PACT Act

[Alternate]

or how 'they' are stopping imports of internet cigarettes that people try to get because of the taxes.

I don't like to get into politics but this was quickly and eagerly passed by Congress with little protest into law and Obama signed it into effect last year.

Yet another item customs and USPS have to be alert for:

plain old regular cigarettes and yes, you are breaking the law if you order these online from another country (which is a new thriving trade) because you are a smoker and don't have the money for a box of cigarettes here in US.

There are internet cigarette dealers.

This is ridiculous. I don't know if anyone has been prosecuted but on a legal forum some person had ordered regular cigarettes and was posting they were worried the post office would find out. The wonderful answer: they had broken a law and to be aware.

Somehow this is also interferring with the Native Tribes who profited and this is something they are against.

[zackery]

Well, the states need money, yet the people don't want tax increases, but still want services. That is another whole story. So where do they go, cigarettes and booze. Oh, and push those lottery tickets. Good luck with those. I think the odds with PowerBall are like 1 in 90 million. Might as well throw your money in the street --

My mother used to order through the tribes in New York, now she has quit smoking so the law does not impact her. If I still smoked, I would just go to a state where you can buy them really cheap and just drive them home. Or get a friend to ship them to you. There is a cigarette store near us that is selling cartons for $26 and change. That is in Florida. I think you can put them in the fridge to keep them fresh.

I think in certain states cigarettes run as high as 8-10 a pack. Yikes, then it is definitely time to quit. Actually I would love it if everyone quit, then where pray tell would these states get their money. Probably the sales tax, anything but go after the rich.

[resorts]

Cigarettes and booze are both drugs. Why is it that our benevolent government doesn't outright ban these substances? (and I smoke). Because they generate income in the form of taxes. Our beloved government can't possibly say they ban drugs for our protection otherwise we would have another prohibition on booze and tobacco would be illegal. Once a product starts to generate income it becomes unlikely that it gets banned "for our health"...

[johnnylarue35]

... If I still smoked, I would just go to a state where you can buy them really cheap and just drive them home.....

People around here get ticketed, and arrested for buying large quantites of cigarettes and bringing them back. The cops stake out the stores looking for out-of-state plates. They also do this around the 4th of July for illegal fireworks purchases!

[Kexessa]

I've been ordering them online for over 2 years from the same place. The packaging keeps changing, but for awhile, it was a an outer box only, there was no way anyone in the postal service who handled them didn't know what they were, including my mailman. The customs declaration labels are in a foreign language, so I can't read what they say.

I don't know if it's just they don't really care, they are after bigger fish, or if I just haven't gotten caught yet.

[zackery]

I will do the math. If you pay $8.00 a pack, and smoke a pack a day that would equal $2,920 bucks a year. If you pay $3.00 a pack, it would be $1095. That is a difference of $1825 a year.

So, if you live in a cold climate, you can go on vacation in Florida, South Carolina (think those are the cheapest) and put those cigarettes in your luggage!!! For $1825, you could pay for the flight and spend some time in a hotel!!! Heck, I think on Southwest you can get specials at $99 each way to Florida.

[Kexessa]

So, if you live in a cold climate, you can go on vacation in Florida, South Carolina (think those are the cheapest) and put those cigarettes in your luggage!!!

I'm not sure where you are located, but I live in Florida and a carton of Marlboro's is just short of $70. It's less than half that online, including shipping for the identical product. Actually better, because they don't have to adhere to the US guidelines with all the added chemicals to make the cigarettes go out on their own. Husband says they are like cigarettes from the 70's.

And before anyone yells at me to quit smoking, I don't, Husband does

[zackery]

I'm not sure where you are located, but I live in Florida and a carton of Marlboro's is just short of $70. It's less than half that online, including shipping for the identical product. Actually better, because they don't have to adhere to the US guidelines with all the added chemicals to make the cigarettes go out on their own. Husband says they are like cigarettes from the 70's.

And before anyone yells at me to quit smoking, I don't, Husband does

$70!!!!!!! You must be buying them at Publix. The gas station has Marlboro's near where I live for a little over $3 a pack -- see the signs -- and there is a cigarette store in the Publix shopping area offering cigarettes at $26 + change a carton. My mother only recently quit, and I told her I would ship them to her -- but now that she has quit, it is a non-issue. Still see the signs though.

[Kexessa]

@zackery, yeah I think he's bought them there a few times, but usually he goes to the Cumberland Farms because there is one close to the house. They are $68 and change there.

He didn't care, he'd keep buying them. I was getting them for him one day and I was like WTH are with these prices, there has to be a better way - I've been ordering them online ever since.