I usually go to the B&M for eliquid only since I don't need anything else. I'm not really interested in trying a bunch of new flavors so after I found a couple I really like from my local shop I get my refills with them. Their eliquid isn't "cheap' per se but it's not outrageous either & I like to spend my money locally whenever I can.
This Is Why I Don't Support B&M Stores
- Thread starter Whitechapel
- Start date
- th_trl_thread_readers 0
- Status
In general I agree. But B&M stores can also be great for an experienced vaper or a newb accompanied by an experienced vaper. I have noticed that just as many stores underprice some merchandise as those that overprice. So, I enjoy visiting any B&M store to see what kind of deal I can score. Just got back from Colorado Springs and visited a B&M where I picked up a 5 pack of the new Kanger dual coil atomizers (enclosed) that were marked down with the older coils for only $5.95.
Not having visited many vaping B&M's, I can only relate my limited experience - however I have to say my local is amazing. When I walked in there a few weeks ago looking to delve into the world of vaping a second time around, the proprietor (whom happens to be an Addictions Councilor) spent a good hour going over the various styles of e-cig, sampling juices, and making sure that I got what I need to get off the nails.
While I'm sure I could have gotten a better deal through the net, I wouldn't have had either the personal touch in building me a starter kit to meet my needs/expectations, or the instant gratification of running my CC and walking away...with my purchase. Having been back since, I can also say that they toss in a couple of freebies with pretty much every purchase - not to mention filling my tank with the juice of my choosing on the house.
While I'm sure I could have gotten a better deal through the net, I wouldn't have had either the personal touch in building me a starter kit to meet my needs/expectations, or the instant gratification of running my CC and walking away...with my purchase. Having been back since, I can also say that they toss in a couple of freebies with pretty much every purchase - not to mention filling my tank with the juice of my choosing on the house.
You think the vape shops are bad.. Took the roommate to get some Nag Champa at the tobacco/head shop up the street and noticed they had lots of eGo type vapes.. $5 for a SINGLE coil for my Evod. $100 for an MVP 2 I just paid $35 for online. $80 or so for their no name Evod knockoffs.. No thank you!! Called one of the new vape stores in town about coils too, $20 for a 5 pack?? Not interested, time to order a $5 100ft roll of Kanthal direct from Temco heh..
Sent from my GT-P3110 using Tapatalk
Sent from my GT-P3110 using Tapatalk
Thank you sweet 8lb baby Jesus!!!! I was waiting for a comment like this to pop up! lol
That reminds me. One of my local store sells a 20ft roll of kanthal for $30!!!! When I saw that I was like "Hnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnngggg!"
Theres a couple of B&M shops near me. The one which is closest averages 200-300% markup on items. Juice prices are close to online (maybe a dollar or 2 more per bottle) but all of their other products are way overpriced. I've also had an issue with purchasing a clone item from them and it was told it was a legit piece. (thats how i learned to research)
The second shop seems to be more reasonable, huge juice tasting bar, and very knowledgeable staff. Not too sure on their pricing of kit though, the juices are very reasonable. I actually purchased juice from them last week, even thought I've been making my own juice for a while now.
The second shop seems to be more reasonable, huge juice tasting bar, and very knowledgeable staff. Not too sure on their pricing of kit though, the juices are very reasonable. I actually purchased juice from them last week, even thought I've been making my own juice for a while now.
Circa I hear that I go out and get a few rdas and never got one before. The people tried to sell me 2 dollars a foot for kanthal and so a buddy gave me a bit. I got online and order 300ft of different awgs for less than 20 bucks. 14 bucks for a box of rayon and less than 20 bucks for multiple awg wires... Life time investment for less than 40 bucks. No BM could compare but, there are people out there that do not get informed of these things.
I do like to tinker and talk to people so I stop and look but, those two things I would not buy at a BM.
I do like to tinker and talk to people so I stop and look but, those two things I would not buy at a BM.
People who own online vape businesses aren't necessarily any smarter or more vape savvy than those who own B&Ms. There are good and bad in both. The advantage to online shopping is that you can search out just about anything you want, without leaving your chair. I've yet to see a single B&M that carries every piece of vape gear known to man. But with local B&Ms, at least you get to handle, inspect, and sometimes sample whatever you're considering buying. With online shopping, you may or may not pay sales tax, but will often pay shipping. With a B&M, you'll likely pay sales tax, but you won't pay shipping. If universal internet sales tax comes into being, which it may, one advantage of online shopping will disappear.
@Equilibrium Where do you go?? Just out of curiosity seeing that you are from Georgia as well.
Vape shops are hit or miss in my experience. When I started and knew nothing, they were fine. When I found the ECF and started shopping online, I felt like I'd been robbed and severely mislead. As I began to gain more knowledge in regards to vaping, I was able to weed out the bad B&M's. I've since found a couple that I use in a pinch. It's fun hanging out and talking with staff as well as other vapor's imo. Keep looking and you'll find a decent one. That said, they'll never be able to truly compete with my favorite online vendors, especially in regards to juice. Good luck.
There are a ton near me. I do have a favorite though. They make their own juice brand but not at my store. The guy that runs it is great and some things are high but for the most part they are Ok. If I can find the juice I like at a store I buy it there but my favorite no one sells in a store so I have to get it on line.
Where I live we have two types of places that sell vape / e-cig products...well 3 if you consider gas stations.
The lowest of the low would have to be the gas station e-cigs. The 2nd, that isn't much better than gas station e-cigs are vape items sold in tobacco shops that are always owned and operated by Indians or Arabs. But the real vape shops here have fierce competition with each other. They are always scoping out the other shops to see what inventory they have, then they will order the same products and sell it for a little less. It's quite funny to watch them battle it out with each other.
Judging by your post I'm assuming there isn't much competition for vape gear in your town. Someone needs to open up a real shop there and totally destroy the other crappy business you mentioned in your original post.
The lowest of the low would have to be the gas station e-cigs. The 2nd, that isn't much better than gas station e-cigs are vape items sold in tobacco shops that are always owned and operated by Indians or Arabs. But the real vape shops here have fierce competition with each other. They are always scoping out the other shops to see what inventory they have, then they will order the same products and sell it for a little less. It's quite funny to watch them battle it out with each other.
Judging by your post I'm assuming there isn't much competition for vape gear in your town. Someone needs to open up a real shop there and totally destroy the other crappy business you mentioned in your original post.
I'm lucky to have Stormy's Vapor Cellar about 5 miles from my house. Stormy's is a registered vendor with a page here on ECF. She has been a vapor since 2009 and knows the business inside and out, having conducted business as an online vendor from her basement for years before opening a brick and mortar store. She remembers the days of the Joye 510 modded with Fluval and Pyramid tea bags for wicking!
She has at least one experienced vaper in charge of the store at all times and that person trains the new people and monitors their interface with customers as they learn. Business is good and she has opened another store in the next city about 25 miles away. It's actually doing a little better than the first one.
Since Stormy's opened up in Macon I've seen more and more people vaping in public when I go out. I couldn't ask for a better vape shop to be close by. There are good vape shops and there's those who didn't really research the business before opening one.
She has at least one experienced vaper in charge of the store at all times and that person trains the new people and monitors their interface with customers as they learn. Business is good and she has opened another store in the next city about 25 miles away. It's actually doing a little better than the first one.
Since Stormy's opened up in Macon I've seen more and more people vaping in public when I go out. I couldn't ask for a better vape shop to be close by. There are good vape shops and there's those who didn't really research the business before opening one.
Stormy's is the only place I have ever seen anyone vaping since I started. (saw one person a couple months before I started) Oops, sorry, I saw people at the place in the mall in Warner Robins. (boy is that a terribly tiny, unfriendly store) I never see vapers "in the wild" in Macon nor Warner Robins.
There are quite a few around me but most are just the same. There is one her that is pretty good they have competitive prices and a lot of good clone stuff labeled as clones of course.
There are a few in my area that are decent, have good prices and are truly there to educate/help people. Then there are others that simply buy clones off of Fasttech and add 30% markup, and try to sell mech mods to someone who just walked in after throwing his last pack of cigs away....
Some shops are built out better than others as well. The ones that actually take the time to have ventilation installed are actually more inviting to me than the ones where when you open the door your first instinct is to "stop, drop, and roll". You have duck to see where you are going under the stagnant cloud...lol.
Some shops are built out better than others as well. The ones that actually take the time to have ventilation installed are actually more inviting to me than the ones where when you open the door your first instinct is to "stop, drop, and roll". You have duck to see where you are going under the stagnant cloud...lol.
The DNA of any business is to make money. If your products are overpriced, so be it. In today's age, what the hell isn't overpriced anymore. Groceries are ridiculous, gas prices, schooling for kids, etc etc.
It comes down to dollars and cents. People will pay no matter what. For every guy that doesn't, there's 10 that will.
Money rules the world.
It comes down to dollars and cents. People will pay no matter what. For every guy that doesn't, there's 10 that will.
Money rules the world.
One of the great things about So Cal is the abundant of Vape shops
I have 4 within a few miles and a few more I have yet to try.
My main one offers juice for fair prices, and if you by a seconds it's 50% off
They always advertise a choice of 5-10 clones , plus 5 different drippers, and 1 MKE battery 18650 for 75.00
They also carry some nice authentics,
I have seen them polite to newbies getting an ego style device and will be patient.
The only charge 5.00 for a rebuild, so once in a while I let them manage my RDA.
Nothing fancy - blackk and grey, but everyone shares the love of vaping
I have 4 within a few miles and a few more I have yet to try.
My main one offers juice for fair prices, and if you by a seconds it's 50% off
They always advertise a choice of 5-10 clones , plus 5 different drippers, and 1 MKE battery 18650 for 75.00
They also carry some nice authentics,
I have seen them polite to newbies getting an ego style device and will be patient.
The only charge 5.00 for a rebuild, so once in a while I let them manage my RDA.
Nothing fancy - blackk and grey, but everyone shares the love of vaping
- Status
Similar threads
