Support your local brick and mortar?

[subliminalurge]

I would love to, but no Google search that I have been able to concoct produces one.

The closest I can find are in Chicago (3 hour drive) and St Louis (4 1/2 hour drive). Plus I don't know if either one even has a storefront or if they're strictly online. Then there's a juice vendor in Cedar Rapids, but I know he's strictly online.

There is the Tececig kiosk at the mall, but they have typical kiosk prices and only offer 2 hardware options, both mediocre quality and overpriced. I have bought juice from them in a pinch, but at $10 for 10ml, I'll be avoiding that as much as possible.

Chalk me up as another one with an inner entrepreneur itching to get out. Just get all queasy when I think about getting into a business that seems to be sitting in the crosshairs for a big ol' government smackdown any minute now....

 

[5vz]

There are 2 near here. Not close enough that I can get to though. It also appears they only have starter kit stuff and some juice, and priced a "bit" high. So, I have no choice but support online vendors.

I imagine most small B&M's are going to be a bit higher so they can pay the rent, purchase goods, etc..., until this really becomes a lot more popular. It's not as if a small business owner has thousands to invest from jump start.

 

[Batsu]

i support my local shop whenever i can, takes a lot to open a shop in a little known business and hope for the best, the B&M places need the support of the community whenever we can give it.

 

[capnhack]

You people are lucky to have proper shops around selling this kind of thing, as much for getting the word out to more people as for being able to wander in and have a discussion. There's absolutely nothing brick and mortar near me or, seemingly, anywhere in the UK. Whilst that's probably down to all the national and EU regulations on this stuff, I would think that you could avoid such issues by just not selling the liquid itself. Sadly, custom made eliquid is one of the things that local shops could use to set themselves apart from the online businesses and I think, if marketed correctly, having a local shopkeep who could mix up your own personal flavour on demand and while you wait would be a great boon to a small business such as this and to the vaping community as a whole.

 

[SWMBO]

Definately sounds like a mixed bag. I sure do agree about the scary factor of opening a store when all these government agencies are making work for themselves by dreaming up imaginary problems they can need to address with regulation, taxation, criminalization. Grrrr. I better not get going on that rant. LOL.

 

[subliminalurge]

I better not get going on that rant. LOL.

LOL... No need. I've got the same rant in my head just dying to get out.

My favorite is when they trot out the phrase "trace amounts". A phrase they only use when talking about something they want to regulate and/or ban. Nobody gets their panties in a bunch over the "trace amounts" of uranium (amongst so many other things) that most cities have in their tap water. The same tap water people mix up their baby formula with. (Won't somebody just think of the CHILLLLDRENNNNN?)

Sorry. Had to let at least a little bit of the rant out for fear that my head might explode.

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

There's also another reputable ECF listed vendor in Toronto that rents a stall at a Flea Mkt every weekend. Kinda neat cuz lottsa vapers come to hang out and it's a great setup for new vapers to actually try other's gear and actually see and experience them before making the leap.

 

[MadValleyVapingMama]

Vapoor, Wasaga Beach is about a 4 hr drive for me, close to that to Toronto too. (I live in Barry's Bay, about 50 km east of Algonquin Park) I have family in Fergus, near Guelph, so I will be checking out the TO Flea Mkt next time I go down.
It would be so cool to hang out with some vapers and get some advice on this new lifestyle.

 

[jacquelyn]

I have 2 with in 2 hours of me. 1 that is very close called the vapor spot has crazy over price supplies but an awesome juice selection at $1 a ml. He only carries ego batteries 510 and premium e-cigs type supplies. But charges like $70 for 1 battery. I am sorry but when he is marking up 200% I have a problem with that. ALso he sells other vapor products and has a bar for it also. I can't stand the smell! Also I tried to get a 3 ohm carto and he didn't have anything worth grabbing.

The other 1 is awesome it is 2 hours away but reasonably prices and a great selection. I actually am going down there today to fix my tank.

 

[FAAmecanic]

Found out yesterday we have a local brick and mortar vape shop. Not a mall joint either. Went by there today to check it out.

Got me to wondering if folks here try to support a local shop if they have one or mostly still use the online suppliers. I just ordered supplies last week so I didn't need anything today. She had lots of premixed flavors, a few different types of starter kits, some hardware (atties-carts-cartos etc) a few batteries, chargers and other accessories. She is planning on having a DIY section in a month. I didn't pay attention to prices there so I don't know how they compare to internet prices. The shop was actually steadily busy for the 1/2 hr I spent there. Surprised to find them open on a holiday. The owners were very friendly and willing to chat even though I was not spending money today.

Links to news stories and articles on the stores web site show that the owner is front and center in the fight to halt the bans in our county. As a new vaper, I was totally unaware that such was even going on. Think I'll try to throw some business her way from now on even if the cost turns out to be a little higher. And try to pay attention to the political wrangling going on.

I like supporting my local B&M... used to be one (in a different business) myself. Sadly there are none in my area

SWMBO... you a golf fan?? I ask because David Feherity uses that acronym a lot in his GOLF magazine column. For those that are wondering SWMBO is She Who Must Be Obeyed (my wife being a gold card memember of the sWMBO club...lol)

 

[Mud Stuffin]

There's a MadVapes shop within 30 minutes from me. Will be checking them out tomorrow

 

[subliminalurge]

SWMBO is also very commonly used in homebrewing forums.

 

[Trucapri]

There's a MadVapes shop within 30 minutes from me. Will be checking them out tomorrow

Let me know how it goes! I drove out there last week (an hour for me) and was very disappointed. Great potential, though. Just really bad, bad management. I'm curious to know if I just hit a bad day with the associate running the place, or not.

 

[Keeno]

I've purchased my 510-T starter kit from my local and all else to a tune of around 400.00 so far. At this moment I've got a LT on order and will pick up the AW batteries and charger local even though it'll run me about 8.00 more. I believe it's very important to support the local e-cig effort as much possible and as long as prices are within reason I'll continue to do so. Very thankful I've got a good local shop.

 

[sawtooth]

There's a sweet local B&M shop in my neck of the woods. I first got started there on a Joye eGo setup which I still consistently use. Only problem is that they don't stock 100% VG juice and since I am allergic to PG, I have to order online. Otherwise, I would support them more than I already do. Currently they are my goto source when I run out of cartos, though. I just hop on my bike (which no longer feels like death to my lungs, thank you ecigs!) and in ten minutes, I'm good to go.

 

[Scottinboca]

I'm waiting for a B&M shop down here in South Florida. I can't believe there's not one here. The Tri-County area down here is a good market I would think. Oh well!

 

[FAAmecanic]

SWMBO is also very commonly used in homebrewing forums.

Ahhh true... was a homebrewer (beer I assume...not radio) for about 10 years awhile back (damn diabetes I had to stop drinking beer/booze).

Sorry for OT.... back to our regularly scheduled program.

 

[HzG8rGrl]

Maybe COV/Bruce will open one when he gets settled in!

I'm waiting for a B&M shop down here in South Florida. I can't believe there's not one here. The Tri-County area down here is a good market I would think. Oh well!

 

[Scottinboca]

I'm hoping that's the case. Since he's in Boca, if opened up shop it could be right by me. It would be so awesome.

Maybe COV/Bruce will open one when he gets settled in!

 

[SWMBO]

I know zip zero zilch nada about golf FAAmecanic, but you have the acronym right. I first heard it regarding Rumpole's wife Hida. Proud to be in the same club as your wife!

I like supporting my local B&M... used to be one (in a different business) myself. Sadly there are none in my area

SWMBO... you a golf fan?? I ask because David Feherity uses that acronym a lot in his GOLF magazine column. For those that are wondering SWMBO is She Who Must Be Obeyed (my wife being a gold card memember of the sWMBO club...lol)