Vape Shops: Blunders & Bad Advice

[Mr.Mann]

Okay, so I just got back form a local vape shop that is just a mile or so from my house. I was in dire need of a drip tip that would fit my new Vertex v2 (none of mine would fit). Sadly, most of the ones they had at the shop wouldn't fit -- and all their tips are pretty cheap and janky. I did buy one that had a decent bore width, but I kinda wish I hadn't been in such need to patronize them. Here's why:

If you can believe it (I surely can't), these employees actually tried to tell me that drip tips were unnecessary. They seriously tried to convince me of that! I guess they didn't believe me when I told them how long I'd been vaping (they probably think vaping just came out last year). I said, uh, this is an RDA -- do you know how hot this can get? Both people behind the counter told me that they often just huff on the opening without a tip. REALLY?!?

Note: I ordered a friction fit tip from CherryVapes to remedy my issue with this RDA.

(Edit: I was being too hyperbolic there.)

 

[klynnn]

I had just the opposite today. Went to my local vape shop nearby Vapescape. Spent about an hour and half just talking coils and trying out some new equip. Great bunch of people. I go in looking for about a foot of 28awg and this guy having his coil built seemed amazed that a female could actually build her coils. He said you sound just like the guys I work with LOL. I am now vaping some rabbit milk.

 

[Pclarity]

Wow. I am fortunate to not have run into these types of vape shops in my area. I've only had one bad experience and that dude just didn't feel like answering nob questions. I sent a comment in via the little rate us thing they sent with my emailed receipt. They responded graciously a week later. You might do a yelp review. The ones here use yelp a lot. Just to warn them or people. They tend to respond to that and google reviews fairly quickly around here.

ETA: I tend to have the same kind of experience as klynn. Including the "I dig chicks who rebuild"

 

[Mr.Mann]

I should mention that one shop near me, Vapor Craft, is a really, really good shop and it is just about a 25 minute drive from my house. So it's not that I don't have easy access to a good vape shop, but not one so close where I can leave the baby with my cousin for just a few minutes. I imagine there are people that don't even have one within an hour drive, and I can remember those days. But damn, at least let it be a legit shop when you do finally have access to one. When I was in Cali this summer a great vape shop was seemingly always around the corner. Must be nice.

 

[klynnn]

There is another shop in our sister town that is the pits. They only know what their franchise tells them and have never heard of ECF or any other vaping site. I can't imagine opening a store when I don't have a clue about what I'm selling.

 

[Signmaker]

You've been vaping for so long, yet you've never heard of tailpiping? Was what we had to do before chuff tops came along.

I havent heard much sketch from my B&M, but the other customers? Jeebus save me.

 

[sgilners]

I have so many shops around me, most of them are terrible and I predict will be out of business soon. just don't support the bad ones and the problem will take care of itself

 

[alicewonderland]

seems like the majority of vape shops opening dont really have knowledge of the recent stuff, or just are vendors for the stuff rather than 'teachers' or informed users. I've been to 3 here in northern california and all 3 of them sell clones are 'authentic' price levels, the workers dont know ohms law, and think rebuilding is just for sub-ohming. I was told my DNA30 device couldnt handle an RBA at one of these shops because it would drain the battery too fast LOL. These guys are using RBA's on mech mods as well and tried to get me to purchase a mechmod because apparently my 30watt device wasnt able to handle rebuildables lol. I've lost hope of trying to find a vaporshop around here now. They all turn up just to be unknowledgable employees who try to force overpriced ejuice on you if you dont want to buy their products.

it just seems like a lot of people think they can open up a vape shop just because they vape. being a vaper is one thing, but opening a shop and spreading the word is a completely different monster. It really irks me that some of these guys are misinforming other vapers with some of the stuff they do.

 

[GinnyTx]

I say don't cater those..seriously..know your products and industry or GT (you know the rest).... yah know?

the employees (kids I call 'em) know their products and the latest and greatest of what's going on in the industry..I think a couple are running around on here somewhere.

they did get a new gal in awhile back and she's pretty that's pretty much why she's there *lol* but she's come a long way and knows her stuff now..rebuilds etc.

 

[rondasherrill]

I had a mostly friendly chat with the owner at a local vape shop. He seemed fairly knowledgeable overall. 2 things that I noticed though...

1) After I mentioned vaping for almost 4 years, he mentioned being in the vaping business for almost 5 years. That's despite the fact I know he's a local boy, and his shop has been open less than a year, and also how could a person who has been in the vaping business for almost 5 years think that 30ga wire is unusable in an RDA. Also, in all that time he had never heard of a Provari somehow.

2) When I was about to leave, he gave me a pre-wrapped coil that "I should definitely try if I want a really great vape." That coil was a 3 wrap 18ga coil. Not a typo there. I am seriously worried about how many people are floating around with that coil, put in a $30 clone RDA sitting on a clone mech. (As clones are all he sells in mechs and RDA's)

 

[Mr.Mann]

You've been vaping for so long, yet you've never heard of tailpiping? Was what we had to do before chuff tops came along...

Tail-piping is not a phenomenon started with RDAs, and yes I've heard of it -- that's as old as the damn Taryn Spin! But, that was one thing with 510/901s on a 3.7v, but on an RDA built for high power? If that's what you all did before chuff tops, then cool (I guess), but it is idiotic to suggest to a knowledgeable customer that drip tips are unnecessary -- especially when that customer is looking for a drip tip. Of course it can be done, but that's not the point. Tail-piping was around when drip tips were still fairly new (before Super T's little innovation caught on) and most people were still just using plastic mouth pieces on carts/end caps to cartos.

 

[Smann245]

Slight hijack,
Where did the vertex with the drip tip issues come from? I'm looking to get one soon and don't want one that won't accept standard 510 tips.

 

[Mr.Mann]

Slight hijack,
Where did the vertex with the drip tip issues come from? I'm looking to get one soon and don't want one that won't accept standard 510 tips.

I got mine off ebay. I know, I know. But as far as I can tell it's legit. It came with all the proper OG doo-dads/bracelet and such (and I've dealt with this seller before and he has been straight-up with everything else). Plus, there is nothing, except for that DT issue, that seems off. Super solid RDA, but it might not really be my thing for flavor -- the vapor is great though.

 

[minimalsaint]

Tail-piping is not a phenomenon started with RDAs, and yes I've heard of it -- that's as old as the damn Taryn Spin! But, that was one thing with 510/901s on a 3.7v, but on an RDA built for high power? If that's what you all did before chuff tops, then cool (I guess), but it is idiotic to suggest to a knowledgeable customer that drip tips are unnecessary -- especially when that customer is looking for a drip tip. Of course it can be done, but that's not the point. Tail-piping was around when drip tips were still fairly new (before Super T's little innovation caught on) and most people were still just using plastic mouth pieces on carts/end caps to cartos.

LMAO @ the taryn spin! Remember when the cap would come off the bottle or it would fly off the string?
I may or may not have nearly given my cat a concussion also. Dangerous trickery, that taryn spin.
Chuff caps solved tailpiping. Mmmmmmm hmmmmmmm.....

 

[Smann245]

Thanks Mann.

 

[minimalsaint]

Me. Mann, we need to kick it sometime. Maybe in a local shop. We can talk about the days before chuff caps and quad coils. You bring the coffee, I'll bring the hipster bat.

 

[Mr.Mann]

LMAO @ the taryn spin! Remember when the cap would come off the bottle or it would fly off the string?
I may or may not have nearly given my cat a concussion also. Dangerous trickery, that taryn spin.
Chuff caps solved tailpiping. Mmmmmmm hmmmmmmm.....

Let's see...I have a 22 mm device, and I am going to use that as my drip tip? As in ----><---??? I ain't too caught up in guarding my masculinity, but nope! Not for me! I do know that people do this with certain RDAs having certain kinda top caps, but that's quite specific to those RDAs. Actually, one of the guys at the shop tried to tell me to "just get a chuff top." I tried explaining that those are for certain attys that are all built the same way and he said, no, you just have to take off the top. Oy vey. I showed him that mine was not built for that and he said, "oh."

 

[Frenchfry1942]

Just from the local and when traveling; I see 4-5 B&Ms not worth it for various reasons. The other 20% includes a lounge area that they participate in. If it is quiet, they take the time to sit and visit about vaping. Sure, and I don't mind, their suggesting some flavors, but they also just want the customer to feel that it is a place to hang out and relax. I spend more time, at that moment, because I am relaxed and comfortable.

In the old days, and less seen these days, is the corner bar. Just where the proprietor knows your name. Just a place to relax.

"Norm"

 

[TheBikeGuy]

Tail-piping is not a phenomenon started with RDAs, and yes I've heard of it -- that's as old as the damn Taryn Spin! But, that was one thing with 510/901s on a 3.7v, but on an RDA built for high power? If that's what you all did before chuff tops, then cool (I guess), but it is idiotic to suggest to a knowledgeable customer that drip tips are unnecessary -- especially when that customer is looking for a drip tip. Of course it can be done, but that's not the point. Tail-piping was around when drip tips were still fairly new (before Super T's little innovation caught on) and most people were still just using plastic mouth pieces on carts/end caps to cartos.

I remember "tail-piping" my Joytech 501 cigalike to test out your juice by dripping it, before you ruined a cartridge. Even it would burn your lip. I bought a drip tip for it that I'm still using.

I haven't live here that long. The only vape shops that I'm aware of are at a flea market every weekend. Everything I ask them about their reply is, "Oh, that's old school, nobody has used those in years."

 

[drippaboi]

My favorite are shop owners that don't even vape.