B & M trade is dying

[Simon G]

One of the major issues with B&M's is that they don't cater to my wants.

I am pretty much sorted for hardware and what I want to try I will usually pick up used our but online.

When it comes to juice I have lost count of the number of times that it is either solely their "House" liquid in the chains, or massively high VG in the independents.

I know that I am probably in the minority, but there needs to be some middle ground between the starter juice, which is almost invariably white label/rebranded stuff or cloudy liquids that won't work in tighter tanks. Until that point arrives, I will continue to buy online.

I remember going in one and having polite conversation, the owner asked what I was vaping, so I told him Manabush and he said he'd never heard of it. .... I never went back to that one. It's his job to have heard of it, it's like going into a motorcycle dealership and them telling me they've never heard of Triumph because they only sell Suzuki and Kawasaki.

I would bet that 90% of forum members here know more than most shop owners/staff. It's that professional advice and personal touch that used to make shops what they were ... and they all seem to have lost that, not just vape shops.

 

[burnt fingers]

I like the speed of buying in shops , Internet just takes so fucking long . You go online get swamped with masses of choices , spend ages looking at them all , reading reviews , getting mislead by YouTube , next thing you know it's 11pm and time for bed . Get up the next day , spend some time flicking through them again on your phone , finally narrow it down to 2 or 3 , get home , back on internet again .. come on here ask around , double check youtube ....finally make a decision , then spend a while price checking them hunting for discount codes . Pay for it ..then days waiting on the thing arriving .

In comparison .. hop in car , 15 mins drive .. Hey guys what dippers you got that I would like .. Got these three mate , cool unbox em lets have a feel .. Yeah that one looks like the one I want , nice quality feel to it . Bag that up , make me a coffee, do me a few bottle of juice .. hand over money ... 15 mins drive home .. Coiled , wicked and chucking clouds in less than an hour .

 

[Smut]

so I told him Manabush and he said he'd never heard of it

Whats that? some type of manscaping/pubic dye product?

 

[Chris K]

Whats that? some type of manscaping/pubic dye product?

Ever heard of a vagazzle? Well, now I've put that image in your head it's nothing like that.

 

[andipandi]

I work in one from time to time and it's always busy, £3 a bottle or 4 for a tenner, that's what brings people in and the juice is pretty good, all things considered.

 

[Leni]

The first b&m I went in tried to sell me a Smok mod, when I was asking for Nautilus coils. I'm glad I have an obstinate streak, I explained that I'm happy in the lower wattage zone, and was told that soon I wouldn't be able to get plus-ohm coils ... Luckily I can spot bullshittery.

 

[vestonpants]

My local B&M in Worcester is very good. The shop is usually busy on a Saturday. This may be because the owners are very knowledgable and helpful and the range of product is good. They are longstanding vapers and have built up a strong customer base. I try to pop in every couple of weeks for some better quality liquid but I also buy my ADVs on line. The main strength of B&mms for me is you can try things out before buying. You can't do that on line.

 

[saffa_brit]

There is a brilliant B & M literally around the corner where I work and I go in there every week. The guy is just a scholar and a gentleman. He really knows his stuff and he'll let you try any juice on his shelves, i.e. Doesn't just have couple of "taster tanks". He'll actually rewick his Goon just for you to try a juice.
Many time he'll give you some prepaid coils or other small stuff on the house if you spend a fair amount with him.
I just hope he doesn't go the same way as a lot of these places and close down.

 

[Sp3ckyh0td0g81]

I do 95% of my shopping online but I make a point of visiting my local independent vape shop once a week and spending something in there

I am on the west coast of Scotland in Kilmarnock Ayrshire, 2 shops in town, 1 that just try and sell you Smok stuff and charge you a fortune for juice, tell you it's dangerous doing DIY and also that rebuildable Sargent entirely legal, and they are one of the well known names of vape shops

The one I use is a small independent shop where the staff are brilliant, knowledgeable in the rebuilding, have an area where you can sit and try out wire and cotton, let you try juices, have a excellent range of mods for sale, if you take in your tanks or RDAs will fling them in the ultrasonic cleaner for you,

I actually enjoy going in and speaking to the lads in there always brand new with me, couple of weeks ago gave me a roll of kanthal A1 to try foc, always knock a dicscount on anything I buy, was in on Saturday and bought a couple of 18650 batteries, they recommend good places to source certain items online as they don't stock everything

From what I've seen they are like this with everyone in the shop and it is always busy, infact I've never been in and there hasn't been other customers

They are about 3 doors down from the big chain B&M aswell

Shops called Supervapes if you're ever in the area should pop in and see the guys very helpful and a good selection of stock

 

[Rusty-smoke85]

Like quite a few on here, I do most of my shopping online but as a friend of mine runs a B&M in town I do go in there from time to time.

The range in there is ok but seems to be based about what is on sale from a certain wholesaler. For instance, they have just got the VGod Pro RDTA R2 in because they were cheap from the wholesaler.