Mall ecig kiosk fail

[ditch.the.pack]

I started with a GS E9 (KR808d-2) and paid $140 for it. Did some research, because I wanted to spend less on cartomizers. Ended up finding a site to buy an E9/KR808d-2 kit for $40. Sent back the GS kit since I was still within 30 days. While I had been waiting on the GS kit to arrive (sloooow shipping!) I went to the local mall and bought a SmokeFree kit. Wasn't the greatest (KR808d-1) because it was noisy, but the $90 was money well spent in that I didn't buy a carton of cigs instead ($70). For $20, I prefer being analog-free.

Moral of my story - I bought a well-known kit and overpaid for it. On theirs, I just feel I was paying $100 for a logo - which is common (we'll pay more for Sony than an off brand!). But when I did my research, I was able to find a cheaper alternative. It's still the same exact item, just cost me way less.

The cost would have been worth it at $140. If I hadn't done research, and was still buying their pre-filled 5-pack cartomizers, I'd still be happy. I'd be spending way less than analogs, and feeling better physically and mentally for it. Total investment pre-$40 kit was $230, and I'm cool with that. Learning curve. Now that's down to an initial investment of $90.

The mall kiosks have their place, even if it's only to raise awareness. Yes, they are undereducated about their products, but so were my bead shop employees. Most minimum wage people barely care enough to show up to work on time, let alone educate themselves extensively on the product for sale. But if even one person quits smoking in trade for vaping, then the kiosk saved that person - and many of that person's acquaintances (we are often so proud that we tell everyone! And some of those folks switch to vaping too!).

Don't down the kiosks. Kiosks are effing expensive (I've looked into them in the past). Employees are expensive. Having to go in to work your own booth because your employee "has a migraine" because she partied too hardy the night before is frustrating. Having product in stock costs money. That "profit margin" isn't NEARLY what some of you think it is. I'd say if they clear $10 per kit, that's the most of it. Their profit comes from the residual sales of the consumable - the cartomizers. Figure they lose a third of their customers to refilling. Noone's making millions.

 

[Lightgeoduck]

I have seen on this forum, the back and forth opinions of the mall kiosks, and I can see both points of view. Yes, for the ones that did the research and were fortunate to find a forum like this to be in the 'know' is great, even if it is after making an expensive purchase. I feel it's a small price to pay, for a lesson learned. Setting the "negative" out look of kiosks aside, there are benefits to it.

It gives people hands on experience of a device, providing them an instant understanding of the parts, feel, etc. It also gives them a foundation, so if they get to the point of researching and asking questions, they have a reference to base off of when they get a response.

Yes it would be ideal for people to research first, and that goes for purchasing anything, but online research isn't a guarantee that one won't get scammed. I tell you what, I much rather see a thread where it states "I think I just wasted $100 on this kit, after finding the infromation on this forum" Than " Help, I found this forum too late, How do I stop paying for this FREE TRIAL"

So though, the kiosks could be considered "over priced" , maybe they don't carry the "best product", and maybe the employee doesn't have a clue on the the product that they are selling (like that is a surprise, even with other product stores) only regurgitating the 'qty cigarette comparison claims that ALL manufactures make, the important thing to remember is that it is always better for the consumer to get informed and take responsibility for the choices they make.

If we keep things in perspective, it all balances out in the end, otherwise we will continue to beat our heads on the wall. I mean you can always find a place cheaper


LGD

 

[PoliticallyIncorrect]

In all fairness to these guys, mall kiosk rental rates are exorbitant. Operating costs are operating costs, and higher prices vis-à-vis somebody operating a web-based business out of their garage is to be expected. And they do perform a public service in promoting a potentially life-saving device in a high-visibility location.

But $100 for a $20 kit? I don't think so.

And vaping PR from guys that don't know what PG or VG is, let alone the difference? I don't think so.

In the end, although they're decidedly not the same vermin as FREE TRIAL! scam artists, they're a blight the vaping community could do without.

 

[ditch.the.pack]

But $100 for a $20 kit? I don't think so.

Sadly, yeah. I don't have the numbers in front of me, but doing quick math on what I'm guesstimating, I'd say the business owner clears about $5-10 per kit. Once again, the owner's profits come from the cartridges/cartomizers - not the kit. Noone is ever in business to break even - even if it means getting people to do something better for themselves.

 

[jlarsen]

Sorry to "beat a dead horse" but I have one other observation. Like it or not, vapers DO tend to be a bit elitist. We think that just because we do our homework, there should be no place for those devices we deem inferior.

But, just like there's a market for expensive smart phones, there's ALSO a market for "disposable" phones.

I own a disposable phone.

Suits my purposes nicely.

I don't know much about the quality of the disposable phones, but the plans are quite competitively priced. You can make unlimited calls and texts for the same price that a "smarty phone" owner using a major carier does. An ecig that doesn't vape for crap is still a piece of **** even if you put a good quality juice in it. But I get your point, the mall kiosk cigs might be a good fit for some people, albeit overpriced. Let's face it, they are no worse and not much more expensive than Blu.

 

[jlarsen]

The guys that work these kiosks would probably make more if they dropped the overhead... ordered 20 $20 kits at a time, marked the price up to 30, and went to a bar that allowed vaping... sell the kits to drinkers at the bar who don't want to stand in the snow to smoke. If I had about $400 that wasn't needed for food and utilities, I'd do that myself. My brother frequents a local bar within walking distance to our house, he has a dozen or two people ask to try his e-cig every night he's there, which is a couple times a week. He brings pocket knives and lasers and other stuff he gets dirt cheap on the internet, and sells it to people in the bar for a hefty profit all the time. I still don't know why he hasn't done the same with e-cigs. I'm sure he's turned more than a few people on to them, if he had spares to sell they'd be gone faster than he could take them out of his pocket, people offer to buy his eGo from him.

 

[JupiterV]

Thank goodness I found ECF first. Even though it made my head spin for about 2 weeks, I still made fairly reasonable (relative term) choices.

 

[bonbon]

i too wish i had found ECF first b4 plunging in. Even tho i was one of the luckier ones with the 'free trial' from one company that i found an ad for one day when i was reading our local newspaper online. I got it really fast and was hooked from the first 'toot'. That's when i started doing more research online. I wanted to see if they offered other batteries and more cartomizers for their particular product. I couldn't find more batteries for it so i went looking to other places. Then i started watching the video reviews. They really did help me. Idk if I'm allowed to name their names here so I won't but i still follow 3 of them.

 

[GoneWiththeWind]

I purchased a club 51 unit at a mall ($100+) for my 1st ecig and then another from another place ($40+) because their cartos didn't quite fit on my 1st unit. Yeah, I paid $20 for a 5 pack of cartos (about 10 times!) and they only lasted a hot minute-as cartos do.

Eventually, I did research on internet and ECF and the evolution began.

Honestly I probably wouldn't have been exposed to ecigs if it weren't for the mall kiosk. NOONE i know uses ecigs. Yes, I paid A WHOLE LOT but it was a lesson learned-think before i jump.

 

[MickeyRat]

I think you guys are missing the point in a way. The guys in the Kiosks in most cases wouldn't know what a good PV was if it bit them. Their distributor probably wouldn't either. I'm willing to bet you'd have to go pretty far up the food chain to find someone that knew they were selling crap. At every step in between, all anyone is looking at is what do I have to pay for it and what can I sell it for. It's even possible that at the highest point, someone got shown some great options but, decided they were too complicated for them to bother with. I'm not sure that there's anyone intentionally ripping anyone off here.

 

[Amanada]

I work in a place that's connected to a casino. When the smoking ban hit in November a few bars and casinos started trying to sell ecigs to keep people inside. You know the spell that a video lottery machine or "Would you like another drink?" creates can be broken by a cigarette break. People started hopping from bar to bar or casino to casino because the spell was broken and they could have a smoke in their car on the way to the next place. I started off with a couple of disposable ecigs from that casino because I drive for my work and I couldn't smoke in the car. I knew people who had tried good PVs and had no idea what kind of difference there really was. All I knew was that when I couldn't smoke those disposables did help a lot. That same casino also sells that 51 for an even $100. I do know the thing is a piece of crap but also kind of sad that no one bought one yet. If crappy little disposables made me a believer that ecigs can work then maybe that would work for someone too.

 

[wv2win]

judging by the way kiosk venders answer questions, they themselves probably do not know that there are better product options available which could probably be sold at somewhat less cost, with better profit margin, and provide a better "service" to their customers.

The hourly employees don't probably know. The owners know for sure and are not interested in actually helping people with better products but instead are just interested in making a buck. Just like Blu.

 

[SABOTEUR]

The guys in the Kiosks in most cases wouldn't know what a good PV was if it bit them....I'm willing to bet you'd have to go pretty far up the food chain to find someone that knew they were selling crap.

I'm sure you're right. Visited a kiosk a few months ago to purchase some carts. The lady there let me sample a couple of flavors, which was pretty cool. So I mention that one of the flavors tasted nice, and the saleslady starts ranting about the crap our local convenience stores had just starting selling.

???

She's really offended that anyone would have the audacity to compare herproduct to their product and how they're ripping people off and how she challenges people to try their stuff to prove she knows what she's talking about because she knows they're gonna be disappointed and come back to her.

The poor dear worked herself into a real lather, you know, and I'm just nodding my head and listening...all the while thinking about the crappy stuff I'm about to purchase from her because I'm in too much of a hurry to place an order online.

Had to admire her sincerity, though...misguided as it was.

 

[Snarf]

The mall I go to is selling the white cloud electronic cigarette brand ecig and it is amazing how much attention it gets. Starter kits are $200+ and I can't believe I almost bought one. So glad I didn't. I would love to open up a shop right next to them.

 

[Creniker]

I got a green nicotine. Funnily enough the only thing that brought me to this site was that he said their batteries went compatible with any other cartamizers on the market. I looked it up, and after about 4 hours of reserch I found out that they were simple Kr808d-1, and on this site no less! Now I have a Vapor4Life, and a Go-Go and couldnt be more pleased. I was ...... I got ripped off, but once again, without em, I would have never found this place, so it all evened out.

 

[jlarsen]

The mall I go to is selling the white cloud electronic cigarette brand ecig and it is amazing how much attention it gets. Starter kits are $200+ and I can't believe I almost bought one. So glad I didn't. I would love to open up a shop right next to them.

Unfortunately, some malls have anti-competition clauses that prevent them from renting space to a new shop that would compete with an existing shop. Of course that is not always the case, large malls certainly have a lot of shops competing. The mall here had several jewelry stores... until they all went out of business.

Of course I can't really say much about malls, ours was in its heyday 20 years ago, and its done nothing but go down steadily since. It wasn't much of a mall to begin with, now about 60%+ of the stores are vacant, the mall is in foreclosure and was supposed to have been auctioned off three times already.

Our mall doesn't have any kiosks, haven't been to a mall large enough to have them in quite a while.

Went in our mall one day recently, and looked from end to end of the main corridor. I was the only person there, and that was midday on a weekday. The anchor store (singular - there used to be two, before the other folded) had a number of people, as did the casino near one of the secondary entrances, that was about it.

I haven't been to a decent mall in years, I don't remember what one looks like, and who knows, in this economy maybe the anti-competition stuff has gone out the window.

I've never seen a mall kiosk e-cig vendor. Considering the other crap I've seen peddled at mall kiosks though, and from the horror stories on the forum, I can only imagine.

There are two options here, disposables, or order online.

 

[SABOTEUR]

Just when you think you've heard everything concerning rip-offs. My brother in law purchased an e-cig for $16.00.

One e-cig.

I'm like, damn...you can go the the Big Gulp store and get a kit for $20.00! But, if you don't know, you don't know. Rummaged around and found 3 batteries...don't know how much of a charge they'll hold...a charger and a box of 5 menthol carts I never used.

I'm tellin' ya...if there's a way for a street hustler to sell something, it WILL be sold.


Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

 

[SomeoneOnLine]

I will admit that I am sitting here looking @ one of these kits as we speak. My wife (bless her sole) didnt know any better. and bought me a starter kit for $5.00 which came with 1 battery and 5 carts. or whatever these things are. They dont look like you can refill them. I emailed them liek 10times (no joke) telling them my cc was charged without my auth (which is true) and all they could say is thanks for your purchase ect.. I have since them canceled my CC and ordered a new one because they could not send me a single email or phone call saying they will cancel the order. So far I have only been charged $5.00 for 1 batt and 5 carto things. I tried it just for the hell of it and all I got to say it YUK X90000. This .... is grose! I would rather smoke and analog. Thank god I didnt.

Anyhows,

Just thought I would through in the hat this is a total scam of a joke. These people make the vapor community look bad!

~SOL

 

[Boodle]

Yep. So i'm at the mall, see a 51 Trio, hundred bucks with one batt, one atty, charger, and six cartridges, and the thing hit wicked harsh like a dried out cartridge will do. (occurs to me now that the cart was probably almost empty, and that the kiosk guy was just pretending to put fresh carts on the demo, so i'll probably wind up with syphilis.) Each cartridge was equal to a pack and a half of analogs according to the guy. Did i rush right home, surf 'till i found ECF, and learn the score? Nope. I bought that 51 (actually it works pretty well with some juice in it). A crooked path maybe, but it lead me to the light.

I whine about $190 for my mall 51trio kit ( got the one with two batts, LOL) but it started me on the path. Had to upgrade or smoke cigarettes within a week but it was worth it. They really need to stop fibbing about one of their pre filled cartos = a pack of cigs.

 

[Stovepipe]

I had actually been researching, to some degree, ecigs for a couple of years. But for whatever reason couldn't pull the trigger and order a kit online. I needed to try it first. I found a store at the mall a few weeks back (not a kiosk actually, a cigar store) and grilled the guy on model numbers, etc. He gave me quite a bit of bull that I immediately saw through but tried his device and liked it (a "Premium" brand KR808-D). The kit I bought was like 85 bucks and I got a bottle of juice on top of that.

For me, this was worth the extra costs. I could have gotten the equivalent for half the price online but needed to feel the product in my hand and mouth first, and that was worth it to me. So while it's easy to put down these mall ecig sales, and the misinformation really bothers me, they aren't worthless. Of course now I've found a great online vendor and will vape on the cheap happily going forward, but the initial "hook" was at the mall and I don't regret that.

My two cents.