What to Look for When Shopping for a Vape Online in Canada

Vapes were once the exclusive domain of online retailers when they first hit the market. However, their rising popularity and the increased demand for these products have made them mainstream in local stores, with many dedicated vape shops opening everywhere.

Now, the modern vaper has options. You can choose to shop in-store or online, and the choice is up to you. However, if you're purchasing your first vape, there are a few things you should know about the products to ensure you make the right pick. You usually have the benefit of salesperson expertise at a store, but online, you're on your own. Having a bit of foundational understanding before shopping online will do you good.

Here's what to look for when shopping for a vape online in Canada:

Know What You Need

First, make sure you know what you need and what you're looking for from the vape purchasing experience. For example, do you want a nicotine-based vape, a flavoured e-liquid, a disposable option to try out first, or a battery with a refillable tank you can top up yourself? 

You should also know what you're looking for budget-wise. Know the kind of price range you're working in or what types of deals you would be open to if they were available.

From there, you can filter your options to meet these needs, so you're not so overwhelmed with the selection.

Heating Chamber Quality

An important factor you don't want to miss when vape shopping online is the quality of the heating chamber. You want to make sure it's easy to clean so you can clean it consistently. 

You also want to look for devices made of reliable materials. Ceramic and stainless steel options are among the best picks, far better than flimsy metal chambers.

Battery and Temperature Settings

If you're not new to vaping but want to switch to an online purchasing model, you may want to keep your eye out for some advanced battery and temperature settings. 

As far as temperature settings go, you'll want to see a few temperature options or look for temperature-controlled options. The former is best if you are a seasoned vape user who knows the ideal temperature for e-juice. Temperature-controlled options eliminate the need for a user to fiddle with the temperature and automatically set the device to the ideal heat setting.

For batteries, you want your product to last for at least eight vaping sessions before it needs to get recharged, but ten would be ideal. Heavy users would be better off prioritising battery life. 

Portability vs Customisation and Tank Capacity

Most vapes advertise as portable, but you won't want to take them anywhere if they are clunky and cumbersome. Mods and sub-ohm tanks tend to be bulkier but provide customisation and more refill capacity. 

Portable vape pens are usually the best option for portability, and the new pods can last just as long as devices with massive e-juice tanks. Pens are slimmer and more discrete if that matters more to you than power.

If you're not sure which option is best for you, do a bit of research on both to learn about the advantages and disadvantages of each and make an educated decision.

Promotions and Discounts

When you're shopping online, there's a good chance you'll run into promotions and deals that you wouldn't otherwise find in stores. While prices matter, good promotions and discounts can override the costs.

First, keep an eye out for these kinds of offers. If the online store has them posted now, there's a good chance that promos are a part of their marketing strategy, and you'll continue to see more of them if you stay a loyal customer.

Some exciting promos to look out for include buy one get one free deals, free shipping, introductory offers, or a percentage off for subscribing to emails.

Return Policy

A good online store should have a reasonable return policy. It might be a red flag if a store doesn't have any such policy. 

Retailers know that deliveries don't hit the mark every time, and the honest ones will offer flexible return policies to keep their buyers happy.

Real Customer Reviews

It's hard to overstate the importance of reading customer reviews when buying a vape product from an online store. Unlike when you shop in-store, there's no way for you to see or feel the vape for yourself. Instead, you have to rely on the reviews shared by other real customers to garner some information on how it performs and how users like it. 

You can start by filtering your search by rating, only allowing products with at least a 4-star rating by customers, for example. Then, select a few options that you're interested in and take a closer look at what the reviews have to say. 

The user reviews are where you'll find details about individual customer experiences. You can learn a lot about the nuances of each product so that you can feel more confident in your buying decision.

Pros of Buying From an Online Vape Store

Sure, there are pros and cons of both buying online and in-store. To figure out which type of retail experience will work better for you, let's explore the advantages and disadvantages of choosing the online option.

Convenience

Online stores are supremely convenient. They are available and open 24/7 and offer tons of options to choose from, making it the easiest and often fastest way to find and select a vape product.

More Options Available

Online stores also have much more extensive inventories because they're not limited to the storage capacity of a small retail location. They have giant warehouses, storing all the latest and greatest products.

Better Prices

Online stores don't have the overhead of hiring retail associates, paying leasing fees, or covering any of the costs of a brick-and-mortar store. Online vendors can often keep their prices lower as a result of this. If saving a few dollars here and there matters to you, shopping online can provide that great benefit.

No Sales Pressure

If you get uncomfortable with sales pressure from a retail associate, online shopping removes that entirely. There's no one breathing down your neck, hoping to make a commission off your sale, or recommending the more expensive products. When shopping online, you choose what you like, end of story.

Better Return Policies

Online stores also usually have better return policies since they need to keep their clientele happy, and they know that their customers don't get to see or get a feel for the products before they buy.

Cons of Buying From an Online Vape Store

Can't Talk With Other Vapers

If you enjoy the community that comes with shopping for vapes in person, you sadly won't get that online.

No Staff Recommendations

Staff recommendations can be helpful when stuck between a few options, but the decisions will be entirely up to you when you shop for your next vape online.

Can't See/Feel Items in Person

If you're a tactile person, you may benefit from seeing and feeling the items in person before you buy, another downfall to shopping for vapes online.

Late Delivery

While online stores make it easy to buy a vape at any time, you'll have to wait typically a day to a few days before you get the satisfaction of the delivery. Buying in-person offers instant satisfaction.

Conclusion

Shopping online for vapes is how it all got started. Though vape shopping in-stores is still popular, online retailers in Canada still offer an impressive selection of products at attractive prices and with great policies. The benefits often compete with the instant gratification of shopping in-store. Just be sure you know what you're looking for before buying, so you wind up with a product you love.