First visit to a B&M Vape Shop

[lobeydosser]

Okay, I have been vaping for three and a half years now, but all my purchases have been through the internet.

However a new shop, Vapour Frog has just opened in Helensburgh our nearest town,  and as I was there anyway for some shopping, I made a bee-line for this shop to check it out.

They had some nice stuff and it is a well laid out shop. But there-in lies all the good news.

The young lad behind the counter knew sod all and although he said he vaped Ego's, I got the impression that he had only started vaping to qualify getting a job in a vape shop.

All the goods on show had no descriptions and no prices and when I enquired about prices, the lad had to phone someone to get the price.

I don't know about anyone else, but when I am thinking about buying something I want to know what I am buying and how much it costs.

I need to know what it's advantages are over other similarly priced items and if it is more expensive, are it's advantages worth spending the extra money.

I cannot, in all honesty, see the point in opening a B&M Shop and then not showing descriptions or prices. To me, that is commercial suicide.

 

[jtc]

Yeah sounds crap
There must be some great ones about though.
It's a shame that was your first experience.
Personally I've learned from youtube and online and also I like to scan the net for the best prices.
If I get stuck with anything I'm sure someone here would help me so I don't worry about it tbh.
Saying that it would be great to have a local shop that keeps up to date with everything and I could try things out.
But I bet if I went to one they'd have nothing as innovative that I could get online so really that would defeat the purpose of going

[tsoko]

No prices in my local Vape Shop, strange it must be a vape shop thing.

[jtc]

They might be waiting to see if you know your stuff before they try and rip you off

[violetblade]

Well I can say I've had much the same experience with out local vape shop lobeydosser first visit was when they weren't very long open the young man behind the counter was excited by my vamo v2 he'd never seen one the v5 or v6 was out at the time. I asked how long he'd been vaping and he told me he started vaping so he could tell people about the products he asked what liquid I was using and when I told him it was home made rhubarb custard he told me I shouldn't be making my own as it was dangerous again I don't think he was very impressed with my responses to both but anyway I have since been back it's been open about a year now and it's no better still the same lad and a lovely young lass who is more help than he'll ever be this time I was told not to shop on fasttech because all their stuff was crap and very dangerous. I have very little patience for arguing with idiots about vaping I really didn't think I'd have to argue about vaping in a vaping shop needless to say unless it's another emergency I wouldn't go back.

[jtc]

Ahahahahahaha violet
It's such a shame really and with all the regs coming I'm not sure things will improve

[tsoko]

Why don't they get experienced vapers in these shops? My B&M has excellent staff they know what they are talking about. I reckon you will get more sense from the members on this forum.

[jtc]

Definitely
I learn so much on the forums

[violetblade]

I agree if it wasn't for the forums I'd still be on ego's thinking they were the best things ever hang on maybe that wouldn't have been such a bad thing I'd have saved a fortune hahaha

[jtc]

Yeah loadsa money
Well I'm pretty much future proofed I think I hope I best be

[lobeydosser]

I guess if I am ever thinking about buying anything from Vapour Frog, I will be going into the shop, noting down those items and prices thereof, that I am interested in, coming home and looking them up on the Net for information and prices, before going back, but only if they are considerably cheaper. Afterall, I will have to cover the price of travelling back and forth twice over.

As I do not travel to Helensburgh more than twice a month, even if they are the cheapest vape shop on the planet, I doubt if they will be making a bomb from my custom.

Such a shame, because they could be a good business, if only they had the common sense to know how a shop should be set up.

[majorhazzard]

Legally they must display prices or at the minimum have a price list available. If they don't know this they shouldn't be opening shops.. It's just bad business practice.

[Bobsbeer]

I wonder how many B&M's come and go in a year? Probably quite a few as their main market will be new vapers, who once they gain experience probably shop in China.

[VapingBad]

Not much better round here, 3 Shops, 2 are style over substance and the other is a big counter crammed with vape gear in a sort head shop come gift shop. None of then have a clue, only 1 displays prices, but at least the 3rd one is quite cheap. Though I can't handle more than a few mins as I only look to see if it's worth sending people to and they have nothing I want.  I tried to get an aromamizer a few days before xmas and none of them hard heard of them, I was vaping at the time. I couldn't recommend them a noob without giving them a shopping list to stick to, not because they don't have anything at a reasonable price, but because the advice would be impersonal and poor. Thank Hon Lik vaping has evolved so far that they would probably got something good enough to switch.

[chykensa]

For a relatively far-flung part of the country, we are quite lucky down here. With the sad demise of Beacon Vape due to the proprietor gaining full-time employment elsewhere, I have been visiting other vape shops recently to see what's around.
Betty's Vape Shop in Camborne is well laid out, with a coffee bar at the rear of the shop, and is staffed by knowledgeable guys who heft drippers and vape exotic looking juice on big mods - however, they are equally at home talking to customers about starter kits and fairly basic tanks. Good prices, and a reasonable stock of interesting stuff.
The Vaping Lounge in Redruth is another new venture and is run by Ed, who is currently vaping with a TFV4 and a Snowwolf - say no more. Good choice of juices, less of a choice of mods and atomisers although he assures me that this is a priority for him. Also has a Gaggia-type coffee machine and seating area, and has plans for an RBA table complete with lots of USB charging cables for vapers to top up while enjoying a drink, vape and chat.
And last but not least, there's Cornish Liquids, hidden in the lane above Penryn, near Falmouth. Great choice of mods, atomisers, their own juice and others too, and loads of spares like Clapton wire and coils, wire snips, ceramic tweezers, and cotton. Coffee machine, and a very informed manager called Arron, who like to chat about vaping. Kenny the owner of the company is usually there too, and has great plans for circumventing the TPD restrictions - watch this space!

All in all, a great selection of B & M shops, and I feel really blessed to have these all within 8 miles of my humble abode!