Vaping used to be more social

[RebornLincoln06]

Yeah, vape stores continue to be geared for beginners and they don't really care, they are all about raking in the cash for egos coil heads and clearos, and clones of whatever junk. I would so love to see someone open Advanced vaping, and selling the real deal to experienced vapers. Authentic mods and attys, mesh, kanthal, DIY supplies, and decent batteries to support serious mods, but no one is doing that... anywhere.

I don't know the Central Florida area, but here in Texas, every vape shop I frequent (I frequent a lot depending on where I'm at at the time lol) most of the time (about 90%) I walk in someone is either about to buy an advanced setup, someone is getting a build on their RDA, or someone is being told about a higher end product. I think this comes from all the 'advanced' people who vape usually are the ones that like to hang around shops and help others out. From my personal experiences, usually the people that are still vaping on the ego's are the ones that like to get in and out of shops. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that though.

 

[Vaslovik]

I'm beginning to regret leaving Texas... a lot. I lived in Ranger just off I-20, long before I started vaping. I might want to move back to Texas for more reasons than just vaping.

 

[SomeTexan]

Joe's Vapor Lounge is a nice shop with a decent selection. No clones and they inspect every item they buy before they take it from their supplier. Their supplier isn't cheap though...

I wish more places carried good clones, at least for rda's. I refuse to spend 5x more for an identical item. My derringer clone was 9.99 shipped, authentics were 70+. Quality is identical. I would have spent 20-25 for an authentic, but 70 is a joke.

 

[SomeTexan]

I'm beginning to regret leaving Texas... a lot. I lived in Ranger just off I-20, long before I started vaping. I might want to move back to Texas for more reasons than just vaping.

One of my buddies is from Ranger. I don't know how the vaping selection is there though.

 

[RebornLincoln06]

Joe's Vapor Lounge is a nice shop with a decent selection. No clones and they inspect every item they buy before they take it from their supplier. Their supplier isn't cheap though...

I wish more places carried good clones, at least for rda's. I refuse to spend 5x more for an identical item. My derringer clone was 9.99 shipped, authentics were 70+. Quality is identical. I would have spent 20-25 for an authentic, but 70 is a joke.

That is outrageous. Funny enough, my co worker called a place over here asking about the Mutation X V4, and they said they were selling the CLONE for $70. Noped out of there so fast.

 

[RebornLincoln06]

I'm beginning to regret leaving Texas... a lot. I lived in Ranger just off I-20, long before I started vaping. I might want to move back to Texas for more reasons than just vaping.

We get made fun of by other states, but I love this place. The country is so nice, but my heart and soul is in DFW. I imagine in Ranger though (for those wondering, in between DFW and Abilene) there isn't a whole lot, if any, vape shops close by.

 

[Vaslovik]

One of my buddies is from Ranger. I don't know how the vaping selection is there though.

It's likely not very good, Ranger is a tiny burg with not much at all going on. There is a liquor store, and a couple of restaurants, and a lot of poor people. The local cop brags that she's ticketed everyone in town. She got me on a burnt out license plate light. It's really a nasty little town. They had 5 new police chiefs in 6 months while I lived there. Eastland down the road is no better, full of vicious leftists.

I would not move back to Ranger if I returned to Texas. I might try Abiliene.

 

[SomeTexan]

It's likely not very good, Ranger is a tiny burg with not much at all going on. There is a liquor store, and a couple of restaurants, and a lot of poor people. The local cop brags that she's ticketed everyone in town. She got me on a burnt out license plate light. It's really a nasty little town. They had 5 new police chiefs in 6 months while I lived there.

I would not move back to Ranger if I returned to Texas. I might try Abiliene.

I've only been through there on the interstate. No reason to stop, and what I saw didn't give me one. His family have a lot of land near town, but don't like the town itself...

 

[SomeTexan]

That is outrageous. Funny enough, my co worker called a place over here asking about the Mutation X V4, and they said they were selling the CLONE for $70. Noped out of there so fast.

That's crazy. $70 for a clone? Someone needs a good slap upside their head...

 

[Asbestos4004]

Ditto this, which seems damned odd to me, living on the outskirts of a huge city, you'd think there'd be a vape meet monthly! But I've never even heard of a vape meet in Atlanta.

Well, no... I read on some site of a vape thing that took place in ATL... in 2012 or something.

Yesterday, I learned that the first vape shop I ever entered was going out of business, and they were having a Goodbye Party. So, that gave me a big sad, and we went over there. But I wouldn't call it a party; there were about 20-30 people sitting around at the tables, building coils, fogging up the place... I didn't know anyone, so we just talked to the guy behind the counter, expressing our surprise and sorrow that SteamCigs would no longer be around. And that was that, so we left. Really not what I would call a party.

Andria

Steam Cigs...I was there and it was definitely a party. People brought food and drinks. Lots of laughs and fellowship. Yes, there were a few folks rebuilding their coils. Yes, 30-50 people VAPING....not cloud chasing. It was an excellent time and a nice send off to the best vape shop in the Atlanta area. Not everyone vapes at 12 watts, but there's a huge difference in 30 people VAPING and 30 people blowing clouds.

 

[LilWhiteClouder]

Yeah, vape stores continue to be geared for beginners and they don't really care, they are all about raking in the cash for egos coil heads and clearos, and junk clones of whatever. I would so love to see someone open Advanced Vaping, and selling the real deal to experienced vapers. Authentic mods and attys, mesh, kanthal, DIY supplies, and decent batteries to support serious mods, but no one is doing that... anywhere.

We've got some really great social B&Ms here in raleigh, nc. There is one small shop called Trinity Vaper Lounge that make their own juices and only sell authentic mods, tanks and attys. of course they can't compete with online prices, but their juice sales probably keep them afloat. They stay on top of new gear and have some really cool stuff, I just wish I could will myself to spend so much on 1 device or atty. They are some great guys though, and the owner is really involved in the politics side. I hang out there for lunch sometimes (consists of beer from the crafty beer store across the street and lots of juice, a true liquid lunch
I try to seek out the social vape scene. I enjoy rl conversations about vaping as much as here on the forum. I talk to all kinds of people that I probably wouldn't normally. I haven't really run into any negativity toward vaping just yet, KOW. I am almost wanting someone to give me a hard time. Vaping has been good to me and gotten me off the pack+ habit I had for over 15 years. I am ready to defend it against the naysayers.

 

[Rocketpunk]

T

 

[Rocketpunk]

To be 100% honest, working in vape store can be either a blessing or a curse. Or both. Often times I have to listen to the very excited Joe Schmoe who just loooooves to talk about building coils and what devices he owns or has owned, etc. Everyone unloads their vaping journey onto you. It's like we're Sam Malone and it's our duty to listen to peoples' life stories. It's fun to talk shop or be a pseudo-psychiatrist to a certain extent, but after a while, you just want to talk about anything OTHER than vaping.

 

[SomeTexan]

Lol, when I roll up in my Nova, it ends up being the main topic of conversation for a while... I need to finish the engine swap and bring her out again.

 

[Racehorse]

Move to arkansas. or louisiana. Everyone is friendly and will talk to you........about anything. LOL

I really can't relate to the cold shoulder type living, but I noticed it when I went back to NY State to visit my mom. People are totally in their own space.

I used to think it was population density, but I think it has more to do with being in places where people just liking other people....when I visit NYC Manhattan proper, people are pretty friendly compared to the suburbs.

I go to oaklawn racetrack, anybody and everybody will talk to you.....even famous jockeys and trainers...... but the patrons too. I found that to be true in Louisiana as well.......it's like everybody "WANTS" to know you.

I am beginning to think it is regional.

 

[Bunnykiller]

if the local governments quit passing laws on making vaping hard to do in public venues, one would probably see more people vaping... I see others vaping at the B&Ms and in their cars.... on a rare occasion, outside a food serving place... obviously alot of vapers are keeping a low profile...

 

[DingerCPA]

Lol, when I roll up in my Nova, it ends up being the main topic of conversation for a while... I need to finish the engine swap and bring her out again.

I thought I was going to be brilliant when I was going to guess that to be about a '67 or a '68 (until I noticed the license plate ) My dad had a '69 white 4-door, light blue interior, AM radio, automatic (gear shift on the steering column), NO A/C.... Solid as a bloody rock. Mom and Dad gave/sold it to my brother - four years older than I. He proceeded to crunch the front end, but not before he let me cruise it in a couple of parking lots when I was about 13 years old!!!! I would have LOVED to have had that as my first car.....

NOVA: Nova, Omega, Ventura, Apollo (Chevy, Olds, Buick, Pontiac?)

 

[SomeTexan]

I thought I was going to be brilliant when I was going to guess that to be about a '67 or a '68 (until I noticed the license plate ) My dad had a '69 white 4-door, light blue interior, AM radio, automatic (gear shift on the steering column), NO A/C.... Solid as a bloody rock. Mom and Dad gave/sold it to my brother - four years older than I. He proceeded to crunch the front end, but not before he let me cruise it in a couple of parking lots when I was about 13 years old!!!! I would have LOVED to have had that as my first car.....

NOVA: Nova, Omega, Ventura, Apollo (Chevy, Olds, Buick, Pontiac?)

Yup, a 68. First year of the body style, only year of the body style to have the key on the dash instead of the column. If this was my first car, I probably wouldn't be here today. Lol, she ran mid 8's in the 1/4, hopefully I'll be nudging 7's with the new engine, and still be able to drive her on the street.

I think Pontiac was the Ventura and Buick made the Apollo, but you don't see as near as many of them as the Nova.

 

[Jordan Alexo]

Well some people enjoy to chat, others not so much. Probably, you caught someone who just didn't want to talk. But where I live, one the e-cig shop owners where I buy my stuff is very nice. I can't say the same for all his clients lol. Just by their face I don't even feel like chatting to them.

But I met a couple of nice people there. I guess it's like anything in life not everyone is nice. I wouldn't say it has anything to do with them being vapers or not. It has mostly to do with who they are as a person rather than anything else.

 

[DingerCPA]

Yup, a 68. First year of the body style, only year of the body style to have the key on the dash instead of the column. If this was my first car, I probably wouldn't be here today. Lol, she ran mid 8's in the 1/4, hopefully I'll be nudging 7's with the new engine, and still be able to drive her on the street.

I think Pontiac was the Ventura and Buick made the Apollo, but you don't see as near as many of them as the Nova.

Yup - Pontiac Ventura.... I just loved how those similarly-styled cars spelled "NOVA" No idea what the engine was in Dad's. HUGE steering wheel, and no power steering!

No, certainly didn't see the Venturas or the Apollos nearly as often. Chevy was the "lesser-expensive" line of those GM offshoots. Probably why more were out there. i think the Apollos were most rare. I remember seeing Omegas and Venturas, though....