Report: First Trip to B & M Vape Store

[Whatnametouse]

LOL walked in to a local B & M with no idea of what I needed or wanted. Guy says this is the kit...2 Ego spinners...$89 CAD. OK you will need juice...20$ 30 ml. Case has MVP's. 134's and VTR' as well as a bunch of accessories...peaked my interest. Priced the 134 at 169$. went on line $129....last trip to that B & M. Had to get kits for 4 colleagues at work when they saw my spinner, tried to tell them about on-line, but they wanted it NOW lol.

Bought my MVP at Dashvapes.com for 54$...bye bye B & M...Montreal needs a better one!!!

 

[Whatnametouse]

Oh I should add a shout out to Dashvapes.com. they are opening their new B & M in Toronto...best of luck

 

[xxbrad13]

I walked by this place in the mall that wanted $20 bucks for a 5 ml container of e-juice

 

[AmandaD]

Doreen, we do have a lot of good B&Ms in So Cal - but also a lot of 'meh' type stores as well! VapeRev in Cerritos is a high end B&M I haven't yet been to, but they do have high quality juice and equipment - and you can check them out online (just google them). Most B&Ms mark up equpment and juice to cover overhead - some more than others. I do buy juice at one near me because I like going in there and feel the need to purchase at least something! But I have also ended up with juice I don't like, because sampling in muted clearos at 0mc nic is a different flavor than dripping at 12mg nic LOL The one I go too will also let you drip, if you have a dripper - but it's early days for you yet, so you're probably not at that stage.

And it's true - if you've just started vaping your tastebuds are going to be a little dead - they'll change enormously over the next few months. If you don't like or 'get' a juice now, put it away and come back to it in a month - it'll be totally different.

I like to go during the day midweek - less people there, and I don't feel so much like the little old lady venturing into the cloud-blowers lair

 

[anumber1]

I just went to the first vape shop to open in my area last night. Bought another pt2. $20. Thats not too bad as they are going for just a buck or two less online (yes there are cheaper but not too much).

As many have said before, with the overhead, I expect to have to pay a coupe of bux more in a store vs online. If I factor in all the unvapable juice I have bought online, well, im even if I never buy 90ml of nasty again ($30 once for juice that if I had sampled, would never have made it to my mailbox).

As for rude staff, I figure if im gonna sped my money, im gonna take my time concidering my purchase. If the staff cannot accept the fact that im goin to sample 10 juices to pick one, that store isnt gonna last long. The owner will either realize that fact or there will be yet another empty storefront in that stripmall.

In the half a dozen vape shops I have been in, 50% havebeen pretentious or ignorant. One was both.

This forum has been invaluable for me however. I have learned my way around a lot of jargon unique to vaping and realized that my vaping is neither going to be maintinace free or a passive experience. My gear has required a bit of patience and learning/experimentation. Once throuh the learning curve however I have found what I like and how to consistently get it. Mostly thanks to the experince and help of others participating in this forum.

Keep learning and keep an open mind!

Happy vaping!

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[DaveP]

My wife went in with me to the local Stormy's Vapor Cellar yesterday to pick up a couple of 18650 batts. They were packed as usual on a Saturday afternoon. I was lucky enough to attract the attention of the owner, who walked over and waited on me. I commented on how busy they were and she said that it was much busier earlier in the day and slacked off in the late afternoon. My wife was astounded at how many people were in the store. She never sees anyone but me vaping when we go out.

Stormy's is opening another new store next month in Warner Robins, GA which is close to the Air Force Base. She should also be successful there. Her warehouse and online business is in the slot next to the B&M store in a strip mall. The future looks great for Stormy's.

The really great part is that she made the decision to keep her walk in prices the same as the online prices, so there's no penalty for walk in customers. You can also order online and select store pickup. When you get there, it's in a bag behind the counter, already paid for and ready to go.

B&M done right will be wildly successful. Those that gouge will be mostly attractive to new vapers (who will eventually discover the world of mail order), IMO.

 

[Frenchfry1942]

I just bought Protank 2s for $13.50. The Provari was selling for $147.00...on-line. B&M places are good for somethings but not hardware

 

[Whatnametouse]

I walked by this place in the mall that wanted $20 bucks for a 5 ml container of e-juice

What place Brad?

 

[Free6413]

With the insurgency of hard to resist online deals and specials, one does wonder how these vape shops can pull themselves out of the red! My understand of business management isn't as up to par as others, but even I have my doubts. The market and target audience just doesn't seem as bountiful as it's online counterpart. Hopefully time will change this!

It is all according to the local market and the knowledge of the customer base. I find myself in a totally different situation as in my local vicinity (within a four mile radius) there are five different B&M's. The proprietors of these shops are very well aware of the others and are also aware they are competing with each other AND the internet. This creates a remarkable scenario for the customer and the shopkeeps. The prices are comparable the juices are anywhere from pretty good to awesome! The other thing that is a plus is there is no waiting by the box for your vapemail to arrive! I feel like I am fortunate to fall into this area as I was not into vaping when I chose this place to live. It is clear proof that things always seem to work out.

Sorry...back to topic! I found that when a shop is busy is not a time to sample flavors and can be frustrating. It may be helpful to ask the salesperson when would be a good "down time" to return so you can be more selective.

 

[anumber1]

I just bought Protank 2s for $13.50. The Provari was selling for $147.00...on-line. B&M places are good for somethings but not hardware

But... how much was it to your door? Were you able to sample half a dozen juices online?
Some parts of a visit to a vape shop are worth a buck or two for me (thats me).

The $20 protank 2 I got last night, was filled in the store with Epic applejax ($9) which I sampled in the store.

No supprises. No defective parts to return, juice that required no steeping or a "oh that is *NASTY*" supprise in my mailbox a week later.

Online purchasing is great, no knocking it at all but, its the intangibles that are sometimes worth a few bucks for me.

I got to try a pt3. Bought another pt2 instead because I like the draw and single coil better. I could only make that decision with both products in my hand. That was worth $5 (to me).



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[Tinkiegrrl]

Vape shops are a fairly new phenomenon in NYC (with the exception of Brooklyn), and I'm finding that each shop that opens in Manhattan has a slightly better selection and better pricing then the last. More competition equals better experience all around.


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[Coelli]

I do get to Rancho about 2-3 times a month and I have heard about this shop....gonna check it out next time. How are the prices there?

I'd say the prices are fair on juice; a little marked up on equipment, but not outrageously (granted I haven't priced mods, just atomizers). And the juice they carry is very good, with lines like Ben Johnson's and Suicide Bunny. They also have a build counter so if you buy a rebuildable atomizer, for $10 they'll rebuild it for you; this is handy if you buy something like a Genesis-style atomizer and don't want to try rebuilding it yourself. I had them do the AGA-T2 I bought there and the build guy used steel cable and Ekowool and did a great job.

The place is very well laid out with free coffee, even, and every time we've been there the staff was really helpful and solicitous. We live in L.A. but drive to Glendora once a month and usually add the 20 minutes each way to go stop in there.

 

[DaveP]

Go to YouTube and watch the PBusardo "Taste Your Juice" videos. It's worth your time if you are considering a purchase of anything from tanks to mods. He does accurate, in depth reviews of everything that hits the market. It's a good place to start especially if you are thinking of buying something high end in a B&M. The worst thing you can do is walk in and not really know what you want or why one is better than the other.

PBusardo just did an in depth review of 8 or ten dual coil tanks with adjustable air flow. The Aspire Nautilus won, but most of the others were not that far behind in his field test.

 

[tazzle]

I unscrewed the wrong area and voila

Haha! I've done this about 10 times with my Minis... doobeedoobeedoooo, I'll just top off this off before I run out and start burning up my wicks, doobeedoooo, lalalaaaa *twist, twist, squirt* D'OH!!!!!!

Except instead of spilling juice from the tank, I'm trying to inject juice into the connector end, and it spills everywhere. /absentminded vaper

 

[vampyre74]

My b & m is out the box on hardware, but their juice is both good, and not too expensive at $6-7 for a 15ml.

 

[Frenchfry1942]

But... how much was it to your door? Were you able to sample half a dozen juices online?
Some parts of a visit to a vape shop are worth a buck or two for me (thats me).

The $20 protank 2 I got last night, was filled in the store with Epic applejax ($9) which I sampled in the store.

No supprises. No defective parts to return, juice that required no steeping or a "oh that is *NASTY*" supprise in my mailbox a week later.

Online purchasing is great, no knocking it at all but, its the intangibles that are sometimes worth a few bucks for me.

I got to try a pt3. Bought another pt2 instead because I like the draw and single coil better. I could only make that decision with both products in my hand. That was worth $5 (to me).



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Free over $50. I bought 3 PT2s and a couple of other things. The idea of having a list of on-line vendor links has helped me. Like anything in this world, shopping for values is worthwhile.

My juices are local and I test them there.

I had no intention of "flaming" someone. The intent was to just put out there what values can be found by shopping.

 

[Saganite]

I have a hard time tasting anything when I sample at juice bars and have made many regrettable purchases because of it.

I find they taste different in the shop than when I get them home. Every single bottle I've bought at a B&M tasted dramatically better in the store than when I got it home. Two different shops and I've no idea why, but at this point, I've most given up on the idea of trying them first and just order sample bottles online. At least that way I can drip them.

That said, I can't think of a single rational reason it should be that way. Just bad luck for me on the ones I bought, I guess.

 

[Saganite]

Yes, I agree. I did seem to get a bit of a feel of a superiority complex from the employees there.

The first one I went to (the only one less than an hour away from me), the guy launched in on me right away about how there was this other shop in town but all their juices were poisoned and so it closed down. I'm not sure why it even mattered that there WAS another shop if there isn't anymore.

Then he explained that they don't really carry the things they list on their website in terms of juice. They really just carry their own juices and a few that they haven't sold from a company or two other than them.

I have no issue with a shop stocking their own juice, but I like it when I can try what other companies are doing, too. Why only carry your own and trash everyone else's? I ended up buying one of his that tasted okay in the store. It's still sitting in my vapestation because I hated the taste once I got home. Weird.

 

[Frenchfry1942]

My liquid B&M place is also an on-line vendor that also has several stores in the local big city. Each store has its own mixing lab.

Oh, as to tasting different at home...I bet all the B&Ms use a separate atomizers for each flavor when taste testing. Mine pulls out a little box from a dark spot, has two bottles for different nicotine's and two atomizers (one for each). They are probably well aired.

 

[Heartisan]

you know what i noticed brick and mortar store employees hate more than anything? an informed customer.

I'm in a small town, so I was thrilled when a 'Vaping Lounge' opened here. Wound up with the owner aggressively trying to sell my off brand PVs that I knew we're crap. Everything was marked up 20-30% from what I'm used to seeing online.
The only positive thing was that I got to try several types of tanks, and finally made the jump to Kangers (for work only). Still drip at home.

Weirdest thing ever--> grungy customers from the bar next door would come in, palm some money to the owner, look around the store furtively and disappear into the back 'hookah' section. Can just imagine what was really going on!

I'll stick with online vendors!