Vape stores and the over 30 crowd

[tj99959]

I'm 73 year old. Walked into a local vape shop a while back, and when I walked in the store manager says "hi tj", a minute later a clerk says "hi tj". A customer that I had never met before then turns around and says "hi tj". We all had a good laugh! (she was kinda cute too)

So my question is, why don't the folks in the vape shop already know you?

 

[Completely Average]

While I understand the main concern here, being ignored when seeking service, I disagree with the entire thought process above. I have been in sales all my life, and have yet to see an instance where clothes or a shiny new car made a difference.

Obviously your "in sales" experience is rather limited.

Try selling luxury cars. See if ignoring the well dressed businessman in the nice car in favor of the kid in bluejeans and a ragged t-shirt driving a clunker works for you. Try the same with jewelry, fashion clothing, Rolex watches. Try it with electronics or life insurance.

A GOOD salesperson knows how to spot the customer with the money ready to spend, and knows not to ever pass up a potential sale to someone who very obviously has money. If you want to ignore me in favor of the shabby looking kid, that's fine, I'll go give my hundreds of dollars in future sales to your competitor instead while you can be secure in knowing you didn't judge the kid on his looks.

But which of us is losing out? I'll still get the products I want, will you still get the sales?

 

[tj99959]

Obviously your "in sales" experience is rather limited.

Try selling luxury cars. See if ignoring the well dressed businessman in the nice car in favor of the kid in bluejeans and a ragged t-shirt driving a clunker works for you. Try the same with jewelry, fashion clothing, Rolex watches. Try it with electronics or life insurance.

A GOOD salesperson knows how to spot the customer with the money ready to spend, and knows not to ever pass up a potential sale to someone who very obviously has money. If you want to ignore me in favor of the shabby looking kid, that's fine, I'll go give my hundreds of dollars in future sales to your competitor instead while you can be secure in knowing you didn't judge the kid on his looks.

But which of us is losing out? I'll still get the products I want, will you still get the sales?

Just remember that the kid in the ragged rock band T shirt might own the band.

 

[fadeyt]

I understand what you are saying, I wish I had the money to start my own business I would and being younger I honestly wouldn't orientate to my generation, I don't know why I just cant stand being around people my age. my thing is this isn't a business that had target markets based on age its based on people quitting smoking you could be 20 or 80 so why cant the people that own these stores keep that in mind. If you are going to play music don't play dubstep play something everyone can enjoy and turn it down a little don't get me wrong I like all music, but its just about customer base I would rather have 50 different people walk through my door than 5 of the same. offer customer service be friendly, its what I do for work, I don't answer phones saying yo yo(at work home is different lol). be respectful to all generations and you will do well....do not favor is the way I see it.

 

[Steamix]

Is the same like running a club or a disco...clientele whose main occupation is being some oligarch's offspring tasked with burning daddy's money is kinda thin on the ground. Teens are needed as eye-candy alright, but clinging to asingle softdrink all night isn't gonna cover your costs...

So the smooth operator sees to it that the 30+ patrons are made welcome. They are settled , stable, usually have a steady job which means disposable income. Disposable income peferably spent at your place, be it a club or vape shop...

 

[H Niemand]

I'm part of the over 30 crowd. In fact, I'm part of the over 60 crowd. I would love a shop to open less than an hour from me. I would probably spend way too much time there.
BTW, I do not wear band t shirts but I do have a tattoo. It's an EGA to commemorate my time in the Corps. It's a quarter sleeve. Ooo-Rah!!! Semper Fi!!!

 

[Dee R.]

Obviously your "in sales" experience is rather limited.

Try selling luxury cars. See if ignoring the well dressed businessman in the nice car in favor of the kid in bluejeans and a ragged t-shirt driving a clunker works for you. Try the same with jewelry, fashion clothing, Rolex watches. Try it with electronics or life insurance.

Yes, quite limited indeed. I'd say growing an account from $300k per month to $1.6 Million per month for instance, was indeed limited...but that's off topic.
Even though I no longer practice, I was a financial advisor with a valid series 7 and life and variable annuities license. So I'm not only saying this, I've practiced it time and time again...still do.

A GOOD salesperson knows how to spot the customer with the money ready to spend, and knows not to ever pass up a potential sale to someone who very obviously has money. If you want to ignore me in favor of the shabby looking kid, that's fine, I'll go give my hundreds of dollars in future sales to your competitor instead while you can be secure in knowing you didn't judge the kid on his looks.

But which of us is losing out? I'll still get the products I want, will you still get the sales?

A "Good" salesman, guessing this is you...gets lucky converting those potential sales to someone who very obviously has money.

A "Great" salesman, creates the need and closes everyone he pitches because he is not limited to pitching those that his narrow field of view deem worthy.

It's clear that you didn't read my post based on your off target response. You completely missed the entire point of my post, but based on the above, it's not a surprise. NOWHERE did I state ignore anyone...however I did state that your suit and shiny car did not automatically grant you the right to go to the head of the priority list. If I did ignore you and cater to the shabby looking kid, it was due to your herd mentality and aura of entitlement. Based on this limited exchange, you going to a competitor of mine would be in my best interest...dealing with you would prove more of a headache and cost me more in the long run.

Good day to you Average.

 

[Tom Servo]

A GOOD salesperson knows how to spot the customer with the money ready to spend, and knows not to ever pass up a potential sale to someone who very obviously has money. If you want to ignore me in favor of the shabby looking kid, that's fine, I'll go give my hundreds of dollars in future sales to your competitor instead while you can be secure in knowing you didn't judge the kid on his looks.

Actually, a good salesman doesn't ignore either. I've had some incredibly lucrative clients whose appearance can be very deceiving. On the other hand, I've had penny-pinching time-wasters who drive luxury sports cars and wear $900 suits (usually because they've wasted all their money on sports cars and suits).

I must be fortunate to have good B&M retailers in my town. My go-to shop is pretty bohemian. Everyone has tattoos, and everyone but the owner is under 30. Still, they're good folks. They have a wide inventory, their prices are competitive, and they're friendly and helpful. I have blown a great deal of money with them, and I've only been at this a month.

(Since I'm 41, I'll strut in and say, "alright hippies, here comes Captain Buzzkill to harsh your mellow." They find that funny.)

There's another shop across town that looks like an upscale yuppie cigar bar. It's a beautiful facility, and everyone has matching polo shirts. They're friendly there, but their prices are really high and they don't have much inventory. I'll stick with my rough-and-tumble regular shop, warts and all.

 

[Razorback]

I think the best way to run a business is to make sure folks are attended to in the order they came into the store... Whether they have only a little money or a lot of money. If I were being ignored, I would go elsewhere.

 

[Ms.P]

I'm in the over-40 group - almost in the over-50 group - and I taught the folks at my local something a couple weeks ago. Having come down with the dreaded vape tongue, I went in search of something sweet. The guy said, "You have WHAT???!" lol When I went in last night, he said just a couple days later a kid came in insisting he was getting a burnt taste. The owner (I guess) tried it, said nope, not burnt. "But you've got vaper's tongue!" hahahahahaha Can't believe he'd never heard of it before.

Anyhoo, I did feel out of place at the first shop I went to. But I found another one, and I think it's family-run. A couple of the women are about my age.

Ms.P

 

[HawaiiVPR]

Maybe we, the older generation, are the smarter ones
We go online and purchase our supplies at a lower cost!

E-juice sampling was my main attraction to a B&M, but also because the ones that I frequent stock the higher end RDA's and mods that are always shown as "out of stock" online.

For clones, cartomizers, clearomizers, ego's, standard APV's and accessories, yes, I would agree that online is the way to go.

 

[FastCarsAndCubanCigars]

I'm a old soul in a young mans body, So i agree with you on this point. Sometimes we should listen to the older generation you have seen it all and probably done it all lol. I hope you find a shop that will fit all your needs.

 

[Completely Average]

Just remember that the kid in the ragged rock band T shirt might own the band.

Just remember, the overwhelming odds are they don't.

And the overwhelming odds are the middle aged man in nice clothes and a new car probably didn't walk in there for the fun of it.


Look, you don't have to drop what you're doing, but if you want their business you had better make that known the moment they walk through the door. Always remember....

You NEVER get a second chance to make a first impression.

 

[rdwg]

Hey I'm not old yet. I bust out the Slayer shirts on occasion and they still fit over my beer gut.

 

[Giovanni99]

Bravo completely average. Bravo

 

[GeekyBiker]

I guess I am lucky to live here in San Antonio! I am older (Gray beard and balding!) and I have never had a problem and even shop at the slightly more expensive shop (Thanks for vaping) because they have great customer service and even offer discounts to veterans and police! (I do also but from fastech when I can wait a month to get my stuff as they are just insanely cheap!)

 

[Burn_notice_fan_NY]

While I don't have a vape shop, I have been in the retail industry in customer service for years before I went into my current profession. My motto was: Hey, it's awesome that you're Ghandi/Jesus/Bill Gates/the Pope... I will gladly help you out after I finish the rest of the line before you. One big sale is no better than many smaller ones. Also, the odds that this one customer will result in a flood of customers in similar status is unlikely. You will, however, be treated with great respect just like all my other customers until your behavior determines otherwise.

With that said, as long as the shop looks sterile, the staff is inviting and not pushy and the prices are reasonable, then you will get my business. I do not care what decorations you have up or music you have playing (so long as one can talk over it with ease). All shops that I have been to are welcoming, I do not mind the younger crowd being there. I'm not there to relax and hang out, I'm there to sample and buy.

 

[rico942]

I cannot agree more. I have been in several vape shops where I've been outright ignored in favor of some kid that could be my child and their latest selfie.

My experience as well, the first local B&M I visited had apparently become a clubhouse for the sales clerk's high school crowd. I did have the run of the display case, it was unlocked. But not a word was spoken to me, though I was the only customer for almost half an hour ...

The second time I stopped in, same experience ...

Been happily shopping online ever since ...

 

[TheBestest]

I don't enjoy these when going to the local shops:

Tons of 420 related stuff, including, glass "tobacco" pipes/....s, huge Bob Marley blankets (red/green/yellow related stuff), ......... leaf posters, etc. Head shops = no go.
Black lights - very unprofessional.
Dark walls - why? Make the shop pleasant to go in.
Tinted windows - again, why? It's a legit business, not some back-alley massage parlor. Leave the windows clear.
Bad service - either ignored or just plain bad customer interaction

I have yet to find a "professional" shop in my area with good prices.

 

[1wildman]

A classy juice sampling bar and vapers lounge can be inviting and appropriate for all age groups.

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ALTSMOKE! They rock! I frequent the Columbus store. They always make me feel welcome. They kid me when i get out my reading glasses to tweak a coil but that is fine with me. Altsmoke is popping up all over the place so check them out if your near one of their stores.