:O Are you SERIOUS?!?!

[Nermal]

Dang, I can go into almost any shop here and get a ce4 for $3

Not at Duke City Vapors you won't!

 

[WarHawk-AVG]

Yeah they can't sell the volume that online retailers do. And they might see it as something gimmicky, that you won't find elsewhere in the area. It's a shame they can't just sell it for a decent price though. I wouldn't mind a little markup.. but come on.. we've got to be sensible.

This is why 101vape is kickin' hiney and taking names

MVP2 on DHGate.com for a lot of 50 is $35 (less for larger lots)...they sell em for $39.99...mark em up a little...sell em by the TRUCKLOAD!

Dang, I can go into almost any shop here and get a ce4 for $3

FT you can get a 10 pack of CE4 for $12.75 (that's $1.27 a pop..but you gotta wait a few weeks to a month) [even at $3, that is a doubling markup!]

 

[WhySoCereal]

I don't know, I have a different take on the local B&M's. If you're not familiar with running a business, it might surprise you. Lease? $1K to $3K a month. Wages? $1k to $10K a month. Taxes? There goes about 25-50% of any profit. Outlay of the shop? $3K to $10k+. Marketing and advertising? $500-$2K a month. There's a thousand things that are going to cost money. It takes a LOT of selling things at a $10-$30 markup to cover all that and hopefully make a modest profit.

The value of the local B&M is you can get what you need, right away. I believe it's important to develop a relationship here, mainly because it's these guys that are going to bail you out when things don't go right with online suppliers or USPS. Plus, you're helping your community and it's more than likely any money you spend here will stay in your community. Does that hold any weight? To me, it does.

I'm not excusing poor owners or anything like that, but I see a lot of people dissing their local B&M's because of the prices. Yes, we can support Walmart and send all our money overseas, but how does that help us here at home? In fact, some could argue that it's this concept that's hurting America's job markets and destroying local communities. You DO want a good job, right? Cheap always has a price and it's usually not in the cost of the goods. Just something to think about.

I agree entirely. Though in this case it sounds like some gross inflation of prices.

For me it's all about customer service. If the owners and staff care, it'll show in the level of service they provide. Just today I stopped by the shop I frequent for juice, and where I recently bought my aspire nautilus--which I'm in love with btw. I asked one of the (I'm assuming he was a owner/part owner) staff if they had replacement heads in yet, and he said no. Now I'm the type of guy who likes switching out heads when I switch flavors, and this staff member told me that if I'd like he'd pull one out of the nautilus boxes and sell it to me. Sure $5 for a replacement head might seem pricey, but it is a relatively new tank, it wasn't a huge markup vs online prices, and they went out of their way to break apart a complete nautilus set so they could satisfy me, the customer.

It's not a completely comparable story to the op's, but as with Revco above, when I find good service I'll happily pay extra for it. That's good will to go around, and putting money into the local community. They also have a customer for life, and I'll recommend them every chance I get.

As for op's post; that's just not right. I'm sure with no competition around they think they have free reign. Hope some good, close, honest competition pops up pretty soon for ya.

EDIT: I don't always buy at b&ms, especially if a brand new product is easier to find online. But after the local shops start carrying the heads I'll usually buy them locally, at least at the shops I trust.

 

[HighEnergyProton]

The B&M shop that i usually go to in Dublin has really decent prices, and he sells original and knock off products that are priced accordingly. I've seen knock offs that are more expensive than the legitimate product, especially with the Ego batteries, but are sold as an original product. He is very knowledgeable about what he sells and helps everyone that comes into his store to find their ideal first PV, especially the older folks who want to give up the analogs. It's shops like that that make it worthwhile to spend the extra 2 odd Euro at for an instant purchase. This industry needs vendors who are willing to patiently show a 70 year old how to fill their tanks and charge it, etc. and to teach someone who wants to be a modder about safety and dangers of rebuilding.

I do most of my shopping online, where I can read reviews and find the exact tank that I want without worrying about clogging up the shop for people who want to pay and carry on with their day, but if I need a few bottles of liquid, or I'm walking past I always go in and buy some liquid or something.

The people who are charging ridiculous prices and are not really educated on the product that they are selling is adding a big factor in why so many people who want to move on to PVs find it daunting and stick with the stinkies. The worst is someone who is an absolute twit on top of charging stupid prices.

 

[MrsPressley]

My local smoke shop has excellent prices, thank goodness because it's the only one we have ! I would just order online, there's no reason to get screwed and pay more when you shouldn't have to. The store will start losing business in the long run ... Good luck to you & I agree - I wouldn't go back there.

 

[mynewhobby]

I just had same experience...local place had iclear 30 for 25.00 when online is usually under 14.00!

 

[VaporDragon]

It's sad that they sell stuff for so cheap online and then the store owners probably have to hear this kind of complaining all the time. It's our screwed up economy. Then people want to complain that everything is coming from China and that they're taking our jobs away. Well, just imagine how much that clearo would cost if it were made in America. If people weren't so cheap then it probably would be.

 

[maybeshewill]

Yikes. That is quite a markup for a CE4. I usually find them here for 5-6 euros (6-8 dollars equivalent). That's almost halfprice of what that vendor was asking for

 

[risingstar]

I paid $95NZ for the very small basic eGo model, and $18 for 5ml's of liquid, after researching and finding out how much I just got ripped, I felt terrible, but alas, we live and learn. Watch out for a B&M store on Victoria St in Auckland, convenient, but the guy played me as he knew I wanted a big decent E cigarette that I'd seen before, but he said "oh, that must have been an old one, technology is getting better, everythings smaller these days, its the same thing" , which it was not! So ...... that he deceived me

 

[HighEnergyProton]

It's sad that they sell stuff for so cheap online and then the store owners probably have to hear this kind of complaining all the time. It's our screwed up economy. Then people want to complain that everything is coming from China and that they're taking our jobs away. Well, just imagine how much that clearo would cost if it were made in America. If people weren't so cheap then it probably would be.

Well a good example is how much a German clearo costs, but the ce4 is considered as a cheap clearo, and therefore should be cheap. By the way, China's manufacturing system is getting better and they make some really good quality stuff, their markets are booming and they are aiming towards being on par with Japan. No matter where you go you will find locally made stuff that is made cheaply and sells for a cheap price, as well as good quality more expensive stuff.

Charging the amount that the OP got quoted for a ce4 has nothing to do with anything other than slapping a massive mark up on a cheap item hoping to take advantage of an unsuspecting customer.

edit: that whole ''they are taking our jobs'' nonsense does nothing other than piss me off. This is about a clearo, not how immigration and importing is killing the economy, because it's actually not.

 

[oxidus]

Hmm, that's a tough one for me. We don't have any shops here in my city, so everything has to be online.

If there was a shop that was 2x the price of online stuff, I might still be willing to shop there once in a while. If I could talk face to face to someone who really knows what they're talking about; someone who could recommend new things. If I could sample the flavours before I buy them, instead of guessing by reviews and random chance. If I could just walk downtown and pickup a few bottles of liquid when I'm low, instead of dealing with the joys of Canada Post.

That's a difficult offer to refuse honestly, I would probably do it.

 

[VaporDragon]

Well a good example is how much a German clearo costs, but the ce4 is considered as a cheap clearo, and therefore should be cheap. By the way, China's manufacturing system is getting better and they make some really good quality stuff, their markets are booming and they are aiming towards being on par with Japan. No matter where you go you will find locally made stuff that is made cheaply and sells for a cheap price, as well as good quality more expensive stuff.

Charging the amount that the OP got quoted for a ce4 has nothing to do with anything other than slapping a massive mark up on a cheap item hoping to take advantage of an unsuspecting customer.

edit: that whole ''they are taking our jobs'' nonsense does nothing other than piss me off. This is about a clearo, not how immigration and importing is killing the economy, because it's actually not.

I guess you didn't read my post correctly. I said people complain about that, and they do. Never said that's what I say. I bet China's markets are booming. Good for them. My apologies for not being an expert on China, which you clearly are... And, I do realize that they make cheap crap everywhere. Duh? And you really have no idea what the vendor paid for those clearos so none of us really know how much they marked it up. If you're so easily ...... off then maybe a forum isn't the place for you. Besides, I'm not concerned with what pisses you off. That's all I'm going to say about your post.

 

[HighEnergyProton]

I guess you didn't read my post correctly. I said people complain about that, and they do. Never said that's what I say. I bet China's markets are booming. Good for them. My apologies for not being an expert on China, which you clearly are... And, I do realize that they make cheap crap everywhere. Duh? And you really have no idea what the vendor paid for those clearos so none of us really know how much they marked it up. If you're so easily ...... off then maybe a forum isn't the place for you. Besides, I'm not concerned with what pisses you off. That's all I'm going to say about your post.

You mentioned China, therefore I chose to have my say too, which is what a forum is about no? If the vendor payed x amount for a clearo, put a small mark up on it and sold it at their price then the vendor should do their research and not get ripped off. You implied that America only makes stellar products with your snide remark about the price if it was made in America.

Your comment about ''taking our jobs'' ...... me off, not your knowledge about China's manufacturing quality. That's all I hear lately ''oh they're taking our jobs'' ''ban the burka'' ''stop importing'' Get a grip on yourself

 

[VaporDragon]

You mentioned China, therefore I chose to have my say too, which is what a forum is about no? If the vendor payed x amount for a clearo, put a small mark up on it and sold it at their price then the vendor should do their research and not get ripped off. You implied that America only makes stellar products with your snide remark about the price if it was made in America.

Your comment about ''taking our jobs'' ...... me off, not your knowledge about China's manufacturing quality. That's all I hear lately ''oh they're taking our jobs'' ''ban the burka'' ''stop importing'' Get a grip on yourself

Nope, I was implying that if it was made in America it would cost more not because it's better, but because it would just cost more to make it. You know, labor costs and all. Which is why 90% of the stuff is made in China to begin with. Maybe that vendor purchased the clearos before the price on them went down. Maybe they purchased their stock when the clearo first came out. You don't know. I agree that is a very high price. But, I don't agree with people coming on here and complaining every time they don't agree with the price of something in a B&M. I'm sure if you look back there's plenty of threads over the same subject. And, they ARE taking our jobs. If we didn't look to places like China to make these items then where would they get made, here (and by here I obviously mean America because that's where I'm located, same thing goes for any country), right? And who would make them? People who's JOB it is to make them. And my remark wasn't SNIDE, you just took it that way. I've got a grip on myself. But thanks for the suggestion...

 

[VaporDragon]

If you knew anything about economy you would know that you do need to purchase everything you can from your own country. Think about it. Let's say you go to a restaurant, buy a meal and tip your waiter. Then let's say you work at the store down the street from the restaurant and that waiter comes into your store and buys some of your items. Well some of that money he gave you is going into your paycheck correct. So essentially it's a big cycle. Well let's say instead of coming to your store he goes online to fasttech or alibaba or whatever foreign site and orders the products from them because let's face it, it's cheaper online right? Well then that money is going to China and not back into your own economy. So that money is now GONE. And now America has to yet borrow MORE money from China giving them even more money and putting us in debt to them even more so America can pay off their debt to the central bank.. This is why China's markets are so "booming" as you say because they're smart about it and make their own cheap crap...

 

[HighEnergyProton]

Nope, I was implying that if it was made in America it would cost more not because it's better, but because it would just cost more to make it. You know, labor costs and all. Which is why 90% of the stuff is made in China to begin with. Maybe that vendor purchased the clearos before the price on them went down. Maybe they purchased their stock when the clearo first came out. You don't know. I agree that is a very high price. But, I don't agree with people coming on here and complaining everytime they don't agree with the price of something in a B&M. I'm sure if you look back there's plenty of threads over the same subject. And, they ARE taking our jobs. If we didn't look to places like China to make these items then where would they get made, here (and by here I obviously mean America because that's where I'm located, same thing goes for any country), right? And who would make them? People who's JOB it is to make them. And my remark wasn't SNIDE, you just took it that way. I've got a grip on myself. But thanks for the suggestion...

I'm glad that you have gotten a grip on yourself Fair enough, the history of said vendor's purchase is unclear, but on that note it's up to said vendor to do their research. The ce4 wasn't exactly an expensive clearo to start off with, but anyway. Yes your labour wage is more than China, and production costs are more in the USA, but quantity reduces costs. In Ireland there are people going on about how immigrants are taking their jobs and how the economy is being bashed about because of it, the Irish economy is pretty much dead (it's starting to pick up now though) but on top of that the Irish drink a lot and wear funny hats, true story. Most of us Irish people would rather sit in a pub and get social welfare than actually do a hand's turn of work, but will sit and complain about how the EU influx from Eastern Europe have taken their jobs (a job which they didn't actually want to begin with) I just see so much whinging about importation, it's really so useless. If America made TVs and gadgets they wouldn't need to import from Germany (expensive labour), Finland (expensive labour) etc, but as soon as China is mentioned everyone goes nuts (while using their Iphone, made in China) Same goes with our hobby, a lot of it is imported, it's part of vaping.

I have somewhat gone off topic here

Anyway, vape on

 

[VaporDragon]

I'm glad that you have gotten a grip on yourself Fair enough, the history of said vendor's purchase is unclear, but on that note it's up to said vendor to do their research. The ce4 wasn't exactly an expensive clearo to start off with, but anyway. Yes your labour wage is more than China, and production costs are more in the USA, but quantity reduces costs. In Ireland there are people going on about how immigrants are taking their jobs and how the economy is being bashed about because of it, the Irish economy is pretty much dead (it's starting to pick up now though) but on top of that the Irish drink a lot and wear funny hats, true story. Most of us Irish people would rather sit in a pub and get social welfare than actually do a hand's turn of work, but will sit and complain about how the EU influx from Eastern Europe have taken their jobs (a job which they didn't actually want to begin with) I just see so much whinging about importation, it's really so useless. If America made TVs and gadgets they wouldn't need to import from Germany (expensive labour), Finland (expensive labour) etc, but as soon as China is mentioned everyone goes nuts (while using their Iphone, made in China) Same goes with our hobby, a lot of it is imported, it's part of vaping.

I have somewhat gone off topic here

Anyway, vape on

I can definitely see your frustration there. We have more than our fair share of welfare cases that think their opinion should matter. They're part of the problem as well. They're not making money, they're taking money, and where do they think that "free" money comes from? They don't know and they probably wouldn't like it if they found out since they're so opinionated.

 

[HighEnergyProton]

If you knew anything about economy you would know that you do need to purchase everything you can from your own country. Think about it. Let's say you go to a restaurant, buy a meal and tip your waiter. Then let's say you work at the store down the street from the restaurant and that waiter comes into your store and buys some of your items. Well some of that money he gave you is going into your paycheck correct. So essentially it's a big cycle. Well let's say instead of coming to your store he goes online to fasttech or alibaba or whatever foreign site and orders the products from them because let's face it, it's cheaper online right? Well then that money is going to China and not back into your own economy. So that money is now GONE. And now America has to yet borrow MORE money from China giving them even more money and putting us in debt to them so America can pay off their debt to the central bank.. This is why China's markets are so "booming" as you say because they're smart about it and make their own cheap crap...

Fair comment, and I do agree that keeping the money in the country is the smart move. But let's face it, not many people have the money to throw around at expensive stuff. In a normal way of life we tend to try get as much bang for our buck as possible. If I want a steak, I know that the local restaurant down the road from me makes a good steak, a nice atmosphere, a few Irish dancers to doing their thing, I pay 10 Euros for my meal, maybe have a pint or 2 of Guinness, say my bill is 25 Euros. If I go to a top end restaurant, have the same steak, listen to classical music from speakers located around the restaurant, but my bill comes to 30 or even 40 Euros. I'll tell you what, I'd go to the local restaurant. It's all about your product, if you want to stock good clearo's, stainless body, pyrex glass tanks, etc then you can charge high quality prices. Yes the money is floating all over the place but it's all about demand.

 

[VaporDragon]

I should probably insert more smileys into my posts so I don't come off so abrasive. Sometimes I just don't feel like it, dangit!

 

[HighEnergyProton]

It could also be a cultural difference, no harm no foul