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by Jay
on Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:03 am |
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This is actually more of a comment about someone in MA mentioning how more MA smokers are buying from border states, and particularly, the internet. I can see why the govt. is trying to make buying cigs off of the net illegal. If every single smoker in this country (what's that? 10 million smokers?) bought cigs from the net, whether they buy from yesmoke.com, esmokes.com. etc, that would hurt the retailers if all of us decided to get our cigs from the net.
As much as I have shown my support for buying cigs from the internet, I can understand where US politics is coming from. I know if I was an owner of a tobacco shop, and no customer smokers came to my shop, I'd lose money from that. Since everyone is buying their cigs off of the net, I'd have to file for bankruptcy and close down. The worst part for me is being forced to look for a job in that situation. (I wonder if tobacco shop owners have the right to sue online tobacco retailers....)
That would be no different from a club or bar owner being forced to close down his/her business after losing customers and money thanks to a "NO SMOKING IN ALL PUBLIC PLACES" law. I can see NY bar/club owners trying to get that stupid law smoked. Of course, NY doesn't care about those owners losing money or customers. All they care about is having fresh clean air everywhere. They never WILL get "fresh clean air" even if cigs were illegal. We need to get rid of vehicles if we want "fresh clean air."
Likewise, the US govt is trying to fight back against die-hard people who buy cigs off of the net only. Some sites report purchases to the smoker's state, and the smokers are forced to pay state taxes anyway. That's why I buy from esmokes.com. because they don't report my orders to my state.
Since more smokers are avoiding sites like that, the govt. is now trying to make buying cigs online illegal period. The govt. must think smokers online don't give a d##n about tobacco shops/small stores going out of business possibly. All those smokers care about is trying to save their own money. I hope 20 years from now, while everyone is buying cigs online, I will be able to go to the store or tobacco shop to buy a pack of a different brand occassionally. If I wanna try a new brand, why would I even waste 15 bucks on a carton? Especially if I don't like the brand! I DO buy packs occassionally (cartons mostly), and I'd be PO'd if a new brand came out, and the only option I'd have is buying a carton of the brand.
I hope the days of walking up to a store to get a pack occassionally won't be over, even with all of these tobacco shops online. |
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Jay
Enthusiastic Smoker
Joined: Jun 10, 2003
Posts: 497
Location: Chicago
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by BWilliams
on Wed Aug 20, 2003 10:32 am |
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Jay;
I assume you mean this article: http://www.smokinglobby.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=44
I agree with you, I would love to buy cigs at the store. But it's difficult when you have the option to purchase online so much cheaper. And I think we are beginning to send a message to lawmakers that we do have an economic voice, and if we all purchase online it represents a boycott of these new taxes. |
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BWilliams
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Joined: Jun 05, 2003
Posts: 1082
Location: New York City
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