There is a B&M about 15 mins away from me where i purchased some gear before I found this place. They charged about 25% more for knock off egos and vision tanks, but to tell you the truth, I didnt mind when I found out I could have gotten it cheaper. For one, it stopped me from smoking about 3 packs of analogs I surely would if I had to wait a week to get an online order, and its nice to know I can stop by an pick up juice and other small things whenever I want. I chalked it up to more time to break even, but once I do I dont mind.
Wow.. I've been getting ripped off!!
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And the reason I was looking around and checking out manufacturers, is because my local vape shop is OUT of 1.8ohm coils for the Kanger T2 clearo's I have (not to mention they are wayyy cheaper online). And my local shop doesn't even carry the Kanger T3's I've been wanting to try out, that's when I found out they were about 3x cheaper from the manufacturer
The one store we have in town is weird too. I understand that a B&M has more overhead and less inventory than online retailers, but their prices are way too high, considering we also have to pay sales tax if we shop there. What confounds me is their attitude. They may be the only shop now, but as the market grows, that won't be true forever.
One would think they would go out of their way to engender customer loyalty and build a community, but apparently that's not in their business plan. When I suggested they offer to let people sample juices (provided folks brought their own gear) they told me they couldn't because it's "a health issue." It's nicotine! It's freaking poisonous! How much more of a health concern are they worried about? I suppose I could miss my atty while dripping and slip in the juice...
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And yes the convenience factor also makes it a lot more worth it too.
My 1st Ego-styled 900mah XL battery broke a couple weeks ago. Instead of waiting for a new one online, I went to my local shop, and ended up getting the same version with variable voltage in 1300mah. It's a little wider and doesn't look as nice with my clearos (and they only had green and I wanted a black batt), but it works great and I was vaping again less than an hour after my 1st batt broke. And they explained the product to me a bit. But I did pay $50 when I could get the same battery online for $30 with shipping (it's similar to the Ego-Twist)
My 1st Ego-styled 900mah XL battery broke a couple weeks ago. Instead of waiting for a new one online, I went to my local shop, and ended up getting the same version with variable voltage in 1300mah. It's a little wider and doesn't look as nice with my clearos (and they only had green and I wanted a black batt), but it works great and I was vaping again less than an hour after my 1st batt broke. And they explained the product to me a bit. But I did pay $50 when I could get the same battery online for $30 with shipping (it's similar to the Ego-Twist)
yea the local stores here gouge you as well the mall here charges $25 for a 10ml bottle of juice $15 for a $2 plastic drip tip and $160 for a $35 ego kit. last time i walked by i saw they had Zmax's i can only imagine what they are trying to sell those for,i feel bad for people who dont know how to order online for vaping supply's.
Yeah but they all charge the same within about 10%, kinda sickening if you think about them running out of silica there selling for $4 a foot and they have been out for weeks.
Which is your local shop? Within 10 miles there's a better shop with wayyyyy cheaper parts. For small stuff like that online ordering is the best. But I always buy tanks from my local b&m. $9 online or $10 cash and carry. Ill pay the extra dollar. Beach city vapors is a cool laid back small shop in signal hill.
I've been to the holier than thou shops also and I don't care for one in long beach in particular. There's vape rev in Cerritos which is a very awesome place also.
The job between b&m and online, with prices, availabilities, and general customer service just takes good ole trial and error, and time.
The only item I would buy from my local store would be ejuice. Being able to sample what you buy makes the higher prices bearable.
When you buy from a vendor in China, unless you are buying a LOT, the shipping is usually much more than buying from a domestic retailer. If you pay extra (or buy more than a LOT), it will probably be shipped EMS. If not, it will go via China Registered Mail. EMS can take 3-4 weeks for delivery, China Registered Mail up to 2 months. If you're lucky. If you're not lucky, your package will get stopped by customs in China and returned to the seller (this happened with my 1st PV.) Most merchants in China will send it a second time for no additional cost. If it gets returned again, they will refund your money and you will have waited up to 4 months without your supplies.
If your package makes it through Chinese customs, it might get stopped by U.S. customs. Three years ago, the FDA was getting some packages seized on a semi-permanent basis. Today only a few get stopped and most of them are released in a few days.
When you buy from a U.S merchant, they have dealt with all that for you. Your items have already made it through customs and you can receive them in a few days. That's what you are paying for when you buy locally. The convenience. In addition, you are supporting domestic small business who have a vested interest in helping to keep vaping legal. State and Federal legislators and the FDA have no interest in what the people at Joye or Smoktech want. They don't vote here.
I do buy direct from China*. I even help with a co-op that buys from Health Cabin (and we spend so much our orders get sent via DHL.) But I also buy from U.S. websites and do not resent their making a reasonable living in return for getting me what I need quickly.
As for the current shortages. During the Chinese New Year nothing got shipped or built for 10 days. Now that it's over, the factories have to produce the products to send. While most U.S. vendors expected this and stocked up, lots of people were buying extra in case the FDA stopped the sale of PVs. All will be back to normal shortly.
*I don't buy e-liquid from China. Considering China's track record on consumer safety, I don't understand why people would buy something that is essentially a food product from there. But that's just me.
If your package makes it through Chinese customs, it might get stopped by U.S. customs. Three years ago, the FDA was getting some packages seized on a semi-permanent basis. Today only a few get stopped and most of them are released in a few days.
When you buy from a U.S merchant, they have dealt with all that for you. Your items have already made it through customs and you can receive them in a few days. That's what you are paying for when you buy locally. The convenience. In addition, you are supporting domestic small business who have a vested interest in helping to keep vaping legal. State and Federal legislators and the FDA have no interest in what the people at Joye or Smoktech want. They don't vote here.
I do buy direct from China*. I even help with a co-op that buys from Health Cabin (and we spend so much our orders get sent via DHL.) But I also buy from U.S. websites and do not resent their making a reasonable living in return for getting me what I need quickly.
As for the current shortages. During the Chinese New Year nothing got shipped or built for 10 days. Now that it's over, the factories have to produce the products to send. While most U.S. vendors expected this and stocked up, lots of people were buying extra in case the FDA stopped the sale of PVs. All will be back to normal shortly.
*I don't buy e-liquid from China. Considering China's track record on consumer safety, I don't understand why people would buy something that is essentially a food product from there. But that's just me.
That's what gets me too. This is only going to become more popular. Might as well be awesome if you're the first and build a big, loyal customer base. As it is, if another shop opens in my town, I'll be the first to try them out because of the way I've been treated by the old store.
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.
On the other hand, I consider it inexcusable for the store owner to have a negative "attitude". Maybe there is a reason, maybe not.
Well: The Prices were just Too Good to Pass By so I placed an order! I wanted to try those New Kanger Pro Tanks so I got a couple. Along with some batteries in various colors, Kanger Pro & MT3 heating coils even the Little Carry Bag was a Deal! I will be set for a while!
Skullman {:{}
Skullman {:{}
I consider myself a gadget guy, like to keep up with the technology. I knew about e-cigs, but didn't realize they had made such a leap forward from when I tried them at the gas station. I was actually re-introduced by a guy that works for me. Stores are great, but unless the have the traffic or the general public has a better understanding of the products, they probably aren't doing a heavy volume of sales. With that being said, they aren't getting items in bulk like on-line places, so they have to charge a higher price to survive.
while i agree with helping small local businesses and understand they have an overhead to consider in there pricing,if they cant sell a product for a reasonable price and feel the need to mark it up 500% to get by then they shouldn't be selling the product.
they are only hurting the industry by turning people off to the products making them think they are way to expensive to try and probably not worth switching from analogs.
they like to claim they are doing it to "help" get people to switch to vaping the truth of the matter is they are a business they are in it to make money,not to say that there is not some people out there with fair pricing and good intentions, they are just far and few. most seem to just be there to try to take advantage of the uninformed and sell junk parts for outrageous prices.
while they may think that online sales is hurting there business while there charging 500% markups the truth of the matter is if they cannot sell at fairly competitive pricing due to overhead or what not they have no business selling the products in the first place and should look for other areas of revenue.
they are only hurting the industry by turning people off to the products making them think they are way to expensive to try and probably not worth switching from analogs.
they like to claim they are doing it to "help" get people to switch to vaping the truth of the matter is they are a business they are in it to make money,not to say that there is not some people out there with fair pricing and good intentions, they are just far and few. most seem to just be there to try to take advantage of the uninformed and sell junk parts for outrageous prices.
while they may think that online sales is hurting there business while there charging 500% markups the truth of the matter is if they cannot sell at fairly competitive pricing due to overhead or what not they have no business selling the products in the first place and should look for other areas of revenue.
B&M does have ALOT of overhead, so naturally you can imagine their prices would be higher. I am lucky to have 3 different stores to choose from. One I am completely loyal to, which has worked to my benefit! First I pass out their new customer cards (with my name written on the back), which gives them 10% off. They built a beautiful vapor lounge & I try to stop in once every week or 2, stay on first name basis with staff, try some new flavors and buy when they have specials (just had a 3 day sale, buy one bottle any size, get 2 free, any pre-mixed flavor, as they installed a custom blend machine in the vapors lounge & will mix ANYTHING you want). For my good deeds, I automatically get 10% off everything and they always comp me a bottle of their flavor of the month. I also shop online, this is just a nice work out for me ;-) Try being bold, ask if they can compete with ?$ for an item and be honest that you can get it online for x, has worked for me in the past. Hope this helps in some way!
Buying from china is immensely cheaper and often the better choice if you know what to get but the problem that where I leave buying ecigs from outside of the EU is illegal since it considered a medical device, so if customs notice they destroy the shipment 
Already had that happen to me once.
Already had that happen to me once.
I try and spread it out. Some stuff I buy from China, some online and some from the B&M. People have no idea of the operating costs of a storefront and should support their local B&M...the day may come when they cannot afford to stay in business and much needed emergency supplies are not within arm's reach.
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Indeed. People should know there very lucky to have one or several B&M in there area.
Where I live selling ecigs isn't allowed, so importing is the only choice. I would love a B&M
Indeed. People should know there very lucky to have one or several B&M in there area.
Where I live selling ecigs isn't allowed, so importing is the only choice. I would love a B&M
I'm quite lucky. 6 B&M's in my area.
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
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