Stupid implulse purchase..paid way to much?

[SmellYaLaterCigs]

Sadly I wayyyy overpaid when I first started vaping. I purchaed 2-3 mods from B&M's before finding fasttech. I easily "overpaid" $200-300.

I don't blame the stores though and I certainly wouldn't use terms like "rip-off" or "gouging". It was completely my own fault for paying the prices I did - not theirs. The goal of these stores should be to set the highest price people are willing to pay. People who haven't done their research like myself are willing to pay these prices so why shouldn't they charge that much?

If they lowered prices just to protect people who haven't done research then they'd be giving away money just like the people who don't do research do.

 

[pennysmalls]

Totally agree! I admit it was MY fault for not doing the research AHEAD of time, but if it makes the OP feel any better, I got *bleeped* without a kiss as well because I was new and one of the local B&M shops took advantage. While I agree with earlier posts that say they have to charge 50%-100% more due to costs of an actual store vs. FT, I do NOT think they should be gouging. I got it even worse than the OP. I looked up almost exactly what I bought (a very basic vv twist setup) on FT, it TOTALED $35.00. So I wouldn't have minded 50% - 100% more (which is $52.50 - $70.00). Not knowing what they were worth and being new buying my first setup, they charged me $120.00! That is close to a THREE HUNDRED AND FORTY TWO (342) percent MARKUP. Ridiculous. They will never see another PENNY from me again. If anyone here on ECF is in Colorado is considering going to a B&M in the metro Denver area (or thinking about ordering online from a Colorado based website) and want to know the name of the B&M and/or web address, let me know, I will gladly pm you. This is what I got for my $120.00:

Colorado E-Smokes Pro Colesman

Never again.

Aw man, that sucks! Thanks for sharing your experience though. There should be a sticky warning us noobs about this kind of thing.

 

[pennysmalls]

$1/ml - OMG -JC dont charge that much............OMG OMG OMG - if I were you - i would never ever enter that store again - same thing I did with the local vendor I mentioned in an earlier post......only in a life/death situation did I order from them - needed a part that they were the only ones I could find had in stock - FT might have a new customer......lol

damthis- what is JC? Yeah, I think other than an occasional emergency coil if I run out I won't be going back.

 

[ScottP]

Sadly I wayyyy overpaid when I first started vaping. I purchaed 2-3 mods from B&M's before finding fasttech. I easily "overpaid" $200-300.

I don't blame the stores though and I certainly wouldn't use terms like "rip-off" or "gouging". It was completely my own fault for paying the prices I did - not theirs. The goal of these stores should be to set the highest price people are willing to pay. People who haven't done their research like myself are willing to pay these prices so why shouldn't they charge that much?

If they lowered prices just to protect people who haven't done research then they'd be giving away money just like the people who don't do research do.

...OR maybe by lowering the price they could sell more and thus improving their over all profit margin. I mean would you rather make $100 profit on 10 items or $50 profit on 20 items?

 

[InTheShade]

Well looks like it might be time to pay the negative supplier forum a visit and name and shame. Warn your fellow vapers.

Sorry this happened to you. It almost happened to me when I first started vaping but I just stopped myself pulling the trigger and saved myself a bundle.

I'm sure this is a story that many have had to deal with, but few mention.

Oh, JC is Smoke Juice Johnson Creek Smoke Juice

 

[pennysmalls]

I agree that most people have no idea what it costs to run a business. It's not just the cost of the materials, you have to pay employees, taxes, rent, power, etc. etc. along with that thing called 'profit' (at least theoretically).

I'll go against the tide here and say the OP should keep the item. The store was there, open, and had available an item he needed to get him through a tight spot (he wanted another battery because his were charging). He's used the items and they work as they are supposed to. Why should the store get stuck with used equipment because the OP didn't do his research first?

It would be different if the items were defective or if the store told him the item was an 'X' when it was really a 'Y' but that doesn't seem to be the case.

That's one way to look at it. I should be held accountable for not knowing my stuff when the info is available. But at the same time it's sad that I have to research at all, just to make sure I'm not getting ripped off, because people will rip me off if that's the kind of person they are.

 

[Bombies]

Damn man yeah.
FastTech.com
For $58.85 you can get the new stainless steel VAMO V3, with a non generic charger (nitecore i2), 2x 18650 Panasonic batteries. It ships from China. Its well worth the 6-8 day wait. I got mine from there 3 weeks ago and I love it. Its awesome!

 

[InTheShade]

Sadly I wayyyy overpaid when I first started vaping. I purchaed 2-3 mods from B&M's before finding fasttech. I easily "overpaid" $200-300.

I don't blame the stores though and I certainly wouldn't use terms like "rip-off" or "gouging". It was completely my own fault for paying the prices I did - not theirs. The goal of these stores should be to set the highest price people are willing to pay. People who haven't done their research like myself are willing to pay these prices so why shouldn't they charge that much?

If they lowered prices just to protect people who haven't done research then they'd be giving away money just like the people who don't do research do.

I actually agree a little with this - it's always on the buyer to find out if the price they are paying is of value to them.

However I take issue with the whole no returns, you're SOL attitude afterwards. That's the part where I would have gone from being disappointed in my own lack of research to being angry with a lack of customer service.

As a store it's my job to look for solutions to make the customer happy, not just tell them no, sorry there is nothing I can do.

This is especially if I know that I am charging a 400% mark-up on a product as I have a lot of wiggle room to still make some cash but make the customer happy.

 

[xtwosm0kesx]

IMO the E-bay resellers are the WORST, literally just taking FT/Chinabuye/HC product and marking it up 100%+, and reselling it, all while breaking the TOS of E-bay (not that its not a ridiculous policy).

B&M margins can be nuts but at least they have some expenses/overhead.

Doesnt take much work to order a mech and rba from FT, screw it together, then put it on E-bay for double the price.

Hell half of um are literally using old FT pics, from before they started the plexi-logo thing.

Sickening.

 

[Plumes.91]

Brick and Mortar stores are good for home made juice you dont have to wait for. If they don't sell home made juice then they probably are the type of brick and mortar store that wants it's customer's dumbed down and ready to throw money at them for their "brand new custom built dual coil atomizer tank with custom knurling, now with a higher heated coil chamber for extra flavor extraction qualities!" (when its just a Fasttech 2.0ohm $2 CE3 knockoff)

My "brick and mortar" sells eGos for the price you paid for that Vamo so don't feel so bad. They still only sell prefilled cartomizers (they dont even want their customers to know that you can buy juice in bottles) and their cartomizers (which all meter out to 2.5ohms) are 21.20 for five. You can get the same ones online for 5 bucks shipped Not only does my "brick and mortar" not care about their customers, but they don't care about vaping in general. They didn't respond to numerous e-mails that were sent to them regarding upcoming FDA and local government regulation meetings. Some brick and mortars just don't care about anything but $.

 

[calico21]

While the whole B&M mark-up thing is a downright drag, When I started this adventure 2 yrs ago stuff was limited. I saw it at the mall,That neat cig looking thing, I just got laid -off, sure I can save money this way. I'll buy. $80 plus tax for 1 kr808d, 1 charger and 5 carto's and I'll go home and look up on line what people are saying.........TA DA I got screwed, but did I learn my lesson, yes. If I was beepin' desperate and I had no back-up would I go there and buy just a battery? Maybe, I'd look around first, maybe I'd say to heck with it. I may have gotten screwed to begin with but I do still buy juice there when times get tough, and if it's because I spent to much the first time that he's still in business, good on me.
P.S. I do give em heck every chance I get. They are sponsoring a Harley give -a -way I'm headed for now; watch me change the crowd's idea of vaping

 

[Aaron1100us]

That sucks. Got my Vamo V3 for $32 with free shipping.

Sent from my SCH-R760 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Plumes.91]

Nuvo Cig <--- Who I was referring to in my previous post. (Don't ever buy from Nuvocig)
a Plumes.91 approved message. (not necessarily the opinions of the owner of this account)

 

[cvedrick]

If it helps any, here is a kiss...

 

[JustMe2]

I would have a hard time supporting my local shop if they charged prices like yours...I feel fortunate having half a dozen or so shops within a 30 minute drive.

 

[supermarket]

Ok, so I should be kicking myself lol! Bummer! I will never never never buy without researching again.

You learned a $150 lesson, and got a vamo kit out of it.

 

[SissySpike]

I would not take it back after I used it. I would probably go buy and let them know I felt cheated but its ultimately the buyers responsibility to buy wisely. I certainly would not give them anymore business.

 

[BigBen2k]

That's one way to look at it. I should be held accountable for not knowing my stuff when the info is available. But at the same time it's sad that I have to research at all, just to make sure I'm not getting ripped off, because people will rip me off if that's the kind of person they are.

Penny wise and Pound foolish.

Live and learn I suppose, but man it makes me mad, not only that it happened to me but also knowing they will do it to others.

On occasion, a vendor will be stuck with an item that they bought early when it became available, and as the supply price dropped, ends up stuck with it. The vendor then has to take a loss on it instead of dumping it on an unsuspecting customer.

It's the cost of doing business on the "cutting edge" of technology (or a volatile market).

I don't understand why Penny's merchant was selling an older model, if he's only been in business for 3 months (or why he was selling a Mod!). My local shop sells juice @ $0.67 per mL, but I'm ok with that.

 

[damthisisfun]

damthis- what is JC? Yeah, I think other than an occasional emergency coil if I run out I won't be going back.

Johnson creek E juice - i started with em - stuck with em - lol....Johnson Creek Smoke Juice - We Make Premium Smoke Juice for all electronic smoking devices! Johnson Creek Smoke Juice! one of the best juice IMHO - have wasted more dollars on juice that is sitting in the dark closet, steeping for a year than I have on vapeable juice - lol - that may be one time a B&M is the place to go if they carry broad line of juice and have free tastings.......

 

[Train2]

I've noticed that - when you put a link to a vendor, it gets converted to a "shareasale" or whatever - wasn't me!
I don't MAKE money from vaping - just spend it. lol

Are you trying to make a profit by using a sharesale link or did ECF put that part in?