Learn how to shop at dispensaries for the best value; Search for prices, products, and customer service. Includes examples and a free checklist.
Find the Right Dispensary for You, How-to-Guide
- What this guide covers: Pricing, Products, & Customer Service
- Who it’s for: The beginner, occasional consumer, & frequent shopper searching for the best experience.
What is Shopping for a Dispensary?
Deciding which store you feel like buying from. This depends on what your preferences and needs are. Are you looking for a quick transaction at the drive-thru? Would you prefer to speak with someone for a consolation and get answers to your questions? Shopping nearby is always convenient but driving 15 minutes or more can sometimes be worth it! Googling, “dispensary near me” is a great first step to explore the options around you. But do you drive to the nearest one, the one with the best deals, best prices, best points system, or best customer service? They are not usually all in the same dispensary and not all dispensaries are the same!
Why Shopping for a Dispensary Matters for Customers
As a customer, we each have our own expectations of what a good experience is, and we want our purchase to leave us satisfied! For most customers, building rapport with the budtenders and enjoying the environment is a key part of the cannabis shopping experience. Shopping for cannabis is pretty fast paced in terms of changes to the menu, so customers rely on their trusted & knowledgeable budtenders for guidance on what to purchase next. Customers also trust the budtenders to be knowledgeable about special deals, coupons, or promotions that may be applied. Shopping for cannabis is not a one and done deal so consider how the relationship is benefiting you as a customer. By building rapport, customers walk away with empowered
Sometimes or some customers shop for the best pricing and use tools like Weedmaps or Budwatcher for price comparisons. This can be a great strategy for instances when you know you like a product and want to buy some more at the best price! Weedmaps is cool for beginner customers while Budwatchers is more of an advanced tool for heavily frequent customers with years of experience. On occasion, customers are looking for a quick transaction and want to use a drive-thru checkout or in-store pickup.
Most dispensaries have a Loyalty Points system which the customers can accrue savings on, there’s an example below. Being a loyal customer does pay off. In addition to the Loyalty Points system, dispensaries may have a secret menu or hidden coupons that can be applied. Dispensaries also offer discounts for veterans, seniors, etc. At The Green Initiative Dispensary, we do these things to show appreciation for our customers and also to make the experience fun! We love offering savings because our customers do appreciate them and come back for more.
How to shop at dispensaries for the best value; Search for prices, products, and customer service.
Step 1 – Menu browse: Search the menu of a few dispensaries. Looking for flower, pre-rolls, or carts? Explore some products. Check out some options at a few nearby dispensaries.
Step 2 – Compare: Compare the cost of the same item across stores, if applicable. Check out the Deals page as well.
Step 3 – Reviews: Read the reviews of the dispensary in order to get a sense of what you’ll be walking into.
Step 4 – Visitation: You’ve done the work, now it’s time to stop in and be open with the budtenders about what your preferences and needs are.
Step 5 – Post-review: Consider whether the visit to the store was a positive experience. Were you able to ask questions and get knowledgeable responses? Were your needs and preferences considered? Did that help guide your purchase so that you felt like you made the right decision? Was the recommendation fair and useful or irrelevant to your needs?
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Shopping only by THC Percentages
- Shopping last minute to the nearest dispensary.
- Going back to the same dispensary and expecting different results.
- Not asking for recommendations, help, or guidance from budtenders.
- Not giving feedback to the budtenders after trying the products.
- Trusting unverified websites
- Illegal delivery service
- Not calling the dispensary to verify promotions
Shopping at The Green Initiative Dispensary
We are a locally owned and operated business. Our team is very excited about providing a laid-back & welcoming environment for new and experienced customers. Our friendly budtenders enjoy getting to know the individuals that walk through our doors and making their day better. We provide quick services to those in need of fast drive-thru or in-store pickup as well. However, we truly enjoy hearing about your experiences with our products so that we can better assist and re-evaluate our own menu. Our team is committed to providing insane deals, the best prices, & a fun experience.
By: Ruben Moreno
Published on 7/26/2026.
Shopping in Gloucester County? The Green Initiative is a short drive from Woodbury, Glassboro and West Deptford, with a drive-thru open 7 days.
