Wow.. I've been getting ripped off!!

[bigbells]

I get what your saying, but the mark-up the OP spoke of was beyond trying to cover a B&M overhead, more like trying to fund a new car and exotic vacation

It's really impossible to say. If you're not doing a good volume in sales you cannot keep up with your overhead even if you're marking items up to 4 times what they cost you. Location, location, location... and marketing.... and local real estate prices.... and so on.

Joke: 2 business-acumen-challenged cousins decide to sell watermelons from the back of a pickup truck by the side of the road. They buy a bunch of melons for $3 a piece and sell them for $2 a piece. On their way home after the first day, they have trouble figuring out why they've got less money than before they started. Suddenly one of the cousins snaps his fingers and says "I've got it! We need a bigger truck!"

 

[d3p]

I get what your saying, but the mark-up the OP spoke of was beyond trying to cover a B&M overhead, more like trying to fund a new car and exotic vacation

yeah and I expect as vaping keeps getting bigger, more shops like that will open;
shops runned by people with dollar marks in their eyes that hardly know what vaping is about except that lot of desperate smokers are interested in it
people need to get to know a shop; there are shops run buy vaping-enthusiasts who will help you get rid of analogs as their first priority but there are also a lot of shops that don't really care about much else then maximizing profit

 

[Rickajho]

I get what your saying, but the mark-up the OP spoke of was beyond trying to cover a B&M overhead, more like trying to fund a new car and exotic vacation

That's assuming we know what the B&M wholesale cost was - and we don't. And that we know the OP wasn't exaggerating the prices at the store to make a point - and we don't.

 

[cloudbringer]

Gee, Health Cabin only gives you free shipping on orders over $250.

Those e-liquids are certainly inexpensive. And that ProTank clearo looks mighty interesting . . . no: I mustn't order any more new toys!

you need new toys...you deserve it...you've been a good boy

 

[2nd chance]

It's really impossible to say. If you're not doing a good volume in sales you cannot keep up with your overhead even if you're marking items up to 4 times what they cost you. Location, location, location... and marketing.... and local real estate prices.... and so on.

To own and maintain a B&M shop is to have all these things considered and planned out BEFORE hand with a good knowledge of how to be successful, two of those things are having a happy customer base and care that OVER charging for inventory is avoided.

 

[2nd chance]

That's assuming we know what the B&M wholesale cost was - and we don't. And that we know the OP wasn't exaggerating the prices at the store to make a point - and we don't.

Hypothetical dear Watson Hypothetical

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

Heck I've been in a B&M on a Saturday talking with the Vendor for 3 hours and have seen less than $100 worth of sales.

Having said that one of the Vendors above is the largest in Canada with latest gear and lowest prices. He's listed here at ECF and has a website but I know the ONLY reason he has the B&M's is as an extra service for his customers...certainly from what I've seen no huge profits.

 

[DuffyA2Z]

Think of it as supporting your local business. The expenses of maintaining a small brick-and-mortar operation make it impossible to compete price-wise, but you also can't walk into an online shop to see and try stuff.

I agree with bigbells, the cost of running a business is sky high, workers comp is thousands up front, take into account rent, paying employees, inventory, insurance etc..etc..etc. Marketing is thousands as well... can't make a profit if you don't have customers, can't get enough customers without marketing.

 

[Uncle Willie]

It is interesting to hear of people's concept of what overhead is. I own a 1k sq ft B&M store (unrelated business) about 20 miles north of Boston. My "overhead" is easily in excess of 6k per month between rent, utilities and a store manager. I won't even talk about advertising, taxes and everyone else that wants me to "donate" more. Additionally competition from online is getting worse and worse. If you consider service and availability important support your local businesses, if you do not, it won't be long before they leave. As a store owner nothing is more aggravating than watching all the worthwhile purchases go to the online people and then you come to the store because you need an emergency part. I would probably tell you it is out of stock also (even if it was not) and give up the $1.50 sale.
On the other hand, I consider it inexcusable for the store owner to have a negative "attitude". Maybe there is a reason, maybe not.

Spot on .. as a retailer with a B&M in an unrelated business myself for the past 35 years

If all we had to do was shove stuff in a box and work out of a spare room or cheap warehouse space, in China with lax regulation, ultra cheap wages, etc .. well, I'd be a millionare several times over by now ..

 

[lamarrk]

I know my local vape store needs to make a profit, but wow!! Looks like I found the best place to get all my stuff from now on, straight from the Kanger manufacturer!! The most professional online e-cigs shop in China - Kangertech ecig shop - Kangertech

... I can't believe I've been paying up to 5X what the manufacturer charges, at my local vape store. On their website, the T3 and T2 tanks are both 5 for $18!! At my local vape store, I've been paying about $14 for just 1 Kanger T2 clearo!!


Wow I've been getting ripped off, on Clearos, wicks, BATTERIES (my 1st 900mah Ego-style battery was $40 at the store, the same one on this website for $9 for 1100mah!!). And free shipping on over $90 from the Kanger website, I'm about to buy a bunch of clearos, wicks, and a couple batteries from them.

Now I just need to hope that Kanger has 1.8ohm Coils in-stock for the T2's and T3's, I'm gonna buy a bunch!! As well as a bunch of T3 clearos, which I haven't even tried yet

Would be interested in hearing about your experience with them. Quality, shipping time, etc. On a side note, the Pro does look interesting. But is that a full eGo connection? Would you need a 510/eGo adapter to use it with an eVic?

 

[2nd chance]

So the answer is jacking up prices to the customers?? Heck, that would make me want to tell all my friends to hurry and go to this place to get all their vaping needs for huge mark ups. And "come on back ya'll, ya hear???"

 

[lamarrk]

That's assuming we know what the B&M wholesale cost was - and we don't. And that we know the OP wasn't exaggerating the prices at the store to make a point - and we don't.

Our local shop is expensive. 5ml of juice is $12.95. An eGo CE4 started kit is over $100 (I paid $37 mail order). My daughter bought her starter kit there and with a couple of small extra's, spent over $160. Unless it's a need it now situation, I'm doing all mail order. Still waiting on my eVic I ordered from Vapor Talk Store (Vapor Talk Store | Buy e Cigarettes & e Liquid).

 

[w00st3r]

I find items I want online that I dont see in stores. In some parts the nearest b&m store is some 75 miles away. Online ordering is inevitable. If you live by a store and the prices are 'reasonable' (given all things a physical store are accounted for) it very well could end up the same price. Ie: I wont drive to 5 different stored and spend $25 in gas and hours of my time to find a tank for $2 closer to online prices. If its there, and im there...its mine.

sent from my s3 like a derp.

 

[2nd chance]

Would be interested in hearing about your experience with them. Quality, shipping time, etc. On a side note, the Pro does look interesting. But is that a full eGo connection? Would you need a 510/eGo adapter to use it with an eVic?

Its a 510 , no adapter needed.

 

[Crimzen Eyez]

I also have to purchase everything online being as how there are no local vape shops in my area,and i realize that people have to make a profit on the goods that they sell however this is just bad business and this shop will not succeed doing stuff like that.

 

[Uncle Willie]

When these type threads spring up on ECF, it always makes me ponder what I used to spend on analogs ..

 

[WattWick]

Visited my local shop. The owner wanted the equivalent of $40 for a fake Mini Nova. Not the kit with 3 heads. No thanks! I do however order quite a lot of stuff from a guy in another town in Norway. I consider it my local shop now. Webshops are run by people too. It's illegal to sell nicotine liquids, but you can import them. Go bureacrazy! (yes with a z).

Importing to Norway is a pita. Any shipment over ~$35 go through customs where they charge you ~$25 to add 25% tax. Makes it $69 for a $36 package.... Or, if it contains nicotine, the processing fee is closer to $50. Needless to say, I get lots and lots of small packages.

 

[2nd chance]

When these type threads spring up on ECF, it always makes me ponder what I used to spend on analogs ..

Are you seeing the prices these members are posting??
$40 for a fake Mini Nova.

 

[jazon1]

When these type threads spring up on ECF, it always makes me ponder what I used to spend on analogs ..

it would be like you paying $40 for a $7 pack of smokes kind of nuts, if these people have to mark up that much to stay in business is time to start to sell something different.

 

[nomorebutts4me]

I love the local B&M's and I don't mind paying more, most of them here in the Gulf Coast area are very new and they throw things in for free, (like drip tips and free samples), also I mentioned I saw it cheaper on the net and they met the price.

I love the new Vaper Bars, it's great to sit and vape samples and talk to people as they come in, I met some great "Sisters" who recommended some great juices and one great gal introduced me to clearo's. It's a great social experience if you find the right place.

My favorite Vaper store is remodeling this weekend to add a lounge, I'll probably drop buy once a week just to visit with fellow vapers. They also give one bottle of juice free with the purchase of five and have a points saving system. Their prices are slightly above the net, but I'm not complaining, they are great Ladies!