WHY we should encourage the local vape shops!
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Fair Warning: I do work in a vape store!
I feel that the ability to come in and "play" with various devices lets you (us/me) make a better decision when buying.
Some things, such as replacement coils, kanthal wire, etc can be bought anywhere without much thought.
Some things, like mods for instance, take a certain amount of holding and feeling before you really decide if it's what you want to hold in your hands and face for the next year or two.
Granted, with the current global market to choose from, we can never be the cheapest option, but I would argue the "markup" is generally in line with other industries and if staffed by friendly and helpful employees, can feel like a real bargain when you factor in the additional "hand holding" that a reputable store would offer.
As much as the internet offers some folks a route to save a buck, it also cannot ever touch the level of service and satisfaction that comes with being able to purchase a real object after you've held it in your hand and been helped by a knowledgeable instructor to use properly.
Just my 2 cents, and for what it's worth, with vape shops popping up everywhere, the chances that they will ever completely go away are slim to none. There are several stores in my area that sell things that are illegal even prior to use, where there's a will, there will always be a way!
I feel that the ability to come in and "play" with various devices lets you (us/me) make a better decision when buying.
Some things, such as replacement coils, kanthal wire, etc can be bought anywhere without much thought.
Some things, like mods for instance, take a certain amount of holding and feeling before you really decide if it's what you want to hold in your hands and face for the next year or two.
Granted, with the current global market to choose from, we can never be the cheapest option, but I would argue the "markup" is generally in line with other industries and if staffed by friendly and helpful employees, can feel like a real bargain when you factor in the additional "hand holding" that a reputable store would offer.
As much as the internet offers some folks a route to save a buck, it also cannot ever touch the level of service and satisfaction that comes with being able to purchase a real object after you've held it in your hand and been helped by a knowledgeable instructor to use properly.
Just my 2 cents, and for what it's worth, with vape shops popping up everywhere, the chances that they will ever completely go away are slim to none. There are several stores in my area that sell things that are illegal even prior to use, where there's a will, there will always be a way!
This one is probably closer to you then(I think Brandywine is closer..). It literally just opened. Its called Isle of Vapes in Waldorf. I'm over in Calvert and its just a total pain to get over there!! Who has time to fight that traffic?? 231 alone makes the drive to Waldorf like nails on a chalkboard. We did drive up to the Vapors Knoll one day to just give some money to a Maryland shop, but its hard to find time(1 3/4 hours). This shop just opened so I'm sure one of our B&M crawls will include it at some point.
I gotta say if it hadn't been for the local vape shops in this town, headed primarily by Volcano e-cigs, the State legislature would have walked all over us. Boy, they really pulled out the big guns and got the word out. God Bless 'em! And yes, if you're after a lavatube or something of that ilk, it's a great store to go to (and they have their own volcano coffee too, can't beat that!)
I buy from my local vape shops most of the time. I would rather pay a bit more, and save the shipping and the wait. Stuff I cannot find, I buy online.
That's awesome. Waldorf is only 20 minutes from me, (everything seems to be 20 minutes away) so that is pretty cool. I'll be sure to go and check it out.
I love my local B&M. I'm there at least once a week...
The people are great and heck I like to just hang out and chat with those folks.......
The people are great and heck I like to just hang out and chat with those folks.......I love my local B&M. I'm there at least once a week...
2 of the guys spent about an hour with me talking about different RBTs, clearomizers and flavors. I apparently was a very refreshing customer since they mostly just explain starter kits (I also am much more profitable than first time buyers)
I'm a fan of supporting local vape shops. These days, mostly I only buy juice and atomizers for my protank II, and I buy that locally, from Good Vapes, a shop I really like.
When I started vaping, there were a few local shops. None in Dallas itself, but two or three in nearby suburbs. I tried to do research online (mostly here on ECF), but I was still pretty confused, and going to Vaporesence, the nearest shop I could find, helped a lot. It's one thing to read msgs and post a question and get an answer (typed out) an hour later. It's quite another to have someone in person who can say "Here, let me show you, try that".
I'm not sure I would have ever gotten started if it weren't for that personal touch.
All that being said, there is a huge, huge difference between a good vape shop a bad one. A good one has people who vape themselves, care about vaping, and who have the knowledge you need and are willing to share the knowledge. They aren't all like that.
Many of you have probably seen a video called "The Four Stages of Vaping". There is a section there about "what about those electronic cigarettes I saw at the mall? I want one that looks like a cigarette, feels like a cigarette, and tastes like a cigarette". The guy tells her that she won't find that and she says "forget you, I'll go to the shop at the mall". The next line after that is "I got hosed at the mall".
I don't go to malls very often, but I've read a ton of posts on ECF about mall shops selling some kind of vape equipment. The dominant storyline is that they are priced at double or triple what you would pay online, and the people running the booth have no clue about vaping. That's the other extreme - a "vape shop" which is only there because someone thought "These are hot sellers", bought some stuff to sell, and pays minimum wage to hire someone who knows nothing about it.
Now, three years later, there are a ton of shops in Dallas. Within 30 miles of me, I bet there are at least 50 vape shops. (That doesn't count other stores that also sell some vape equipment/juice. Just pure vape shops.) Some of them are very good. Some of them suck. Not long ago, I saw a new about a mile from my house and started to pull in. The guy working inside stepped out to light a cig. Sorry, but if he can't keep himself from smoking at work, in his vape shop (well, just outside the front door), he isn't likely to be able to help me.
I'm a big fan of doing local business, as long as they are doing a good job. I have no qualms at all about telling someone "That shop can't help you, they don't have a clue, they'll sell you anything you can pay for but they don't know a damn thing and you are better off saving your money".
When I started vaping, there were a few local shops. None in Dallas itself, but two or three in nearby suburbs. I tried to do research online (mostly here on ECF), but I was still pretty confused, and going to Vaporesence, the nearest shop I could find, helped a lot. It's one thing to read msgs and post a question and get an answer (typed out) an hour later. It's quite another to have someone in person who can say "Here, let me show you, try that".
I'm not sure I would have ever gotten started if it weren't for that personal touch.
All that being said, there is a huge, huge difference between a good vape shop a bad one. A good one has people who vape themselves, care about vaping, and who have the knowledge you need and are willing to share the knowledge. They aren't all like that.
Many of you have probably seen a video called "The Four Stages of Vaping". There is a section there about "what about those electronic cigarettes I saw at the mall? I want one that looks like a cigarette, feels like a cigarette, and tastes like a cigarette". The guy tells her that she won't find that and she says "forget you, I'll go to the shop at the mall". The next line after that is "I got hosed at the mall".
I don't go to malls very often, but I've read a ton of posts on ECF about mall shops selling some kind of vape equipment. The dominant storyline is that they are priced at double or triple what you would pay online, and the people running the booth have no clue about vaping. That's the other extreme - a "vape shop" which is only there because someone thought "These are hot sellers", bought some stuff to sell, and pays minimum wage to hire someone who knows nothing about it.
Now, three years later, there are a ton of shops in Dallas. Within 30 miles of me, I bet there are at least 50 vape shops. (That doesn't count other stores that also sell some vape equipment/juice. Just pure vape shops.) Some of them are very good. Some of them suck. Not long ago, I saw a new about a mile from my house and started to pull in. The guy working inside stepped out to light a cig. Sorry, but if he can't keep himself from smoking at work, in his vape shop (well, just outside the front door), he isn't likely to be able to help me.
I'm a big fan of doing local business, as long as they are doing a good job. I have no qualms at all about telling someone "That shop can't help you, they don't have a clue, they'll sell you anything you can pay for but they don't know a damn thing and you are better off saving your money".
Unbelievable!!! I'm completely dumfounded. Could have been worth it to walk out while vaping and ask him "do you work here?" and then just go "hmm" while vaping and walking away.
I totally support all my local vape shops. Although right now my favorite shop is Platinum Vapes. The have locations in Hayward, Newark and San Jose in California. If anyone is in the Bay Area I highly recommend them. I also go to many other shops in the Bay Area. If it were not for the local shops I probably would not be vaping. I would still be smoking cigs. I always hated buying stuff online. You always end up waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting... Well you get the idea.
And then there is the occasional credit card theft, but you don't know it happened until you login to your account and see the charges. Then you call your bank or credit card company and dispute the charge that is for some hotel in France, or some nice slacks from some online store or a brand new Macbook from some store in socal. That always made me want to track someone down and cut off their hands so they couldn't steal my credit card again. Now I have no more of that stress. I just go to my local vape store and buy what I need. Plus I get to touch it and feel it and try it and taste it before I buy it. For me that's soooooooo much better.
And then there is the occasional credit card theft, but you don't know it happened until you login to your account and see the charges. Then you call your bank or credit card company and dispute the charge that is for some hotel in France, or some nice slacks from some online store or a brand new Macbook from some store in socal. That always made me want to track someone down and cut off their hands so they couldn't steal my credit card again. Now I have no more of that stress. I just go to my local vape store and buy what I need. Plus I get to touch it and feel it and try it and taste it before I buy it. For me that's soooooooo much better.
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