What Budtenders Wish Every New Customer Would Ask

The single best thing you can do at a dispensary counter is talk to us. The more you tell your budtender about what you want, what you’ve tried, and what you’re hoping to spend, the better we can point you to something you’ll actually be happy with. A good visit isn’t a guessing game - it’s a conversation.

If you’re new, that can feel backward. A lot of people walk in expecting to be sold to, so they keep their cards close. But on our side of the counter, the customers who get the most out of a visit are almost always the ones who tell us the most. We’re not trying to move inventory - we’re trying to match you to the right product so you come back.

To make that easier, I asked Michael B., one of our budtenders, what he wishes more new customers would bring up. Here are the six things at the top of his list.

Tell us exactly what you’re looking for

The more specific you are, the better the deal we can find you. We carry a rotating set of promotions every single day, across a lot of brands and categories. When you tell us you want, say, a particular type of vape cartridge or a specific flower category, we can scan what’s discounted right now and hand you the best current price on that exact thing. “Just show me whatever” works, but “I want a half-ounce of flower in this range” gets you a sharper answer and usually a better deal. Specifics let us do our job.

Tell us your budget up front

This is the one people are shyest about, and it’s the one that helps us most. If you tell us what you have to spend, we can build a cart that fits it - and fits everything you came in for. That might mean steering you toward a value brand, splitting your spend across two categories, or timing a purchase around a promotion. Telling us your budget isn’t a limitation; it’s a head start. We’d rather build you the best possible cart for $40 than have you grab one premium item and leave wishing you’d planned it out.

This is also the place to know that we’re not here to upsell you. At Bloom, the job is to explain, not to push. Your budget is a tool we use to get you more of what you want, not a number we try to talk you past.

Ask about ratio products if high-THC hasn’t felt right

If you’ve tried high-THC products and didn’t love how they felt, ask us about ratio products. These are products that pair THC with CBD in a set ratio - like 1:1 - instead of leaning all the way into THC. Some people find a more balanced ratio more comfortable, and it’s a common thing to reach for if a strong product hasn’t been your favorite. It’s worth a conversation either way.

We won’t pretend there’s one right answer here, because cannabis affects everyone differently. But if your past experiences have been hit or miss, telling us that opens up a whole category you might not have known to look at. If you want the bigger-picture breakdown first, our guide to THC vs. CBD is a good place to start.

Ask whether we offer one-on-one consultations

Sometimes a busy counter isn’t the right place to talk through everything. So ask us whether we offer private, one-on-one sessions - because we do. We offer virtual consultations where you can sit down (from home, on your own time) and talk through what products make sense for you, no line behind you. If you’re new and there’s a lot you want to ask, or you’d just rather not work it out at the register, this is one of the most underused things we offer.

Ask about rewards and the app before you check out

Ask us about rewards and how to get the app before you pay, not after. Our rewards program earns you points for every dollar you spend, and the app lets you order online and track your orders and products in one place. People find out about this all the time right after checking out and wish they’d set it up first. It takes a minute, it’s free, and it starts paying off on the very purchase you’re making. Bring it up early and we’ll walk you through it.

Tell us which scents you love - and which you don’t

This one surprises people, but it’s one of Michael’s favorites: tell us what you like to smell, and what you can’t stand. Cannabis flower, concentrates, and vapes carry different terpenes - the natural compounds behind aroma - so the same product that smells like citrus to one person smells like pine or diesel to the next. If we know you love bright, lemony scents and hate anything earthy, we can steer you toward options that match. Aroma is a real part of the experience, and matching it makes the whole thing more enjoyable. If you want to go deeper on the why, here’s our rundown on cannabis terpenes.

How to make your next visit easier

You don’t need to memorize this list. The thread running through all six is simple: the more you tell us, the more we can help. Walk in with a rough budget, a sense of what you’re after, and a willingness to mention what’s worked and what hasn’t - and you’ll leave with something that actually fits.

And if you’re getting ready for a first visit and want to know what the whole thing looks like start to finish, our comprehensive guide to your first dispensary visit (written for Ohio, but useful anywhere) walks you through it step by step. Either way - come say hi. We like the questions.