US vs EU vaporizer prices... WTF

Hi all, I live in the EU and I'm getting sick when I look at the vaporizer prices in the EU.

The prices of the vapes are insane in the EU for example you can get a solo in the US for 138$ (101€), I ordered mine from the US for that price but then I had to pay 35$ shipping + the EU customs added 47$ of import taxes and I ended up paying it 232$.

We have a few EU vaporizer shops (like 5...) but the prices aren't any better. The usual price for an arizer solo is 198€ (268$).
If you order it from the US and something breaks you are screwed, sending it back would probably cost like getting a new one...

I really don't understand why are the prices so much higher in the EU... ok I understand there are a bit bigger taxes in the EU but WTF the prices are DOUBLE for most vaporizers and for most I mean all but the cano, plenty (not an expensive vape if you live in EU compared to others, costs same as the EQ...) and like 1-2 more that are made in EU...
Just check the prices at http://www.vaposhop.com/ (there is even a banner on FC advertizing it) and prepare to be sick or happy that you don't live in the EU... I checked the prices on all the other EU vapo shops and they all have exactly the same price...

Sorry for the rant but this is really making me sick and if anyone knows a way to get vaporizers at a normal or semi-normal price in the EU please do tell.

Volcano is German vape, thatš why it's cheaper in EU. All other good ones are from US and there is not enough demand here in EU yet to make US manufacturers mass-export them cheaply.
It's sad that there is least demand for vapes in places whre everyone mixes weed with tobacco and other disgusting thing. I think we need vapes most. But European seemsnot caring about that yet.

Seek said:

Volcano is German vape, thatš why it's cheaper in EU. All other good ones are from US and there is not enough demand here in EU yet to make US manufacturers mass-export them cheaply.
It's sad that there is least demand for vapes in places whre everyone mixes weed with tobacco and other disgusting thing. I think we need vapes most. But European seemsnot caring about that yet.

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People are so ignorant about weed use in Europe it's just sad. Mixing weed with tobacco got me addicted to cigarettes... people in my county think you can't make a joint without tobacco... when I suggested that a few times they were like WTF you can't do that it won't burn...

I quit cigarettes and I bought a solo and I loved it from the first try, I never tried a vape before as I think in my country there are maybe 10 people that vape, yes seriously I doubt there are more. I have a few friends that smoke weed for 15 years and not one ever even heard of a vape.

But I still don't understand why the prices of vaporizers are exactly double than in the US, ok smaller market, I could understand up to 20-30% more but 100% more? Those are vaporizer shops, I doubt they are ordering vapes one by one and even like that 100% more is way too much.

JustAnotherToker said:

... people in my county think you can't make a joint without tobacco....

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That just seems so !!

As for why you have to have to pay so much, I think that you answered your own question in that there are some pretty stiff import duties to be paid if you want to bring your product into the EU. The economies of scale are probably true too as the vaporizer market is likely too insignificant to encourage enough importation to effect consumer prices. I would also venture a guess that you pay more for everything in general in Europe than we do in NA. That's why we Americans are so good at consumerism, and I don't mean that as a good thing.

We hosted a Russian HS student a few years ago and his mind was absolutely blown by the low retail prices here in the US. And though Russia isn't a EU member, I think the same rules apply.

In the US sometimes it's difficult to find products that aren't cheaply made in China. And if you do find something that is built in NA, you'll have to pay a steep premium for it. I think Europeans are more inclined to find/ buy something built in the EU simply because the economic system and business environment encourages it to be made there. In NA it's all about the free market and getting more for your money, even if it's an inferior product that's made in a sweatshop.

yeah, it's all about market. The EU market is still small compared to the US, i agree, it's unfair and annoying to say the least.

Luckily, products under 150USD usually go unnoticed by customs so you can buy in the US, and in most things, a 100USD product turns into a 100EUR product, and differences like the Solo which at the beginning of the 160USD promotion that eventually is the norm nowadays, and in Europe it was still at 230€. Only after a while did it come down to 200€. But you can find it cheaper in vapefiend, at least the Solo and the EQ, plus PV stems and the FBomb. And it will have the EVO too.

So, all in all, at least let the prices be the same, if not the promotions, because there is no market, yet!

I'd probably pay $230 for a solo if I had to.
Wait... isnt MSRP on a Solo about that much anyway?

http://arizer.com/store/en/home/31-arizer-solo-portable-diffuser.html

Yeah but if you do the exchange rate, the 230USD equals 170€. But if on top of that you put shipping it's almost the same, and i think it is fair to pay a tax although i think it shouldn't be so much, so 230€ is not that bad IMO because the exchange rate is not the same as the price it will cost plus what it costs going from the US to the EU.

I know exactly where you're coming from @JustAnotherToker , I also live in the EU and the inflated prices are indeed a big frustration. As others have suggested, the price differences we see are very much related to market forces. The EU simply isn't as forward thinking in terms of medical usage and isn't geared up for promoting the healthiest way to deliver MJ, so IMO there is a general lack of awareness of the benefits vaporisers have to offer. As a result of this, demand remains relatively low, which means EU manufacturers are less likely to jump on the band wagon at the moment, so we're very much lacking when it comes to competition. We therefore end up paying higher transportation/import costs. I agree - it sucks! My hope is that as e-cigs become more popular that more people in the EU will be awakened to the wonderful world of vapes, and that prices will level out as a consequence. Fingers & toes crossed!!

Seren said:

I know exactly where you're coming from @JustAnotherToker , I also live in the EU and the inflated prices are indeed a big frustration. As others have suggested, the price differences we see are very much related to market forces. The EU simply isn't as forward thinking in terms of medical usage and isn't geared up for promoting the healthiest way to deliver MJ, so IMO there is a general lack of awareness of the benefits vaporizers have to offer. As a result of this, demand remains relatively low, which means EU manufacturers are less likely to jump on the band wagon at the moment, so we're very much lacking when it comes to competition. We therefore end up paying higher transportation/import costs. I agree - it sucks! My hope is that as e-cigs become more popular that more people in the EU will be awakened to the wonderful world of vapes, and that prices will level out as a consequence. Fingers & toes crossed!!

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But how can the vape sales increase with these prices? And the very cheap vapes wont convert anyone but they will have the opposite effect. Tbh I don't know anyone that is like me IRL, I spent over 100 hours researching on vapes before ordering my solo... I learned about conservation, about health benefits, about not stinking up the place, no ash, ABV etc.

When I tell a friend about vaping and I tell the price they look at me like I'm insane... "but it's like buying a PS4 almost"...

A vape pays for itself in a few months but most people don't look at it as an investment like I do, all most see is "I can buy 60 rolling papers for 0,5€ and get high 60 times"

I wholeheartedly agree that a vaporizer pays for itself in no time. I also think that price, whilst highly influential, is unlikely to be the only factor people take into account when they decide to switch from combustion to vaping. Most people (or at least those without bottomless wallets) tend to weigh up the pro's and cons before they purchase something, including considering what they otherwise could have bought with that money and the perceived benefits of their purchase.

I was fortunate enough to try out a friends vaporizer prior to buying my first one, so I knew what benefits were on offer and that vaporizing "worked". Saying that, after much research, I opted for a vaporizer which no-one I knew had tried out. When you buy "blindly" in this way, relying on reviews such as the ones here, you kind of take a leap of faith. For those who are risk adverse, then perhaps not being able to try-before-you-buy is a deal breaker - in their eyes it's just not worth the risk, and they (unfortunately) continue with their tried and tested combustion ways. Totally understandable - because that was me not so very long back!

I think if someone is aware of and values the benefits that vaping offers, and wishes to make a change for the better in terms of their health, that there's a vaporizer out there that will help them on their way. There are some really reasonably priced models which have great reviews here. Yes we pay more for many of them at the moment in the EU, but as someone else mentioned above - that's equally true for other goods not just vapes. People don't avoid buying jeans for example just because they're more expensive here than in the US.

Like you I would also like to see the prices come down. So I share my love of vaping as much as possible as a means of trying to promote the benefits. I think word of mouth has a very big role to play in the EU given that we aren't able to market and advertise these products like they can over the pond. But as the saying goes you can lead a horse to water .............

I have only bought my vapes from the US so far and glass from EU. I live in Greece. I usually get good deals from the US for small orders. Why buy from EU?

natural farmer said:

I have only bought my vapes from the US so far and glass from EU. I live in Greece. I usually get good deals from the US for small orders. Why buy from EU?

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From where if I may ask?

PIU and PV mostly. Also from Magic Flight, Inhalater, Thermovape. I haven't paid taxes so far except for a big order from the Lotus manufacturer... It might depend on the country though.

natural farmer said:

PIU and PV mostly. Also from Magic Flight, Inhalater, Thermovape. I haven't paid taxes so far except for a big order from the Lotus manufacturer... It might depend on the country though.

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Grrrr and they made me pay 35€ taxess for a 101€ Solo from ebay... next time I wont order in italy...

eBay sucks lately for Europeans! Too many taxes and shipping costs! Have stopped using it long time ago...