There are various ways to buy Kratom, and each one impacts quality, price, and safety. Two common ways to buy kratom are from smoke shops and online stores. While smoke shops provide immediate availability, online vendors typically provide better purity and potency.
In this article, we will compare both options in detail and help you make an informed decision.
Smoke Shop vs. Online Kratom
In terms of quality, smoke shops often provide stale and untested kratom as compared to online shops.
Smoke shops typically offer a limited selection of strains, whereas online stores typically have 50+ strain varieties and various consumption methods, including tablets, capsules, and shots. Smoke shops offer the convenience of instant purchase, whereas online stores typically take 4 to 5 business days for shipping.
Lab testing results are rarely available in smoke shops, while online vendors provide batch-specific lab testing reports by third-party labs.
Smoke Shop Kratom: Pros & Cons
Pros: Smoke shops provide immediate buying, with no waiting for shipping delays. You can also avoid an online paper trail by doing cash transactions.
Cons: Smoke shops carry limited strains. They don’t have premium extracts or rare varieties that online stores offer.
No lab testing results are provided in smoke shops. The probability of buying old stock is high as they store kratom for months, losing its potency. Smoke shops are typically more expensive than online stores.
No expiration dates or batch numbers are mentioned in smoke shops, and mostly, employees are not qualified enough to explain sourcing and strain varieties.
Online Kratom: Why It’s Usually Better
Pros: Online vendors have stringent quality control for purity and potency. They have a variety of kratom as they are dealing with a single product, rather than a smoke shop where you can find vapes, cigarettes, and much more. You can find Bali, Borneo, and Maeng Da kratom in all three varieties, green, white, and red, on online shops.
They also sell separated alkaloids like 7OH extracts. Online stores also offer discreet and fast shipping, so you can enjoy kratom without any hassle.
Cons: It takes 3 to 5 days to receive kratom.
When to Buy from a Smoke Shop?
Consider buying from a smoke shop only if you need kratom immediately. If it is a dedicated kratom store, not a gas station or smoke shop, they also provide lab reports.
To find a decent local kratom shop, check Google reviews that mention “lab-tested kratom”. You can also find reliable vendors on the list of the American Kratom Association (AKA). Must check the AKA logo for local shops. Must ask about their freshest batch and avoid it if they cannot answer.
Price Comparison: Online Wins
Online vendors cut out middlemen, providing more savings to you. They offer better pricing and discounts, especially on bulk options. Some vendors also sell at wholesale rates.
Moreover, you can get offers on special occasions like Christmas, New Year, Thanksgiving, and more.
Checklist for Trusted Vendors
- Third-party lab testing reports to ensure transparency in alkaloid content.
- Product source, where, and how it’s harvested.
- Customer feedback, along with website reviews (Trustpilot and Reddit reviews).
- Sample product to avoid old and oxidized Kratom.
- Pricing comparison.
- Refund and return policy.
Safety Considerations
Smoke Shop Risks:
In 2024, FDA tests found that approximately 32% of kratom bought from smoke shops contained salmonella, heavy metals, and other contaminants.
Smoke shops also sell mislabeled packaging. Plain old kratom is often sold as premium strain kratom.
Online Protections:
Online vendors sell lab-verified products. They publicly show lab results on their website. Some vendors also offer discreet shipping to banned areas (where possible). Online stores also verify age to comply with rules and regulations.
Learn more about kratom legality.
Final Verdict: Where to Buy
Choose online stores if you are looking for lab-tested quality, lower prices, and rare strains/extracts. If you need it the same day, you can opt for local stores; however, you must check their lab results.
If you have done proper research and are looking for kratom online, try Occurs Naturally kratom tablets that are available in 3 types (relief, energy, focus). You can get multiple counts, servings, and strengths in 3 exciting flavours: Sour apple, blue raspberry, and strawberry.
At Occurs Naturally, we source the highest botanical ingredients to ensure that our product is safe, effective, and ethically sourced. We also publicly display our lab results to show transparency and authenticity.
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