Highway robbery

[svapirella]

Don't know about you guys in the UK, but here in Italy everybody and their uncle have jumped on the e-cig bandwagon and lots of stores have set up tiny corners where they sell a few vaping-related items. The last in the series is a guy who runs a small shop (totally unrelated to vaping) in my neighborhood.

Well, today I needed a new tank/clearomizer or whatever they're called for my eGo phantom (which usually sell for around €5 or €6 in brick-and-mortar shops and around €3 or less online), so I decided I would go there and have a look at what they had in store. Unsurprisingly, they only had a couple of models of e-cigs and a single brand of e-liquids - but they had the replacement I was looking for, so I didn't let the lack of variety deter me. Until I saw the pricetag, that is: €8 for a phantom clearomizer?! You must be kidding me! He must have noticed my reaction, because he muttered something about letting me have it for €7.50, but I gave him my sweetest smile, wished him a good day and left the store.

[Deleted]

Well when he doesn't sell any he should wake up and reduce his prices accordingly. It may even be that he genuinely thinks his prices are ok so maybe a little word in his ear may be the thing to do.

[djs]

I'm guessing you can put anything on an ego phantom battery, but maybe the shop charges a lot as they want customers to think they have to use that type?

[hesta]

One of my local stores is a TW store, you should see their prices! They claim that they are no different than online prices, but they are - for example a mini nova online (on the TW site) is 11.99, in store 14.99! When I bought my starter kit from them, it was £45 (€53) for a 1100 battery, a mini nova and 20ml juice - thats it! Not even a case (a 'special offer' with the kit for an extra 8 quid!).

In comparison, I just ordered a starter kit for a friend (love fasttech!)- 2 batteries, 2 CE5s with extra heads, case AND 90ml (3x30ml bottles) of liquid for 25 pounds!

[matt1988]

I have a local near my work, but s prices are about the same as everywhere else, although his selection of products are geared towards a new/basic user. I think the only thing I will be buying from him would be replacement heads for my Kanger T2. Although I am buying a starter kit tomorrow for a colleague. 2 x 650mah egos, 2 CE4 clearos, charger, case and 10ml juice for £32.

[Perpetua]

Don't forget that overheads for a Bricks and Mortar store will be different to those who vend solely online and maybe don't have warehouse facilities to support.

I'm not saying this justifies overcharging from anyone in any country . . . but Business Rates and Rent are a huge outlay for any physical store.

[djs]

Apr 24, 2013 22:05:57 GMT Perpetua said:

Don't forget that overheads for a Bricks and Mortar store will be different to those who vend solely online and maybe don't have warehouse facilities to support.

I'm not saying this justifies overcharging from anyone in any country . . . but Business Rates and Rent are a huge outlay for any physical store.

It's a good point. Some things I buy exclusively online, others easy-come-easy-go. Depends on the product.

I remember buying something in a high street electrical retailer for £29.99 after the sales assistant said I'd probably only save £3-4 online.
After getting home, I bought the identical product online for £8.50. I took it back and words were exchanged.

(I don't remember security being called on that occasion)...

[svapirella]

All things considered, running a real shop is much more expensive than having a Web-based business, so I think it's only fair that they sell at (reasonably) higher prices than their online counterparts. But if the price for the exact same item in two different real shops is off by a 50% difference, then as a consumer I can't help but think they're trying to capitalize on my ignorance (in the literal meaning of the term) to make a quick buck - and, in the case of the shop owner I mentioned, to "round up" what he earns from an entirely different activity (he is a photographer, of all things!)

As an addedum to my first message, I ended up going to my "regular" shop for the eGo clearomizer. Chatting with the owner, I found out that the guy who tried to sell me the clearomizer for €8 was a former client of theirs, and that before stocking up on e-liquids for his corner, he used to go there every day to taste their juices Which means that he was well aware of the "standard" retail price for those thingamajigs.

I live in a small town and we don't have any multi-brand sellers, just franchises selling basic, level-entry stuff. Good thing I don't suffer from shinyitis (yet)!

[svapirella]

Apr 24, 2013 22:05:57 GMT Perpetua said:

Don't forget that overheads for a Bricks and Mortar store will be different to those who vend solely online and maybe don't have warehouse facilities to support.

I'm not saying this justifies overcharging from anyone in any country . . . but Business Rates and Rent are a huge outlay for any physical store.

Oh yes, absolutely!

[womble]

These places may make a few spandoolies from the ignorant for a while, but most people soon wise up and their business will dry up.
Of course there will always be those who don't want to buy off the web and that's up to them really, so they'll have to pay whatever the local shop wants to charge.

[millerkev]

think of it like this ,,,when u want some photo work done will you go that shop ??
no as u are aware he is a robbing 2 hat ...so he will lose his bread and butter work too :-)

[Jerri]

My local b&m shop is shocking. £9 for 20ml of liquid. £57 for a starter kit with one 600mah battery, two cleros a case and a charger.

I got 2 1100mah batteries, two cleros, a charger and a case in my first kit for £29.

Having spent some time in the shop (the advantage is you can try liquids before buy and it is handy if I'm in a pinch) people who go in really have no clue. He feeds them his sales garb and they think its the bargain of the century. He's a nice enough bloke and its a business after all but my lord are his prices extortionate.

[raff67]

I'm quite lucky over here as the 3 B&M shops nearby are pretty reasonable. Examples of my nearest one cph-vapours which i pass everyday and bought some evod heads last week, pack of 5 evod heads £8.25, an evic set is retailing at £66..or if you are needing a mini provari 2.5 in an emergency £121. One thing I noticed all are quite knowledgeable about the gear they sell, unlike the mobile fly by night stands with unbelievably high prices you get in the big shopping centers.

The only downside here is the selling of nicotine liquid is banned though some shops seem to ignore that law. Also, all the supermarkets sell their own brands of e-cigs, either old skool style m401 ciggielikes or blister packs with an ego battery and a couple of cartos.

[davess]

My local B&M charges the very reasonable amount of £7.45 for a 30ml bottle of juice, and they have a large selection to choose from.

[Deleted]

Apr 25, 2013 12:42:26 GMT davess said:

My local B&M charges the very reasonable amount of £7.45 for a 30ml bottle of juice, and they have a large selection to choose from.

Is it unbranded stuff or a name we've all heard of?