Mourning the demise of ye locale head shoppe

[zeeba amoeba]

So I've been buying bongs, pipe screens and a vaporizer on ebay when it hit me. The selection and price on ebay is so good, that sales at local head shops must be suffering just like at small bookstores.

Last time I went to a head shop in Atlanta, it was deserted except for one couple and they bought nothing more than a lighter.

A mellow thought, to realize that the number of head shops will decline steadily... I remember the guy at this shop was pretty cool. He showed me how hookahs work, and helped me pick out my water bong which I used to this day. Maybe he charged a little more than ebay but it was a good product.

The only negative is that every head shop I have been too, I've asked for grass and i always get the same answer. "I don't know where any of that might be found," ha ha, right, probably have some in your pocket. I guess junior narcs try that line all the time, spoiling it for the stoners. There was one exception, a head shop in Bangor that told me some bars I could visit and find something. That rumor did not pan out, but then again I'm not one to linger very long in a smoky bar.

Recent killer deals on ebay --

50 brass pipe filters for $4
Kia vaporizer for < $120 (hey hey hey, the Kia kicks ass!)
1 pound of passionflower or 1 pound of valerian root for < $20 (excellent insomnia remedy)

I was not impressed with the choice of lighters though but I only searched once.

They categorize most of this stuff under "Tobacianna," but what about "Marijuaniana?" Tobacco my foot. I've got a wad of hookah I haven't touched in months. I'd throw it in the communal pot for you ICMAG'ers to use for free, if we were real instead of virtual.

 

[JohnnyATL]

I think most of the head shops in atlanta do pretty good, especially the ones in little 5 points. 42 Degrees and junk mans daughter. Always pretty busy in there

 

[Stoner4Life]

Brick & mortar headshops have always been high priced, buy for $5, sell for $15+. The reason being is that when they get raided they have their shelves emptied (ever try to get something considered evidence back from LEO?) and need to reinvest 100% of inventory to open again. And because they're privy to the bust n' seize routine they are NEVER given those goods on credit, headshop wares are a cash and carry business 100% of the time.

With the popularity of the net alot of the headshop sites have found that it's much tougher for LEO to kick in the door when they have a tough time proving jurisdiction never mind finding the door.

Tommy Chong got busted because he let his son use his name in a most incriminating way selling 'Chongs Bongs'. Because he used the word 'bong' the company was in violation of federal (selling/shipping across state lines) paraphernalia statutes (BS of course) and Tommy was busted and prosecuted because of his notoriety.

 

[BiG H3rB Tr3E]

I worked as a glass slinger in cali for a while, and first hand i cant tell you the amount of UC and LEOs we got fishing for herb was RIDICULOUS. I mean of course we would get the stoner college kids, or the burned out old men asking for ganja as well, but that ENTIRELY comprimises the business.

We had to put up signs everywhere back in 95 because of the local headshop problems (one shop got popped for sliinging elbows at their store) and so every soccer mom and stay at home dad was trying to get us shot down, since were nothing more than a "drug outlet store". LMAO.

I have smoked herb with shop tenants before, but only if I was bringing the weed, not asking for it, hell and once you do blaze out your local headshop employees>>>get ready for discounts

Also a quick insiders tip::: NEVER pay asking price. It would be like going to buy a car and pay sticker price, only the suckers pay sticker. Having priced many pieces, our usual markup was 150-400%. So even that super heady triple bubbler,, that is marked at 650, probably cost the store 225-240. So if I were to make a bid on it::: I would tell them 375 CASH,,,

Also another good way to get HEADY glass cheap,, look at the dust factor. MANY headshop employees are lazy mF'ers who wont bother to even dust down a 1k tube,,, if you find a NICE heady piece with alot of dust,, you know its been sitting there for a while and more than likely they will want to get it out the door quickly as possible (which means cheap for you).

keep it ez. -BhT

 

[zeeba amoeba]

JohnnyATL - I went into Junkman's Daughter once myself and it was empty except for me. The clerk was moving a big shelf and it almost tipped over, but I caught it in time and moved it for her. From that I got another tip on where to find grass, but it didn't pan out.

Stoner4Life - I understand the reason for the big markup, but the prices are fair when you consider the inventory isn't exactly flying off the shelf. Even so ebay is so tempting, especially the younger generation will probably get most of their needs satisfied thru the net.

I worked as a glass slinger in cali for a while, and first hand i cant tell you the amount of UC and LEOs we got fishing for herb was RIDICULOUS. I mean of course we would get the stoner college kids, or the burned out old men asking for ganja as well, but that ENTIRELY comprimises the business.

We had to put up signs everywhere back in 95 because of the local headshop problems (one shop got popped for sliinging elbows at their store) and so every soccer mom and stay at home dad was trying to get us shot down, since were nothing more than a "drug outlet store". LMAO.

I have smoked herb with shop tenants before, but only if I was bringing the weed, not asking for it, hell and once you do blaze out your local headshop employees>>>get ready for discounts

Also a quick insiders tip::: NEVER pay asking price. It would be like going to buy a car and pay sticker price, only the suckers pay sticker. Having priced many pieces, our usual markup was 150-400%. So even that super heady triple bubbler,, that is marked at 650, probably cost the store 225-240. So if I were to make a bid on it::: I would tell them 375 CASH,,,

Also another good way to get HEADY glass cheap,, look at the dust factor. MANY headshop employees are lazy mF'ers who wont bother to even dust down a 1k tube,,, if you find a NICE heady piece with alot of dust,, you know its been sitting there for a while and more than likely they will want to get it out the door quickly as possible (which means cheap for you).

keep it ez. -BhT

hey that's who I wanted to hear from, a headshop guy. Right on, you're on the forefront of... I don't know, 420 culture? Thanks for the info... yes I will say that most of the bongs for sale at the headshop were dusty like they had been sitting on the shelf for years. The headshop employee was a young college guy who looked spaced and sedated, but he was alright once I started talking to him. Set me right up with my favorite bong ever, a small glass number.

Isn't it funny how we get attached and sentimental to something like a bong? I was playing a computer game over the net with this lady in Nova Scotia and she was bummed out because her dog broke her water bong. It was like a pet had died. But I bet there's a lot more emotion packed in a $1k tube. Mine was about $30 or so but somehow I think I'd live if it broke.

Hey you should walk down Haight-Ashbury sometime. There is a headshop every twenty feet, no lie! I can't imagine how they survive with so much competition (we're talking about maybe fifty headshops on one street). But looking around there, it's clear that 420 is the majority.

 

[BACKCOUNTRY]

Hunky-dories in Eugene Oregon is always busy when I am there, great handblown glass at great, near wholesale prices, they have been there for years. It may be the huge population of local artists that keep the prices reasonable, but at any rate, it may depend on where you live.

 

[hunt4genetics]

The head shop in my town has it rough. They are constantly harrassed by the cops. Narks are in there daily. If anyone says the word "bong" they are kicked out instantly.
The owner and his wife are so text book. When showing some one a pipe, they always refer to it as a "water pipe" to smoke your Tobacco, if you are 18 years ofcourse...wink.
the cops hang out in the parking lot running tags. it's areal shame.


peace

 

[flubnutz]

i used to love checkin out a place. net's great, but nuthin like seein the real thing up close and under the light

 

[Saibai]

^^^^^

For sure, the best way to buy a piece. Unfortunately, I have no head shops within a few hundred kms (at least) near me, so its all over the net.

Where I used to live it just got harder and harder for shops to sell paraphenalia. Tobacconists or adult shops mostly took over the trade, they had to sell bongs in separate pieces, no glass pipes (crack/meth), started calling waterpipes glass vases, kept most of their shit behind the counter out of site (u had to ask) and many other ridiculous things. Most shops decided it wasn't worth the hassle.

 

[WoW maannnn]

i wish you could walk into a head shop & shop for headies...

 

[Papa_Moña]

are you guys aware that some of you are narrowing your locations by a WHOLE lot and establishing jurisdiction(funny considering that was already mentioned here....)

 

[JohnnyATL]

if your looking for me you can find me in the A

 

[chubbynugs]

Ebay doesnt sell glass pieces thats all i gotta say.

 

[Saibai]

The DEA can come and get me anytime they want...lol

 

[southflorida]

internet will put many businesses *out of bizness* and we will all see this more and more

you either change or you die...that is the law of the universe....for business anyway

all my income is coming from doing business online for the last three years....and there is nothing like it....low overhead...high mark up....money in the bank 24/7

 

[TheGoodStuff]

I worked as a glass slinger in cali for a while, and first hand i cant tell you the amount of UC and LEOs we got fishing for herb was RIDICULOUS. I mean of course we would get the stoner college kids, or the burned out old men asking for ganja as well, but that ENTIRELY comprimises the business.

We had to put up signs everywhere back in 95 because of the local headshop problems (one shop got popped for sliinging elbows at their store) and so every soccer mom and stay at home dad was trying to get us shot down, since were nothing more than a "drug outlet store". LMAO.

I have smoked herb with shop tenants before, but only if I was bringing the weed, not asking for it, hell and once you do blaze out your local headshop employees>>>get ready for discounts

Also a quick insiders tip::: NEVER pay asking price. It would be like going to buy a car and pay sticker price, only the suckers pay sticker. Having priced many pieces, our usual markup was 150-400%. So even that super heady triple bubbler,, that is marked at 650, probably cost the store 225-240. So if I were to make a bid on it::: I would tell them 375 CASH,,,

Also another good way to get HEADY glass cheap,, look at the dust factor. MANY headshop employees are lazy mF'ers who wont bother to even dust down a 1k tube,,, if you find a NICE heady piece with alot of dust,, you know its been sitting there for a while and more than likely they will want to get it out the door quickly as possible (which means cheap for you).

keep it ez. -BhT

Exactly.
If you're shopping at a store within driving distance, bring some buds!
Go find the most laid-back employee and while they're helping you out, tell them that you'll need them to help you break it in and 'accidentally' drop a bud on the counter.

Unless you look like a cop haha.

 

[zeeba amoeba]

are you guys aware that some of you are narrowing your locations by a WHOLE lot and establishing jurisdiction(funny considering that was already mentioned here....)

There's a difference between mentioning a small town were you currently live, like xxPotheadxx did, and mentioning a state or major metropolitan area, where you may or may not live, or might have visited a few months/years ago. I don't think anyone in this thread has said "I live in..." instead they say they visited such and such. As for JohnnyATL, well, that's a big area isn't it?

Also, most people on ICMag actually don't grow from what I've observed...they just like talking about marijuana or listening to what growers have to say. Nobody knows more about mj than a grower. The odds of someone actually having a grow op is probably less than 5% even here. Of course those odds improve once the person posts pictures/stories of his grow...

I'm 100% certain that law enforcement does not give a damn about personal users. It would not be worth their time and effort making a raid to net less than an ounce of pot. Or nothing as the case may be, because most people do experience dry spells.

 

[JohnnyATL]

yeah i dont have a grow running right now or any equipt so...

tell them coppers hahahaha they cant catch me they cant stop me