State's cigarette vendors blame tax hike for falling sales

Boston Globe ^ | September 11, 2002 | Bruce Mohl

[sarcasm]

The vendors told a special legislative committee that the cigarette tax hike may have caused some smokers to quit. But they said most of their sales are being lost to the Internet, to New Hampshire, and Connecticut, and to people switching from buying cigarettes to rolling their own.

[blondee123]

Well, DUH!!

[agitator]

The morons running MA never learn.

[Free the USA]

fyi

[SheLion]

But they said most of their sales are being lost to the Internet, to New Hampshire, and Connecticut, and to people switching from buying cigarettes to rolling their own.

Heh! Tough!  They raise cigarette taxes through the roof, and don't expect the American smokers to go elsewhere?  It's the American Way to SHOP CHEAP!  Can't fault us for THAT, even though they are trying to make "criminals" out of us. They are just pissed because their huge honey pot of taxes from the smokers didn't materialize!

Revenue Department officials say their excise tax numbers indicate cigarette sales are off, but they said it's too early to say how far off.

GREAT! I hope they (the Mass Government) goes broke!

Several cigarette retailers and wholesalers said the increase in prices has spurred more and more consumers to roll their own, a practice that results in far less tax revenue for the state.

 

  and

Smokers United

GREAT THREAD sarcasm and thanks for the FYI Free The USA!!

[RightField]

The morons running MA never learn.

I believe those MA idiots deserve a full-fledged maroon for this one!!

[bandleader]

The"LiboCrites"Just Don't Get It!They Have No Concept Of How"The MarketPlace"Works!!When The MTA(NYC)Noted That Revenues Were Declining(Reduced Rider-Ship)Guess What They Did?Do You Think That they Lowered Fares In Order To ENCOURAGE Rider-Ship??No,They Raised Fares To Make Up The Difference!!!!

[Just another Joe]

I can't say enough for stuffing your own.
I started a year and a half ago and haven't looked back since.

[Bahbah]

Bwahahaha.

[Great Dane]

I like it, hope it gets worse..... however I do have sympathy for the small shops.

[SheLion]

I can't say enough for stuffing your own. I started a year and a half ago and haven't looked back since.

The same here, Joe. It's been the best savings in money of my life! Takes me back to the days when cigarettes were under a dollar a pack! It's great!

For a little under $8 dollars, I get a beautiful carton, and that comes down to around 80 cents a pack! ~whew....Pretty neat!

[facedown]

I can't say enough for stuffing your own.

Been stuffing for a month or so now - Supermatic Slick City!

[SheLion]

however I do have sympathy for the small shops.

I do too, Great Dane. I do too..........

[Just another Joe]

Supermatic Slick City!

That's the way to go if you're sure you want to do it.
If not you can buy one of the small plastic stuffers for $10 or less. I used one for about the first year.

[facedown]

If not you can buy one of the small plastic stuffers for $10 or less.

I'm too ham-handed - I'd break the thing in an minute - metal for me!

[Just another Joe]

The Supermatic Premier. Not just another pretty face.

[Gabz]

however I do have sympathy for the small shops.

This may sound very crass, but I have to disagree with you. I used to be in total agreement with this sentiment, but no longer.

People that rely on a good portion of their sales market on one product should be well aware of what increasing prices (taxes or manufacturers) will do to their own bottom line and should be at the forefront of battling those increases.

Overall, these folks complaining now were never around for the battle against the increases, particularly the tax increases.

[Great Dane]

Overall, these folks complaining now were never around for the battle against the increases, particularly the tax increases.

Gabz, you have a point, they should have been on the frontlines fighting along with us.