what tobacco-free drug stores mean for e-cigarettes

[oplholik]

"RJ Reynolds, the second-largest tobacco company in the US, offered a gracious statement in response to CVS’s decision. "We value the long-term relationship we had with CVS and respect their commercial decision," a representative says in an email. "We will work with them as they transition out of the tobacco category in the coming months."
But the company’s relationship with CVS likely isn’t entirely over. Like most tobacco companies, RJ Reynolds also makes e-cigarettes — which could potentially replace traditional cigarettes on CVS shelves. The pharmacy doesn’t sell e-cigarettes yet but says it is "monitoring" them — a common line from retailers as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) dawdles on releasing regulations for how the products are marketed and sold."

Smoke break: what tobacco-free drug stores mean for e-cigarettes | The Verge

 

[VapieDan]

"RJ Reynolds, the second-largest tobacco company in the US, offered a gracious statement in response to CVS’s decision. "We value the long-term relationship we had with CVS and respect their commercial decision," a representative says in an email. "We will work with them as they transition out of the tobacco category in the coming months."
But the company’s relationship with CVS likely isn’t entirely over. Like most tobacco companies, RJ Reynolds also makes e-cigarettes — which could potentially replace traditional cigarettes on CVS shelves. The pharmacy doesn’t sell e-cigarettes yet but says it is "monitoring" them — a common line from retailers as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) dawdles on releasing regulations for how the products are marketed and sold."

Smoke break: what tobacco-free drug stores mean for e-cigarettes | The Verge

I think CVS is waiting for the FDA to jump. If it is not classified as a tobacco product they may carry them. If the FDA lumps them in with tobacco CVS will not get involved. The second issue is how E-Cigs affects their NRT sales. I believe this is the real reason CVS is going this way. Their mini clinic doctors can prescribe Chantrix or suggest another NRT and their cash registers go "CA-CHING" at a higher profit rate than tobacco cigarettes. NRTs are interesting. Their success rate is not that great so people keep buying them. If they are successful you just lost a customer. If they figure out success with E-cigs mean a continuing customer, successful or not, they may reconsider. By the way I consider E-cigs a success if they REDUCE the use of tobacco cigarettes if not eliminate it. Heck if one cuts down from 30 cigs a day to a hand full the health improvement is still there. Besides the next step in cutting down is quitting. It took me 3 months that I was NOT going through hell to finally quit thanks to e-cigs!

 

[spyralspyder]

I don't think it means much. They make too much on NRT's.

 

[Rickajho]

Short term I don't think it means anything. In context of this move I'm sure CVS has sweetheart deals with BP, giving CVS big breaks on the wholesale cost of NRT in any form. And now CVS is setting up a platform to push those NRT's as hard as they can. If they don't sell e-cigs now, they probably have contractual/financial incentives to not sell them once the cigarettes are gone.