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by linkup
on Sun Jun 03, 2007 11:26 pm |
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| Shapharian,tell me how I can verify the Marlboro prices you quoted at Costco!List the Address of the Costco Store and the method used by you of purchasing cigarettes.Post your Costco and FedEx Bill less your Name. And how long does the Costco Promo last for two cartons of Marlboro for $30 ? Expiration date please! Give us the exact dates that you were in SC Golfing at Myrtle Beach.Where did you stay? Under what name were you registered? When did you find the Costco Promo? Why didn't you order when you were there? Why did you have to fax in an order? What is the fax number and phone number of the store? What is the exact website url of the store you used? LOL!! |
Last edited by linkup on Mon Jun 04, 2007 12:05 am; edited 1 time in total |
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linkup
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by linkup
on Sun Jun 03, 2007 11:53 pm |
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Lynda F wrote: You know, if you all just made your own this discussion wouldn't even be necessary.
My cigarettes cost me $1.50 a pack (tobacco and tubes). Can't beat that. :lol:
I pay less than that and don't make my own.I don't have the time or the desire to screw with a machine for hours a day.I will not pay a tax bill if I get one,I'll just move out of State or Maybe I'll just rent property on the Indian Res.
This discussion is more than welcome in my book! |
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linkup
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by Lynda F
on Mon Jun 04, 2007 7:16 am |
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linkup wrote: Lynda F wrote: You know, if you all just made your own this discussion wouldn't even be necessary.
My cigarettes cost me $1.50 a pack (tobacco and tubes). Can't beat that. 
I pay less than that and don't make my own.I don't have the time or the desire to screw with a machine for hours a day.I will not pay a tax bill if I get one,I'll just move out of State or Maybe I'll just rent property on the Indian Res.
This discussion is more than welcome in my book!
If I had a car I might not be making my own. But I don't, so I do. I also don't spend hours a day doing it. I spend 3 hours on the weekend, while watching tv and make a weeks worth at one time. For me, it's worth it. |
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Lynda F
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by BWilliams
on Mon Jun 04, 2007 8:02 am |
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| I checked the Costco website - it says you have to inquire at the warehouse about their privacy policy regarding tobacco purchases. If they won't post it publicly on their website, it can't be good news ... |
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BWilliams
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by Shapharian
on Mon Jun 04, 2007 9:48 am |
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BWilliams wrote: I checked the Costco website - it says you have to inquire at the warehouse about their privacy policy regarding tobacco purchases. If they won't post it publicly on their website, it can't be good news ...
Costco does not sell cigarettes online. They do not ship cigarettes.
They do offer a service for members to fax / call in orders to be pulled for pickup. Anyone can call and get pricing over the phone and request a promo price sheet be faxed.
I used the fax and pull form so they have a signature authorizing the charge to my Amex and the sale is complete and ready for pickup. THIS IS A CUSTOMER PICKUP ORDER and not a delivery sale. I am already age verified by my membership card and the sale takes place in South Carolina.
Costco Promo Price List: Costco fax 6-4 pdf
Costco #338
1021 Oak Forest Lane
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
843-839-6604
843-839-6629 Fax
Managers in charge of fax and pull orders is Rick. They do this all the time for other cigarette resellers who buyout their promo stock and sell the cigs in their stores. They also provide this service as a convenience for their individual members.
As of June 4, 2007 their Current Promo Stock and Pricing are below:
Buy 1 get 1 free Promotional Cartons
ITEM # BRAND PRICE STOCK
979555 Parl Lt Box $14.04 12
889637 Parl Lt Kin Box $13.90 2
979549 Marl Men Box $14.04 4
Buy 2 get 1 free promotional cartons
ITEM # BRAND PRICE STOCK
110265 Marl Med 100 Box $19.46 27
110337 Marl Men Lt 100 $19.46 30
892014 Parl Lt King Box $19.46 13
911918 Marl Med King Box $19.27 21
979513 Marl Men Lt Box $19.46 187
Sales Tax is 5% so an order for 4 cartons of Marl Men Box is:
Cigs: $56.16
Tax: $ 2.81
============
Total $58.97
I'm not trying to Butt Heads here... I am a consumer and have the right to be froogle and shop for the best value for my hard earned money.
I am not evading taxes and I have absolutely no problems with paying South Carolina sales and cigarette taxes which appear to be the fairest in this nation with 5% sales tax and 7 cents a pack cigarette excise tax.
Bill, I enjoy the debates and dialog in this forum. |
Last edited by Shapharian on Tue Jun 05, 2007 8:36 am; edited 2 times in total |
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Shapharian
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by gilster
on Mon Jun 04, 2007 9:56 am |
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Shapharian - I would really edit the last post here ALOT
Too much information 
This is NOT a closed board - Lots of eyes..... 
You can Private Message people on this site |
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gilster
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by BWilliams
on Mon Jun 04, 2007 10:34 am |
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Shapharian wrote: I'm not trying to Butt Heads here... I am a consumer and have the right to be froogle and shop for the best value for my hard earned money.
I am not evading taxes and I have absolutely no problems with paying South Carolina sales and cigarette taxes which appear to be the fairest in this nation with 5% sales tax and 7 cents a pack cigarette excise tax.
But you ARE evading taxes (which would be awesome if your plan would work). You are not paying Federal & State taxes on the cigs - if you were, they would be $50 a carton, not $15.
Regardless of the fact that you are picking these up - they have your name on the Amex charge and must report your purchase to the state so you can be levied these state taxes at a later date. |
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BWilliams
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by Shapharian
on Mon Jun 04, 2007 11:14 am |
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BWilliams wrote: Shapharian wrote: I'm not trying to Butt Heads here... I am a consumer and have the right to be froogle and shop for the best value for my hard earned money.
I am not evading taxes and I have absolutely no problems with paying South Carolina sales and cigarette taxes which appear to be the fairest in this nation with 5% sales tax and 7 cents a pack cigarette excise tax.
But you ARE evading taxes (which would be awesome if your plan would work). You are not paying Federal & State taxes on the cigs - if you were, they would be $50 a carton, not $15.
Regardless of the fact that you are picking these up - they have your name on the Amex charge and must report your purchase to the state so you can be levied these state taxes at a later date.
I have paid all of the taxes at time of this retail sale including all excise, cigarette and sales tax. This is not an online sale or a delivery sale of cigarettes made by Costco. The Merchandise is cash and carry from the Costco warehouse and my receipt and sales records under my account clearly indicate the sale taking place at Costco #338 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Costco is not doing anything illegal or improper as this is part of their standard business practices and has been going on for many years. Costco Fax-n-Pull Cigarette Order Form
I am allowed to ship my own property using Fedex, UPS, DHL, USPS or anyone. I called Fedex and verified that shipping cigarettes is permitted under personal accounts.
Fedex stated they have no restrictions or prohibitions from personal accounts shipping cigarettes. They have specific rules for business accounts stating they can only ship cigarettes to other licensed cigarette distributors and not to consumers / home addresses. Fedex states they have a list of 178 companies that have been reported that they are required to monitor shipments.
I'm not advocating Costco, this same method will work with Sam's club and virtually any Gas Station, convenience store or any seller of cigarettes. The Key is the sale has to be a retail pickup sale.
This Customer Pick-up method has a few benefits from my perspective.
#1: I can shop for the best promotions and value as a consumer.
#2: I know and trust the seller. I am comfortable placing a copy of my ID and credit card on file.
#3: I control the payment method and have recourse.
#4: My receipt indicate sales tax has been paid and the sale completed in South Carolina.
#5: I control the pickup and delivery of my merchandise and property. |
Last edited by Shapharian on Tue Jun 05, 2007 8:37 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Shapharian
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by BWilliams
on Mon Jun 04, 2007 11:23 am |
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Well, it seems too good to be true. When you receive the cigs check and make sure there is a state tax stamp on them. If so, I guess I can't argue with that. I'm not sure how, but somehow they are selling those cigs so cheap they can't possibly be paying full state tax, but if they have a tax stamp, then it is all legal.
(Realize I am talking about state tobacco tax, not sales tax) |
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BWilliams
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by Shapharian
on Mon Jun 04, 2007 11:51 am |
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BWilliams wrote: Well, it seems too good to be true. When you receive the cigs check and make sure there is a state tax stamp on them. If so, I guess I can't argue with that. I'm not sure how, but somehow they are selling those cigs so cheap they can't possibly be paying full state tax, but if they have a tax stamp, then it is all legal.
(Realize I am talking about state tobacco tax, not sales tax)
South Carolina appears to have the lowest cigarette tax in the nation at $0.07 per pack compared to NYC's $3.00 per pack.
The price is cheap because these are Philip Morris Promotion packs. Buy 1 Get 1 Free etc. So in this case there is only $0.35 cigarette tax per carton. Thats 85 to 1 difference in taxes... Taxes on one pack of NYC cigs = the taxes paid for 85 of these Promo packs in SC.
I don't even know if these Philip Morris promos are available in any states where they have mandated minimum selling prices.
The other protection is I have a receipt of sale from Costco so if there are any tax issues at the federal level they can deal directly with Costco.
That's what amazed me a few weeks back and turned me on to this forum... I've paid $15 a pack late night in NYC and I got a whole frickin carton for $15.
As far as the comment to keep this hush hush... I say let it be known and let it be loud...
Buy your smokes cheap and pickem up yourself. When your done smoking them recycle them using the NYC Butts label so the city still has a chance to collect its tax revenue from someone with deep pockets who can afford to pay the $3 a pack tax  |
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Shapharian
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