[Local] Industry [is a] Scam

I think we could all use a moment to talk about what a scam actually is. Pricing is not a scam, it’s regular business.

Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong, but a Scam would be when you’re promised a certain product that will perform a certain way, and it does not perform as intended. Meaning you are being mislead by a company.

As someone mentined earlier in the thread, falsely labeled batteries are a problem and indeed a scam.
Overpriced hardware and ejuice, not a scam. Just crummy business models and practices.

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I hear you, but where I live, loading prices by 700% definitely falls under the heading “scam”.

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Inflated prices are a biotch, let’s get that out the way first :yum:. The real scam is the infomercials such as O2PUR and other brands that are a pen style device, order now for free! Only pay shipping and handling! Or $14.99 and it can be yours! Of course a nice one to two weeks and your card gets hit for $150, and then a repeating monthly charge of $69 for 2 atomizers and 2 (10ml) bottles of eliquid a month. These commercials prey on people making a snap decision to try and help themselves to quit smoking, and later realize stopping these charges they never agreed to is harder than actually quitting smoking.

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download

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No, it doesn’t. It might fall under price gouging but it doesn’t fit the definition of a scam.

Price gouging is a pejorative term referring to when a seller spikes the prices of goods, services or commodities to a level much higher than is considered reasonable or fair, and is considered exploitative, potentially to an unethical extent.

A scam is a fraudulent or deceptive act or operation.

Someone on this thread said “google is your friend”. Oh wait, it was you.

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God you’re so provincial.

Hehe, I’ve been watching this from the beginning. Thought I saw some BAIT, and then the chaos ensued. Lots of opinions, lots of issues, lots of everything.

The industry isn’t a scam. Regardless of pricing, think about how many peoples lives have been saved, by switching to vaping, or at least, improved. More than I can count, including myself. Much of this market IS indeed overpriced, BUT, no one seemed to mention the simple, glaring fact, the price will be, what the market will bear. If people keep paying $30.00 for 30ml of juice, they’ll keep selling it. As more and more people either get TIRED of that pricing, START DIY’ing, or moving to more reasonably priced juices, then the market will shift.

Make dinner at home for a fraction of the price, or go OUT to eat ?? It’s no different guys/gals, no sense blowing it up, or making it into something else, it’s simple.

The GOOD news is, we are all HERE, and that means WE aren’t GOING to be paying those prices. Let’s focus less on why it costs more to eat out, than dine at home, and more about getting more people INTO the tent.

Just my .02.

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@Laura5 nailed it…

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It’s not the cost of the materials that make store bought juices so high. It is all of the costs that you do not incur when making something for yourself. I can make a meal for a family of 4 that is really great and only spend $10 but if I go out to a restaurant it would cost 4 times that. Why? Because there are costs that are associated. Rent, Electricity, Water, Heat, Insurance, Payroll, Taxes and on and on. These are the same costs that Juice companies have as well. Add to that the cost of Marketing, Shipping, Sales Support and other expenses associated and it adds up quickly. These companies are in the business to make money and you as a consumer have to decide whether or not you are will to spend the time to do it yourself or pay someone to do it for you. It’s as simple as that.

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It would be interesting to know how much cost is added to the product just because it’s going to South Africa. Are there government officials who need to be bribed? Does the store owner pay protection money just to stay in business? I don’t know, I’ve never been there or shipped anything there. Here in the US lost of folks call our fuel prices a scam and complain that “Big Oil” is gouging us even though it is government which is making the most money off every gallon of gas sold. Perhaps there is something similar going on there?

Regardless, it is an interesting and informative topic. Before reading this, I thought the Zar of Voopoo was the chief of a small tropical island in danger of being destroyed by rising sea levels. :sunglasses:

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I’m flattered you think I’m God, however I am a mere mortal.

Care to elaborate on my provincialism?

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Very droll :smile: but, apart from normal import taxes which one could expect in any country, the biggest addon is simple greed on the part of the retailers, no more. Ejuice remains overpriced in my opinion and if I look at some of the feedback from you yanks, you have an identical problem. But it’s nice here, just that some people think that they can just park their damned elephant anywhere they please!
Elephant

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Couldn’t be bothered…

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The funniest and most worthwhile comment you have made in this thread. Can’t say “pictures or it didn’t happen”

:laughing:

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I want an elephant that I can park!!

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Excuses excuses. They’re making as much as they can off of people and that’s it! I pay $10/120 mL at BnM in Longwood FL. And it’s real GOOD. What they don’t have all those costs? Find an honest place and stick with em

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Heffalumps and woozels hon. Heffalumps and woozels are where it’s at! :wink:

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Yaaasssss!!!
IMG_3436

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natives

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So true…:slightly_smiling_face:

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