I started this adventure approximately one month ago. I had read some things on line on another forum from people having success using E-Cigs to help them stop smoking. One day I decided to stop by a shop that was mentioned in that thread and see what I could find.
I knew about the mods and such but that was not my intention and way off the radar, I just wanted to stop smoking. I had decided that I did not want to spend much money but would rather not buy the cheapest thing they had as my experience with the cheep convenience store e-cigs had been a waste of money.
I stopped in and was greeted right away and we spoke about what I was wanting. The sales person behind the counter said we should first find a juice that I liked and then we would talk about the devices. Picking the juice was much harder than I had thought it would be. I did not want a tobacco flavor because that was what I wanted to get away from and after testing many flavors I was even more confused as none seemed to be what I had hoped for. I finally went with the first one I tried and we were off.
I spent maybe 30 dollars more than I planned that afternoon. I walked away with two EVOD VV 1600 EGO batteries and two T3D tanks, a case, a charger with the wall plug device and a bottle of juice. I have come to find that the price I paid was a good deal when compared to what other shops price a similar set for.
Since that day I have visited many other shops with varying degrees of experience but over all I guess they were ok. At one shop I went in on a Friday night after a 30 mile drive to get there. I went in to test some juice and see what they had. I was then passed off to three different people behind the counter and each time I had to explain what I was looking for in flavors. This was frustrating as a noob to all of this. At a couple of other shops, they have all this equipment out on display and none of it has any price tag or description posted with it, again very frustrating.
I have found one shop that stays open until midnight on Friday and Saturday and decided to go on a Saturday afternoon and see what was happening. I arrived at the shop around 6:30pm and went in. They have a small stage set up with a guitar amp and a couple of guitars hanging on the wall. They advertise an open mic type of deal and had a small PA system set up. I was greeted right away and I told them I was just looking right now. I was always being asked by someone if I need help. It seemed that they had five or six people on staff at the time. I began to ask questions about what happened on these nights and was told they have a CLOUD contest scheduled at 9pm and that people would start showing up around 8 for that. It was something they do every Saturday night and was free to enter and the prize for 1st thru 3rd place was a bottle of juice. I asked a lots of questions and tested a lot of juice and by the time 9pm came the store was in a massive cloud, almost too much for me, as soon as the competition was over I had to get out for some fresh air. There were maybe 20 to 25 people plus the staff in the store for this with a steady flow of regular customers coming and going. The crowd as expected was fairly young. It was way outside my demographic, one guy brought some electronic equipment in with a laptop and played what I assume was some of his own electronic music. Its not my thing but the beats were good. It was a good night and I was away from the house for a few hours. The price for juice is a bit high in my opinion but I guess they have to pay all these people and keep the lights on soooooo.
I have had good service at a couple of other shops and people that will help you if you know the questions to ask and if they have the staff to cover the business.
This is I guess my biggest complaint. The area I live in is a huge metropolitan area. I live out in the sticks 30 miles from most of this but I have found that no one or at least there is no group that has any organized get together on any consistent basis. In the past month I went from the EGO started kit to now owning 2 mechanical mods, an MVP 2, a VAMO v6 and all the items needed to use these devices and a starter set up for DIY juice. This was all by my choice but what I think some of these larger shops need is E-Cig Ambassadors, someone to greet you when you come in the store to talk to you about what you are looking for and will give you the attention needed to get you where you want to be. I dont know what questions to ask and I dont want to have someone just trying to sell me something or is the only person on staff to deal with other customers while you try to understand what you are looking at. Maybe have monthly noob meets and advertise them. Tell those that you sell product to about them if they are new to this. One shop here had a class on building coils a week or so back, carry this further and get people with others that can answer some questions or at least tell their experience. Have this in your shop if you have room or maybe find a place that will allow vaping and have it away from the shop.
This forum has lots of information but I have found that its information overload. I read some of this stuff and have even more questions. I may even have seen the answer to my question but it gets lost in the overload. I dont know a single person that vapes other than those I have met in the shops so I am on my own here and would like to find other likeminded people that may have other interest that match mine and maybe strike up friendships and be able to pass along the experience.
Was this a Rant? I don't know! Anyway
I knew about the mods and such but that was not my intention and way off the radar, I just wanted to stop smoking. I had decided that I did not want to spend much money but would rather not buy the cheapest thing they had as my experience with the cheep convenience store e-cigs had been a waste of money.
I stopped in and was greeted right away and we spoke about what I was wanting. The sales person behind the counter said we should first find a juice that I liked and then we would talk about the devices. Picking the juice was much harder than I had thought it would be. I did not want a tobacco flavor because that was what I wanted to get away from and after testing many flavors I was even more confused as none seemed to be what I had hoped for. I finally went with the first one I tried and we were off.
I spent maybe 30 dollars more than I planned that afternoon. I walked away with two EVOD VV 1600 EGO batteries and two T3D tanks, a case, a charger with the wall plug device and a bottle of juice. I have come to find that the price I paid was a good deal when compared to what other shops price a similar set for.
Since that day I have visited many other shops with varying degrees of experience but over all I guess they were ok. At one shop I went in on a Friday night after a 30 mile drive to get there. I went in to test some juice and see what they had. I was then passed off to three different people behind the counter and each time I had to explain what I was looking for in flavors. This was frustrating as a noob to all of this. At a couple of other shops, they have all this equipment out on display and none of it has any price tag or description posted with it, again very frustrating.
I have found one shop that stays open until midnight on Friday and Saturday and decided to go on a Saturday afternoon and see what was happening. I arrived at the shop around 6:30pm and went in. They have a small stage set up with a guitar amp and a couple of guitars hanging on the wall. They advertise an open mic type of deal and had a small PA system set up. I was greeted right away and I told them I was just looking right now. I was always being asked by someone if I need help. It seemed that they had five or six people on staff at the time. I began to ask questions about what happened on these nights and was told they have a CLOUD contest scheduled at 9pm and that people would start showing up around 8 for that. It was something they do every Saturday night and was free to enter and the prize for 1st thru 3rd place was a bottle of juice. I asked a lots of questions and tested a lot of juice and by the time 9pm came the store was in a massive cloud, almost too much for me, as soon as the competition was over I had to get out for some fresh air. There were maybe 20 to 25 people plus the staff in the store for this with a steady flow of regular customers coming and going. The crowd as expected was fairly young. It was way outside my demographic, one guy brought some electronic equipment in with a laptop and played what I assume was some of his own electronic music. Its not my thing but the beats were good. It was a good night and I was away from the house for a few hours. The price for juice is a bit high in my opinion but I guess they have to pay all these people and keep the lights on soooooo.
I have had good service at a couple of other shops and people that will help you if you know the questions to ask and if they have the staff to cover the business.
This is I guess my biggest complaint. The area I live in is a huge metropolitan area. I live out in the sticks 30 miles from most of this but I have found that no one or at least there is no group that has any organized get together on any consistent basis. In the past month I went from the EGO started kit to now owning 2 mechanical mods, an MVP 2, a VAMO v6 and all the items needed to use these devices and a starter set up for DIY juice. This was all by my choice but what I think some of these larger shops need is E-Cig Ambassadors, someone to greet you when you come in the store to talk to you about what you are looking for and will give you the attention needed to get you where you want to be. I dont know what questions to ask and I dont want to have someone just trying to sell me something or is the only person on staff to deal with other customers while you try to understand what you are looking at. Maybe have monthly noob meets and advertise them. Tell those that you sell product to about them if they are new to this. One shop here had a class on building coils a week or so back, carry this further and get people with others that can answer some questions or at least tell their experience. Have this in your shop if you have room or maybe find a place that will allow vaping and have it away from the shop.
This forum has lots of information but I have found that its information overload. I read some of this stuff and have even more questions. I may even have seen the answer to my question but it gets lost in the overload. I dont know a single person that vapes other than those I have met in the shops so I am on my own here and would like to find other likeminded people that may have other interest that match mine and maybe strike up friendships and be able to pass along the experience.
Was this a Rant? I don't know! Anyway
I just started with finding info on the internet 15 mos. ago when I really had to search for nearby shops. During this past yr. 12-14 have opened up in our town and found out about local vape meets which we are fortunate to have here. And I've even driven 2 1/2 hrs to Knoxville for theirs, but I'm getting too old to "boogie", then drive back home in the dead of night. 
