Online or Vape Shop?

[ButchMommy]

Hey everyone! I have a question for you all. Does everyone prefer to shop online? From reading all the posts it seems that way. Personally, I prefer to make purchases from vape shops. Yes, I know they tend to charge a bit more, but the way I look at it we need to support the shops. These are small businesses that need all the help they can get. They know us by name and what we like if they get something new. They are also places to hang out.
So, I was just wondering who else will spend a couple extra bucks to buy at the local shop?

 

[Frank Castle]

It all depends for me on pricing. I like the idea of supporting small businesses, but I will not go broke to do it. A few bucks more is ok, double the price is not.

 

[*deleon517*]

A lot of people tend to have loyalty to online companies when it comes to things like juice brands, and certain gear. I was that way until I got into mechanical mods. Not everything is listed everywhere. I do shop both online and in store about evenly. I just depends on what it is im looking for. I personally only vape what i make so the supplies for that is online. However If a vendor has a good deal or item my local spot doesn't have they will get my business.

 

[DaniB]

I buy both online and from my local vape shop. I guess I'm lucky since my local shop does not jack their prices up unreasonably on most things. Plus they always give me some kind of discount or freebies. Some things they just don't carry and those I order online. But, I always make sure I check online prices before I buy something there. I definitely want the best price but I also want to support my local shop as much as possible.

 

[Equilibrium]

I buy all of my liquid from a local shop. Cotton and rayon from the local beauty supply, Kanthal from Amazon and my Mods come from Reosmods. At least all of them do from now on.

 

[Stosh]

I buy online, mostly from vendors that I have been using for years, long before there was any B&M anywhere in my state. DIY supplies are always an online purchase as the shops don't carry anything for this purpose.

I will also buy from a local shop as their prices are very reasonable and I don't have to wait to try my new topper, battery or whatever.

 

[Steven G]

I buy from both my local B&M and various online vendors

 

[EBates]

Vape shops are The Place to shop for juice IMO. But, I really believe that they put something in the air that causes Shineyitis flare ups. It makes the Mods and Tanks counter(s) irresistible, and the words "It's Only Money" repeat over and over in your head.
That's my story anyway. YRMV (LOL)

 

[Gallowaystx]

I do both. I like to support local businesses and I am lucky enough to live in a city with a couple of decent vapor shops. The one makes it's own very good high quality juices that I like to buy (and very reasonable as well.)

I find that I know more about the hardware than the guys working there frankly so I get frustrated buying gear at B&M stores sometimes. I'm not interested in being upsold/cross-sold by someone who knows less about it than I do, I tend to know what i want before I go in there.

 

[Alien Traveler]

I do not see why I "need to support the shops". For me it is simply outdated business model. B&M could be good for emergency (running low on something) but not as main supplier.

 

[Wruff]

DIY e-juice stuff online ('cept the VG which I get at the health food store).
RDA & mod stuff at the local shops 'cause I wanna know exactly what I'm getting when I spend that kind of money on gear. A few extra bucks today beats getting a piece of junk in the mail and then having to hassle with an unresponsive/unrepentant online vendor over it. IMO

 

[SunshinePete]

Every single battery, mod, tank, and juice I've ever bought has been online. Until a few weeks ago I'd never even seen a vape shop, and their miserable selection of grossly overpriced kit did not lure me through the door. But it's also true that I've bought all my routers, hard drives, and other techie type hardware online for more than ten years, so I guess I'm a confirmed online shopper.

 

[sofarsogood]

I support the local vape shops by buying some things and especially by referring prospects. The best way to protect my rights locally is to grow the number of vapors as fast as possible. A good vape shop is going to be the best place to send the newbies.

 

[tFOrRESTee]

I used to shop at my local vape store until I found out I have paid everything, and I meant everything except the ejuice which I am DIYing now, more than double the online prices. Now I shop everything online. The ejuice they charged were $16 per bottle but DIY is much cheaper and I know what I put in there.

 

[Jdurand]

I do not see why I "need to support the shops". For me it is simply outdated business model. B&M could be good for emergency (running low on something) but not as main supplier.

I truly hope you never ask yourself why the American economy is in the crapper. Brush up on your Mandarin comrade, you're gonna need it!

 

[Alien Traveler]

I truly hope you never ask yourself why the American economy is in the crapper. Brush up on your Mandarin comrade, you're gonna need it!

I am sorry, I am not your comrade. Hope you remember it.

 

[vaperature]

I don't mean to sound like a Scrooge but it's not my fault if a B&M is struggling. Why should I pay more to help them keep their doors open. If they want my business they can do what everyone else does in this competitive market, offer lower prices. I've been to three vape shops and never really had a very good experience. It seems as soon as they find out I'm not in the market for some $200 mod they just want to get me in and out of there so I don't disrupt their sales pitch to whatever newbie has wondered in there. The last time I visited a B@M I was in desperate need of a drip tip because I was out and about and lost the one that was on my Vivi Nova. They wanted to charge me $10 for a cheap acrylic drip tip. I managed to go without a vape until I got home and went online and ordered three drip tips, a long stainless steel bent top, a fancy brass one and a really cool gold colored aluminum one (all much fancier than the acrylic one). All of them, all three of them, came to $12 including shipping. That B&M could have had me as a customer for life if they offered me that drip tip even for $5, but I barely paid $10 for the tank, why would I spend that on a cheap plastic drip tip? Then I'm sure they would add tax to it no doubt.

 

[tFOrRESTee]

Remember, local shopping is dead, online shopping is the future, and the future is now.

 

[Jdurand]

I am sorry, I am not your comrade. Hope you remember it.

Oh, I will.

 

[ButchMommy]

No one should pay crazy jacked up prices at a B&M store, but a small percentage more isn't a big deal knowing people are employed. I'm not some super capitalist, I'm actually pretty far left on the spectrum. I'll happily spend $5 more on a mod at a shop if a small business hires people. Another thing, when you are a repeat customer you tend to get discounts, you can also ask if they can do better on price. Small businesses have that flexibility.