This Is Why I Don't Support B&M Stores

[Whitechapel]

There are two vape stores in my area that are kind of popular. One is called Great Lakes Vapes and the other is Puff Smoke Shop.

1) Great Lakes Vapes is a joke for many reasons. They sell awful juice for 7.99 for less than a 15 ml (I forget the exact quantity but it's something weird). I asked if I could mix flavors my first time there. "No, I'm not good at it." Says some "mixologist" does it for him. She came in later and he still wouldn't do it. They sell flavor concentrates too, IE: Bluebacco as a juice. You can buy it offline and save yourself the money and get way more than if you bought their juice. Their mods are insanely overpriced and the scumbag sales guy was trying to sell a vastly overpriced Maraxus mod to an older woman I made friends with the last time I went. He stepped away for a minute and I told her DO NOT BUY IT.

2) I tried a new vape shop yesterday. I bought two bottles of Halo juice, a Monster, and a pack of smokes since I was flat out of juice. Freedom Juice was fine, no issues and love it. Midnight Apple however came open and 3/4th of the bottle was empty. I called to complain this morning and the guy called me a liar and said he'd give me 2 dollars off a new bottle. I was like are you serious?

Now I only have one bottle of juice to last me until the bottles I ordered online show up.

 

[szot]

Personally I have never been in a B&M vape shop that I have liked..I find the obvious, extremely way overpriced...then I find extremely ignorant clerks who have no idea about what they sell..and lastly owners who lie outright and tell you anything to make a buck..and I've been in many shops from Maine to Florida and Texas and Colorado...I own my own simple and small vape shops in my 2 bars/pubs which I sell basically at cost for educational purposes, and these B&M vape owners are a disgrace to the industry...I will always stay with well known and honorable and fair online sites domestically and in China for my vaping needs..

 

[cocuZZa00]

Brick and Mortars are good for newbies, that's about it. It's a good place for people new to vaping to try different juices and get an idea of what type of juice they really like. I also noticed the sale people are usually pretty knowledgeable (at least by me most of the sales people are) so it's a good way for people to get information that are just getting into vaping.

 

[Circa Survivor]

One I used to go to had overpriced mods and bad juice. They had a few good premium juices but they were overpriced. They also don't really know much about their products besides the starter and ego stuff, but that doesn't bother me since I know. I have one here that sells all the good stuff and at decent prices, but they're a 30min drive and it's a stupidly busy area so I don't like to go very often. I just get my stuff online xD

 

[Mrdaputer]

Wow sorry you guys have had so much trouble finding a good B&M. I went threw a few bad ones. The one I go to now is awesome. They are very knowledgeable and friendly.They have over 90 flavors that I can make my own juice with. They have a fun night and supply pizza and pop. I could go on and on. Hang in there ppl a true vapor store will come your way. To the OP any place that sell smokes is not a True vapor store

 

[SmokinRabbit]

Guess I'm lucky. All three in my area are decent and different from each other. I like going, and prefer it to buying online.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Equilibrium]

Yeah, sorry y'all are having such a hard time with your local stores.
I'm not a noob and I buy everything except kanthal and cotton from my local B&M. I'm really fortunate to have a nice, friendly, knowledgeable, reasonably priced and well stocked store just minutes from my house.

 

[Reverend Brimstone]

I'm a big fan of supporting local businesses, so I'm happy to shop at the local B&M... But it's far easier when you know what you're looking for and know what you should be spending. I've seen some prices that are way out of line for the industry, and I'm glad to know better and not overspend.

 

[stevegmu]

I think the best vape shops have a large internet presence and do most of their sales on the internet- like Sun Vapers or the Vaper's Knoll. They don't need to make their profit on walk in customers...

 

[Circa Survivor]

It seems like most of them in my area just popped up to make some quick cash. The one I referred to that I like seems to know their stuff and actually enjoy all aspects of vaping.

 

[XBarbarian]

there are good and bad, like anything else. unless a person has ever managed a retail outlet of some sort.. I would caution about "extremely over priced" etc comments.

unless volume is very high, its almost impossible to compete with big web sites. over head for a business is high..

I managed a number of retail locations.. not vape.. but skateboard shops, gas / service stations with mechanics on site, etc. people complain aout gas, but the station often sells regular gas at cost or a loss. there is zero margin. only rebates based on volume from the distributor. people are like sheep.. they will spend $5 in gas to drive to the cheapest gas station.. and save $.30? seriously.
the skateboard biz I ran, we had about 40% of wholesale costs added on for margin. If as a retailer.. I buy stock for 100$.. that means I take the risk of buying something, that can quite possibly be unwanted by the time it gets to me, and I eat that $100 investment.

as a consumer, I love the web, I can buy cheap in general. but as a previous business operator, it sux..

do you understand stuff like over head? rent, electricity, insurance, taxes, labor, etc? you know how much volume a biz has to do to even pay the bills.. before any profit can be claimed?

as far as unknowing staff.. ya.. that is fixable. but all too often.. folks can't be bothered. search and support local B&M vapers.. they will have the passion to learn and understand.

 

[Circa Survivor]

there are good and bad, like anything else. unless a person has ever managed a retail outlet of some sort.. I would caution about "extremely over priced" etc comments.

unless volume is very high, its almost impossible to compete with big web sites. over head for a business is high..

I managed a number of retail locations.. not vape.. but skateboard shops, gas / service stations with mechanics on site, etc. people complain aout gas, but the station often sells regular gas at cost or a loss. there is zero margin. only rebates based on volume from the distributor. people are like sheep.. they will spend $5 in gas to drive to the cheapest gas station.. and save $.30? seriously.
the skateboard biz I ran, we had about 40% of wholesale costs added on for margin. If as a retailer.. I buy stock for 100$.. that means I take the risk of buying something, that can quite possibly be unwanted by the time it gets to me, and I eat that $100 investment.

as a consumer, I love the web, I can buy cheap in general. but as a previous business operator, it sux..

do you understand stuff like over head? rent, electricity, insurance, taxes, labor, etc? you know how much volume a biz has to do to even pay the bills.. before any profit can be claimed?

as far as unknowing staff.. ya.. that is fixable. but all too often.. folks can't be bothered. search and support local B&M vapers.. they will have the passion to learn and understand.

Most people are just going to shop online then. It's about getting the best price. I'd be all for supporting my local B&M, if the prices were REASONABLE.

 

[Reverend Brimstone]

Most people are just going to shop online then. It's about getting the best price. I'd be all for supporting my local B&M, if the prices were REASONABLE.

I try to keep an acceptable profit margin in mind when I shop locally. I know people have overhead, and I'd like to think they pay their people decently. I'm OK to pay a little extra for it.

 

[00gt1]

I am lucky to have a nice B&M by me that I have been going to since they opened. They recently opened up a second location and unfortuatly that means the location by me suffered a bit. They moved their tasting bar to the new location and it seems the dregs of their employees now work at the old location. That being said, their juice prices are on par with online and taste just as good if not better. Their items however, are priced as to be expected in retail, more than online.

 

[Mikepresjr]

I love my local store. I've been going there since I first started vaping mid 2013, back when they were all about the protanks and the innokins. Obviously they mark up prices but they have an awesome selection of RDA's and Kayfuns and even a couple DNA30 devices with batteries to spare. Plus the woman that works there is SMOKING fine. Ermgod.

 

[noel18]

I like my local vape shop. The people are friendly and sometimes I just hang out there and vape. If it wasn't for them I'd still be smoking cigs. Glad they are there. Plus it's nice to support the local businesses.

 

[razor4432]

The B&M near me when I lived in the Dallas, TX area were fantastic and the same goes for the ones I have been to in Milwaukee, WI. I have no problems paying a little more compared to online since they do have added expenses to cover. I simply don't buy something if it is outrageously over priced.

 

[JayQC]

I go to B&Ms often, but when I do it's because I have done the research myself on a product I want before I go out and buy it.

 

[Davey59]

I go to my local because they have F'ing great tasting juices! quite expensive compared to some online venders but cheaper than many that claim a premium status. I am too cheap to pay the extreme markup on hardware though. For a beginner though, the knowledge they can get paying a little more upfront can actually save them money in the long run and even possibly keep them from giving up.

The vape chick manager is super nice and extremely knowledgeable. One of the other employees is thankless socialist and easily excited (they always are). Very entertaining.

I am glad they are here and will support them within reason.

 

[Goodyaz]

I love my local store. I've been going there since I first started vaping mid 2013, back when they were all about the protanks and the innokins. Obviously they mark up prices but they have an awesome selection of RDA's and Kayfuns and even a couple DNA30 devices with batteries to spare. Plus the woman that works there is SMOKING fine. Ermgod.

I have a few local shops that I go to and one particular that I have gone to since the day it opened (pretty knowledgeable). I have a problem with the smoking hot chicks that know about dripping and rdas. I got talked into buy a mech yesterday by this chick. It does the same thing as the others and is shiny and has lock on it in case you leave it out... It looks nicer lol. Women always have to have what looks good. I was just going to buy a kayfun mini and leave nope... had to get the mech because the hott sales chick that knows about this stuff told me to. I fail...