The Ultimate Guide on How to Find a Vape Shop Near Me in 2020

Jun 22, 2022Updated Oct 23, 20266 min readDeals & Gifts

Vape shops are easy to find. Specialty stores, smoke shops, gas stations and convenience stores all sell vaping products, and plenty of online stores will ship to your door. The hard part is finding a shop that sells genuine products, prices them fairly and knows what it is talking about.

This guide covers what to look for in a local vape shop, when buying online makes more sense, how to tell a legitimate online store, and the red flags that should send you somewhere else.

What makes a good vape shop

It checks ID every time

Federal law sets 21 as the minimum age for all vaping products, and retailers have to verify it. A shop that skips the ID check is cutting corners, and it is fair to wonder where else it cuts them.

It sells products you can trace

Look for brands you recognize or can look up, in sealed packaging. Vape juice should come in child-resistant bottles with the nicotine strength on the label and the required nicotine warning. Counterfeit versions of popular disposables exist, so be wary of unfamiliar brands and prices that look too good to be true.

The staff know their stuff

Good staff can explain how a device works, which coils fit your tank, and which nicotine strength and PG/VG ratio suit your setup. They answer questions patiently, whether you ask in person or by email, and they do not push you toward the most expensive kit on the shelf.

It has a track record

Read recent online reviews and look for patterns rather than single comments. A shop that has been around for years, gets steady feedback and handles complaints well is usually a better bet than one with a handful of glowing reviews. Friends who vape are another good source of recommendations.

Its prices are in line

Prices on the same bottle can vary a lot from shop to shop. Look the product up online before you buy to get a sense of the going rate. Paying a little more for same-day help and good advice can be worth it; paying far more for the same bottle usually is not.

Local shop or online store?

Both have their place. Here is how they compare.

Why a local shop is worth a visit

• You get it today. If you run out of vape juice or a coil gives out, a nearby shop solves it the same day.
• Hands-on help. Staff can show you how to fill a tank, change a coil or clean a device, and troubleshoot problems on the spot.
• Community. Your money supports a local business and the people who work there, and regulars are often happy to trade tips.

Why buying online makes sense

• Selection. An online store can carry far more flavors and brands than a shop has shelf space for.
• Easy comparison. You can check prices, product details and reviews side by side before you commit.
• Convenience. If there is no good shop near you, ordering online may be the only way to get the flavors you like.

Online orders take a little more planning. The US Postal Service does not deliver vaping products to consumers, and carriers require an adult signature, so an adult needs to be home to sign for your package.

How to tell a legitimate online vape store

The same standards apply online, plus a few more:

• Age verification at checkout. A store that sells to anyone without checking age is not following federal law.
• Real contact details. You should be able to reach a support team by email or help desk and find clear shipping and return policies.
• Full product information. Nicotine strength and bottle size should be easy to find, and the PG/VG ratio is a bonus.
• A secure checkout. Look for an https payment page and familiar payment options.
• Honest marketing. Be wary of any store that makes health claims about its products. No vaping product is FDA-approved as a quit-smoking aid.

ZampleBox, for example, ships from Vista, California, to US addresses, sells only to adults 21 and older and verifies age at checkout. Our shipping page covers delivery, and our team is reachable at hello@zamplebox.com or through the help desk.

Will a vape shop help with maintenance?

Most upkeep happens at home, but a good shop will help, especially when you are new. Staff can show you how to change and prime a coil or clean a tank, and many will take a look at a device that is acting up. Some shops also stock cleaning supplies and spare parts for the devices they carry.

If you would rather learn on your own, our guides on cleaning your tank, when to change your coils and why your vape tastes burnt cover the basics.

Bottles worth trying

Once you have found a shop you trust, start with the flavor families you already like. On our site, fruit is the biggest family by far, followed by dessert, menthol and tobacco. Browse them all in the flavor index, or jump straight to fruit, dessert, menthol or tobacco. If fruit blends are your thing, Juice Head is a brand known for them.

If you would rather not shop at all, the Zamplebox Club sends a box of vape juice picked for your flavor profile every month, starting at $23.99. You can swap any bottle before it ships, skip or pause a month, and cancel anytime.

Common questions

WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical. For adults 21+ only.