They're calling it The WalMart of Weed

[vancerz]

I drove by that place yesterday they had a bunch of vendors there for there grand opening, so much so there was no parking for people wanting to actually shop or see the store, they wanted people to park down the street and walk..... im not going to hoof growing supplies down a 4 lane street. lame as shit ill have to see them another time i guess.

also that place from the out side is more like the best buy of weed at best.

 

[THCV]

Sears already carries Hydrofarm, and in a recent editorial the AN owner said that Walmart itself will soon be carrying SS/HF. So these guys might actually have to compete with The Real Walmart and Sears of Weed. Check it out:

Flora Hydroponics Dimmable Digital 600W Grow Light System MH/HPS 120V240V at SEARS

 

[Smoking Gun]

YAY! This sounds like a great idea. For one, these guys like Wal-mart will be able to put small time shops right out of business. Then they will have all the business in town so they will have to hire people just to ring you up, and we all know how well the baggers at Wal-mart know about the products they carry. Also think about the personal service you will get at the Wal-mart hydro stores, just like the personal service you get at Wal-mart.

On one hand this really does sound like a good idea, but I don't see how this idea can work in reality. Anyone not growing marijuana will not want to be seen in there as it really could be potentially dangerous for them. I do think its a great idea to offer cannabis growing classes for those who do not have the know how to grow their own medicine, but there is an appropriate time and place and this is not it. I feel its the dispensaries and collectives how should be offering this service not the hydro shop. Even though this store is opening in Cali where state law has been upheld even in federal court, it does not seem wise to flaunt that they are targeting marijuana growers. It kinda like poking a sleeping bear, it will wake up and bite you.

I would gladly pay an extra dollar or two at my local hydro shop, I am showing my support for a local business and I also feel like my patronage is that much more appreciated. When living in SoCal I used two hydro store regularly. I created personal relationships with the owners and employees of both shops and that was worth the extra few bucks at the end of my purchase. I also knew if there was something not on the shelves of the store I could ask them to order it for me and it would be there in a week or two. The personal touch really makes the difference for me, I'm not sure I would want to shop at the Wal-mart of hydro shops.

I do wish these folks the best of luck and their customers a bit more.

 

[Seamaiden]

If you're served by a decent hydro shop, fantastic. My local shop closed its doors months ago, was open less than a year (yeah, I know, repeating). When they were open, it wasn't an extra dollar or two, it was tens of dollars. I'll give you a specific example--Fox Farms products.

Fox Farms Big Bud @ local hydro shop: $55
Fox Farms Big Bud @ local garden center: $41 (but they give me a discount off the top)
Fox Farms Big Bud @ Raley's: $42

So, that's not "dollar or two" more, that's a significant percentage more. In my opinion, as a retail location, this shop deserved to die. They didn't know their product, they didn't know about growing, and they tried to force their ideas down your throat, all the while charging a serious arm and leg for their products. I only used them as a last resort.

Now, my local garden center..? They've begun stocking some very interesting products. I feel they're setting themselves up to be my local supplier for quite a lot. They've been carrying FF lines for years, now they've added, of all things, Humboldt Nutrients--Gravity and now I can't remember the other product. I bought my last batched of pH calibration liquids from them, and one of the owners feigned ignorance about what calibration liquids are used for. Yep, I told her (we know each other by name, so hey).

So, perhaps the moniker WalMart bothers some people, I say let go of that. Who are these people opening up this place? Are they people like us? Do they contribute to local economy? Or will they be taking their earnings and spending those dollars outside our area or country?

The internet has KILLED most all brick & mortar (aka Mom & Pop) businesses long long ago. You can't blame a business model like this for that.

 

[UNVME]

nah, never heard of a single hydro store busted for selling grow related equipment

thats because most hydro shops don't condone growing marijuana, where-as these guys are advertising thats EXACTLY what there equipment is for.

.02

 

[JonDoe]

big box vs. mom & pop.

u guys that complain about stuff like this r the same guys complaing about not geting 3,000 a L.B. this is Obama-nation get a clue "Adapet or die." is da new slogan.

 

[mastacheeser]

i have an issue with these places just because they are going to be sending every new grower with money out with a "grandmaster grow set" twice as much light as any newbie should have and a hydroponic setup (never seen a hydro store recomend dirt for a newbie, that would be to easy)

 

[Legion]

Way back 'in the day' there was something called 'operation green merchant'. High times did an article on it a while ago too. The law is strange.. In a head shop you can buy a book on growing weed, a shirt that says I smoke weed everyday, but you can't say "give me that book, I'm going to grow weed with it." Now it's a conspiracy and everything is fucked.. lol Just like a gas station can sell gas, gas cans, and lighters. It's all about intent.

Wegrow is running some risk. We all know how the cops work. They're just going to sit back and watch and let you dig your own grave. Then pop in and charge you with 8,000 counts, take all your money, and all your stock, then offer you a deal to plead guilty to a few counts. Enough to make it so they can keep everything you earned..

But, people are greedy and will do anything for a buck no matter who in endangers. Cause the very next thing they are going to do when they offer you a deal is turn you out and keep running your biz to trap all your customers.

To me it's not worth the risk. They are flaunting it and that never works out well with the cops..

 

[vancerz]

I was by wegrow you can not go into the store without a sells associate following you around right now, seriously your not allowed to walk around by your self, they have weed plants there on site as well growing in tents some looked good others are already F'ed up. this store had the worst vibes I ever felt for real.

It felt nothing like a hydro store ....
and there selection looked ok but it was NOTHING to what I had in mind, most of the store is taken up by the bullshit "stages of a indoor grower" rooms they had set up showing people the stages of a indoor grower from veg to smoking it... seriously no joke.

The people, the store all of it just felt fake and out of place and i was really looking forward to just walking in and looking around but couldn't even do that.

This store is in no way a threat to any decent hydro store I wouldn't even call it the Mcfrugals of weed.

that was my experience with it.

 

[Seamaiden]

I just read something about the guy who owns the outfit... Mann I think his name is? Anyway, apparently he owes a few people some money.

After all the times I've walked into a hydro shop and not even been greeted, being followed doesn't sound so bad. I'm a big girl, I can convince them to leave me alone.

But the grow rooms with actual weed..? I don't see that lasting too long, nor does it seem a good idea. How are they going to control shrink? Oh! That's right, they have their salespeople follow you around. :giggle

I'm gonna have to give the place a looksee next time I'm in Sact'o, just to give it a looksee.

 

[Underground]

If it's the walmart of weed does that mean they will start out pretending to support local economies and end up selling mostly imported products while using labor from illegal aliens?

 

[vancerz]

I just read something about the guy who owns the outfit... Mann I think his name is? Anyway, apparently he owes a few people some money.

After all the times I've walked into a hydro shop and not even been greeted, being followed doesn't sound so bad. I'm a big girl, I can convince them to leave me alone.

But the grow rooms with actual weed..? I don't see that lasting too long, nor does it seem a good idea. How are they going to control shrink? Oh! That's right, they have their salespeople follow you around. :giggle

I'm gonna have to give the place a looksee next time I'm in Sact'o, just to give it a looksee.

I saw Mann(i guess) when I went there, he was at the door telling the "bouncer" whats up, he looked like he was with the mafia lol I knew the rest of my trip was probly going to be going down hill from that point on.

 

[kushluvr]

My buddy goes to the one Oakland and says they are garbage!

 

[frostedlove]

Place is a JOKE!

I have been there.........When they opened they gave away free clones to patients. Wifey and I went in there and the clones were HORRIBLE! I posted all the pics on here.....PLACE IS A JOKE......


I have some grow store buddies, and when you open a store you have to sign a lot of paperwork talking about your not a store for weed you are a hydroponic store. They said they threaten you with removal of product if you advertise weed or anything weed related.

My buddies said they are the first store to push the line all the way and Because they are big and trying to get bigger none of the product companies push the issue.


The OWNER has a camera crew falling him around for a reality show.....

THINK BACK to along comes polly............he is prob paying the crew out of his own pocket...



TOTAL JOKE

 

[GanjaGardener]

It's sounding more and more like WalMart by the day. I've only been in a WalMart once and I had to be paid to go in there! I was the cameraman on an uninvited documentary crew that ran a sneak attack to get interior store footage. The guard/greeter at the entryway assumed we, (cam, sound, field producer), were shooting for the store and I wasn't about to disagree w/ her. Sprayed the store visuals, shot customers, talked to a dept "manager" who also assumed we were working for WalMart- I mean, why else would a camera crew be in the store? It took a good half hour before someone upstairs came down to query us. When I saw 2 guards running towards us from the other end of the store, I grabbed a shot of them, did a 180 and we all scurried to the exit. The girl that greeted us on the way in asked us if we got everything we needed on the way out. I said "yes, thankyou. in a bit of a hurry." We ran across the parking lot, got to the safety of the sidewalk, and set the cam up on sticks for exteriors. Man were those guards pissed! Like a bunch of bees swarming around the entrance. I wish I could've lit a j. It would've been perfect.

If it's the walmart of weed does that mean they will start out pretending to support local economies and end up selling mostly imported products while using labor from illegal aliens?

That along w/ their employee manual on how to apply for gov aid and the Medieval conditions of their Chinese sweatshops were central elements of the documentary.

 

[Seamaiden]

I'm going to assume that most of you are in relatively populated areas with plenty of shopping, and shopping choices, around you. Where *I* live, the local Walmart (which sucks ass) is where teens go to hang out and meet, it's where everyone in the county goes on shopping days. There are actually several stops everyone makes, and you'll see the same people you saw at Walmart over at The New Safeway or Raley's or Super Savemart, then you'll see them at CostLess supermarket. Then on the weekend you'll see them out in Folsom at Ross or Marshall's.

This place is called Amateur County for a reason, and it ain't because of the locals' astute business practices! So, when small businesses out here die, and die they *do* because they're based on absolutely BRILLIANT marketing ideas such as the following; Wheels 'n' Wood, they sold motorcycles and cabinets; Bean There Before, a clothing and furniture consignment store (read: expensive thrift shop) that also was supposed to sell COFFEE. Yes, I have always wanted to have a nice, big cup of steaming hot coffee in my hands while I shop for clothes.

Needless to say, these businesses failed within a year. The owner of one business, a neighbor two houses down, lost his home to foreclosure after he put almost everything he had into his brilliant business, that being Wheels 'n' Wood. The other one is losing her house, right across the street, after she had to close down her coffee & consignment store, which really confused her because she couldn't understand why it wasn't more popular. She put everything she had into that business, too.

Why am I rambling on about all of this? Because, at least these weGrow/iGrow people have the tiniest bit more business savvy and acumen than my NEIGHBORS, and I live in a dying county and so find the idea of self-owned businesses opening up somewhat appealing. My county really is dying.

 

[420Gator]

lmao, i cant believe the W&W flopped, sounded sooo promising

 

[MoneyMike]

Sactown has already had a few suits launched against them for these sorts of tactics. I have NO idea how many people are actually followed home from the hydro shop to be raped and robbed, but the thought is amusing. I mean, seriously, who has the time? Quicker to steal copper wiring.

How about a Costco of Weed? Best Buy is ok, but BB can suck sometimes.

The person who waits on the ok from the inside on what customers buys lots of lights and equipment. This is gonna be such a tragedy.

 

[Seamaiden]

So.... twice this week I've had to defend my use of cannabis to doctors and yesterday it came up because of the television coverage of the weGrow store. Yesterday it was to my dentist, who was decidedly less opposed than my DO/OB/GYN (who just a few years ago was much more open-minded)(which kinda blew me away, especially after he walked into the room looking like Grizzly Adams). My DO actually said to me that he does not support me using cannabis and would prefer I use pills, epidurals, implanted TENS, pretty much anything instead of that. We seriously butted heads, but that's not what this little story is about.

ANYWAY, the dentist's new assistant started talking about seeing the weGrow thing on tv, how they were wearing suits and ties, "...but, what they're REALLY doing is selling equipment to sell WEED!"
So I turn around and look at her and say, "Yeah? Someone's gotta do it."

Next thing I know the two of them go on this round of denigration of med users, "It's really just an excuse to get high, blahblahblah..."

Challenge me like that. I dare you. :makeup

I allowed the dentist that, I won't lie, I used to smoke solely for the enjoyment and for my head, it really and truly helped me cope with two extremely active, destructive little boys without beating the living SHIT out of them. I'm not proud of that fact, but it is the truth and I'd be lying if I said it wasn't so.

Anyway, I said, "Look, you drink alcohol, why? As an adult who pays her own way, who has earned her place in this world, I have a RIGHT to get as high as I want, for any reason, even if it's just because I wanna get high. I have a Constitutional right to do as I please as long as I impinge upon no one else." I went on to say that the two extreme camps of thought are both flat out wrong in my opinion. The camp that says that cannabis is a panacea and can be used for and cure any and every thing is wrong. As wrong as the camp that says that there is no medical value. I then went on to outline just a couple of the actual medical uses of cannabis to the dentist and his prissy little assistant (she was the one who really pissed me off, don't all hygienists toke?). I also pointed out that we have very valid medical uses for things like cocaine, which he immediately conceded and appeared to soften his stance a bit. Honestly, I think it was as much show as anything else.

Then he said that we were digressing and wanted to talk about periodontal disease, and he started talking about the bacteria that get into the gums and eat bone, how the colonies organize (no, I'm not just rambling) according to depth in the gum tissues. I asked him to further elaborate on that and next thing I know we're talking about anaerobes and he was surprised that I knew what an anaerobe was. But! Dextr0 should love this if he reads it (I hope you do, brother, I lay this bit of knowledge on your shoulders) then I asked him if, since these bacteria can organize, they were FACULTATIVE ANAEROBES.

Should have seen the look on his face! He said, "Wow, very good! I'm impressed you know about this."

I crossed my arms, looked them both in the eye and said, "See? Someone actually can smoke weed all day long and still have a BRAIN. Imagine that."

He then said, "Touche" and shook my hand. :giggle We all had a good laugh.

I pissed off my OB/GYN because I told him a few times he needs to educate himself and he finally cut off the conversation. So I told him he had to call my recommending doctor to discuss the valid medical uses of cannabis.

These doctors, they forget who they're dealing with. :devil

 

[burnalot420]

I'm going to assume that most of you are in relatively populated areas with plenty of shopping, and shopping choices, around you. Where *I* live, the local Walmart (which sucks ass) is where teens go to hang out and meet, it's where everyone in the county goes on shopping days. There are actually several stops everyone makes, and you'll see the same people you saw at Walmart over at The New Safeway or Raley's or Super Savemart, then you'll see them at CostLess supermarket. Then on the weekend you'll see them out in Folsom at Ross or Marshall's.

This place is called Amateur County for a reason, and it ain't because of the locals' astute business practices! So, when small businesses out here die, and die they *do* because they're based on absolutely BRILLIANT marketing ideas such as the following; Wheels 'n' Wood, they sold motorcycles and cabinets; Bean There Before, a clothing and furniture consignment store (read: expensive thrift shop) that also was supposed to sell COFFEE. Yes, I have always wanted to have a nice, big cup of steaming hot coffee in my hands while I shop for clothes.

Needless to say, these businesses failed within a year. The owner of one business, a neighbor two houses down, lost his home to foreclosure after he put almost everything he had into his brilliant business, that being Wheels 'n' Wood. The other one is losing her house, right across the street, after she had to close down her coffee & consignment store, which really confused her because she couldn't understand why it wasn't more popular. She put everything she had into that business, too.

Why am I rambling on about all of this? Because, at least these weGrow/iGrow people have the tiniest bit more business savvy and acumen than my NEIGHBORS, and I live in a dying county and so find the idea of self-owned businesses opening up somewhat appealing. My county really is dying.

seamaiden it is a sad story about the many countys that are dying..but step back for a sec..couldn't wally world be contributing to that problem..i mean go around town and ask others who were ONCE small business owners but aren't anymore..granted business is good for a lacking economy,but that type of business(wmart) is sucking the life out of your small town..i wouldn't go and defend it in any way!! but hey as for wheel's n wood i mean..well shit,haha those ppl are fcked from the get go..i mean really??