Support your local brick and mortar?

[DeviantDe]

Sadly no local stores here. There are several real stores in Washington and Oregon, but they are all about 200 miles away from me.
If something was closer I would definitely go, but it's far more cost effective to have things shipped than to drive that far.

 

[BluSwatch]

There is a new local store by me, but it's a cigar shop, with very few e-cig supplies. The guy is nice, has a few high priced starter kits, and a few local juices .... but I tried a few and just can't do it. I really didn't care for the juice. I did get passthrough cables from him, and a few attys, but the selection is so limited. I did buy a nice wood pipe-rack from him to hold up my PVs.
I showed him my GLV w/Phiniac tank and I thought his eyes would bug out.

 

[Spartan8029]

Thank goodness for the search feature, I just found a local store by searching!

 

[deemer]

I would support a local store for sure. Closest one is about four hours away

 

[Ande]

I go out of my way to support good vendors.

This might mean supporting a brick and mortar store, but it seems like more often it means supporting a good online vendor.

So many vendors are mall ripoff rackets.

And some of the best businesses in the vaping business don't have a store, except online.

Just go with the good ones,

Ande

 

[jonny2hottie]

im in SoCal and i definitely support my local brick and mortar as well as my local online retailer. they basicly have just about everything on the market that one could need and i dont need to wait!

 

[beef6779]

I think until this gets more popular its better to have the online shops, but I have paid (while out of town) double the price for liquid with a smile just because a head shop had fluid when i needed it.

 

[Shel]

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.

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.

I just checked out the Vapor Spot in Westwood, online.

YIKES! $99 for an eGo? SERIOUSLY?

I've purchased eGo kits for my brother-in-law (he doesn't vape or smoke. He's purchased them to help/insist his employees quit smoking! He, with my help, has aided three employees in taking up e-cigs, and the eGo kits, juice etc. cost about $55 total!)

Jacquelyn...care to share the name of the other vapor store which you said is a couple of hours away?

I'd be happy to support a local b/m store, but not at outrageous prices!

 

[Retriever]

I would support a local store that had something more than disposables.

 

[DaveP]

I recently found out that there's a new vendor in my area, but they work out of their home and don't encourage walk in traffic. Their prices are competitive with other online vendors and they are nice folks to deal with per their email responses.

Brick and mortar stores have to do lots of online business to make expenses. The cost of supporting an actual office and warehouse can drive up the prices if the volume is one on one business that involves personal contact. You have to have people to spend time with the customer and that greatly increases cost. I can understand the premium prices, but not double, IMHO.

 

[PaperCoyote]

I don't know of any B&Ms near me but I did find a vendor at a flea market here with good prices and a decent selection of products. The only problem is he is only open for business on Friday - Sunday. But since he is local (and gives me good deals) I will use him in conjunction with online stores. Whether or not they are online all vape shops need our support.

 

[barbee865]

I don't know of any B&Ms near me but I did find a vendor at a flea market here with good prices and a decent selection of products. The only problem is he is only open for business on Friday - Sunday. But since he is local (and gives me good deals) I will use him in conjunction with online stores. Whether or not they are online all vape shops need our support.

We have a guy here in knoxville at the flea market, he's pretty high on most stuff. He sells dekang juice at about $1.00/ml which is way too high for me. i bought my first ego-t kit from him at $100 before i knew better.

 

[dimo]

I live in the chicago area and cignot has a retail store about 15-20 min away from me. They charge the same price in the store as they do online. I don't even bother with the post office. I just go and get what I need.

 

[Lethalp]

We have a brick and mortar here about 30 minutes from me, and after being a loyal customer for awhile and reading alot on ecf, I learned I was getting ripped off. $15 for 15 ml $30 for 30 ml, $3 for carts, my box mod was $59. Plus I have learned he has really shoddy underhanded business practices like reselling used items as new at full cost and using used parts in mods. It was very disheartening to see that, I had high hopes for having a brick and mortar so close, but alas I ll do my business online, or travel 1 1/2 hrs to Indy vapor shop. My point being if u have a brick and mortar check it out and compare prices before u put ur money down. Learning u could have gotten it online even with paying shipping cheaper is not alot of fun...

 

[Geekstress]

We have a Volcano Lounge that opened recently here in Raleigh. Being able to try the Inferno in person was what made me decide to upgrade my gear from my old KR808-D stuff. Since it's brand-specific, they only stock the Volcano stuff, but I'm okay with that. I make most of my own juices, but I'll happily buy a couple of their flavors that I really like, as well as clearomizers and other supplies. I like the fact that it's a lounge, so I can drop a few bucks on coffee or drinks, even if I'm not buying any vaping stuff. I definitely want to support local business!

 

[charady]

The only place near me I have found is over by Omaha/council bluffs Iowa. It is a tobacco shop and their juices were like $15 for 10 ml. All they sell for ecigs is a variety of disposables too. Wasn't too impressed (and their disposables were expensive!) Checked it out back in November. I wouldn't mind trying some of their juices next time I am there, just to see what its like in case I ever have to wait too long for the post office, but it is very expensive!

 

[Robot_Mailman]

Anyone know of any good B&M's near Cincinnati or Dayton? I checked the locator thing on the other page and it only came up with one place that seemed to be online only.

 

[Shadow102]

My closest B&M is actually TVR, and about 2hour drive for me each way. That being said I haven't actually visited the physical store front, however I've been a loyal online customer of theirs since I started vaping. Josh and Jess are awesome and hopefully one of these days I'll have an excuse to drive out to Fairmont and see them.

 

[Jammin246]

There is a B&M storefront for usa puff n stuff. It's in Wentzville MO. They will let you sample all of their 50+ flavors before you buy anything. Check them out if you are in the area!

 

[Dacoopah]

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.

That too has been my experience, sadly, with the MadVapes Store B&M. I use them only for eliquid now. Seemingly impossible to get them to answer their phone. When you're there in person, very tough to get them to actually listen to what you are saying vs. assuming they know. Maybe this isn't the right place to discuss this, but, since it was mentioned, felt I would weigh-in.

In summary - I would whole-heartedly support a local B&M, but the customer service - or the ability to shut up for 5 seconds so a customer can complete a thought - needs to be there to keep me coming back.