OK, so while catching up on NCIS the last couple of hours, I started to put together a spreadsheet of the different flavor companies, vendors that sell their stuff, and prices by size. Been trying to find myself the best vendor that carries the stuff I want but don't want to be overpaying or paying extra in shipping for small orders from other suppliers.
Check out this google docs spreadsheet and below is a brief summary of the workup for the most popular suppliers (TFA, CAP, FA).
The Flavor Apprentice (TFA)
- 3-10ml = Wizard Labs > Bull City Vapor > ECigExpress ($.19/ml > $.19/ml > $.20/ml)
- 30ml = Bull City Vapor > ECigExpress > RTS Vapes ($.14/ml > $.15/ml > $.16/ml)
- 120ml = OneStopDiYShop > RTS Vapes ($.08/ml > $.11/ml)
Flavour Art
- 10ml = ECigExpress > RTS Vapes > Bull City Vapor ($.30/ml > $.33/ml > $.33/ml)
- 30ml = RTS Vapes > OneStopDiYShop ($.24/ml > $.29/ml)
- 120ml = RTS Vapes ($.16/ml)
Capella Flavor Drops
- 6-10ml = Wizard Labs > Bull City Vapor > RTS Vapes ($.19/ml > $.25/ml > $.48/ml)
- 13ml = ECigExpress > Capella > OneStopDiYShop ($.23/ml > $.25/ml > $.27/ml)
- 30ml = Bull City Vapor > One StopDiYShop > RTS Vapes ($.17/ml > $.19/ml > $.33/ml)
- 120ml = ECigExpress > RTS Vapes > Capella ($.10/ml > $.16/ml > $.17/ml)
Good list, but it's also worth considering that different manufacturers have different level of concentration.
http://www.chefsvapour.co.uk/index.aspx?pageid=2579851
- FlavourArt - 1% to 10%
- Decadent Vapours - 1% to 15%
- Mom & Pops - 10% to 20%
- Perfumers Apprentice - 1% to 10%
- Capella - 5% to 20%
- One to One - 5% to 15%
- Inawera - 1% to 5%
- Tasty Puff - 1% to 5%
- LorAnns - 1% - 5%
- FlavorWest - 10% to 20%
So, for example, Inawera might seem to cost a little bit more than Capella, the chances are that you're going to use much less of it, which actually makes it cheaper.
I don't think he was trying to compare the prices of different concentrates. He was trying to compare the prices on where to get a particular company's concentrate for the cheapest price.
Is there any reason not to, for example, purchase TFA flavors right from perfumersapprentice.com? I recently put together an order of a number of 4ml flavors and the price was a smidge lower (couple dollars) than the same order at WL. I guess I'm just wondering if there's a reason not to buy from PA directly?
If you're going for the smaller sample size vials, WL is better. They have them in 8ml vials where tfa had them at half that. The main savings from ordering at tfa is in the larger volume bottles.
I AM A MORON. This is what I get for shopping while three quarters asleep at 2am for DIY supplies. Basically I could have got twice the flavorings for what I paid going with WL's 8ml bottles. I swear I looked and went "these are the same...I'll save a couple bucks..." Dumb dumb dumb! (Hanging my head in shame...i don't deserve to dip my hands into DIY juice...)
The cheapest place to buy TFA flavors without signing up for a wholesale account is from OneStopDiY shop @ $.08 per ml for a 120ml bottle. TFA's 1 ounce bottles are $.17 per ml directly from them. I don't know about you guys, but when I'm trying out flavors, I'm not usually looking for 4 ounces or more.
For example, working on a recipe that calls for one flavor I don't have, it's a flavor I could see myself playing with in other juices but I'm not looking to commit to a 4 ounce bottle. This spreadsheet tells me the best place to go for a 1oz or 30ml bottle would be Bull City Vapor ($.14/ml). On the other hand if I just want a sample size, Wizard Labs carries the best deal @ $.19/ml for an 8ml bottle.
Play around with sorting and filters and this spreadsheet works wonderfully!
Being newer myself to DiY just a couple months ago, I didn't order bulk sizes to make any specific juice. I ordered TONS of sample sizes (8ml) from WL and then started to branch out based on what I found I liked in certain juices.
I've stuck primarily to fruits and creams and have now branched out to ordering the same fruit from multiple vendors to find my favorite. Once I find the favorite of each fruit I like, I then order it in bulk the next time.
Other folks might just be looking to order in bulk to make 1 or 2 recipes they know they like. That just simply wasn't the case for me. I'm also a major tinkerer hence why I have over 50 mixed juices curing and over 200 flavors now. I like to play around with different things. I have my 3 go to ADV's but I have 40-50 others that I'm playing with at the same time.
Yeah, I'm not disagreeing with you at all. It definitely does make sense to get a small amount as a trial for a flavor. I don't have a problem ordering a 4 oz of a new flavor simply because, like I said, I'm picky as all hell. Doing it that was certainly isn't for everyone though.
For me to get a good idea of how to best use a flavor, I know I would need at least a 1 oz bottle of it though. Letting newer people know how to sign up for the bulk sizes is good, simply so they can potentially save on shipping when ordering more of the flavors they know they like.
This is awesome! It'll save me the hours I spent trying to find the best price from a bunch of different site lol.
Holy shit FA is expensive. Looks like Bull City Vapor has good prices on most of this though. Do you use any Inawera? Where do you buy that from?
I've never used Inawera. Only FA, FW, TFA, LA and CAP. Still have more to go!
I've done something similar with fewer suppliers but attempted to include shipping costs into the calculations. That got messy really quick because shipping isn't linear with the number items being ordered but I did find that some of the cheaper sources had higher shipping costs. I wish there was a way to figure out each source's shipping calculations.
In summary, if you are looking for a vendor carried by Bull City Vapor and are ordering a mix of supplies, and are keeping it to small sizes, they are your best supplier.
If you are looking for a modest sized order but not TFA, then OneStopDiYShop is probably your best bet.
RTS Vapes is the only supplier to carry all 3 in sizes over 100ml.
This is a great list. I'm guessing you may not have signed up for bulk quantities from any of the specific vendors directly, though? 120ml/4oz bottles from tfa start from 5$ flat, but everything directly from them varies depending on the flavor. There are quite a few that are actually cheaper or the same price going from a 30ml bottle to the 120ml.
That said, I'll have to try some Capella's from ecig express, since Capella's didn't seem to do their summer 50% off sale this year.
I thought about it, but I wanted to include folks that are newer and looking to keep things simple. Also, any time you have to fill out forms to get wholesale prices just seems like too much effort IMO lol.
How many folks that DiY for personal use buy 120ml and larger flavoring bottles though for real.
Best love the flavor if you do lol.
Actually, in one of those crazy people. XD. I'm rather picky with the flavors I use, and I don't like ordering a 1oz when the 4 oz is maybe .50 more. Just doesn't make sense to me. That might be why I have about 40 for ounce bottles at the moment.... I might have a small problem.
Signing up for the tfa one is really simple, though. There wasn't much of a form, from what I remember. Mainly just need to log out then back in one you sign up for it.
If you have another supplier that I should include, feel free to let me know and I'll check it out and add it. Only went with those I had checked out myself before.