oh B&M shops...

[AndriaD]

The example the OP gave is not even really a math problem. It's a complete lack of knowledge of how mixing different concentrations work.

This was precisely my thought -- knowing math is no substitute for understanding the concept that when two things blend, they average. As I said, my husband is better at math than I am -- which doesn't take a great deal of knowledge, really -- but he didn't get this concept either; he's never been a cook, or needed to blend things with differing levels of whatever active ingredient, so had never worked out the idea that averaging takes place between the active ingredients.

But again -- no matter how good she is at math, or with a cash register, someone unaware of this BASIC concept shouldn't be behind a vape counter!

Andria

 

[Rabbit Slayer]

But what if you are preparing a personalized liquid for a costumer, or advising him about nic concentrations, and dealing with strong nicotine bases?

So everyone that works in a vape shop is now a juice making expert, seriously??

Suppose that I make a big, nasty cut on my forehead, and I go to a clinic to have it stiched.
Everyone in that place may well be the most professional people I could possibly find. But wouldn't I start questioning that, if the nurse who is welcoming me makes such a *stupid* remark as "You are losing too much blood. Next time, take your belt and make a tourniquet around your neck to stop the bleeding" ?

The receptionist is not a nurse at my doctor's office, so why would I listen to their medical advice

Just because it is a shop that sells juice doesn't mean it is a shop that makes juice...and just because a shop makes juice doesn't mean that every person working at that shop makes it and needs to know how to make it

 

[Ou2mame]

Juice making expert? No.. Being able to do simple math with the product they're selling, yes. That should be a requirement.

And seriously, who would suffer if the staff was informed in mixing of the product they sell?

Receptionists do have to know and understand medical terminology.

 

[Rabbit Slayer]

Juice making expert? No.. Being able to do simple math with the product they're selling, yes. That should be a requirement.

And seriously, who would suffer if the staff was informed in mixing of the product they sell?

Receptionists do have to know and understand medical terminology.

How about the fact that the OP bought a juice made by NOT that local B&M shop and the bottle was sealed...Can we allow her to keep her job now?

And a receptionist only has to know how to answer a phone as set appointments unless they also transcribe for the doctors, then they have to know how to spell those fancy medical terms, they still don't need to know what any of it means

 

[Mogar]

I have one shop near my house and one near my office the third is on my way home. The one near my office has my "crack" as I call it as it is good juice (hang my head in shame as I also DYI) They are nice to hang out at, very comefy and mostly knowledgeable. The one on my way home has decided to help everyone from making their own juice as well as selling all DYI supplies from wire, to wicking to the straight vg and pg for dyi including the flavors. I have assisted them in decreasing their cost for shipping (as this is my line of work). Both of these I go into just to stop by and usually leave with a purchase or two.

The one by my house unfortunately... When the istick 50w had been out for a week or so, I went there to see if they had one in stock, the manager told me that it was a hoax and does not exist. Almost the same thing when the Subox came out. This company (per my suggestion) acutally ordered some and had some in stock when I stopped by again with my black mod in hand, when I noticed it was marked to 135.00 I nearly swallowed my drip tip! I asked them if they expected to sell any as they were under $60 online. He said that was not true and anyone that said so lied... I opened my hand and showed him mine and told him that the mod, battery and a 30 mil bottle was shipped to me all for under 60. I think I lost him another sale as the person at the register turned around and walked out.
He met me by my car and I gave him a card to MBV (granted they increased theirs to $70, shame really).

 

[Ou2mame]

How about the fact that the OP bought a juice made by NOT that local B&M shop and the bottle was sealed...Can we allow her to keep her job now?

And a receptionist only has to know how to answer a phone as set appointments unless they also transcribe for the doctors, then they have to know how to spell those fancy medical terms, they still don't need to know what any of it means

If you prefer to but from uninformed people, and think that benefits the vaping community in some way, then that's crazy. I prefer to buy them professionals who understand the product, no matter what that product is. She shouldn't be working in a vape shop. If she wants to be a generic cashier, she should work at a supermarket. Would you buy from a butcher shop who has people working there who don't know which cut the meats are?

 

[Alien Traveler]

The same rule applies for say beer aswell.
2x 50ml 3.5% isn't the same as 1 50ml 7% beer.

It depends. It could be the same.

 

[jbok]

LOL, sounds like the 2 B&M shops we have in town. All the employees have mech mods and are constantly blowing huge clouds. It gets really funny when the "younger crowd" comes in, who all have mods as well. It seems to be a contest to see who can blow the biggest clouds. After about 15 minutes you can't see 2 feet in front of your face. I just laugh as I grab my iStick 30W with Nautilus Mini and take a hit and blow out my little cloud. They all look at me like I'm an alien in their midst

The staff of both places are constantly trying to get me to buy a mech mod. "Sorry not interested" seems to be a phrase they don't understand. I don't want the hassle of charging batteries, changing wire, wicking coils, constantly dripping juice, etc... and all that stuff that comes with them. I like filling my tank, putting my iStick on the charger and that's it!

I went to these places to meet some like-minded people and fellow vapers. Problem is, not many folks my age that vape come in and hang around and most of the crowd that does is 20-30 years younger than me. Ok, I have no problem with that, but I teach at a university and am around that age group all day. I try to get a conversation going and then they see my iStick and that's that. I'm not in the "cool crowd" blowing huge clouds and dripping my juice...seems like high school all over again

Now I just hang at home and talk to my friends that I game with online and who also vape. It was entertaining to see the clientele that hang at the local shops, just not my scene man!

DoctorJ...I'll hang out with you, we'll change the scene!!

 

[DoctorJ]

DoctorJ...I'll hang out with you, we'll change the scene!!

C'mon over! It's a real hoot just watching the cloud chasers try to out do each other and go through half a bottle of juice doing so. I'm quite sure the shop owner loves them buying a bottle or two of juice every other day

 

[jbok]

C'mon over! It's a real hoot just watching the cloud chasers try to out do each other and go through half a bottle of juice doing so. I'm quite sure the shop owner loves them buying a bottle or two of juice every other day

lol..the owner of a B&M where I live knows that I buy all my gear online but still lets me hang out and do school work (my wife wont let me vape in the house). I send friends and fam to him to make up for what I don't purchase. what part of VA are you in? I live right outside old town Fredericksburg

 

[puddinman]

Having run my wife's medical office, I can tell you that a receptionist doesn't need to know anything about medicine in order to be a good receptionist. HOWEVER, they do need to know when NOT to answer a question. Knowing when to defer to an expert is crucial. For me, there is nothing wrong with saying, "I don't know, but let me ask the right person."

Not everyone in the vape shop has to be an expert, but there should be one available, even if by phone. And the non-experts should know better than offering their opinion about matters they don't know anything about.

Along these lines, I went to a shop today and the lady behind the counter offered me a juice sample. She put the tank on an iStick 50, made an adjustment and handed it to me...instant burned taste. She set the wattage waaayy too high. I should have looked myself but I assumed she knew what she was doing. The shop owner got ...... at her saying, "That's the 3rd one today!" SMDH...

 

[NOVA jon]

I really enjoy two of the local shops around me. One owner in particular has gone as far as to put attys on hold for me and text me when they are at the shop! He also gave me first dibs on his flask squonk!

 

[DoctorJ]

lol..the owner of a B&M where I live knows that I buy all my gear online but still lets me hang out and do school work (my wife wont let me vape in the house). I send friends and fam to him to make up for what I don't purchase. what part of VA are you in? I live right outside old town Fredericksburg

I'm waaaaaay over to the west near Wytheville off of I-81. Same with the owner of the place I go. He charges about double what my iStick cost and 5 bucks more than what I can get a Nautilus Mini for. I also get my juice online as well, but I'll throw him a bone and get a bottle now and then so I don't seem like a bum

 

[jbok]

I'm waaaaaay over to the west near Wytheville off of I-81. Same with the owner of the place I go. He charges about double what my iStick cost and 5 bucks more than what I can get a Nautilus Mini for. I also get my juice online as well, but I'll throw him a bone and get a bottle now and then so I don't seem like a bum

lol..you were not kidding about being in some holler in va were you? It's beautiful county in those parts. Hit me up the next time your in the Burg.

 

[jpargana]

So everyone that works in a vape shop is now a juice making expert, seriously??



The receptionist is not a nurse at my doctor's office, so why would I listen to their medical advice

Just because it is a shop that sells juice doesn't mean it is a shop that makes juice...and just because a shop makes juice doesn't mean that every person working at that shop makes it and needs to know how to make it

Ok. We will have to agree that we disagree then.

One thing is not being a full expert in your line of business. OK, I get that.
Another thing is to get it all wrong and not even having a clue.

Fortunately the OP knew what he was doing. But suppose he was a noob asking that person "By all logic, I have a feeling I *could* cut this 18mg liquid by mixing it with weaker 6mg liquid. I am right? Can that be done?"

And the vendor at the shop, who *should* know a little more about her trade than a noob costumer, gives that costumer the "expert" advice reported by the OP - instead of simply stating "I do NOT know". Keeping your mouth shut when you have no clue is ALWAYS an option. Usually, the best one, in fact.

Do you really believe that such a display of lack of knowledge will not hurt the shop's overall image?

Will costumers feel "safe" in their dealings with that kind of vendors? Are they selling ultra-sub-ohm kits to noobs, "because cloudz", with that same expertise about Ohm's law and battery safety? One must wonder...

Would *you* return to that shop, if you had others nearby?

 

[jpargana]

Having run my wife's medical office, I can tell you that a receptionist doesn't need to know anything about medicine in order to be a good receptionist.

I'm well aware of that. That's why in my *hipothetical* example, I stated, "The *nurse* who is welcoming you". Not the receptionist.

HOWEVER, they do need to know when NOT to answer a question. Knowing when to defer to an expert is crucial. For me, there is nothing wrong with saying, "I don't know, but let me ask the right person."
(...)

This. When you have no clue, admitting it is always an option. Usually, the best one.

 

[mcclintock]

What it look like to me is most stores are run by enthusiasts, with money grabbers (tobacco shops and the first wave of e-cig vendors) not doing so well anymore. The problem with the enthusiasts is they aren't interested in, or even particularly knowledgable about, budget gear. It's not that complicated, so it isn't entirely bad advice, just rather incomplete. They also have similarly narrow tastes in juice. Before they kicked out their taster clearos, they'd answer complaints that they just weren't ever very good, when you can see it's so old the ink was rubbed off the label even before it was soaked in juice.

The other people that work in shops are often less than ideal. It doesn't pay well but I expect most are connected too. If that helps with trust that could be OK.

I understand the reason for the prices, but there is an inherent disadvantage that almost everything you need to get before you can decide it's any good. It's more a voyage so just wait a week or 3 for it to come in the mail. I speculate the shops carry eGos as the only low priced kits to "prove" you need to spend at lot more for something decent.

Me: So what you're telling me is you don't stock or sell anything that you would use yourself, and all of the good gear that you do like you don't actually stock?
Him:

There can be reasons, if the owner is always getting new stuff etc. If I had a shop it would carry what I think is good, and I'd have to try everything, but I also know lots (most) people disagree with my preferences. If I worked in a shop, I'd like to try everything it sells, but I bet that isn't provided.

 

[GeorgeS]

Wow - such expectations! Walk into any 7-11 and start asking the cashier questions about the products they carry and see how far that gets you. (don't ask a fast food worker what goes into menu items or where they get the potatoes for their fries)

Reminds me of the typical Office Depot or Best buy worker which might be able to quote the product place/price card to you and suggest observations that any kindergarderner might do.

 

[GinnyTx]

ETA:

Suppose that I make a big, nasty cut on my forehead, and I go to a clinic to have it stiched.
Everyone in that place may well be the most professional people I could possibly find. But wouldn't I start questioning that, if the nurse who is welcoming me makes such a *stupid* remark as "You are losing too much blood. Next time, take your belt and make a tourniquet around your neck to stop the bleeding" ?

that was actually a question on my nursing state board exam
(now I took it sit down for two days on paper, they "fast track" in on a computer these days..but I thought "really?!" I guess if someone answered "true" to that particular one..they got to come back and take the test in six months again *lol*)

 

[mcclintock]

Wow - such expectations! Walk into any 7-11 and start asking the cashier questions about the products they carry and see how far that gets you. (don't ask a fast food worker what goes into menu items or where they get the potatoes for their fries)

Reminds me of the typical Office Depot or Best buy worker which might be able to quote the product place/price card to you and suggest observations that any kindergarderner might do.

Yeah, but I think more people want to work in a vape shop than there are positions, even with low pay. And service is one reason you can pay more but still get more value. In some cases an employee should just defer to someone else, but there should be someone.