Steam Monkey Product Updates and Discussion: Join the Troop!

[eHuman]

I picked up a sheet of 400 and 500, and 1 order each of 28 and 32, and two orders of 30 kanthal with that IGO-L order from you. There was enough in the goody bag to (like you said) try a little of each in a few combinations. I picked up an AGA-T2+ (both tanks) from Eric @ DV when your first lot disappeared in 3 hours before I could get one. (Sorry I just couldn't wait) The IGO-L is in my hand at home and the T2 is out the door with me.

I have since set up my IGO-L with an all SS wick (went through your sample bag to perfect it).

 

[Fullknight]

Just placed my order for CCTS. Can't wait to try it out.


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[Sovran]

Any current coupon codes?

 

[eHuman]

Any current coupon codes?

Instead of using coupon codes that some people do not know about and therefore don't get the benefit of, SteamMonkey built a 15% discount in his prices so you don't have to enter a code to get it. It's calculated in the "add to cart" price already.

 

[Nitrobex]

I got the CCTS first impressions are... THE KICK IS A PAIN IN THE .... TO SET UP!... oh wait this is about the CCTS, the threads were smoother than I was expecting, the button is finickier than I was expecting over all pretty much what I was expecting, not a bad looking mod. I got the extension on it and the super long drip tip and a drunker tank currently, the air channels are nice, confused about some of the vent holes but will look into it more soon.

 

[Lance_Wallen]

Instead of using coupon codes that some people do not know about and therefore don't get the benefit of, SteamMonkey built a 15% discount in his prices so you don't have to enter a code to get it. It's calculated in the "add to cart" price already.

Not entirely accurate lol.

I price the vast majority of my items based on a formula I've got that generates enough profit for me to cover my time/effort and to build on my development stuff that I'm working for future items. My formula just happens to put my prices lower than a lot of other folks, some items are more expensive than other folks, etc. Theres no undercutting, no sales, just prices.

Because my prices are relatively low I don't usually run coupon codes or sales. I will, once in a while run a sale but it's targeted to move a product for various reasons (say I buy X, and Y from the same vendor and Y is getting low but X isn't, I might put X on sale to move some so I can justify the restock of Y and associated shipping/processing costs).

There are a number of tricks retailers use (not just ecig retailers) and are sort of stock in any retail education material you might read when starting a business.

x.99 prices make people think it's cheaper, i.e. 14.99 is less than 15! Yeah, I don't do that. I feel it's insulting to my customers intelligence (and it makes numbers more complicated on the back end )

Inflate your prices to cover shipping costs then offer free shipping! Another one that is overly complicated on my end and not worth the hassle. I just mark the stuff based on my formula which comes out pretty decent price wise and you pay for the shipping. You saved gas and time driving to a retail outlet (and probably money) so the shipping shouldn't be a big deal

Inflate your prices by X% then have a coupon code for X%. I dont' do this either, it's artificial savings and transparency is a huge part of my business model. It's why I tell you when I find a flaw with an item, mark my 'knock offs' as such and explain why I carry them, and why I openly talk about my pricing structure and shipping practices.

I figure if I'm honest and transparent, people will never feel scammed or taken advantage of. Go in educated with your eyes wide open and there should be no surprises when dealing with me. (outside of the random chinese QC issue )

 

[Sovran]

Lance, any chance on getting spare tanks for the AGR? My short tank met a juice it didnt like. I ordered another AGR, but it would be nice to get another short tank. I had to get some XXL cartos so it can go back in service but am worried the next time I find a killer juice.

 

[eHuman]

Not entirely accurate lol. )

My version was shorter

Yah I was just being a smarty. I read your take on pricing and discount codes before I even looked at your inventory the 1st time, once I did I saw the value and honest pricing.

 

[Lance_Wallen]

Lance, any chance on getting spare tanks for the AGR? My short tank met a juice it didnt like. I ordered another AGR, but it would be nice to get another short tank. I had to get some XXL cartos so it can go back in service but am worried the next time I find a killer juice.

It'll be after feb before I can get spare tank parts. I'm getting more whole AGRs in but the spare parts they weren't prepared for me to ask for them so they didn't have them and couldn't deliver on em before the holiday. Sorry brother.

For future reference: Avoid Spearmint or other "mint" menthol is usually safe but if it has "mint" sometimes those oils eat tanks up. Some banana's eat tanks, and some cinnamons eat tanks. There are a few others but I don't know them off the top of my head, those are just the most common offenders.

 

[Lance_Wallen]

My version was shorter

Yah I was just being a smarty. I read your take on pricing and discount codes before I even looked at your inventory the 1st time, once I did I saw the value and honest pricing.

Right
I've gotten some... lets call em "energetic" emails from what I can only assume were other stores accusing me of undercutting them on purpose when I first started. I don't tend to do that, I do look at my formula generated prices and compare them to market values but only to make sure it didn't kick out a number thats dramatically higher than anyone else. I never intentionally undercut, I don't think it's good for the market to get into a price war with anyone. I jsut price things how I do and let it go the way it does, seems to be workin though.

 

[Lance_Wallen]

BLARG I didn't finish all my chores! Still have 50 or so goody bags to build. I did manage to inventory everything and cut up the 1500ft of kanthal into 3ft and ~8inch segments.... my hands hurt =\

Night monkeys!

 

[Elnroth]

Right
I've gotten some... lets call em "energetic" emails from what I can only assume were other stores accusing me of undercutting them on purpose when I first started. I don't tend to do that, I do look at my formula generated prices and compare them to market values but only to make sure it didn't kick out a number thats dramatically higher than anyone else. I never intentionally undercut, I don't think it's good for the market to get into a price war with anyone. I jsut price things how I do and let it go the way it does, seems to be workin though.

Sounds like someone is jelly of your business model. I'm leaning towards people who run co-ops and make money off them. You're selling things that are usually available only through co-op, say less or equal to co-op prices. Most vendors seem to play it a little safer. They wait for the reviews from the co-op people to come out before deciding to carry a product.

 

[Lance_Wallen]

you know, I've got a few vendors I trust, I test a product before I sell it (except the zmax... stupid zmax ><) and if I like it and would use it, I sell it. I price it like I feel it's worth and I don't pull any punches in my personal reviews of the stuff I sell. I don't want money from unhappy people. I want educated consumers that value my customer service and honesty. I'll take less sales per month if every sale is a happy customer who has what they expected for the price they paid. Its MY job to find quality and provide it and that's why I'm pushing towards custom products made here in the US. For now, best in breed chinese will have to do

 

[Extraunordinary]

Hey all, wanted to drop a comment about my Igo-L I bought from Steam Monkey. Firstly, I ordered it Wednesday @ Midnight; it shipped out Thursday. I got home late last night from 15 hours of filming the Bicentennial celebrations for the War of 1812 here in Michigan, and the box was sitting on my kitchen counter; awesome. Despite being delirious, I opened it up, and got to soaking the Igo-L to clean it, while marveling at all the extras for it. I dried it off and wrapped a silica wick with a 2.0 Ohm coil. Wow, just wow, this thing works spectacularly. I couldn't be happier with my purchase. Easy assembly, extra parts and it holds at least 20 drops. Flavor is clean, and the throat hit is awesome. Air flow is good for me, and I can't get juice to leak out the air-hole even when I try. I held it horizontal, air-hole facing down, for a whole minute, and not a drop came out; I could see juice trying to come out, but it never did drip. I ordered the Heatsink Drip-Tip to go with it, and it looks sweet.

Thanks for opening up shop Lance, and offering great products with awesome prices; I am looking forward to buying, and trying, some of your other wares.

 

[Lance_Wallen]

woo! Glad ya like it. I'm assuming you got some civil war monkeys for the other thread...

 

[Extraunordinary]

woo! Glad ya like it. I'm assuming you got some civil war monkeys for the other thread...

Actually my Boss-man is a real square, and he wouldn't even let me take the Captain with me! I guess I should of done it on the down-low, but I didn't think I needed to.

 

[Lance_Wallen]

hah, I'm not too worried about it. I'm gonna scrub through the thread tomorrow. I'm not givin away who my favorites are yet

 

[Lance_Wallen]

Looks like DHL ships on MLKJR Bday.

So... tomorrow I should be receiving...

AGR carto tank restock
Aga-T+ RBA restock
Ego Twist restock
some (very limited quantity) of Igo-S (mini igo-L)

 

[Extraunordinary]

IGO-S? Google doesn't even give any results for that!!!

Edit: Aah, I googled mini IGO-L and found it.

 

[Lance_Wallen]

I've got a good working relationship with the manufacturer that's why I'm usually one of the first, if not the first person to have them available for sale. I did a lot of work with them to get some of those changes made to the Aga-T and have been working with them and giving them information on how to improve the pyrex tanks. The new revision of the pyrex is much cleaner looking but a touch more pricey.