Hey! I got a little problem. A bunch of my coworkers have switched over to vaping -- which is awesome. After complaints about gunking coils too fast and complaining about not finding any good flavors at local vape shops, I gave a couple of the guys some of my juice to try. Its always just clones -- I am not one of you mixologists, I just DIY it because its cheap and I can be assured of what I am putting in my lungs (I've had some sketchy as fuck juice from vape shops that gave me a cough and larengitis...).
Anyway, these dudes loved it and offered to pay me to mix for them, but I don't want to. Like I said its not really a hobby for me, just a means to an end. Additionally I don't feel comfortable charging money for it -- I think of it like I let these guys try my lunch and they said "wow thats awesome, how bout you make me lunch every day and I'll pay you." What do you charge for a sandwich? And why would I want to make two all the time for an extra $20 a week or something?
Anyone been in this situation? Its kind of awkward. I would rather show them what to buy and how to mix for themselves, but thats a huge commitment, too. I ain't got time for that haha.
TL;DR: Coworkers want to buy my juice; I don't want to sell.
I sell my Co workers juice all the time. I figure it like this....
- I'm already mixing for myself
- it helps with my spending on the massive collection of flavorings I buy
- it helps them save money
- MOST IMPORTANT... KEEPS THEM OFF CIGS!
I understand if you don't want to do it tho....
Ya maybe I should just suck it up and do it.
It shouldn't take any longer to mix it they vape the same stuff you vape, just make larger batches...charge them 15 per 120 ml or whatnot...build a vape budget, Buy yourself more supplies... Make your vaping habit free or even cheaper!
How much do you charge?
Personally I charge enough to cover ingredients, roughly an hour's work and a little extra to essentially cover my juice. Once every month or 2 I'll make a few 100 or 250ml bottles of what my mates and work mates want. Only time's I've said no is when I get asked to make things for friends of friends. Never made less than 100ml bottles for convenience sake. Though occasionally I grab a dozen 30ml bottles when I mix some new things and if the mix is good fill them up and hand them out for free. Sometimes it feels good just to spread the love :-)
I don't entirely blame you, there's a whole host of problems that comes along with mixing for friends, or coworkers in your case. If you really don't want to mix for them, I suggest you just point them in the way of this subreddit. Maybe even walk them through the process yourself and show them the ropes.
I've kinda been there. I ended up just mixing them like 400 ml bottles so I didn't have to bring them a 30 ml every other day.
Gave a guy at work some of my DIY juice for free once because he said he was all out... (He normally buys from local B&M's) he now expects to me to be giving him free juice all the time. Actually had to lie about not having flavourings because am I hell giving him free juice when it actually costs me a (little bit) to make it
Tell him to pay or your not mixing. It's not only the supplies, but your time and your knowledge of mixing. If he wants the flavours you mix, he pays. He should understand that is is exponentially cheaper for him to buy DIY juice vs retail. I sell two 120mLs delivered anywhere in my city for $70CAD. Locally, that would be roughly $110-130 plus tax, and they wouldn't get it delivered.
I've had a similar situation with a guy at work. He was running out of juice, and couldn't make it to the B&M for a couple of days. I gave him my clone of mega melons ( or whatever it's called now ). A couple days later he chased me down and was raving about how great the juice I gave him was, and asked if I could make him some more. Told him "sure, but I'm not in the juice selling buisness" Now at least once a month he's giving me a list of what he wants. The list goes as follows Betty - Pinup Mega Melons - Cuttwood Castle Long - Five Pawns. So on and so on. Seriously he gives me a list ! And wants it all for free ! I just shine him now. Its nuts😂
I was in your situation. I made a topic on it on here asking advice and pros cons.
I decided to not do it after the first person came over, sat here for 3 hrs trying to try every flavor I have (like 60 recipes mixed up at the time) then walking off without buying anything and asking for samples he could take home to his wife. Also gave him some bottles I was tossing out. Texted him the next day and he didn't respond back so I said fuck him and fuck this shit. He texted me a few weeks later I just ignored also. I got better things to do with my free time.
Exposing someone to too many choices at once will strain their ability to choose. Somewhat like ear fatigue, they will stop noticing the intricacies of each note and have trouble differentiating between what's good and bad.
Then he might have had time to try the sample bottles over the few weeks and decide if he wanted any.
All and all it's a matter of what someone wants to deal with, but it does have it's payoff.
Maybe I'll take my scales, flavors, VG, PG, and Nic, in to work and show them how to do it off the clock. Teach a man to fish, right?
One thing I didn't mention was there is a language barrier. These bros are not what you call internet-savvy.
Selling to friends can be an easy way to earn a bit of pocket money and to pay all your vape expenses.
It can also be a huge time sink, my advice is if you do it, be very clear on the rules. I suggest you don't sell anything under 100ml, and let people know you mix once per week, if they haven't got an 'order' to you by then, tough.
It seems harsh, and I was always more than happy to give customers the recipes to what I was selling them if they wanted to mix it themselves, but some just weren't interested in doing anything for themselves, and all of a sudden, the fact they have 10mls of juice in the house to last the weekend becomes your problem, not theirs.
My experience was the more flexible you are, the more people tend to take advantage (not all people, just some people), People soon learn to work with you after they have to resort to buying house juice from their local B&M for a week.
I just started mixing and selling to friends/ Co workers @ $5 for 10 ml $10 for 30 and $20 for 100ml then just throw the cash in a box and use it for my next order for supplies and ingredients. I'm happy bc I don't pay out of pocket for supplies or my own juice (perk of being the mixer) and they're happy to get cheaper juice custom ordered.
So check it out. I do it this way. It's a juice Co or is what I call it. 20 bucks a bottle (60ml) if you want just one. If you commit to buying from me monthly, 5 bottles for 10. This allows me to count on a monthly income and estimate how to do my flavoring purchases. If they do the monthly club, I am willing to allow requests.
"But Commi, that is still a little steep on price". Here is my caveat, if you get a bottle and don't like it. I will gladly exchange until you are satisfied. This will push you to nail mixes on the first try and will push you to continue to make new mixes. It's a win for everyone. Your time is worth something.
I will usually give people small samples to try for free and then charge a nominal fee for larger bottles. As others have said it is a good idea to do bulk mixing to save on time.
Another idea is to just make up a bunch of 0mg or flavor base + Pg (for items that are popular) so all you have to do when mixing is add vg/nic, this should save a large amount of time.
I really only mixed for coworkers I hung out with so it wasn't a big deal to me but it could be pretty time consuming if you've got like 5+ people who want to buy juice
I literally just started mixing and was telling my co-workers about it, and quickly regretted my decision they're all looking for handouts now. I just told them no, this cost me time and money and if I don't do it because I thoroughly enjoy it I do it to save me money. If they can't understand that then so be it.
Yes... I've been in this situation and it does make me uncomfortable. It can turn into a hindrance very quickly and as you said, what's a fair amount to charge? I would try to avoid that but on the other hand, I feel like it's an incentive to get them to vape... It's a tough one.
Reading these comments are strange, I've never had anyone ask for free stuff from me. I throw out a .png menu through text to all my customers, it has the prices and discounts listed on it. And I just run it like I did when I was a manager at a pizza place.
Be strict on quality. If someone complains, just bite the loss, they'll be back for more then the actual loss. Keep consistent with policies. And be very transparent (this last one I think most people just don't care.)
Also everyone wants shit RIGHT NOW. So I'm working on redesigning my workflow to accommodate this.
The worst is when people pester you to try to clone flavors they get from B&Ms cuz they think mixing is easy/immediate and they have mo concept of steeping. When i get a flavor down pat now i don't mix below 1000ml because when a juice is asked for i like it to be ready, rather then mixing it in small batches. Also gives it consistency. I don't mind doing 30ml bottles because i make the most off of them and it takes 30 seconds to fill it. A meat injector is pretty rugged, works the same as a syringe, and I've only seen them in 30ml, take out the plunger, pour from the 1000ml into the injector, replace plunger and squirt into 30ml bottle.