welcome.
I think some people are just sexist, and sometimes those people could get jobs working in vape shops...
I think some people are just sexist, and sometimes those people could get jobs working in vape shops...
newb post & quesion: Vape shop sexism?
- Thread starter casloll
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I actually walk past that kiosk in wheaton mall all the time and have avoided it (prejudice against kiosks I guess) but since going to "the awful shop" I've talked to the DC Vapor people a few times. The one girl who works there (I forget her name) has been super friendly and helpful. She sold me on a patriot clone and helped me build it. Everyone else there has been either pretentious or painfully awkward. I would make them my regular shop except their prices are quite high (even for expected B&M mark up) and since they are just a kiosk their selection is very limited.
I see that you're from MD too, do you have a place you go to regularly?
The only local shop that i have bought anything at in the last 2+ months is Vape Dojo, both in Ellicott City MD and Harrisonburg VA(i drive A LOT for my job). The VA store only had 2 young ladies working at the time, if that helps
.The Ellicott City store almost always has female customers, between 18 and maybe 50 y.o., and all seemed to be treated equally with the male customers.
You're obviously nicer and calmer than I am, I might have been snapping my fingers in the clerk's faces. "Yo, person that's actually looking to buy over here! I'm female and understand big words and have money!"
Never had this experience in a vape shop, but auto parts stores, my god.
Never had this experience in a vape shop, but auto parts stores, my god.
casloll, Welcome to ECF!
Glad to hear that you decided to vape & are here with us. I know that it can be hard to find a good local shop (I'm fortunate in that I have my personal distributor who hand delivers), but I have no doubt that you will.
In today's competitive market, there's a shop near you that will welcome your business. You just have to find it. Ask some friends who vapes, if you know any.
Businesses needs to understand that without us, the customers, they wouldn't exist. That's why I feel that you'll find one. There are some decent people everywhere, though that can be hard to see at times. You'll know when you do find that shop though & even if you have to go 20 miles to it, you'll be glad you did, as you'll feel welcome.
We're here should you need us.
All the Best,
Cat
Glad to hear that you decided to vape & are here with us. I know that it can be hard to find a good local shop (I'm fortunate in that I have my personal distributor who hand delivers), but I have no doubt that you will.
In today's competitive market, there's a shop near you that will welcome your business. You just have to find it. Ask some friends who vapes, if you know any.
Businesses needs to understand that without us, the customers, they wouldn't exist. That's why I feel that you'll find one. There are some decent people everywhere, though that can be hard to see at times. You'll know when you do find that shop though & even if you have to go 20 miles to it, you'll be glad you did, as you'll feel welcome.
We're here should you need us.
All the Best,
Cat
I've been dealing with that phenomenon as a webmaster since 1999. A few times I've given links to folks for sites I've made, and more than once got the response: "you did NOT make that!" When I asked what made them say that, a few sputters later what would emerge was "because you're a woman!" I would just raise my eyebrow and go my way, because it's always a mistake to engage with fools and idiots.
I confess, this was one of the exact reasons I decided to learn HTML/CSS and build websites, because I figure if a man can do it, a woman should be able to do it better.
Andria
I don't have a lot of vape shop experience, but I've seen good and bad.
Bad, was the b&m/tobacco store where I got my first ego setup back when I started vaping in December. I was so sick I didn't notice the sexism there until I was healthy again. Only the owner's sister gave me credit for having a brain; he, his father, and his brothers were all condescending. Telling me what flavors to like, handing me stuff that stunk so bad I wanted to shower after tasting it, ignoring my questions about equipment or trying to put me off to expensive and useless non upgrades. I only go in if the lady is there, and only to buy coils if I'm out of them for my protanks. You couldn't pay me to shop there for their "house mixed liquids" which are prepared in what can only be described as an unhealthy fashion. Their customers are apathetic, confused, and not happy people.
That being said, some friends I made online steered me to a not so local b&m where the owner and all his crew are simply fantastic. My questions are heard and answered, nobody tries to push anything I don't want or want to try on me. The owner makes his own liquids (great stuff!) to order on the spot, and there is a steady stream of regulars through the store throughout the day, each one happy to tell me how much they like their favorite liquids and hardware they purchased there. I drive quit a distance to hang out, vape, and shop there, on the occasions I visit the store.
Trial and error may be what it takes to find a shop you are into. By and large, people in retail suck. Kudos to those out there who don't! I've been a woman in a man's world most of my life professionally and in my interests outside of work, and I can smell prejudice a mile off. But finding a vape store where the staff is awesome, the goods tasty, and the clientele happy, is well worth the hunt, IMO. I really hope you find a place where you are happy to shop, and I totally get your unhappiness with this treatment. You don't deserve substandard service from anyone! Vote with your feet until they take you somewhere you want to be.
Bad, was the b&m/tobacco store where I got my first ego setup back when I started vaping in December. I was so sick I didn't notice the sexism there until I was healthy again. Only the owner's sister gave me credit for having a brain; he, his father, and his brothers were all condescending. Telling me what flavors to like, handing me stuff that stunk so bad I wanted to shower after tasting it, ignoring my questions about equipment or trying to put me off to expensive and useless non upgrades. I only go in if the lady is there, and only to buy coils if I'm out of them for my protanks. You couldn't pay me to shop there for their "house mixed liquids" which are prepared in what can only be described as an unhealthy fashion. Their customers are apathetic, confused, and not happy people.
That being said, some friends I made online steered me to a not so local b&m where the owner and all his crew are simply fantastic. My questions are heard and answered, nobody tries to push anything I don't want or want to try on me. The owner makes his own liquids (great stuff!) to order on the spot, and there is a steady stream of regulars through the store throughout the day, each one happy to tell me how much they like their favorite liquids and hardware they purchased there. I drive quit a distance to hang out, vape, and shop there, on the occasions I visit the store.
Trial and error may be what it takes to find a shop you are into. By and large, people in retail suck. Kudos to those out there who don't! I've been a woman in a man's world most of my life professionally and in my interests outside of work, and I can smell prejudice a mile off. But finding a vape store where the staff is awesome, the goods tasty, and the clientele happy, is well worth the hunt, IMO. I really hope you find a place where you are happy to shop, and I totally get your unhappiness with this treatment. You don't deserve substandard service from anyone! Vote with your feet until they take you somewhere you want to be.
Sorry your first experience with a B&M was so bad. My personal experiences have been pretty varied myself as far as the attitudes/knowledge of the employees. Oddly enough I had a similar experience myself when I (a male) went with a friend of mine (a female) because she wanted to get set up with her own equipment. She wanted me to go to fact check what she was told and make sure she didn't get ripped off. First place we went to, the guys behind the counter kept trying to give me the sales pitch even after I made it perfectly clear that it was my friend that they needed to be explaining things too. Second place had infinitely better service where they took the time to correctly explain it all to her (without dumbing things down either). They got her business that day, though I don't shop there often since they cater to newer vapers and the markup is really high. It's only been in the past week or two that I've found a B&M that will probably be my go-to location because they have a good selection, the owner knows his stuff, and he doesn't have an elitist attitude. So, I know this is running long but my advice would be to:
1) Learn as much as you can via ECF and YT so you can determine the knowledge level of the staff and put them in their place if they try talking down to you.
2) Generally avoid traditional tobacco shops and head shops that happen to also sell juice and PV's. More often than not they are uninformed about what they are selling. Also they are usually selling overpriced garbage (in my experience).
3) Don't give up! A good fit can be hard to find but once you find it it will be absolutely worth the effort and frustration.
1) Learn as much as you can via ECF and YT so you can determine the knowledge level of the staff and put them in their place if they try talking down to you.
2) Generally avoid traditional tobacco shops and head shops that happen to also sell juice and PV's. More often than not they are uninformed about what they are selling. Also they are usually selling overpriced garbage (in my experience).
3) Don't give up! A good fit can be hard to find but once you find it it will be absolutely worth the effort and frustration.
thank you for your extended reply and advice. I have heard many times that your #2 is dead on, there is a place really close to me that is a head shop w/ vape devices but I figured they wouldn't have the selection I'm looking for.
Man that blows, I'm sorry you had to deal with those people but thanks for your reply and the encouragement
I do tend to take the quiet approach on things. My view is that if someone is doing something stupid, showing anger won't help the situation. My goal is always to bring more happiness and love into the world (which sounds very hippy dippy but I find it practical).
Additionally in that situation in particular I'm lucky that my male partner found it equally offensive and confusing. He gave the guy a "are you braindead?" look, looked at me like "whats up with this guy", and we had a nice chuckle.
The only local shop that i have bought anything at in the last 2+ months is Vape Dojo, both in Ellicott City MD and Harrisonburg VA(i drive A LOT for my job). The VA store only had 2 young ladies working at the time, if that helps
The Ellicott City store almost always has female customers, between 18 and maybe 50 y.o., and all seemed to be treated equally with the male customers.
that is the second vote for vape dojo so I guess I'll be heading there soon ^_^ thanks for the advice
As long as they don't have customers who condescend to the employees.
Thought i would add that since a lot of vapers, and I've watched them in local shops, walk in with attitude like they (assume) already know they know "more" than the employees of the shop will know. Also see this in some posts on vaping forums, where people with the latest/greatest equipment condescend to vape shop employees and B&Ms in general.
This goes both ways, just sayin'.
Knowing more, or less, about vaping, doesn't make anyone a better person.....if you know more, show the employees. If you don't, let them show you. The whole point is to get people off smoking, right?
I've never experience or witnessed anything like that. The vape shops in my area are quite friendly and multicultural. I'd suggest you try a different shop, the extra mile could go a long way.
Oh yeah, it's been normal in my experience too. I've run into quite a bit of sexism in the vape shops around here, and in one of them it was so bad I never went back. I've run into this online too. There are guys out there who are so very insecure with themselves they just have to regard vaping as an exclusively male domain over which they rule and within which they can treat women as inferiors. Fortunately there are also some really great guys out there too, who, being far more secure with themselves, don't have a need to do that.
Best advice, don't give the jerks your business. People vote with their money and their feet.
Best advice, don't give the jerks your business. People vote with their money and their feet.
Wish I had close vaping shops here in West central MN. Local tobacco store clerks have no idea. Went back to the shop I first got into vaping and had a female clerk that was friendly enough but not much in the way of knowledge and the clerk that sold me my setup was gone as well as the owner. Was sold the wrong coil and when I got home went online and waited. Friend that has been secretly vaping lit up when I asked about some chems and told me of his switch and has given me some shops to checkout
No I've not had that experience. I wouldn't take it personally though because I have recently learned that what women know about vaping varies depending on where you live. When I go into my local shop the people who work there sometimes assume I'm confused about the eliquid mix I want. When I tell them 70/30 18mg they don't think I really want that because apparently that's not typical for someone using a dripper and I must not know what I SHOULD be using. But I do know what I want & why so once they understand that they don't bother me. It used to annoy me a little bit but then a guy at the juice bar told me that I was the first woman he'd met in our area who actually used an RDA. So in our area it's just not typical for the women who come into the shop to be knowledgeable where vaping is concerned.
But I've never had anyone assume I CAN'T wrap my head around using a Provari or anything like that lol.
But I've never had anyone assume I CAN'T wrap my head around using a Provari or anything like that lol.
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