6 Tips for Surviving Your First Trip to a New Vape Shop

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It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you enter a new vape shop for the first time. You’re bound to see devices, tanks and e-liquids that you never knew existed. If you don’t do a bit of research before entering the shop, you may not know how much you should expect to pay for those products. Until you enter a new vape shop for the first time, you also can’t know what the atmosphere is like. Will the shop’s staff take an interest in your needs, or will they simply try to sell you whatever costs the most?

Over and over, we’ve seen comments indicating that some people feel intimidated by the thought of visiting a vape shop for the first time. Some people feel nervous because they don’t have the time to research every vaping product on the market and don’t want to appear uninformed. Others simply want to limit their potential for interaction with hipsters and elitists.

Are you dreading your first visit to a new vape shop because you don’t know what you might find there? We have some tips that can help. Not every vape shop has a bevy of cloud bros sitting and blowing clouds all day – and many vape shop owners are genuine experts who want nothing more than to see you walk out with a product you’ll love.

Even if you don’t have the time to research every vaping product online – and really, new vaping products come out so quickly these days that no one can know all of them – it’s still worthwhile to search for a few “best of” lists relating to what you want to buy. Spinfuel, for example, just published a list of the best pod mods of 2018. When you visit a new vape shop for the first time, you may find a number of unfamiliar products that look interesting. If you’re already studied the product category, though, you’ll know the qualities that separate the best products in that category from the rest. A bit of general knowledge can help you avoid buying a product that doesn’t actually meet your needs.

Unless your local vape shop sells products online, it’s unlikely that their website has a price list. Prices change too frequently to keep a website updated when that website doesn’t directly generate sales. If you’re interested in a specific product, you can always call the vape shop in advance to find whether they have it and what they charge for it. If you’re more interested in a category of products, you can research the prices at online vape shops. Keep in mind, though, that you’ll always pay a bit of premium when you buy at a brick-and-mortar vape shop. Your local vape shop has to charge a bit extra to pay workers’ salaries and operate a storefront. When you pay the premium price, though, you benefit from one-on-one service and the fact that you don’t need to wait for packaging and shipping.

Walk Directly Past the Cloud Bros

“Bro, I totally love the hint of caraway that you get on the nose with this hazelnut biscotti vanilla custard e-liquid with lemongrass and Thai spices.” You know them – they’re the cloud bros, and they spend their afternoons chucking clouds and pretending to be YouTube celebrities in every corner vape shop across the country. If that culture appeals to you, by all means – feel free to take part in it. If you vape differently, though, don’t allow elitists to make you feel as though the way you vape is somehow wrong. Walk right past the cloud bros and get the product that works for you.

Ideally, your local vape shop has a knowledgeable staff who can help you find a product you’ll love – so don’t be afraid to ask for advice if you aren’t certain what you want. Sure, every vape shop employee isn’t necessarily a vaping expert, but a vape shop employee should at least be able to tell you what the most popular products are in that store. You may find that information helpful if you’re having trouble determining what you want.

Know Your Preferences

Every employee of a vape shop isn’t going to have intimate knowledge of every product the store stocks. Let’s be honest, though – “What should I buy?” is probably the most difficult question that you can ask in a vape shop unless you can provide some background information. If you want a new device or tank, it’s a good idea to have some features in mind that you’d like your new item to have. If you’re looking for a new e-liquid, you should be able to name some e-liquids with flavor profiles that you enjoyed in the past.

When you visit a local vape shop, you should always remember that you are the consumer – and you have the power. If you don’t like the atmosphere, prices, product selection or staff at a vape shop, you should take your business elsewhere. Can’t find the right product at the right price? No matter how small your town is, you always have an alternative – even if your only alternative is buying online. You should never bow to pressure to buy a product you don’t want.

About the Author

Gary Sharma is the owner of Euro Vape. Euro Vape offers a growing selection of eGo starter kits, accessories and spare parts. Offering free shipping within the UK and a 14-day money-back guarantee on all starter kits, Euro Vape strives to build a loyal customer base with its consumer-centric policies.