business elsewhere for something I do not like. Which is what I am "Choosing" to do.

 

[ec!gg]

Home Depot all the way now

 

[muddstar]

Why stop shopping there, just cherry pick'em, that's worse for the store. All stores hate cherry pickers.

 

[t9c]

I wonder if the big wigs at Lowe's realize there MAY be a correlation between their new anti-smoking policy and the recent drop in their stock price? On April 17 it was 27.10...yesterday May 6, it was 25.60 per share.

Sooooo.... Hey Lowe's! Is it worth it?

 

[Demarko]

I vape quite often in and outside my local Home Depot store. I worked there until July of last year, so I know many of the associates, and have no problem vaping in front of them.

That said, I was recently asked to leave because a manager thought it was Home Depot policy not to allow firearms in the store. This, of course, is completely NOT home depot policy, and could have lead to a lot of trouble for THD - boycotts from gun owners can severely harm a company (see Kroeger). So, a store manager -can- be wrong about company policy. I received email responses from THD corporate, and later from the same manager, telling me that THD allows firearms on the premises carried by anyone legally able to do so.

The reason I bring this up is that THD got back to me fairly swiftly to inform me of the truth of the policy. That doesn't seem to be the case here - noone is hearing from Lowes.

 

[Secti0n31]

I also work at the big orange company and vape outside/bathroom/etc but not on the floor or in the garden center, or anywhere there's a surveillance camera. Since the weather has been so crappy I take most of my breaks in my car so that I can listen to the radio and sit in my nice comfy driver's seat, so it's not a big deal. I haven't been working there for all that long but about a half dozen people know that i use an eGo and none of em care.

 

[scinsc]

OK I am reporting back. I emailed Lowe's two times, 4/26/11 and 5/3/11 and as of today I have not received a reply. I controlled my temper and just asked for the facts. Today I got tired of waiting and called their Customer Care line and talked to a very nice lady who took the time to track down Policy #415. Everything the OP posted is true there is a ban on Electronic Cigarettes at Lowe's. Please don't think I didn't believe the OP and all of the other folks posting this information, I did and I appreciate the heads up. I had to confirm before I send a letter to Lowe's corporate office. To confirm for yourself I would suggest calling their Customer Care instead of emails.

 

[Brewlady]

Anyone who wants to call, their phone number is in the lower right corner of their home page.

Lowe's Home Improvement: Appliances, Tools, Hardware, Paint, Flooring

 

[Shmoo]

Email sent to Lowes to stop encouraging ignorance. That I've banned them in my list of places to give my money, until I see thier ban on e-cigs lifted.
Thanks for the email!

 

[JW50]

I certainly agree with vote with your dollars. On other hand I think their policy is no big deal. To me, seems reasonable to refrain from smoking or vaping while inside, near others, near kids looking for habits to develop, etc. My suspicion is that it is more print/PR than realism. I suspect that if I headed to the blocks and pavers I could get away with smoking - or vaping. What - I don't have enough control to wait 10 minutes till in my car. I personally wish they would ban tattoos (or the display of tattoos) and pants too low to run from plumbing to hardware in less than 2 minutes. But I'm probably from old world. But still not inclined to blow H2O, second hand smoke, etc. in someones who just came in to buy his/her new air filter. They have rights too even if they can't pass the plumbing to hardware test.

 

[Bacon]

I didn't know that and was in a Lowes yesterday and vaped a few times. Nobody said anything to me.

Thanks for the heads up.