USPS, FedEx, DHL & UPS (!) Vape Mail Ban, incoming late March/ April 2021: Discussion, Updates, Info, Venting, Emotional Support

yeah, but they do have a lot of overhead. seeing as things are going to be, i’m going to run down to our good vape shop, and buy it.

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I understand and respect that.

But there’s also a point of when it simply becomes gouging.

You’re already paying retail at the online stores. If that $7.99-$9.99 single 21700 has already been imported (read as: transported across the ocean), as well as gone through at least one intermediary (read as: wholesaler/distributor), then you’re paying market value (read as: retail).

It’s not like Illumn or the 18650store are placing one order each with Samsung, then Panasonic, then Molicel, then Sony, etc.

I wouldn’t have an issue paying $10-11 for what’s ordinarily a $7.99 battery online.
Nor would I be bothered much by paying $12-$13 for what’s ordinarily a $10 battery online.
After all, I do appreciate (and place value on) the ability to have a needed item instantly in hand.

But I’m referring to ‘your local vape store’.
Not one located near Sach’s, Macy’s, or with the overhead of a Beverly Hills retail front. :wink:

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You’re already paying retail at the online stores

true, but most vape shops don’t sell online. the online shops make up the difference in volume, and, they have more competition so they have to price more competitively

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Say hi to keystone+ pricing, I know they need to make overhead but that’s why they only are carrying an inventory of 2…

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I think that’s the core battle in a nutshell for the modern business world.

Failure by the B&M ‘establishment’ to both realize AND acknowledge that we’re living in the digital age.

IMO, online IS the direct competition to B&M.
Nobody I know gives a shit who they buy things from locally. There’s little in the way of “retail chain loyalty” anymore (at least in hardgoods).

The first question is “do I have to have it today?” If the answer is no, it’s more and more becoming an online purchase.
Why? Because even with shipping (which is often free), the price works out to be cheaper than buying local.

Most often for B&M is “who’s got the cheapest price?” or “who handles returns best?”.

There hasn’t been brand loyalty (that I can think of) since the 70’s, or maybe 80’s at best. Back then you’d hear old men talking about what brand of Gas (petrol) they bought (And there was a reason for that: Quality of refinement and filtration at the stations).
With the playing fields leveled, there’s no need for brand loyalty in gas.
In the 80’s, there was a Levi’s resurgence. But then again, they were still 100% American made back then…much like Zenith and RCA etc in the 70’s.
While I digress…

The point is, with everything being “the same” these days, it’s become more about ‘this minute’ or ‘in a few days’.

B&M is going to have to adapt. Or fall to the wayside. (Barring a collapse of the shipping infrastructure. In which case we’re ALL fucked, because the convenience of modern shipping and online shopping has crushed the locals all but completely as it is. Kind of like Walmart lowering the bar)

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LNW only shipping to consumers until March 26th
https://liquidnicotinewholesalers.com/pact-act-vape-mail-ban.html

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:astonished: I never thought of that. Seems like a lot of money to shell out all at once but what difference does it make all at once or all in good time, right?

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Thx for posting this Letitia. I just received a litre from them today and at the time of ordering i didn’t see any notice.

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My in box is filling up fast with these types of notices, so depressing.

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Took a while but companies are now hitting the detonate button :sob:

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Same alerts here…

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if they are a major juice company, chancer are that they will continue to make juice. they will just sell it to wholesalers. what that means is it will still be obtainable, one way or another.

think of it as an investment in your future and your just spending monies that you would end up spending anyway.

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Where I am, b&m could stock some eliquid that’s not available online, and that’s how they make profit. It taste somewhat better than the ones sold online. I think they have some kind of a deal with the eliquid distributor.

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yep. and i wouldn’t doubt that one day the gubernment will come up with a way to level the playing field. like a “fee/tax” or something. but then B&M could just raise prices. oh the joy :unamused:

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I was wondering about a company like Flavorah that has branded it’s flavorings distinctly for vape use. It seems, by the nature of the shipping ban that any products deemed to be for vapor production are being prohibited from common carrier residential shipment. I believe they have been attempting compliance to vapor related legislation but this one seems to be bad for them. Has anyone heard anything?

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You know what’s funny @HVPGH, I was just wondering the same thing.

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Got emails from both Element Vape and VaporDNA with no mention of mail ban (today 8th March 2021)
Why are they not telling their customers???

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Here is a ray of hope… “Company X” - they want to corner the vape shipping market & I wish them great success! The Only National Shipping Carrier That Can Ship Vape Products – Reimagine Delivery

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They might be doing something like 3f is doing with pp. There you are actually paying a corporation. Easy enough to set up a separate corp account that isn’t associated with vaping for the bigger companies. They’ll make that cost back quickly and then profit margins will again be similar if slightly less than before.

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