What do you think about higher priced local vendors?

[oxidus]

A local shop just opened up in my city, they are expanding out of Ottawa. I went there and they were charging $12 per 10ml bottle and about $25 per 30ml bottle. I did some basic math, and I could get 150ml for $100 online, after shipping and everything. I can only get about 110ml from the shop after taxes and cab rides, but at least I can try the liquid to know if i'll like it. I've given away several bottles because they taste nothing like they advertise.

There's a few things I can say to justify shopping locally and to justify their prices. Higher prices because they have a physical storefront to rent / maintain. They require sales staff to personally answer any customers who come in. They have to put free samples down to attract more business. They also can't make business when the shop is closed, you have to go in to order. You also don't need to worry about shipping things from the states, which is apparently hit or miss. No websites that are only open for a few hours per week...etc. You also want to support local business, and allow more competition to pop up and increase your options.

The arguments for online shopping are pretty well known to me. Very cheap, easy access to the 'store-front', no effort required.

So what do you think, are their prices justified? They didn't even know what a VAMO was when my GF pulled it out. I'm wondering if they are just pandering to new vapers who don't realize they can get it all online.

EDIT: They aren't using super high quality (price) juice at the shop. It appears to be mostly dekang and their own creations.

 

[TangentOmen]

Pretty much only use B&M for stuff I need right away.

 

[kenmuir]

If they offered the products that I was looking to buy, I'd happily pay a higher price for the "I want it now!" factor. An online vendor generally doesn't process my order until the next business day, plus (at least) two days of Canada Post transit, plus an extra day while I sit by the door and watch Canada Post delivering the card saying that they tried to deliver but I didn't answer the door while my package sits at the central post office for transfer to the local Shopper's Drug Mart.

Since I started vaping (two months tomorrow), I've spent $112 in shipping costs, even though I find myself ordering stuff I don't need so I can get over the free shipping threshold. Granted, that's only a mere 8% of the $1450 in total that I've spent on the overall habit.

 

[fourtytwo]

I guess I'm real lucky. My closest B&M is Maple Leaf Vapes. I walk in and they mix to order while I wait. Excellent juices, prices and service.

Gotta say, $25 for 30ml of Dekang seems pricey to me.

 

[Talyon]

I've got 5 Canvape locations very near to me, and yes they cost a bit more, but in all it's still way cheaper then analogs, and if I want it on that day that their open, I'll have it that day, lol.

I don't mind the higher prices it's still my choice where I spend my money at.

Besides the more stores that open the better Vapeing in general is.

 

[Papa_Lazarou]

B&M's charge the premium for the reasons you state, so the increased cost is understandable and IMHO don't constitute gouging. It's not the largest margin business in the world (you don't want to know the mark up on jewelry or furniture), so I'd say they're in the clear, morally.

$25 for 30 ml is not uncommon, although $12 for 10 is a bit high (for a B&M).

I personally use them to learn about new juices and hardware. If I like what I've discovered, I usually buy the product there. It just seems fair. Repeat business of the same products, however, I'll usual shop for online.

The store you're referring to feels like it was started by people riding the hype of vaping. We'll probably be seeing more of that in the future. The power, though, is in your hands. Shop there or not. It is we who are in control of their fate, not the other way around.

 

[dieselrick]

Personally the local stores around here are priced competitively on their juices, now some of the prices on mods and things are outrageous compared to online. I reckon that's the way they are making their money they have to do it somehow though.

 

[fourtytwo]

I've got 5 Canvape locations very near to me, and yes they cost a bit more, but in all it's still way cheaper then analogs, and if I want it on that day that their open, I'll have it that day, lol.

I don't mind the higher prices it's still my choice where I spend my money at.

Besides the more stores that open the better Vapeing in general is.

I agree. Canvape is great but I can't always find time on the weekends when they are open.

Right now, the market is still small and the vendors are still finding what the market will support. As more B&M's open, we will see a narrowing of the range in pricing.
I remember the first juice I bought almost two years ago was $30 for a 30ml bottle of RY4. Now, I mix my own version for a fraction of that.

 

[analogbgone]

The nearest B & M to me is of course over-priced compared to online stores. But they have decent juice if I'm in a pinch and don't want to wait for online orders. I consider it as 6 one way, half a dozen the other. And the ambiance of the place is great! I tend to order online if I need more than a few bottles of juice. But I'm glad I have a place for instant purchases.

 

[nomadic]

We Canadians are getting robbed by vendors here, the prices of juices are absolutely ridiculous and quality is CRAP compared to the US..

I ended up just getting a PO Box in buffalo and I'm there once a month anyway, I'm able to get my juices steeped from my po box and I will never buy locally due to pricing, quality control issues, ingredient quality, etc ..

I know of a Canadian vendor that mixes his juice in his kitchen, which is fine for DYI, but not acceptable for mass distribution in my opinion..

until the CBSA relaxes on the ejuice shipments, we'll continue to get gouged here because there's no competition, so I don't blame the Canadian vendors for seizing the opportunity ...

 

[fourtytwo]

...
I know of a Canadian vendor that mixes his juice in his kitchen, which is fine for DYI, but not acceptable for mass distribution in my opinion...

Are you so sure that this is not what most of the US vendors is not doing as well?

 

[nomadic]

That's a good question that all vendors should be answering!

Myself, the vendor I buy from, I actually visited his dedicated lab that he has in Michigan just for my own peace of mind ...

Are you so sure that this is not what most of the US vendors is not doing as well?

 

[Kagey K]

We Canadians are getting robbed by vendors here, the prices of juices are absolutely ridiculous and quality is CRAP compared to the US..

I ended up just getting a PO Box in buffalo and I'm there once a month anyway, I'm able to get my juices steeped from my po box and I will never buy locally due to pricing, quality control issues, ingredient quality, etc ..

I know of a Canadian vendor that mixes his juice in his kitchen, which is fine for DYI, but not acceptable for mass distribution in my opinion..

until the CBSA relaxes on the ejuice shipments, we'll continue to get gouged here because there's no competition, so I don't blame the Canadian vendors for seizing the opportunity ...

I disagree with this sentiment. I have people that are in Az almost year round and use Freedom Smoke as their vendor, while I use Juggie and Canvape. I have the option of getting juice and hardware from any of those places at any given time and I find their prices are really comparable.

As a matter of fact I will almost always choose Juggie over the same flavour from freedom smoke because I find his tastes better.

As far as B&M go, we have very few choices in Edmonton, but I did Visit River City Vapes and they mix their juice onsite, or at least gave the impression that they did and I bought an I taste 3.0 vv for 40 instead of Canvapes 37.50 plus shipping.

The price of thier Evod clearomizers were a bit steep, but it's part of the instant gratification if you need it.

Overall if you want it now you will pay more, but you don't have to pay more to get good quality in Canada. It depends on the needs of the buyer, otherwise these vendors wouldn't exist.

 

[Glenn_K]

Personally speaking, you'd pretty much have to pay me to use Dekang e-liquid.

$12 for a small bottle of that brand of e-liquid sounds terrible. This doesn't sound like a great recipe for repeat business success; newcomers might buy Dekang at that price, but I imagine they'll shop elsewhere once they learn about other options.

-- Glenn

A local shop just opened up in my city, they are expanding out of Ottawa. I went there and they were charging $12 per 10ml bottle and about $25 per 30ml bottle. I did some basic math, and I could get 150ml for $100 online, after shipping and everything. I can only get about 110ml from the shop after taxes and cab rides, but at least I can try the liquid to know if i'll like it. I've given away several bottles because they taste nothing like they advertise.

There's a few things I can say to justify shopping locally and to justify their prices. Higher prices because they have a physical storefront to rent / maintain. They require sales staff to personally answer any customers who come in. They have to put free samples down to attract more business. They also can't make business when the shop is closed, you have to go in to order. You also don't need to worry about shipping things from the states, which is apparently hit or miss. No websites that are only open for a few hours per week...etc. You also want to support local business, and allow more competition to pop up and increase your options.

The arguments for online shopping are pretty well known to me. Very cheap, easy access to the 'store-front', no effort required.

So what do you think, are their prices justified? They didn't even know what a VAMO was when my GF pulled it out. I'm wondering if they are just pandering to new vapers who don't realize they can get it all online.

EDIT: They aren't using super high quality (price) juice at the shop. It appears to be mostly dekang and their own creations.

 

[Legolas]

Market will set the price. It's nice to have a local shop for testing juice before you buy to look at a device or if you run out of kanthal. I agree b&m will be higher priced but there is no waiting shipping and you can get questions answered (in most cases). Pricing egos for example @50-60 bucks might be over the top.

 

[Mariopainballer]

i basically just buy batteries, and accesories that i need for building at my b&m. for juice ive been ordering online, mainly yaeliq for the price

 

[Legolas]

i . for juice ive been ordering online, mainly yaeliq for the price

I saw pbustardos video on them. How long does the shipping take?

 

[Jalalinator]

i always use canvape, except im pretty sure past weekend i ordered a 3400mah green 18650 for my evic and when i went there the guy tried to give me an efest thinking i wouldnt realize, he had my battery in a box showed to me i paid and left, i realized i left my battery there so i go back, the guy i was dealing with stepped out so the kid who waa there tried to look for it for me, the guy had taken my battery out of the box and put it in his personal ...., then when he came back from smoking XXX (i could smell it) he tried to hand me an efest 18650 and i was like ugh no? then he magically "found my battery" which was in box 10 mins earlier and now was lying out of box in his pile of .... behind the counter, long story short make sure ur getting what u pay for cuz thats some shady .....

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[Yankez]

As a new vaper I prefer the local B&M shops. I have many questions and it's nice to be able to get them answered face to face..and shown how to do something. Plus the juice samples they have out have turned me on to a few flavors I wouldn't have normally tried.

Yes the prices are higher than online but I'll pay for the convenience and customer service happily

 

[Silent Knight]

Although generally a little pricier than online, I still prefer B&M shops for the hands-on experience...sampling flavours, chatting with the staff, exchanging info and experience. For me the interaction is worth paying a little more.

A new B&M location opened here in Niagara Falls (Can.) - Nic Atomz - and although he only sells the 10mL size juice...his prices are very reasonable ($5.89)...and some of his flavours are on sale at $3.89/10mL. It's all lab-tested and certified...no backroom mixing.

The wife and I made our visit earlier today, in fact. The owner was very friendly, chatty and pleasantly helpful. I was impressed with the quality gear he sells - not the cheap, sketchy knock-off quality I've seen in other local stores (no names mentioned).