Vape Shops not worht it! Perfect example of why you should learn and build your mod!

[LJTothetop]

Although I love the mod I just bought. I was disappointed in a local vape shops for the way they conducted their business..It was a little awkward when I first walked in. Granted I knew nothing about what I was getting myself into. I recently turned from tobacco products and decided to see what the hype was on all these ecig mods. As i looked at the different mods the store had to offer I talked with another customer who not only knew what he was doing but was very passionate on the topic of vaporizing. Besides from him, I gained no real knowledge on products. After having to drag info from the stores employee the only real bit of information I got was that The King mod was the only mod with a decent button and basically shot down every other device I asked about. Although I am very happy with my King Mod with TOBH atomizer, I was disappointed to come home and realize he gave me a used almost dead battery instead of the new sony battery he charged me 40$ for..Also when building it was obvious he could care less about teaching me how to maintain and rebuild the mod. Long story short.. Stay in the forums, learn what you can because thinking a local vape shop will teach you the ins and outs about different mods is a mistake not worth making..

 

[rc3po]

Everything is marked way up at the B&M stores. I buy nearly everything on-line, even my electronics stuff. I bought my new Fluke 87 on-line a couple weeks ago. I've never even been in a B&M vape store!

 

[shattenjagger]

Totally agree, had a similar experience lately, saw a local shop open up and wanted to support them (been vaping for a couple years now).... Went in and they kept trying to take me down a path I didn't want to go (not realizing that I actually knew what I was looking for), probably get higher profit margins on certain mods, sort of like a restaurant pushing the discount fish the bought from the market.

Only good part about the local shops is if you want to try some different flavors or pg/vg ratios, or if you want to play with a VV/VW before buying.

 

[xtwosm0kesx]

Fwiw most of the cells we use for vaping will arrive only partially charged, even fresh out of the box.

 

[Elizabeth Baldwin]

$40 for a battery? I've been to numerous Vape shops and have never seen a Sony go anywhere that high. The range for a battery in all the shops I've been is between $8 and 13. When you make a purchase at any Vape shop its a given the cost will be much higher because they pay rent, employees, electric etc... However, inflating prices to the point of 4 times the price you pay every where else is pathetic. I wouldn't shop there again. But I wouldn't let it stop me from visiting other Vape shops. It's a total different experience in a good store.

There are good and bad Vape shops. Some just want your money, while others actually care.

Most new batteries are not fully charged! Always fully charge a new battery before using it.

Good luck.

BTW: welcome to ECF

 

[txjim]

There's always a chance that the person you dealt with didn't know what he was doing and just faked it. Or it could've been someone who was really out to rip you off because you didn't know anything. Or it could've been none of the above. Since taking a battery back is just your word against his, if he's a reputable businessman he'll offer you a solution. If not then you just have to chalk it up to experience. Use your own advice and do some research before going into a store to buy something. If there's one thing I've learned in my many years on this rock it's, "No one knows what you think they know." I don't care if they're wearing a white lab coat or have a dozen diplomas hanging on their wall. So called "experts" are everywhere and some people with a little bit of knowledge try to make others THINK they know more. Trust your own instincts and learn from your mistakes. But also remember, there's all kinds of people out there, but not all of them are out to get you. Some of them truly want to help. It's just that some of them are either misguided or have gotten wrong information themselves. Good luck with your situation.

 

[jlloyd]

I agree with you that some B&M shops only seem to be in it for a quick buck and not to build a relationship with customers that will continue to come back to the store and spend more money. I use them mostly to check out equipment since you cant always get a feel for them online. But i will say that as my knowledge increased i feel less awkward when going into shops that i have never been to, or that i felt out of place in when i started. And when find a good shop I try and buy something from them and go back every so often to support them. I have even gone back to the ones i did not like and few times I was helped by a different employee that may have changed my impression of the store if they were there the first time. I like to try to keep the money i spend in the area i live in if at all possible. But online prices make that almost impossible.

 

[FinchX]

The op's experience here is far too common. Both my siblings decided to try vaping after seeing it'd kept me off the nasties for two years. They got sold cheap starter kits and were not educated on maintaining the tanks by replacing cartos or heads, and they were insanely over charged. They both found vaping unsatisfactory and have gone back to analogs.

I personally went into this same store with my Provari and one of my Phiniac glass tanks on it. The employee working inquired who made my mod, so I held it up so he could see the logo.

At which point, he holds up a VAMO 5 with a PLASTIC carto tank on it, and says,"what YOU need is one of these bad boys... And those glass tanks are good for nothing but breaking"

Now, I don't mean to trash the VAMO, I have one as a backup device. But I'm far from being alone by considering my Provari to be better. And then he's going to tell me to use plastic tanks???? Unbelievable!

What many don't realize about SOME B&Ms is that the employees truly know nothing about the products they're selling much less products they don't carry.

Perfect examples are when you go to your local AT&T or Verizon store looking for a new phone. You'll notice the employee kind of toying with the device a bit before they get around to showing you it's most commonly used functions. This is because they do NOT have any idea how the phone works, and are working off a few seconds of experimenting along with some basic instinctual knowledge.

You see this at best buy as well. Those little cards listing the features of the product are technically there for the salesman to look at, so they seem as though they're at least halfway familiar with the product.

The same goes for B&Ms.... Their knowledge is limited, and they don't care about selling you a quality product or not capable of letting you quit, or being bad enough to force you back to the real deal.... they simply care about making the sale, end of story... I tell everyone, but your hardware online. If it's easier for you to go to a B&M and sample liquids, fine, buy your liquids there. Personally I'll continue buying my liquids online as well.

 

[81EMT]

It is sad to hear another story like this but as someone else said, this is becoming more and more common place as vaping is thrown into a "trendy" thing to do. I had a similar experience with the first B&M I visited but have since found a new one that opened up much closer to home and is FAR superior. Granted I had already been vaping for over a year when I found this new B&M, but my experience was limited to VV/VW and I was tired of my electronics going bad on me so they sat down and taught me all about mechanical mods, how to build/rebuild and care for them. I am now well on my way to some "for fun" cloud chasing with a simple little build that they helped me with. They have built coils for me, drilled my atomizers for my "fun" build, and even torched my stainless steel Nemesis mod for me. While I will agree with others when they say that buying online is cheaper and you really have no NEED to go to a B&M, I personally like to support my local B&M because they ARE a great shop... if they weren't... I would certainly only be buying online.

I hope you find a great B&M at some point because it can be a fun place to hang out... Lord knows I spend too much time hanging around at mine!

As long as you stay off the analogs, its all good!

Cheers!

 

[Mrdaputer]

I guess I am one of the lucky ones. The B&M I go to is wonderful very helpful and knowledgeable. They have workshops about 3 times a week. They will show you how to make your coils secrets to a good wick etc. Share ideas. They have about 90 e-juice concentrates flavors. Are their prices higher than online ya but not gouging they need to make a profit. I would much rather pay 59 for a mvp2 there at a local support your mom and pop shop. Where you can walk in and walk out with it than shop online to save a couple of bucks any day. It's like ECG in person you walk in and everybody know your name.

 

[81EMT]

It's like ECG in person you walk in and everybody know your name.

Yeah, my B&M is like that... some of them smile and greet me by name, and some comment, "oh hell, hes back!" lol jk. I do love my B&M... some of the best people I know.

 

[Bruce1]

I had a decent experience on my first visit to a vap store. However, now that I am somewhat experienced and more informed I can see many changes I would have made if I had known better at the time. I think as vapping becomes more and more mainstreamed and competetion increases shops will learn to treat us better and guide newbies in the right direction...................................Bruce

 

[GeorgeWachsmuth]

We are rather fortunate here. There are a couple of vape shops with some very knowledgeable folks working in them. One shop designed the Cyborg DNA 20 mod. When I first walk in they do approach me like I am some middle aged dude who doesn't know a thing about vaping. A little bit of talking down starts until I open my mouth. Then its a "hey....another vape guy who knows what's happening!" and a conversation ensues. Oddly...some items cost more..some about the same as online. I like being able to shop for stuff like drip tips and other accessories in person....it doesn't cost much more and I get to see the actual product. I do still buy RDAs and Mods online because, if you keep your eyes open, its significantly cheaper.

 

[Tinkiegrrl]

It's a mixed bag for shops around here. They all charge more then online around here, but I believe that's due to proximity to, or being IN Manhattan. What doesn't cost more in NYC? Rents being what they are here, it's understandable. There are shops who are helpful and will take the time with people, and others in it to make a buck. Even employees within the same shop are a mixed bag. One shop by me has an owner who knows his stuff and takes the time to help people. His college aged son who is part owner and helps run it is less apt to help a newbie I think. He helps, don't get me wrong. Helped me with a stuck post screw that I managed to strip a few days ago in fact. But I think a lot of his friends hang there, and when a kid is surrounded by friends, well....

Hopefully they're making some money off those kids, rather then simply being a cool place to play pool and vape an electric hookah. If that's where the money is, I get it. If they're just there because their friend runs it, then they're taking up space for paying customers and taking up the co-owners time and dad really needs to step in. When I come in, it's always the father chatting me up and being nice. His son isn't unfriendly. It's just his priorities are elsewhere. I'll still go, as it's the closest place to me, has the most seating, and the dad is great at making people feel comfy. It's still my best option here, unless I trek to Manhattan.

 

[Fuzzy Bruce]

The B & M's around me seem to be mostly about how much can be charged.

I just do not buy into the idea that they have to charge so much more because of employee costs, rent and other operating expenses. The only factor I see that may raise prices is less volume of sales.

The online venders have employees, rent and mostly the same operating expenses plus the expense of added packaging for shipping. It seems that the online venders only advantage may be sales volume and maybe even the value of customers "advertising" what great deals they got on forums such as this one.

 

[mr_chris_chen]

You just need to go to the right shop is all. I've been to a couple of shops I really didn't like and there are some that I love going to. I work at one here in the Bay Area and the shops around us are really chill. There isn't a need to push product out the door and try to make a quick buck. It's all about building relationships with the people that come through our doors. More often than not, they don't buy anything, but there's a tendency for them to come back and buy a lot of product because: 1) we have what they want and 2) they don't feel like we're pushy salesmen.

You'll find a shop you'll appreciate eventually.


Sent from your phone using Tapatalk

 

[mikewill45]

It's true that some vape shops are as you say. I had a particularly bad experience in one in Asheville, NC a couple years ago. I doubt if it's even there anymore. The guy wouldn't even let me use my Provari in his store, claimed they were not safe.

However, we have a great vape shop not far from where I live. It's located in/near Broadway, NC. They are extremely helpful and have a set up where you can try many different flavors. Also, there prices seemed quite reasonable for a B&M. So don't give up on all the places as there are the good ones out there.

 

[Isx15man]

When I first went to a head shop just over a month ago I had gotten the same kind of service. I was new and oblivious to what I was looking for. They sold me a little kit that was way over priced at 45 dollars for a ego-t and a clearomizer tank a charger and case. Now I know of several new actual vape shops that are awesome and you can try out what ever you want plus all the staff at mad vapes and Gastonia vapes know what they are doing and have great prices. I bought my VTR at mad vapes for 65 dollars. So there are some great shops out there and some bs shops. Just look around and you will find a good one.


Sent from my iPhone 5s using Tapatalk

 

[JKnight5]

I went into a new b&m the other day with a friend because he wanted to upgrade his device. He found a vamo v5 that he really liked, and asked about the price.... $74.99! I had a miniature heart attack at that point. I told the guy that he was completely insane. I bought a vamo v5 kit that came with 2 18350 batteries, 2 clearos, and a charger for $50 shipped about 6 months ago. Some of these people are preying on newbies too bad.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Summerlovin]

I agree that the local shops are good for trying juices. On one of my visits, I was talked into a clearomizer that I was not ready for and am still trying to use it but it is too tight of a draw for me (at least I think). The second visit was much better and I was set up with equipment that was perfect for me. Two different salesman and two totally different experiences in the same shop. I will say that when I later looked online the prices were soooo much cheaper than what I paid definitely.

Speaking of the clearomizer I am having trouble with maybe someone can help me out. It is an aspire BDC and when I draw on it I feel like I am getting a build up of air in my lungs--like trapped air. What am I doing wrong?