any nice coupons or so to help out those of us, that are short on funds.
always a small plus...
We try not to play the "coupon shell game" - what it really amounts to is businesses inflate their prices 10-20% more than the market value, and then give you a 10-20% off coupon so you feel like you are getting a good deal. At the end of the day it makes sense to us to price our products competitively 24/7/365 in an effort to allow you to get on a regular steep cycle without having to wait for the "next big sale."
We do run sales, occasionally - we toss free bottles on Veterans Day, for example... or we have an annual customer appreciation sale for our anniversary... or sometimes we blow out a short-run flavor that's lingering around too long because we made too much... but as a general rule, Katy and I both agree... price is a consideration, but I think most people would rather have a fair price 24/7/365 and have the vendor meet or exceed expectations with every interaction!
There's lots of business logic behind it. I mean, once you engage in the shell game, you pretty much have to do it indefinitely... businesses attract (and attempt to retain) a customer base that's focused solely on price. We've never been, and will never be, a 'cheap' vendor. Case in point - I've approached Joe on a number of occasions and inquired about getting pimped on the blog - generally the response is "it depends on what the price will be." I get it - his readers demand discounts - that's "his thing" - his demographic... I'm not saying it's better, or worse... but what we do works for us and for our regulars. It may appear backwards, especially on a forum that grew as a natural extension of a deals and steals website - but the age old adage "you get exactly what you pay for" has a tendency to hold true with most products and services - eLiquid is no exception. I've resisted increasing prices when I clearly could have, or should have (for example, when we swept the Best of ECF Awards and tore down the following...
TOP VENDOR: Nicoticket
Best Overall eLiquid: The Virus (H1N1)
Best Tobacco: The Virus (H1N1)
Best Fruit: TIE for (1st) between Betelgeuse and Gravity
Best Bakery: (1st) Custard's Last Stand (2nd) Creme Brulee (3rd) Grandma's Cinnamon Danish
We didn't win because we were the least expensive vendor, we won because we are the best value in the industry.
We dot the i's and cross the t's...
We overfill every bottle - not because we have to, but because we love our customers. The community has been so kind to us, and we like to give back...
We offer loyalty upgrades every 3-5 orders as a token of our appreciation for our loyal customers who continue to keep us in the tank. We take "intangibles" into account - participation in the forum, referrals, etc... we're very present on the forums so we *notice* the love, and reward it.
Our mean time to fulfillment is one of the most consistent in the industry because we don't run sales - can can place an order with confidence knowing it will be shipped promptly.
We're omni-present on a number of different venues - forums, Facebook, via the contact form on our website - we're responsive and provide world-class customer service. Some have said "I get better service at Nicoticket for a $7.99 bottle of eLiquid than I do from some companies who are pimping $200 mods." We treat people like family.
All that has value - we try to the best of our ability to *earn* your trust, *earn* your business, and *earn* your loyalty. Prices being where they are, most people would probably agree - the core line-up is under-priced by 20% (at least).
All that aside - I totally agree, an occasional sale is nice - but the folks who are constantly running sales are doing it for a reason... the product isn't worth the MSRP.
