Vaping in a Retail Store (Plus, input from management!)

[xDarkRelic]

Let me start off, I've seen numerous threads about vaping in public, mainly where smoking isn't allowed. This isn't really the topic about this thread, but a topic about the input of store management and their opinions on it!

So let's start off. To begin, I'll go ahead and let the cat out of the bag: the store managers input will be mine, the store I manage (a big box retailer, which I WON'T release the name of), and 2 others from my two good friends who also are on management teams.

So let's begin, shall we?

I'm very lenient on vaping in my store, obviously! I do it myself. I can understand why you would do it. I'll reveal one part of my job, and that's a pharmacy (doesn't really narrow anything down, most stores do!). We have a ton of older folks coming through and getting medicines and prescriptions, and other various groceries and items. Believe it or not, older folks are the majority of the vapers I see coming through!

But they are also ones more likely to complain, since a lot of them aren't aware of what it is.

So lets say you are walking around, shopping and checking items out. You're more than likely gonna be confronted by me for 2 reasons.

1. You are blowing decent sized clouds, not trying to be stealthy. A customer has seen this, and has complained.

Or

2. I happen to notice you doing it.

Now, both of these scenarios are gonna play out the same. I'll walk up to you, make sure your shopping experience is top notch, and then I'll ask you about your vape. I love seeing vapers in the wild! I'll ask about juice, your mod, ect. I may even mention this site but after we exchange friendlies, I'll let you know that you need to be stealthy to avoid bad attention. I'll pull out my gear, and show you I'm not your enemy, but in case you get enough complaints, I'll unfortunately have to ask you to stop completely. I've had some bad experiences with this, I'll tell later on.

So that person will be completely (hopefully) comfortable using their vape more discreetly. This is 99% of my encounters. However, there are some bad ones.

But as you can see, I'm not out to get anyone. And I've talked to a lot of other managers at my meetings from other stores, and they are the same way. They'd much more like if you asked a member of management before you start, but more than likely it won't be a problem. There are a few uptight managers, so watch out for those.

Now I mentioned my friends who are also managers. They work the same way as me! We are all different ages (22-38) and as long as you are nice, and respectable, they won't have a problem either.

So let's talk about my bad experience. This guy was definitely a rotten apple. He was chucking huge clouds straight up, and you can definitely see them over the isles. I had (I counted) 4 different complaints from different people. So I went over to him and gave him the usual talk, but he was negative about it completely. He told me he wasn't smoking, he was vaping, before I could even reveal I was one of him! He shrugged me off and walked away. I told him if I get enough complaints I'll have to ask him to leave. What did he do?

He walked back to be about 2 feet away, took a toot on his rda, (it looked like a doge, can't be sure!) and blew it straight into my face. It tasted like gummy bears.

This particularly irritated me, so I told him one last time to be more discreet, but before I could finish he cussed me out, and threw up some gestures that left a taste in my mouth worse than his gummy bears.

I told him if he doesn't leave, I'll call the police to escort him out. He basically shrugged it off, and continued shopping. So I called the police. Within a few minutes they were there, taking him out to write up an official banning from the property. I went out there to sign papers and he told the officer I kept telling him he was "smoking" and he had to stop.

Wwwwweeellll I pulled out my gear and basically started vaping quietly as I signed papers. I asked him if that's sure what I said, and help up my mod.

I'm hoping to share my experiences and my opinions with you guys and gals from a vaper, and retail manager. As well from some of my friends opinions, and they don't even vape! Most store workers (through these store chains) don't even mind as long as you aren't getting a ton of attention from other customers.

 

[Signmaker]

You got some serious patience in your arsenal. Blow a cloud in my face like that, and I'd have put that mod so far down his throat, it'd autofire every time he burped. Guess that's the difference between security and managers.

While I dont vape in retail, I sometimes do other things that put me at odds with managers/customer complaints (open carry). Usually I walk away from any managerial interaction feeling like a complaining customer's shopping experience is more important than mine, since usually their only cause is the complaint itself. They use it to justify their actions against any counter argument.

My advice would be, dont bring up other complaining customers when asking someone to tone down the vaping. Make the request come from you as a person, and not a big-chain manager who only sees people as potential dollar amounts. You seem to do that pretty well already with the vaping issue, with showing them you're a fellow vaper and you understand.

 

[xDarkRelic]

That's actually a suggestion I can't believe I've never thought of! I'll start doing that from now on, in case the person I'm talking too begins to feel bad about their habits.

And no one should feel bad about vaping.

 

[Mimikim1234]

You got some serious patience in your arsenal. Blow a cloud in my face like that, and I'd have put that mod so far down his throat, it'd autofire every time he burped. Guess that's the difference between security and managers.

The auto fire part made me laugh and laugh......

 

[Shawn Delegal]

*Dies of ultimate laughter disease*

 

[GinnyTx]

don't take this wrongly but you're job as a "big box" retailer's manager is to enforce THEIR policies and procedures, not your will/agenda.

I get it.."be cool man...vape stealthily" that's your opinion..like Signmaker said..as an individual that's a go..as a manager, it's abuse of power honestly.

As a fellow vaper sure we'd like to make everyone a courteous vaper..but some are some aren't.

what I'd do? (having been in middle management/upper) is run that one past your manager/and find out what the company's policy is..enforce THAT.

you might get some not nice person that takes offense to your "stealthy" and advances that with corporate that you said it was OK as long as no one saw it..and you might find yourself with lots of time to advise vapers.

sorry..just my take on it..nothing personal..I agree with you whole heartedly.

 

[SissySpike]

don't take this wrongly but you're job as a "big box" retailer's manager is to enforce THEIR policies and procedures, not your will/agenda.

I get it.."be cool man...vape stealthily" that's your opinion..like Signmaker said..as an individual that's a go..as a manager, it's abuse of power honestly.

As a fellow vaper sure we'd like to make everyone a courteous vaper..but some are some aren't.

what I'd do? (having been in middle management/upper) is run that one past your manager/and find out what the company's policy is..enforce THAT.

you might get some not nice person that takes offense to your "stealthy" and advances that with corporate that you said it was OK as long as no one saw it..and you might find yourself with lots of time to advise vapers.

sorry..just my take on it..nothing personal..I agree with you whole heartedly.

People should not follow rules blindly just because. So my take is The OP is an exceptional mangier with the stores best interest at heart, The OPs people skills and penitence are awesome. These are the kind of people we want in leadership positions not rule toting drones incapable of independent thought and low self esteem power trip people who gain their identity threw their miniscule power in life from their job position.

I tip my hat to a job well done to the OP I am in awe of your patience and self control I promise you I would of had a very different out come! Porlly with me ending up in the pokie

Keep up the good work and thank you for posting your experience.

 

[jambi]

I'm curious... What is the "official" policy of this store regarding vaping? You kind of left out that little part.

Not saying, just saying.

 

[four2109]

I'm glad I don't have to deal with that. I stealth vape everywhere. Nobody has ever said a word to me. I use an Eroll when I'm shopping or dining out. It's convenient and hands free. Sometimes I get a glance from someone who thinks they saw me smoking, or a wisp of vapor got away, and then that confused look, and it's over. I figure if they make the connection, and the sky didn't fall, they may have a different opinion from what has been ingrained by the media.
To the OP though, can I complain about the toxic odor in the lawn and garden aisle, or the gross overpowering perfume the woman in aisle 6 assaulted my space with??

 

[SissySpike]

I'm curious... What is the "official" policy of this store regarding vaping? You kind of left out that little part.

Not saying, just saying.

We already know the answer to that question

 

[Zipslack]

I, for one, appreciate your ideology and methodology!

I still don't understand people's need to vape while shopping (it's a small amount of time...just deal with it). Whenever I'm going somewhere where I might feel that stealth-vaping would be the best option, I keep an old 510 cig-alike and try to be unobstrusive.

 

[jambi]

We already know the answer to that question

Wasn't mentioned, I have no way of knowing what (unnamed) store policies are in a country I don't currently reside in, and the question was directed to the OP, thanks.

To OP: What is the store policy regarding vaping? Also, assuming there are "No Smoking" signs conspicuously posted, are there also signs prohibiting vaping?

Both questions are direct and simple to answer.

Thanks

 

[SissySpike]

Ok I will assume you have no clue and direct the answer directly at you the store has a no vaping policy.

 

[bluecat]

I'm glad I don't have to deal with that. I stealth vape everywhere. Nobody has ever said a word to me. I use an Eroll when I'm shopping or dining out. It's convenient and hands free. Sometimes I get a glance from someone who thinks they saw me smoking, or a wisp of vapor got away, and then that confused look, and it's over. I figure if they make the connection, and the sky didn't fall, they may have a different opinion from what has been ingrained by the media.
To the OP though, can I complain about the toxic odor in the lawn and garden aisle, or the gross overpowering perfume the woman in aisle 6 assaulted my space with??

Don't walk down those isles? I avoid perfume places like the plague. The once a year my wife and kids bribe me to take them shopping, I have to hold my breath going through macy's perfume stink. Then I have to go to the restroom to wash my face.

Personally, I woudl live in the toxic waste aisle of the garden shop. I love that smell.

Th OP can manage his/her store how they see fit. The store is not the patrons. The store is owned by someone and managed by another. The owner hired him/her on their merits. If they don't like what is happening they get canned. I for one finally like where a store gets to be managed by someone other than government policy. The consumer should be able to decide then if one wishes to patronize it or not.

It is just another ......... in society that thinks that they can do what they want wherever they want without consequences. Blowing vapor in someones face could/should be treated as assault, similar to spitting, one caveat, the young ladies in college that would blow smoke in my face. I didn't mind that.

 

[four2109]

Don't walk down those isles? I avoid perfume places like the plague

I was talking about perfumed customers, not the department.

 

[englishmick]

Th OP can manage his/her store how they see fit. The store is not the patrons. The store is owned by someone and managed by another. The owner hired him/her on their merits. If they don't like what is happening they get canned. I for one finally like where a store gets to be managed by someone other than government policy. The consumer should be able to decide then if one wishes to patronize it or not.

I never worked in retail, but I have a feeling that if I owned a store I would be happy with a manager who was able to settle minor problems without causing a scene and calling security or police. Like you say people hire managers to manage, and in a large store that's a fairly substantial position. But if other customers had complained then maybe. If something bothered me in a store and management let it go I would probably write a letter to the owners, and/or not go back there.

FYI, I wouldn't complain about someone vaping, even though I wouldn't do it myself.

 

[Bad Ninja]

Good for you OP.
If A vaper (or any customer for that matter) is offending other customers they SHOULD be tossed out.

Stores aren't "state owned".
You have no "right" to be there and you can't do as you please.
Big retailer or small shop, you are a guest. Act as if you have some manners.

If your actions drive other paying customers away, or offend them it is the managers duty and job to stop the problem or call the cops.

Vaping isn't the issue, rudeness is.

 

[OlderNDirt]

Thanks for your post, DarkRelic. Great information and I applaud how you deal with the situation.

And I really don't care about "official store policy". I'll leave that to store managers and their superiors. I'm already tired of all the lines drawn wherever I go in public. A little discretion and flexibility is refreshing.

 

[sillypanda]

"Wwwwweeellll I pulled out my gear and basically started vaping quietly as I signed papers. I asked him if that's sure what I said, and help up my mod."

LOOOOOOOOOOOOVE that part!!

I totally agree with you. If I'm shopping and a manager approaches me in the friendly way you did, it makes me want to shop there all the time. Granted, I never stealth vaped while shopping but I do hold on to my gear while doing so. I'm all for stealth vaping!

 

[bluecat]

I never worked in retail, but I have a feeling that if I owned a store I would be happy with a manager who was able to settle minor problems without causing a scene and calling security or police. Like you say people hire managers to manage, and in a large store that's a fairly substantial position. But if other customers had complained then maybe. If something bothered me in a store and management let it go I would probably write a letter to the owners, and/or not go back there.

FYI, I wouldn't complain about someone vaping, even though I wouldn't do it myself.

That is how it should work out. Personally, I think the OP handled it well. This more of a sense of entitlement by the cloud chucker. I was in the checkout line the other day getting a bottle of wine. I got behind this lady that decided she was going to take out her daily frustration on the line clerk ringing up her groceries. Poor young girl did nothing. Finally I asked the lady to either pay up or go somewhere else. I said I better things to do than listen to her tirade. She said I could not speak to her like that. I said sure I can I don't work here and that she is a sorry excuse wasting good peoples oxygen. I walked over and got a manger. She was escorted out. The young lady thanked me and 5 minutes later I went on with my day.

Common courtesy to others is becoming extinct.