New tobacco tax increase already?

[Lorddrek]

I thought I read the new tax was to take effect April 1st but over the past 2 weeks Packs have gone up around a buck and cartons ten in Ma. and Nh. A clerk mentioned that RJ reynolds raised the prices. If this is true then will the prices go up again come the 1st?

[SABOTEUR]

With all due respect, Lorddrek...

...I don't know and I don't care.

When I walked into my local convenience store last week and was charged $6.40 for a pack of cigarettes I paid $5.40 for the day before, I knew I'd reached the ceiling of how much I was willing to pay.

It was a godsend that a question about electronic cigarettes on another forum caught my eye. Late Friday-early Saturday, I was breaking in my new e-cigarette.

I thought I read the new tax was to take effect April 1st...If this is true then will the prices go up again come the 1st?

I heard the same thing on the radio last week after being scalped at the convenience store. It angers me that the practice of cigarette smoking is shunned, but our legislators have no problems picking the smoker's pocket for every cent they can. They allow a known addictive substance to be marketed to the general public, then demonize users for their dependency.

Hypocritical _________s!

If we were smart, we'd begin NOW to form some kind of lobby to protect e-cigarettes. You better believe that once they're reached a cap on how much money they can steal from smokers, they're going to look for ways to tax and/or punish people who've settled on vaping as their smoking alternative.

[Lorddrek]

This insane price increase has and will drive a great many (Yourself included)to seek alternative smoking methods.

[SABOTEUR]

Actually you do care

You noticed that too, eh?

[TropicalBob]

Prices kicked up locally as well. I bulk-ordered a huge quantity of pipe tobacco this morning. Any squirrel not putting acorns away now will regret it when winter sets in.

[skullsoup432]

Like I stated in a few other threads, bags of loose tobacco are getting scarce also. Suppliers are not shipping any to my local stores.

[BadAxe]

The reason the prices went up early is so the cig companies can make some quick easy cash. Most raised their prices early to reflect the new tax, but since the new tax is not being collected till April 1st, the price hike right now is all going to the cig companies. They will readjust their prices when the tax kicks in April 1st, so that the prices stay about where they are right now. Just figured I would explain to anyone seeking a reason why they went up early.

[TropicalBob]

There are lots of notices on the online tobacco Web sites about being out of rolling tobacco. And no more will be sold until after April 1.

Do not forget the lawsuit Big Tobacco just lost in Florida that set the precedent for 8,000 more suits to follow. Each lost suit will hit tobacco companies for millions of dollars in damages. Add it up. They are hedging bets by increasing prices NOW.

[bri1270]

They are hedging bets by increasing prices NOW.

It's a good thing collaboration and price fixing is against the law...oh wait, never mind...

[TropicalBob]

Shoot, Big Tobacco probably employs more spies than the CIA. Philip Morris knows within seconds that someone burped in the RJR conference room. Work together? Only when brought into the same room by Congress. Instant knowledge and reaction to another company's move: Can do. Will do. Done deal.