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

[Mudfinger]

I've been to a few tobacconists and smoke shops here in Southern California, and was genuinely surprised by the markup. One place wanted $24.95 for a clearomizer that's usually less than $6.00 online. Same deal with most of the other hardware I've seen. As much as I generally prefer to support local businesses, I just don't have that kind of money to throw around.

On the other hand, I can live with the markup I get from domestic companies that do business online; I got my eGo kit from an outfit in Florida for less than 40 bucks, which included 2 batteries, 2 clearomizers, some juice, and a charger. Everything worked out of the box.

One thing I had no trouble paying extra for at a local shop was juice; it's still cheaper than tobacco, and I happened to like the stuff I bought. I'll try some other local brews when my current supply runs out.

 

[patkin]

I buy from two B&Ms that also sell on the net. I buy over the net as they're not in my State. Both have some of the best prices I've seen and, so, I consider some others (in my own State) to be price gouging no matter how much they make overhead excuses. Also, the "we're just here to help smokers quit" is bs in my book because they're prices discourage new vapers rather than encouraging them. When initially trying to come up with my usual pollyanna excuses for them I thought maybe they just aren't as capable of running a business efficientlyto make a healthy profit without gouging but, over the months shopping around, I don't think so anymore.

 

[jfalbanese]

the vapor store in my area is closing soon. it's a tough place to operate a storefront. he also has to pass on his costs to the consumer. it's hard to compete especially when i tell everyone who is sick of hearing it from me. " I Do everything online."the next market for these things is at the local gas stations, and news stands. they will be making room as the cig market shrinks. carts, juices , ect. i plan to sell the idea to one of the local gas stations here. their market is shrinking, we have a lot of tourists come here. and as the revolution continues to grow in my area. i will want a place to go to for everyday supplies.

 

[Jordyn_With_a_Y]

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 this statement!

 

[Jordyn_With_a_Y]

Here in Minnesota there is high high cost on Nicotine tax so I believe that's why juice here can be more expensive.

 

[All That Jazz]

I just spent close to $200 to start vaping. I have done research for quite a while. Unfortunately, most vendors seem to be sold out of the stuff I wanted so I just bought random stuff. I did place an order from China and I think that is where I will get my supplies from now on because they are 1/3 the price.
Except for vapors. I love Virgin Vapors. They rock! But they seem to be out of commission because I've tried to contact them for the past couple of days with no response. Their vapors are worth the wait though. Yum!

 

[redgypsy]

Love having a B&M to steer smokers to, because most won't consider it unless they can try it. That was my experience with first cig-a-like. But generally only do the occasional juice or emergency part from them myself. My local B&M offers a spend $100 get $10 back program. They were my saviours when my charger died. Was down to my last charged battery when I went in to get a new charger while waiting for the one I ordered on-line to arrive. And it's worth the higher cost of juice to try before I buy. I've lost their markup in juice I didn't care for purchased on-line. 150% markup is standard for most retail (having working in the garmet industry), so that markup I consider fair.

 

[JDentalGirl]

The shop I frequented has become so busy, it's not worth it to me to visit. I liked going in and chit chatting with people who really knew their stuff, and so I felt comfortable paying what I did. But I am always interested in finding something online at a great deal.

 

[GRIDCorp]

I walked into a B&M shop last Saturday knowing NOTHING about vaping. They were WONDERFUL and I walked out with (according to my receipt) an 'eGO-C Upgrade Kit (Stardust)'. I found ECF on Monday and have been serving the various posts for the last few days. I don't know if $54.99+tax was a good price or not...but...the experience was great and the line of customers LONG!

 

[skoot]

Anyone read the Pro Tank description? It says the tank is "glass and iron made." I'm sure it's not, but funny nonetheless. Can you imagine an iron tank?

 

[patkin]

PBusardo (I think) says it chromed brass and the air channels on the base do appear to expose brass.

 

[Bookworm]

I walked into a B&M shop last Saturday knowing NOTHING about vaping. They were WONDERFUL and I walked out with (according to my receipt) an 'eGO-C Upgrade Kit (Stardust)'. I found ECF on Monday and have been serving the various posts for the last few days. I don't know if $54.99+tax was a good price or not...but...the experience was great and the line of customers LONG!

That is a totally decent price. So no worries, you did not get ripped off.

 

[Davenkay]

I thank my local vapor shop for getting me started, but as I advanced in the craft, I found that the more advanced supplies could best be found on line.

 

[NeilSwift]

I was getting seriously ripped off here (UK) along with many others until I joined ECF. The links and knowledge are all here, you just need to look in the right place. I love sharing a new supplier with mates and we often split the bigger orders between us.

Initially my local store was great as I knew little. He seemed to be the font of all that is e-cig. He smiled from ear to ear as he took my hard earned, holding it tight in his grubby little hands. As time moved on I procured much invaluable info and pointers from here and his smile lessened as I asked questions he was clearly uncomfortable with and knew little about. Last time I went in he had not much to say and even less supplies that I was interested in.

Online stores are the way to go, just make sure you have what you need until it's delivered.

 

[bfrie]

i personally love my local store, they only carry good products and make high quality liquid. most of their products are fairly priced, only jacked up enough to pay their employees and cover rent and still make a little profit. plus, when i purchased my evic from them, he told me straight up how much i would save buying online instead. i still purchased it from them simply because of the mad respect i won because of that. shoutout to smokeless smoking at smokelessmn.com

 

[Lopaka79]

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.

Also You don't have to wait for shipping. If their an honest business, they would probably just replace anything DOA and can probably help you troubleshoot any equipment issues. Local business does give you something Internet business has a hard time doing. It's peace of mind.

GL with it and happy vaping

 

[Mad_realm_vapes]

Due diligence... Can get you pretty far in life. The shop in my part of so cal charges 260 for provari and 10 for smoktech tanks with no carto. Oh yeah, $1 per ml of juice. THAT'S pretty crazy considering they have a huge selection of MBV juice...

 

[bizmitchel]

I just had a nightmare with my B&M, They sold me fake Vivi gear, I did contact them and they told me they didn't know they was fake but in the same breath said "Now as a partner in this venture, you are 100% right for calling us out on the price of the Vivi's internet sells them for 14.95 and we would have to charge around 19.00 for them as we would be buying them for estimated 13.00 .the Vivi that you purchased was a cost of 7.95 ,alibaba will sell them for much less but when you go to order say 100 of them then they change there pricing to the higher quote and then there is 30% cost to ship said product." Eventually he offered my money back for purchase of both vivi's and to buy a Authentic Vivi from any vendor I choose; I turned it down though; unless their gonna sell legit or notify consumers, I don't want no part of it.

 

[Txrider]

I have used a few B&M stores, but mainly get stuff online. One local store, I say local but it's 40 miles away, sells at a bit high prices but service is excellent and they mix up some great flavors of juice right in front of you from their flavor bar. There is another20 miles away (I live in the middle of nowhere, dead end dirt road, can't see a neighbor from my acreage place).

Mainly I go to them when I need something -today- not 3-6 weeks from now from China, or 2-5 days from a U.S. online supplier. I don't mind paying a bit more for that and supporting them a bit so they will still be there next year.

I think as e-cigs get more and more popular in the future and B&M stores start getting a lot more volume of customers and competition that B&M store prices will start falling and get a lot closer or equal to online prices.

 

[BostonVape]

at the same time you don't know the type of overhead/costs that local shops have.. plus in this type of business you run the risk of packages getting seized by customs or never even getting all the way back from China

(my friend owns a vape shop and has had 2 packages worth almost $10k seized within the last 30 days and basically has to wait 2 months or so for everything to get cleared - as of right now.. so now with the backup stuff he had to buy at almost retail price, he's not making a penny off his shop right now)

no one forced you to buy from the shop.. if you know about this forum then you should realize that getting stuff online is much much cheaper then vendors and should be familiar with all the well known sites lol..

edit: seized by customs not customers doh.