Vape shops v Supermarkets/online?

[girlfriend44]

Yet another vape shop has opened down the road.
For anyone who vapes, do you actually go into these high street shops, or just grab what you need during the food shop?
I don't vape myself so I might be missing the point, but is there any real reason to use them over Tesco or buying in bulk online?

How do you think it will do? 😦

Actually, I had never thought of this, but you're so right. Do people actually use these shops? I see most people using the corner shop or supermarket as you say. They seem to have a hell of a selection at our local Nisa! Not sure what else a dedicated vape shop could offer but I don't vape so maybe I am missing something

I vape and work in a supermarket but I get my vapes from my local corner shop because they are cheaper. All these vape shops are just a front for money laundering, same goes for Turkish barbers.

I vape and I buy mine in bulk online

I quit vaping but for years I never went into a vape shop and dont know anyone else who does! Supermarkets/B&M/amazon always cheapest for both the liquids and the ecigs themselves so I have no idea how there is enough of a market for the 4 or 5 on our high street 😬😬😬

Do they offer a wider selection of vapes possibly?

I've never bought vape kit from a vape shop or a supermarket, neither were around when I started! I use quality refillable kit and get my juices from a reputable UK-based manufacturer.

Yes, same here.

I think PP is right that most of them are a front for something else.

Petrol station. The vape shops in town don't have parking.

When I first started vaping, as a way to quit cigarettes, I used a local shop as it was running the NHS stop smoking scheme. Now I shop online - cheaper and more convenient.

The ones near me seem to have a steady stream of visitors. Used to think they were just a front until I window watched from the cafe opposite a few times & found myself astounded at the number of people who popped in as they would a corner shop.

This.

In ours they actually have men who stand in the front door practically stopping people come in. They have been raided frequently and have found counterfeits. They are still open. I don’t know how.

The Turkish barbers… do actually seem to barber. Whether the books match up is unknown.

I buy in bulk online.

No idea about vape shops but almost all the males I know under the age of 50 go to the Turkish barbers and most of the ones over 50 go to other barbers. Very few go to mixed salons.

There are vape shops and 'vape shops'.

We've got a proper vape shop near me that's been there about 10 years, run by two very knowledgeable old blokes. It's a pokey little place full of everything from high end mods and refillable tanks to good quality starter kits, spares and accessories, as well as a big range of eliquid. They can advise people on suitable kit and help fix things if it goes wrong. They have a few of the little pod systems like the supermarkets sell but it's not their main business. They have lots of customers.

We also now have a 'vape shop' in the high street which sells nothing but the little pod systems. It's a huge place, brightly lit and always empty. I have no doubt it's a front for something.

If you just want a little pod system then supermarkets or corner shops are fine. Otherwise you need a proper vape shop or a reputable online vape store.

I have bought the odd thing from the proper vape shop but mostly buy online. I don't shop often these days because I mix my own liquid and make my own coils for the same tanks I've been using since about 2016.

Yes you’re right @PencilsInSpace , we do have one proper vape shop in our town which has been there about ten years and is run by an old fella who knows his stuff and can advise customers. We also have a local ‘head shop’ which has been there about 20 years. They sell bongs and grinders and other cannabis paraphernalia, and they started stocking vape supplies about 10 years ago. They guys in there are great and know a lot about vape kits.

All of the other ‘vape shops’ in town are the other type that only sell pod systems. I went in one once looking for coils and they had no idea what I was talking about 😂 They also sell foreign sweets and weird crisps in massive bags.

much rather go to a proper vape shop

When they have all different systems and so on and they can show you how stuff works

Or do it online

Isn’t the stuff they sell in supermarkets and shops pretty crap?

I wouldn’t go into one that was very obviously a front and there’s a lot of those

But there’s also some proper vape shops. I suspect if you don’t vape, you won’t know the difference.