Your thoughts on B&M's that sell tobacco?

[Oberon75]

I was wondering what people think of such stores. I know most of us are against the very thought of tobacco now that we are vapers and I have seen people slam such stores in a couple groups I belong to.

I personally don't mind them because the one I go to is actively trying to turn their tobacco customers into vaping customers. But I know other people who see them as nothing more then cancer merchants since they also profit from tobacco.

One thing I found really interesting is how certain vendors will not do business with them. For instance, on the B&M's Facebook page, they said they were getting Five Pawns juice. I went to the store to buy some and was told that it will only be in their couple vape only shops because Five Pawns refuses to sell their liquid where tobacco is sold. This is a bit disappointing to me because if it wasn't for the tobacco store getting me to switch, I might not be vaping.

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[Underwhelmed]

I won't buy from a B&M that sells tobacco or anything that's not vape related.

 

[bacc.vap]

It's their choice,as it should be. I've only ever been to one B&M store, but I wouldn't not go to one just because they sold tobacco.I personally have nothing against tobacco, I liked it, but I'm not to thrilled with all the nonsense the tobacco companies have done to it. The problem is really with the companies as far as I'm concerned, not tobacco itself. jmo

 

[Bjorhyn]

I really don't mind a B&M that sells tobacco.
I look at it as a successful business model. Why not cater to both groups?
Better yet, if you get your tobacco using customers off tobacco and onto vaping, you typically would get to keep them as vaping customers.

 

[stevegmu]

I don't have a problem with tobacco, stores which sell it or tobacco companies. They sell and make a product which I enjoyed for 20 years and still enjoy a few cigarettes on holiday. Smoking tobacco has been around long before tobacco companies.

I do get the impression many vapers seem to think they are better than smokers...

 

[Yorkshire_pudding]

I have nothing against it.
Infact I think it could be a good idea as long as the staff have vaping knowledge. My first vape was crap. One day I bought a cheap cigalike from the local shop along with my rolling baccy, granted it showed me vaping may work but it couldn't stop me smoking just cut down a little.
I'm sure a few people would have given up on the idea at this point, luckily i did some online research, got an upgrade and then managed dropped the stinkies.
If the shop had knowledge and a better range of vape items i think making the switch over would have been easier, the start up kit may have cost a little more but would have worked out cheaper due to less gear wasted with upgrades.

 

[jseah]

I went into a vape only story yesterday and as soon as I walked in, I was put off by the literal cloud that filled the store. What was nice was that one entire wall of the store was covered in cartomizers filled with all the different flavors of juice, from different manufacturers, that they carried. You could probably sample easily 70-80 different juices. What wasn't was the four teen boys (they looked like they were still in high school) that came in to basically hang out, mount the sample cartomizers on their box mods, and basically vape for free and then leave. It may make me sound like a crotchety old man, but I don't know what bothered me more.....that "kids" were vaping, or that they were basically freeloading.

 

[Oberon75]

I have nothing against it.
Infact I think it could be a good idea as long as the staff have vaping knowledge. My first vape was crap. One day I bought a cheap cigalike from the local shop along with my rolling baccy, granted it showed me vaping may work but it couldn't stop me smoking just cut down a little.
I'm sure a few people would have given up on the idea at this point, luckily i did some online research, got an upgrade and then managed dropped the stinkies.
If the shop had knowledge and a better range of vape items i think making the switch over would have been easier, the start up kit may have cost a little more but would have worked out cheaper due to less gear wasted with upgrades.

Well since this store is a big chain, some of their staff is more knowledgeable then others considering I had to teach the one kid working in there that the Samsung 25r's are better then the MXJO 18650's he was recommending to people. Their prices are just really hard to beat though considering I might be buying an Authentic Tugboat V2 (Detroit Edition) for $67.50 and every Wednsday their 150w Sigelei mods are $89.99. Not too shabby for a B&M.

About 5 months ago, I went on a pretty big rant here about this store because of the products they were selling and their prices. But in the past few months, they have got exceptionally better, removing every last bit of Chinese eliquid they used to sell from their shelves.

I'm not sure why a lot of people are against these stores. Fear of the ANTZ fuel associating vaping with smoking? They already do that regardless.

Sent from my HTC One M8 Harman/Kardon edition

 

[Yorkshire_pudding]

If they are selling any mechs and batteries really they should know things like amp limits and how ohms affect it. Even if the staff don't know it wouldn't be too hard to make a basic generic leaflet maybe with a web address for more info and maybe even a link to something like steam calc.
As vaping becomes more mainstream the big chains should be able to have more competitive prices on a range of equips and better liquid than the generic cheap 80-90% pg stuff. I have confused a few cheap after thought vape shops by asking "what pg/vg is that?"
I

 

[Racehorse]

I was wondering what people think of such stores. I know most of us are against the very thought of tobacco now that we are vapers and I have seen people slam such stores in a couple groups I belong to.

I personally don't mind them because the one I go to is actively trying to turn their tobacco customers into vaping customers. But I know other people who see them as nothing more then cancer merchants since they also profit from tobacco.

One thing I found really interesting is how certain vendors will not do business with them. For instance, on the B&M's Facebook page, they said they were getting Five Pawns juice. I went to the store to buy some and was told that it will only be in their couple vape only shops because Five Pawns refuses to sell their liquid where tobacco is sold. This is a bit disappointing to me because if it wasn't for the tobacco store getting me to switch, I might not be vaping.

Sent from my HTC One M8 Harman/Kardon edition

I live in a small town and most of the vaping stuff is in the tobacco store. IMHO, what better way to GET smokers off tobacco than to sell vape gear there..........they can pick up a vape device next time they are in to buy cigs.......and it just might *take*.

Again, as I always say, I'm into saving people's lives..........and switching them to vaping. I don't care how they get there.

Playing politics at their expense isn't part of my worldview.

ANY smoker who picks up a vaping device, I am happy for them. And have hopes for them that they will find a way off cigs.

 

[Ou2mame]

I used to smoke.. I'm ok with them selling cigarettes, as long as they sell ejuice too.. Cause that's why I'm there. I really just don't care. I can't get passionate for someone else's business model if it doesn't effect me.

 

[Maiar]

I've never seen one that sells both. But I'm pretty sure I don't care.

 

[Rickajho]

I was wondering what people think of such stores. I know most of us are against the very thought of tobacco now that we are vapers and I have seen people slam such stores in a couple groups I belong to.

I personally don't mind them because the one I go to is actively trying to turn their tobacco customers into vaping customers. But I know other people who see them as nothing more then cancer merchants since they also profit from tobacco.

One thing I found really interesting is how certain vendors will not do business with them. For instance, on the B&M's Facebook page, they said they were getting Five Pawns juice. I went to the store to buy some and was told that it will only be in their couple vape only shops because Five Pawns refuses to sell their liquid where tobacco is sold. This is a bit disappointing to me because if it wasn't for the tobacco store getting me to switch, I might not be vaping.

If that is true, I think Five Pawns policy is both absurd and elitist. I know of a few - very few - tobacco shops left that are barely holding themselves together trying to stay in business with the dropoff in tobacco sales of all types. They have all started selling vape gear as well. This is still a choice, and it's also a desperate act by some tobacco shops being put out of business by the anti-smoking lobby. I know I won't be buying Five Pawns if they insist on taking this stupid, short-sighted stance. I can't think of a better place to be selling vape gear and offer customers a choice - and it's not like the politics of things is giving them much choice about which direction their business has been going anyway. They don't need a push off the cliff by a dumbass policy like Five Pawns is trying to pull.

 

[440BB]

I think it's great that some smoke shops have gotten into vaping supplies, and at this point many are carrying pretty good quality liquids and devices. Now that vaping has become more mainstream, this is the least intimidating place for a smoker to get started. Depending on the vape shop, a current smoker could easily be overwhelmed with the guys winding coils at a table while others are chatting about temperature control and clapton coils. I know that if I was a typical smoker looking for an easy start that the terminology and endless comparisons of choices would seem foreign, like you aren't part of the club. Lately, I have found myself being the only person over 30 in some vape shops, and for a smoking baby boomer it may seem to only be a young person's fad.

A smoke shop lets smokers walk in to a familiar place and just move over to vaping more naturally. If they are dual users for a while, nobody will make it an all or nothing proposition, so they will be comfortable walking in next time too.

The last couple smokers I helped get started vaping were easy to refer to a smoke shop that carries good liquid and a good hardware selection. They already knew them by name and where to find them. I told them what brands of liquid to go in and sample to find what they liked most, saving them both time and money. Most of them aren't interested as hobbyists and just want convenience and availability. For smokers trying to quit, getting supplies easily at familiar places helps them replace their old habit with a new one, and helps them become self reliant sooner.

 

[stevegmu]

When BLU came out, I didn't even know I could re-fill BLU cartos until I went to my local tobacco store- which also sells hookahs and vape gear, until I went in and asked what cartos worked with BLU- when I ran out of cartos before they were sold at Walgreens and gas stations, and the lady/owner showed me how they could be re-filled and had nic to refill them with...

 

[Bunnykiller]

I won't buy from a B&M that sells tobacco or anything that's not vape related.

but would you buy vape stuff from a cigar shop????

 

[Kivrin]

I bought my first little kit at my smoke shop. But it is a smoking store that sells a few e-cigs, not a vaping B&M that sells tobacco products. I haven't been back since I've been vaping because I know they only carry a few liquids I'm not interested in and eGo kits and cigalikes. Maybe this has changed, maybe I should go drop by.I haven't encountered any B&Ms locally that carry tobacco, but I haven't been to all of them (there are a lot around here).

But it would seem like it would be a good thing to have available to people who use tobacco, to have real vaping products for sale where they are buying their supplies, as long as prices are competitive. I spent a few years looking at the cigalikes and saying "nah." That last time I went in was the first time they had the eGo kits and I quit smoking two weeks later.

 

[rowsley]

Our shell gas station sells starter kits and has a juice bar.

 

[Asbestos4004]

Funny how nobody twisted our arms to smoke cigarettes.... But now that we found an alternative, we are too good to shop in a store that sells tobacco.

 

[Vapenstein]

the day vaping becomes anti-tobacco is the day I take Vapenstein offline and leave vaping social media forever

don't be an anti-tobacco d-bag just because you gave up tobacco for vaping
big hypocrites that cry about people being anti-vaping but turn around and are anti-tobacco themselves

I have NO respect for vapers who are anti-tobacco