Want to support my local shops , hate the service I get.

[Zulu_Xray]

There is a vape store in my area that is a small store, not much stock, but it's not a dedicated vape store, they also sell tobacco products as well as some other stuff. Small store and the lady I talked to didn't seem to know much about any of the mods/tanks/eliquid they were selling. The next closest one to me is about 30 to 45 minutes away. I'd like to support my local businesses but it just doesn't seem like it's a good experience. Online seems like the way to go these days.....

 

[amoret]

I live in the middle of nowhere, so I do almost all of my shopping for non-perishable stuff online. However, I really do prefer to do business locally when I can. When I first started vaping I was having a really bad time finding liquids that I liked, and I still had to go to the ND version of the big city fairly often. So I decided to stop by the only vape shop there and talk about liquids. They also had a web site, so I figured that if I found a flavor or two that I liked I could get refills even if I wasn't heading to town.

Now I'm an fat old broad who needs a cane to walk, so I started out unimpressed by the state of their parking lot and entry, but hey, they were new, and on a budget, so I could live with that. But once I got into the store the guy at the counter totally ignored me. Not even a quick "I'll be right with you" or any attempt to wind up his purely social conversation with a guy who'd been there long enough to have the snow completely melted off of his boots. I waited patiently for a couple of minutes, and tried the basic "Excuse me, I have a few questions" and he still completely ignored me. So I left, and haven't been in a B&M since. I suppose if I visit my daughter in Minneapolis/St. Paul I might check one out.

 

[smacuser]

I predict most of the B&M vape shops in my area will be gone in the next 24 months.

Vape commerce will continue in those head shops that have been around forever. Perhaps they will have their wits together regarding vape stuff by then.

 

[Mike .. w]

The local b&m is doomed by this kind of attitude, and lack of understanding, among other things.

Let's take the prices... They buy from regional wholesalers to avoid shipping delays, customs, and minimum order quantities. The aforementioned wholesalers get massive quantities on the cheap, and mark them up to sell to retailers at a profit. Then, they cut their client's throat by offering the products online at far less than any b&m can... For instance, that $79 reuleaux likely cost the wholesaler $25. They sold it to the retailer for $45. The retailer, needing to cover rent, utilities, licensing, asvertising- employees, shipping, and merchandise should charge $90. However, the same wholesaler - through their retail division - is selling it for $50...

And those defective coils? If a retailer replaced, at no charge, every coil that every vaper claimed was defective, they'd be out of business in a couple months. Not saying you do/did/would, but many either do not prime their coils properly, install them properly, or run them at reasonable estranged leading to a large number of failures. And, there are those that will claim a coil is defective when it's simply old...

Samples can no longer be offered for free because of the FDA. This means that the shop has to gamble every time they crack open a bottle of juice. They've already invested in the tank, the coil, the disposable drop tip, and now the juice. In some cases, it's a worthwhile gamble and sales will be made. In other cases, tanks walk away, and quantities of e-liquid are used with no sales.

The real reason to support a b&m is to support your local vaping scene, and local economy.

If you are dissatisfied with a shop, but want to support that shop, have a non-belligerent conversation with the owner or manager. Explain your wants, needs, expectations, and listen when they explain their situation. If they can't be bothered to do this, don't support them. If you can't be bothered to do this, don't complain.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk

It is not unreasonable to expect service, I'm not a stranger in this store and I've spent big money there on the regular for my own convenience and to support something I feel is worthy. 3 out of 5 coils in the pack failed. Had nothing to to with user error and I'm not one to try to get a free ride. They see me there very very regularly and I always spend cash , at least 30 or 40 everytime. Sometimes a couple hundred. Replacing a coil for a good customer wouldn't have cost them a dime. As for the conversation with the manager , no thanks. They can keep it I found a shop that's worth having around. I did try to tell them , they didn't listen. Just offered me a 10% discount on a new 5 pack. The five pack is 20 bucks so 2 dollars savings . That's 1/2 the cost of a new coil. Many businesses manage to survive tight overhead and expenses . They do it by building relationships with loyal customers. I can see if the same dirt bag comes in twice a week wanting new coils for free and never spends a dime and sucks down samples but never buys. The deal is these people are familiar with me and my spending habits at their store. They simply don't care so I venture to guess they won't last long. It's a money grab , probably owned by a clueless rich guy or gal that doesn't give 2 cents about vaping or customers. Just money.

 

[VHRB2014]

Living in the age of the Internets, a shop HAS to provide exemplary service or it gets the Darwin award. Its simple economics.