[cooljay788]

3 years ago, a pack of cigs in Indiana was $3 for Newports. When I went there today, a Newport pack is $5 unless you have Newport coupons. I bought 6 packs over there today. And with the help of the 4 Newport pack coupons I had, I paid 26 bucks total.

The smoke shop I was in used to have lines of customers every time I went in there. But when I walked in there today, the only person in there was a sexy cashier, and she was smoking a cig behind the register. I guess in 2009, not too many bootleggers from Chicago go to Indiana.

Because this is the same smoke shop that used to be sold out of Newport cartons one day back in 2005 when cartons were only 30 bucks. Well at least they got more Newports now since a pack and a carton both cost more.

The fact I was still able to buy Newport packs in there means not too many smokers in my area are going to Indiana to stock up on cartons and packs before the April tax increase.

For all of those smokers offline who are not aware of the upcoming fed tax increase on tobacco, they're gonna be in for a rude awakening a month from now. When that Newport price tag for Indiana goes up to 6 bucks.

At least 6 bucks for a pack is still gonna be close to the online price for a Newport carton (since 10 packs would cost $60 offline). And at least that price is better than paying 10 bucks for a Newport pack in the Windy City.

Thank goodness I still get Newport coupons in the mail! I wouldn't even bother buying Newports offline if I didn't have the coupons.

[cooldude]

I don't smoke Newports but, I am stocking up. I'm going around looking for deals and buying them. I wish I could afford to buy a year supply. I got enough right now to last about four or five months at a pack and a half a day.

[cooljay788]

Sounds like you got a case of cigs (20 cartons) so far. I got 20 cartons before April 1st myself albeit not of Newports.

I still have an extra carton of Newports actually.

[barfly]

A case of cigs from the manufacturer is usually 60 cartons. Some are 50 cartons. Some companies that "break" cases open, will sell the half-cases as "cases" even though they will only have 25 or 30 cartons. This applies to all BT brands.

Most Foreign brands I know about come in boxes from Kretek, International and I don't recall the standard quantities.

[cooljay788]

That's interesting. A smoke shop lady (a smoke shop offline that I used to buy cigs from a lot) told me herself a case of cigs has 20 cartons in it. I guess a "case" depends on the brand and company as you hinted.

This smoke shop even had a limit of "No more than 10 cartons of Philip Morris brands per purchase." The same lady told me I'd be surprised on how many cartons folks used to buy in their smoke shop years ago when a carton used to be only 30 bucks each (for the big name brands).

I guess a case based on 60 cartons of one brand is enough to fill up a shelf from top to bottom in that same smoke shop. hee hee