Buying Legal Weed: What Makes A Great Cannabis Dispensary Experience?

Buying Legal Weed: What Makes A Great Cannabis Dispensary Experience?

Purchasing legal cannabis is an experience in and of itself. Depending on the dispensary that you go to, you could feel whisked away into a magical land of legal weed products. Conversely, if a dispensary isn’t up to snuff, it could feel uncomfortable, or cause you to make a purchasing decision you don’t want to make.

Since the onset of COVID-19, cannabis dispensaries have been seeing a huge spike in business. Being deemed an essential business, the cannabis industry has been able to push forward during these trying times. With social distancing rules in place, dispensaries have been able to keep seeing customers.

Whether you’re trying to get in-and-out quickly, or coming in to learn about new products, the dispensary experience can potentially be dissatisfying. There are a lot of factors that go into cannabis retail that influence the experience for the customer. From the atmosphere of the dispensary to the art on the walls to the staff, and of course, the products they carry—it all plays a role in your dispensary experience.

Despite the restrictions from COVID-19, you should still be getting the same quality experience when you visit a cannabis dispensary. If you’re new to cannabis, it’s important to know the right questions to ask, and how to tell when you’re not getting the most out of your visit. Here are a few key components that amount to a positive visit to your local cannabis dispensary.

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Evergreen Market in Auburn, WA

Inventory Online vs. In-Store

These days, every cannabis dispensary has an online menu. Many of them in California also offer delivery. Either way, the products on the online menu don’t always match up with what’s in the store. Sometimes, it’s worth calling the dispensary to see if they’re still carrying a given product. Their friendliness over the phone is one of the first inklings at what the experience at the dispensary will be like.

Cookies San Diego Dispensary

Product Diversity

Without even interacting with the staff, a customer’s experience is influenced by the diversity of products that the dispensary carries. If they’re only carrying the most expensive brands, that detracts from their accessibility to the average consumer. At the same time, you want to see some hyped-up brands to make the place feel official. 

The types of cannabis products they carry is also important. There are so many options for edibles, topicals, tinctures, vapes, concentrates, and more that it’s not just about having the best flower. Customers should be able to discover new products in new categories while perusing any given menu.

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STIIIZY Downtown Los Angeles

Waiting in Line

If a dispensary is busy, it’s not their fault. Waiting in line is a natural factor in purchasing cannabis from a dispensary unless it’s an odd day. In California, you wait in a lobby before you enter the main line within the dispensary’s sales floor. During these times you have to ask yourself what the dispensary is doing to keep you entertained. This is when you might notice some dope local art or some sweet commercials for a few of their top-selling products on a monitor. During this time you also typically notice the overall cleanliness of the dispensary as well. Dirty floors and dusty shelves are never good for any retail space.

When you’re waiting in line and are within eye and earshot of the current customer being helped, this also plays into your experience. When you can view the staff in action, you can see who’s moving people along quickly, who’s taking their sweet time, and who’s the most friendly. Before you even approach the counter to purchase your cannabis, you already know what kind of service you’ll be getting purely from observation while you wait in line. This is a pivotal time for the dispensary to begin catering to the customer.

Evergreen Market Renton

Budtender Friendliness/Product Knowledge

When you get up to the front of the line and begin speaking with a budtender, this is arguably the most defining part of your dispensary experience. Is your budtender friendly? Do they make you feel welcome immediately? When you ask them about products, are they sticking to sativa and indica definitions? Or are they diving into genetics, growing techniques, and information about terpenes?

It quickly becomes apparent when a budtender isn’t knowledgable about a product you’re inquiring about. This will lead to indecision in the buyer, which might lead you to feel uncomfortable buying anything from them. A budtender’s willingness to dive into the details about a product and take the time to make sure the customer is properly receiving the information is key. At the same time, you want to feel a comfortable, friendly, and conversational air between you and your budtender. All of these factors add to your total dispensary experience.

AmericannaRX in Portland

Upselling vs. Providing Options

In any form of retail, a salesperson is encouraged to try and offer the customer options that might entice them to spend more. If you acknowledge this going in, you can better recognize when a budtender is upselling versus providing you with honest options. The classic question they receive is: “what’s your favorite?”

If they’re immediately reaching for the $50-80 eighth, be wary. If they’re instead offering you a few options of their favorite products from varying price points, this is a good sign. A good budtender will provide customers with options that allow them to make a choice based on what they need, rather than how much they’re willing to spend.

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Online Presence/Community Engagement

Last but not least, online engagement is a cornerstone of our current society. Brands have the ability to exist online and interact with their customers to spur organic community engagement. These tactics also build brand awareness and cause customers to feel more respect for a dispensary. If they’re able to see regular posts about new products and in-store promos, as well as see the dispensary actively participating in enriching the community around them, it only further adds to their validity.

The more up-to-date a dispensary keeps their costumers on their constantly updating menu, the more trust they ultimately build. If they can also find honest and unique ways to engage with and entertain their online community, it’s a win/win for both parties.

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