My PV a HUGE hit at the VFW!

[rocketvapor]

Friday night I stopped by my VFW Post for the first time in a while. Everybody there smokes, but there I sat with my 510, happily vaping away.

Well, that didn't last long. I was deluged with questions! What is that? Does it work? How much are they? Where can I get one? And on and on.....I do carry a spare cartridge of tobacco flavored juice (which I don't care for), and I let everybody try my 510. Every single one who tried it loved it! If I had had 10 starter kits on me, I'd have sold most of them on the spot. As it was, I ended up scribbling the web sites of a few good suppliers on about a dozen bar napkins and handing those out like party favors. I was exhausted!

I think it's great that these folks are interested in a tobacco alternative, either for themselves or for a loved one. People are really looking for a healthier lifestyle, and the taxes are breaking everybody's bank accounts.

The response was so positive and people were so interested that they've asked me to give a seminar on e cigs at the Post in the near future. I plan to reserve the hall for an upcoming Saturday, print out some materials, and bring every spare battery and atomizer I have with a bunch of extra carts in different flavors and let people just have at it! I also have a DSE 901 I keep as a spare, and I'll bring that too.

And, of course, I'll make sure that all the handouts have the e cigarette forum URL on them! One convert at a time...........

 

[darkmatter22]

yeahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!
future slogan!
"One convert at a time....."

 

[kinabaloo]

Funnily enough, I wondered about the possibility of arranging some town-hall meet-ups kind of thing.

Some will say to keep a low-profile and I understand that. But in your case you have definite interest in your favor.

Well done!

 

[soylent]

Very nice, congrats on the success. It really is surprising how many smokers are very open to the idea. I've been vaping for a little over a week and I already have one friend who ordered and another one who emailed me asking for make/model/website info.

 

[ProfessorDaffy]

The best way to sell people on e-cigs is not to. Just enjoy your e-cig openly and those who are interested will come to you.

--Prof Daffy

http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/nbc_the_more_you_know.jpg

 

[kinabaloo]

yeahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!
future slogan!
"One convert at a time....."

When I was involved in education one thing that struck a chord with me was that something will be remembered (understood) when there is a 'need to know'. As many have said in various ways, that is the time to engage, when the desire for knowledge is evident.

 

[rocketvapor]

I just ordered 10 510 starter kits and got a rather nice discount plus free shipping, so I'll be saving folks some money. Tomorrow, I'm going to reserve the Post hall for the seminar sometime in the near future.

Also, 2 of my coworkers today saw my rig and want one for their family members. So there's 2 of the 10 already sold! BTW, I'm selling these at cost, not for profit. I was going to place an order anyway, so it was no trouble to add extra starter kits to the order and save money.

The response has been overwhelming. Seriously, if I didn't already have a full-time job, I'd consider opening up a storefront and stocking basic supplies and juices. Unfortunately, I'm an engineer and I have absolutely no business acumen, so someone else will have to cover that!

Maybe the local flea market? Just a thought!

 

[Abyss]

Ah, deja vu!

When I first received my 2 manual black 510s with a black PCC, no one noticed it the whole day at work. Then when getting out of the building at the end of the day everyone was "Hey, that's an e-cig!!!" 10 colleagues surrounded me wanting a puff, asking about cost and maintenance, where I got it, etc. Took me 30min+ to tell them most things I new by then. That's an average of 50-year olds. (no bad feelings) They were expected to be at least naysayers.

Some of my friends were quite skeptical and didn't even bother. But then curiosity... And everyone just loved the magic stick!

10 days after that I had a bulk order of 26+ 510's, 40+ juices, 10 PCC's, carts, chargers, adapters etc. It was quite a lot of wok to sum every color, flavor, strength - took me 2 days fighting excel!

Expecting 3 shipments to arrive next week, and everyone is "WHEN are they coming already?!" WOW

And a week earlier I thought I would be burnt on the cross!



PS: (forgot my fav smiley)

 

[rocketvapor]

I hear ya! I was back at the Post last night, and the same folks were all over me wanting to know when I was doing the seminar, and when their starter kits would be here. Good heavens, what a positive response! And as an earlier poster said, they came to me, not the other way around. I don't push the eCig, it just seems to garnish a lot of interest on its own!

I'll do another post when the seminar is completed and let you know how it went.

 

[Jim Davis]

Rocketvapor;
Try a post in the suppliers forum. Any supplier in the area would probably be glad to show up, with supplies.

 

[Mary Kay]

Or at least they may send you a couple of freebies and their supplier business cards! That would make great door prizes (liquid though as not everyone can use different batts and atts) I give business cards away every chance I get. I believe we have a thread about Florida retailers in the Florida Vapers Club! If not start one.

 

[thewomenfolk]

I think somebody was praying for those ole guys and God sent them an angel...YOU! No kiddin.

 

[rocketvapor]

Rocketvapor;
Try a post in the suppliers forum. Any supplier in the area would probably be glad to show up, with supplies.

I hadn't even thought of that! I don't know if ther are any suppliers in my area (central FL), but hey, it's worth a try! Once I get a date finalized, I'll try to post in that forum and see who bites. Better than letting strangers suck on my rigs.

Wait, that didn't come out the way I intended............oh, crap. Let the games begin............

 

[Jim Davis]

I hadn't even thought of that! I don't know if ther are any suppliers in my area (central FL), but hey, it's worth a try! Once I get a date finalized, I'll try to post in that forum and see who bites. Better than letting strangers suck on my rigs.

Wait, that didn't come out the way I intended............oh, crap. Let the games begin............

Don't wait too long. I would post now. If you get answers, you can plan it out.

 

[rocketvapor]

Mt spare starter kits showed up today. I'll be taking them to the Post tomorrow night. I already have two people waiting for them! I'll let you know how the others sell tomorrow.

 

[jboze]

Awesome story. Keep up the good fight.

I'm sure there is a seller or two in the central Florida region. Otherwise, gather up requests and put in a big order with someone. You should be able to get a really good deal on 10 sets at a time. What you do with the extra savings is up to you

 

[rocketvapor]

I sold 4 kits last night - 3 were pre-orders, and one lady bought one off me after watching me with mine for an hour or so. Once again, I was deluged with questions all night long. I'm working on my seminar presentation, and I hope to hold it in the next few weeks.

I still have 5 kits left, and I'm selling them for what I paid for them, so the buyer is saving the $15 shipping charge. And I'm offering a 100% money-back guarantee if the buyer decides it's not for them. I can always use the parts myself. Not a bad deal, if you ask me.

 

[plantlvr]

great story!!

 

[Winslow]

I always wonder what the success rate of someone buying a kit off of one of us, without knowing that much about the product.

I mean, theres techniques, steps to follow, and product to buy/vendors to find, all of this I learned by quite a bit of reading on this forum.

Im worried they pick it up for the initial wow factor, but then will get frustrated at the learning curve they didnt expect.
Im sure all of us recommend they visit the forum and read up, but still, im sure some people will buy it and end up not using it.

 

[rocketvapor]

Good point! I've emailed all the people who bought a kit from me and given them not only the addy to this fprum, but also some tips I've learned as a 510 user for the last couple of months. And since I know most of these people personally or at least casually, they know they can always contact me if they have a question.

And that's why I offer the money-back guarantee. I don't want any buyers' remorse.