How vejpshoppers reduce the risk of coronavirus

Restriction of e-juice samples and services to prevent contamination

Hand sanitizer, limited customer contact and less tasting. Everyday life for Swedish vejpshoppers as the coronavirus spreads in society.
"The test stations have been removed and we prefer swish and card payments to cash. We refer customers who feel symptoms to our webshop. It is for the sake of the staff" says Niklas Sandin from eSmokes.

Vejpkollen has asked a number of e-cigarette shops across the country how they are managing the risk of coronavirus. Shop staff are a vulnerable group as many people move around the shops. Constant decontamination is a must. This is something that is now becoming clear in the shops. 

"We have introduced a completely different type of sanitization of public spaces. Everything is wiped several times a day to ensure that the shops are clean and not infectious in any way. At the same time, we offer customers to sanitize their hands on the way into the store" says Michael Karvonen which operates Vapemore with several stores in central Sweden.

Roadside service experience

Vejpshoppar is a place where users come for service. This means that customers are used to testing juicers and getting hands-on service with appliances that malfunction.

"When handling customers' products, staff must wear protective gloves. Staff do not test customers' e-cigarettes and customers are not allowed to test staff's. Also, any close contact with customers, such as handshakes or similar, is strictly prohibited at this time." says Michael Fredén who runs Vapes with stores in Lidköping and Gothenburg.

Testing stations and other tasting activities are also limited in the shops Vejpkollen spoke to. In some cases, there is no tasting at all.

"We could spray all the appliances in the tasting station after use. But we don't want to expose our staff to unnecessary exposure either. That's why we have decided to remove the test stations in all stores." says Niklas Sandin from eSmokes with stores in Malmö and Gothenburg.

Sick staff stay at home

Caution in handling money was also raised when Vejpkollen asked. Swish and cards are preferable to cash, says Niklas Sandin.

"We encourage all customers experiencing symptoms to order online. And to use Swish or card instead of cash as payment method if possible." he tells Vejpkollen

At present (17/3) there are no recommendations on shop hygiene or similar from the authorities. The only direct recommendation concerns the well-being of staff, which is strictly adhered to in the shops Vejpkollen has been in contact with.

"Staff are not allowed to be in the workplace if they have symptoms." says Michael Fredén from Vapes.

"All our staff are asked to maintain extraordinary hand hygiene and to stay home immediately upon sensing any kind of illness symptom" says Niklas Sandin from Esmokes.

Bunkers e-juice and coils

Another issue that comes to mind is the availability of products. While deliveries from China are a bit shaky, vejpare is keen to stock up a little extra right now. For small shops without large stocks, this can be problematic. Fredrik Blomberg runs the newly started True Gentlemen with stores in Landskrona and Helsingborg.

 "We have noticed that some customers are worried about this and may have tried to stockpile some. Now we have started to set maximum limits so that products don't run out too quickly." says Fredrik Blomberg to Vejpkollen.

Vejpkollen has been in contact with most vejpshoppers in Sweden. Not all responses have been included in this article due to space limitations. But feel free to leave a comment below about how the coronavirus is handled in your particular stores.

In countries like France, the government is forcing vejpshops to close as a result of åthe measures against the coronavirus.