# Do any stores in NYC or LI sell vaporizers? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 21, 2013, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-stores-in-nyc-or-li-sell-vaporizers/664094 "2013-07-21T06:17:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KaylaLynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@KaylaLynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KaylaLynn)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-stores-in-nyc-or-li-sell-vaporizers/664094/1 "2013-07-21T06:17:10Z")
Old hippie here, I’ve never tried a vape, but it sounds safer for my lungs. Rather than buy one on-line, I’d prefer to do it in person. I live in Queens. Any ideas would be much appreciated. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-stores-in-nyc-or-li-sell-vaporizers/664094/2 "2013-07-21T06:19:06Z")
Google might be helpful, maybe. Try search term “vapes.” I hope you get some hits. ---
**Author:** ![KaylaLynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@KaylaLynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KaylaLynn)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-stores-in-nyc-or-li-sell-vaporizers/664094/3 "2013-07-21T07:49:08Z")
That was the first place I looked. I’ll give it another shot. There was a show on last night with some housewives passing around a balloon, it looked like fun. All the “head shops” are gone, stupid laws. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-stores-in-nyc-or-li-sell-vaporizers/664094/4 "2013-07-21T08:00:50Z")
For someone not well versed in hippie culture, could someone describe what we are talking about here please. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-stores-in-nyc-or-li-sell-vaporizers/664094/5 "2013-07-21T09:49:47Z")
No idea what a “vape” is, but if I wanted a vaporizer, I’d go to a pharmacy. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Ayebaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darth_ayebaw/32/9870_2.png) [@Darth\_Ayebaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Ayebaw)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-stores-in-nyc-or-li-sell-vaporizers/664094/6 "2013-07-21T10:10:41Z")
It’s a [device](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaporizer_(inhalation_device)) intended to deliver substances to the lungs (and hence blood) without most of the carcinogenic effects of smoke, or most of the discomfort brought about by high temperatures in the lungs. They typically work by heating the material enough to vaporize the desired substances, but not enough to cause outright burning. They’re still not as safe or harmless as eating the desired materials, but the delivery method is both much faster than eating and much safer than smoking. Can’t help with the OPs question though, sorry. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-stores-in-nyc-or-li-sell-vaporizers/664094/7 "2013-07-21T10:17:42Z")
Look for a hookah shop. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Ayebaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darth_ayebaw/32/9870_2.png) [@Darth\_Ayebaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Ayebaw)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-stores-in-nyc-or-li-sell-vaporizers/664094/8 "2013-07-21T10:28:16Z")
OP, are any of [these shops](http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=vaporizer&find_loc=New+York%2C+NY) still open? First result when Googling “where to buy a vaporizer in NYC”. You said they closed down all the headshops though, and I don’t live there so I’d be unaware, but I assume they haven’t closed down all the tobacco shops, right? ---
**Author:** ![Jaymosch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaymosch/32/2820_2.png) [@Jaymosch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaymosch)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-stores-in-nyc-or-li-sell-vaporizers/664094/9 "2013-07-21T14:17:56Z")
Good head shops sell them. Just look up a few near you and give them a call. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-stores-in-nyc-or-li-sell-vaporizers/664094/10 "2013-07-21T14:46:31Z")
Are we talking about vaporizers for dried herbs or “vapes”, aka “personal vaporizers”, aka “ecigs”, as in electronic delivery devices for liquid flavor and nicotine as an alternative to cigarettes? If the later, then Vape NY has a store in Queens and one in Manhattan, and some other NY stores, one in Long Island, also sell their products. I can’t vouch for them personally, but I looked it up recently at the request of a friend. [http://www.vapeny.com/](http://www.vapeny.com/) ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-stores-in-nyc-or-li-sell-vaporizers/664094/11 "2013-07-21T14:57:07Z")
You guys don’t have head shops in New York? Where do you buy legal smoking accessories, for use with legal smoking blends? ---
**Author:** ![KaylaLynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@KaylaLynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KaylaLynn)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-stores-in-nyc-or-li-sell-vaporizers/664094/12 "2013-07-21T15:07:34Z")
> [@Darth\_Ayebaw](#): > > OP, are any of [these shops](http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=vaporizer&find_loc=New+York%2C+NY) still open? First result when Googling “where to buy a vaporizer in NYC”. You said they closed down all the headshops though, and I don’t live there so I’d be unaware, but I assume they haven’t closed down all the tobacco shops, right? Thanks so much, the one in Astoria looks great, and I’ve got a dental appt near there next week. Two birds, one stone…😃 ---
**Author:** ![slomomofo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@slomomofo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slomomofo)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-stores-in-nyc-or-li-sell-vaporizers/664094/13 "2013-07-21T15:25:08Z")
If you had more time I’d say buy online instead- in my (not NY) experience head shops usually inflate the prices on vapes through the wazoo. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-stores-in-nyc-or-li-sell-vaporizers/664094/14 "2013-07-21T16:06:30Z")
> [@KaylaLynn](#): > > Two birds, one stone…😃 Who’s the other bird? And why don’t you share so you can both get stoned? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-stores-in-nyc-or-li-sell-vaporizers/664094/15 "2013-07-21T16:46:08Z")
The funniest thing is when I, a noobie, went into (OP note) the excellent and urbane wood panelled shop on 14th St. and 8th Ave., how the clerk would refer to the “tobacco” that would go here and here, and how and why it should be ground (who the hell gound “tobacco” in Panama Red days?), etc., and never batted an eyelash as I said the real name, because I couldn’t keep a straight face. E-cigs are vapes too, of course. They provide similar benefits. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-stores-in-nyc-or-li-sell-vaporizers/664094/16 "2013-07-21T16:48:58Z")
> [@slomomofo](#): > > If you had more time I’d say buy online instead- in my (not NY) experience head shops usually inflate the prices on vapes through the wazoo. A zillion reviews are on line. When a first time purchaser of an unfamiliar technology, I always try to buy in person and talk to knowledgable clerks. Then I can buy on-line. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-stores-in-nyc-or-li-sell-vaporizers/664094/17 "2013-07-21T16:52:44Z")
> [@aNewLeaf](#): > > You guys don’t have head shops in New York? > > Where do you buy legal smoking accessories, for use with legal smoking blends? Yes, of course, but most often plain old large cigarette/magazine stores sell them. Word of advice: do not make a joke or mention the word “bong” or pot or anything. You will piss them off greatly and probably get thrown out. It’s a serious scruple. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-stores-in-nyc-or-li-sell-vaporizers/664094/18 "2013-07-21T16:58:26Z")
You guys don’t have head shops in New York?! WTF??? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-stores-in-nyc-or-li-sell-vaporizers/664094/19 "2013-07-21T17:13:41Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > The funniest thing is when I, a noobie, went into (OP note) the excellent and urbane wood panelled shop on 14th St. and 8th Ave., how the clerk would refer to the “tobacco” that would go here and here, and how and why it should be ground (who the hell gound “tobacco” in Panama Red days?), etc., and never batted an eyelash as I said the real name, because I couldn’t keep a straight face. I read on the NotAlwaysRight website a [story](http://notalwaysright.com/went-to-the-wrong-joint/6738) from an employee at a California head shop who made it clear to the customer that they had to maintain the pretense that the merchandise was to be used with tobacco and that if the customer used the word marijuana or made it clear that was the purpose, they wouldn’t be allowed to sell to them. ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-stores-in-nyc-or-li-sell-vaporizers/664094/20 "2013-07-21T17:23:54Z")
Same is/was true in Colorado. Up until last November, mentioning any pot-related use got you thrown out of a head shop immediately. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-any-stores-in-nyc-or-li-sell-vaporizers/664094.md?page=2)