Online or Vape Shop?

[Equilibrium]

alien Traveler" data-source="post: 14646601" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch">

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 For me it is simply outdated business model.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 don't think anyone said you "needed to" .... Did I miss it?
As for "outdated".... I guess I'm guilty of being old fashioned then. I kinda prefer walking into a shop and well... Shopping.

 

[Peridox]

A B&M that charges 189.99 for the exact same thing I can get online for 79.99....ummmm yup online

 

[vaperature]

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.

Well I don't want to beat a dead horse so I'll make this my last comment, but from my experience it isn't a "small percentage," it's more like double or even triple. And online stores have employees as well, probably way more employees than the B&M has anyway, so there's that. In case I haven't made myself clear, I order online. In fact I just got two bottles of juice for one penny this morning. Think I'm joking? Here's the thread:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...y-apollo-go-here-get-some-i-just-ordered.html

 

[Alien Traveler]

I don't think anyone said you "needed to" .... Did I miss it?

Have you read original post? I just quoted it.

 

[Jdurand]

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.

Amen brother!

 

[Equilibrium]

I'm just lucky I guess? I've got a great shop close by and their prices are on par with the online stores. Their in house juice is awesome and the staff is knowledgeable.

 

[Equilibrium]

Have you read original post? I just quoted it.

I guess I was reading too fast and missed it then. Wouldn't be the first time

 

[SunshinePete]

I'm just lucky I guess? I've got a great shop close by and their prices are on par with the online stores. Their in house juice is awesome and the staff is knowledgeable.

Jackpot! And you'll be a regular customer because they deserve it.

 

[kc05]

I generally buy online. It's nice to support shops and I used to when they charged a little more than the online stores, but now it seems they increased the prices in shops around me. A pack of coils was $10 and they charge $20 now, but online I can get then for 7 bucks.

 

[tj99959]

Third choice:

Make it yourself.
I haven't bought a thing since March.

 

[Stosh]

I'm just lucky I guess? I've got a great shop close by and their prices are on par with the online stores. Their in house juice is awesome and the staff is knowledgeable.

My local shop has competitive prices, many a couple bucks more but with no shipping costs. And surprisingly enough some of their prices are LOWER than a lot of online vendors.

 

[Firestorm]

I don't have many local vape shops around me and I suspect that they don't have anything that I'm interested in. I've moved beyond starter kits and eGos and I'm not interested in clones. I like authentic mechanical mods and RBAs but I'd rather purchase directly from the modder's website to ensure I don't get a fake and to get support if I need it. I would definitely go to a vape shop to sample flavors but that's the only thing that would get me to walk into a B&M store.

 

[HauntedMyst]

I DIY and shop online. Until last summer we didn't have a local B&M and all of the shops I visited didn't really add any value. That's the only differential that matters to me as a consumer when deciding between shopping online or local. Lots of people open stores but never really think about what value they offer their customers. Many vape shops lead the way with this model. They open in what is considered a new market and try to profit from it without adding any real value to their long term customers. The new shop that opened is pretty good but the reality is is that I outgrew them before they opened. I don't need to shop there just because they opened but I hope they get plenty of new users!

 

[Beetlejugz]

A little bit of both depending on your needs and who has what that's how it is for me anyway

 

[bryanjay]

We have a handful of great shops here and I definitely go out of the way to support the ones I like. If it's only a couple of bucks, I'll totally get it local. Although in one case the local outfit was charging $20 more for a Kanger starter kit and that one I got online. I would have been down for $5-$10 more, but $20? That's just greedy. But I do always support my local shops when I can. I want to see them stick around.

 

[CassiusCloud]

I now buy from my local shops because they are finally getting awesome stuff and awesome juice..
Although today i went to one of them that i was looking forward to refilling some juices that i really use as my all day vape..

They were closed..
I looked on the door and there was a sign saying will open up as soon as we can..
Then asking for help finding people that robbed them..

It seems some low life or lives, broke into their store last weekend and from what i heard from the other vape shop in town..They were cleaned out of every single thing in their shop..
I am so ...... off for them right now and hope they catch these people..
I remember when they opened a year ago and seen them come such a long way in that time and really starting to dump money into good awesome stuff..
Then this happen to them..

Sorry for going on about it..i'm just taken back and blown away and feel so bad for them and just had to say it somewhere..
they are such good people and in it for more than just the money..they are in it for the community of vapors and people looking to get off the lung hogs as well..
it's just sad is all.

 

[Norrin]

Although pricing would stop me using a B&M exclusively I would love to be able to go to one just to see things for real to help me choose the right things to buy and I would probably buy some stuff if not anything expensive. I can't afford the £200+ to get to a vape shop though so I have no option but online.

 

[dhood]

I do both.

If it wasn't for the local B&M I probably wouldn't have made the jump. They were the ones who were friendly enough to deal with a total noob and get me started exactly the way I wanted to start (on the cheap). I frequent their business and continue to buy from them because as I get more knowledgeable (from my perusals here), they can answer any specific questions I have showing me first-hand on their in-store equipment. When I can buy a battery/mod for $5 more than I can get it online, I'll buy local. For example, I had a problem with my new Evod VV a week after purchasing it. I just took it back to the store and they replaced it, no questions asked. If I'd ordered it online, I might have saved 5-7 bucks on the purchase price, but with a problem battery I'd have had to go through remote customer service to get it replaced.

As far as juice goes, I've ordered a bunch online and I haven't been really satisfied with anything I've purchased yet. Granted I still have more than a few bottles steeping, but I prefer to go in, sit down, and try their wares. That way I know exactly what I'm walking out the door with. I have 9 or 10 different B&M shops near me and 3 or 4 of them mix their own juice. The rest carry a lot of bigger name brands (Space Jam, Cuttwood, Suicide Bunny, etc) so I get to try those, too.

I've spent money in almost all of my local B&Ms and I continue to do so to keep them competitive with each other. It keeps all of their prices down.

 

[mmoose]

I used to buy both online and at local vape shops. Now it is only at local vape shops especially for mods. If there is a problem I can get it dealt with right away and talk to someone face to face.