I'm willing to pay 10% more at the B&M for accessories and product. But that's where my operational cost understanding ends. If any store needs to mark up product 200-300% to stay in business, then they are doing something wrong. vaping products aren't any different than mp3 players or DVD's or guitar strings. Every B&M out there competes with online sites. There's a strong sector of people who prefer to by local, and also buy at a place they can touch the product before making the purchase decision. Margins are what it's about and nobody should go into business if they can't find a way to sell something at retail with acceptable margins.
Many online stores also screw people with shipping charges. It doesn't cost $12 to send a small 1/2lb package via fedex or UPS ground. Most ship USPS anyways, which is even cheaper.
That being said, where the online AND B&M stores screw everyone in my opinion is the juices. I DIY, and it costs PENNIES to make 10ml. I understand that R&D costs money. I understand that reselling brand name juices have lower markups, but everyone is over-charging for them IMO. If I were to buy ALL of my hardware and juices at the B&M, I'd spend more than I did on analogs. That in itself isn't so bad, but when you look at the real cost to make the hardware and juice, you realize the markups averaged out could be in the 1000's of percent.
I made another post a while back about the B&M's, because I was put off by the "smug" hipster types that run them (and the people who lounge in the shops all day and night). I already don't want to go into those places.. so the pricing should at least be attractive, because nothing else about them is.
Many online stores also screw people with shipping charges. It doesn't cost $12 to send a small 1/2lb package via fedex or UPS ground. Most ship USPS anyways, which is even cheaper.
That being said, where the online AND B&M stores screw everyone in my opinion is the juices. I DIY, and it costs PENNIES to make 10ml. I understand that R&D costs money. I understand that reselling brand name juices have lower markups, but everyone is over-charging for them IMO. If I were to buy ALL of my hardware and juices at the B&M, I'd spend more than I did on analogs. That in itself isn't so bad, but when you look at the real cost to make the hardware and juice, you realize the markups averaged out could be in the 1000's of percent.
I made another post a while back about the B&M's, because I was put off by the "smug" hipster types that run them (and the people who lounge in the shops all day and night). I already don't want to go into those places.. so the pricing should at least be attractive, because nothing else about them is.
