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Last post 21 years ago by joeswift. 13 replies replies.
Retailer Among US?
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tandem401 Offline
#1 Posted: Fri, May 24 2002, 3:01 PM EST
Joined: 03-01-2002
Posts: 112
Has anyone noticed other buyers of many large lots? I was looking at BOXES opening today, May 24, 2002, where I noticed that a gentleman from Irvine has many bids in force. I stopped counting at 55 boxes. I fear that we've encountered a retailer who doesn't want a good price to reach the consumer. Or maybe, he just smokes a lot. Could this be why prices have been going up sharply?
mhollowa Offline
#2 Posted: Fri, May 24 2002, 3:40 PM EST
Joined: 10-03-2001
Posts: 517
I've noticed both increases and decreases in bid ranges for lots I follow. I don't think that can be attributed to a single bidder though. Plus the weakness in your logic is that anyone who tried to "corner" the market here is taking on the whole world, not just a street corner in Irvine. I've tried to start a discussion on the economics of the auction here a couple of times without much response. The auction is like any other market -- as long as it's open it can operate freely. Remember, the head of Southeby's is not sitting in jail for buying up the goods, he sitting there for fixing prices.
GetYourOwn Offline
#3 Posted: Fri, May 24 2002, 3:57 PM EST
Joined: 04-05-2002
Posts: 734
I look on the yahoo site just for fun.(To see how much money people are paying for "Cubans" and Opus X) I am new here but not new to CI. I have noticed a lot of CI items on sale over there. Maybe this guy is reselling over there. But,I feel good knowing that we are getting good enough deals for a bulk buyer to show interest.
delarob Offline
#4 Posted: Fri, May 24 2002, 4:02 PM EST
Joined: 06-28-2001
Posts: 5,318
Hey pal... Get off my back....... Huh? oh uhhhhh Heh. I mean.. no
Slimboli Offline
#5 Posted: Fri, May 24 2002, 4:57 PM EST
Joined: 07-09-2000
Posts: 16,139
Retailers have been bidding here for years, I can almost name all of them ...

They are not doing it to ruin it for us 'non-retailers', just trying to stock their shelves as cheaply as possible.

And since most are still doing it ... I'd say it's working ...
tandem401 Offline
#6 Posted: Fri, May 24 2002, 6:20 PM EST
Joined: 03-01-2002
Posts: 112
Mhollowa, so you've been trying to blow smoke rings through the smoke! Your comments on the economics of the auction would be well received. I did know a tobacco retailer in West Lafayette who told me that he would go to Walgreens to buy out their stock of sale items, in part to save a little money over wholesale, but also so the public wouldn't get the wrong idea of what the real price should be.
tandem401 Offline
#7 Posted: Fri, May 24 2002, 6:22 PM EST
Joined: 03-01-2002
Posts: 112
And thanks Slimboli, for your incite. I can stop fuming and start smoking.
jlckmj Offline
#8 Posted: Fri, May 24 2002, 6:50 PM EST
Joined: 02-11-2002
Posts: 3
You guys might be missing something,
If a retailer buys his goods here for close to wholesale, or even 10-15% above wholesale, he can keep two sets of books in the store. One set for the smokes that he buys wholesale and pays a VERY LARGE tobacco tax on, and at the end of the year they would have to pay taxes again on the profits.
The other set of books could be for the items that he buys here, they would not have to show them on the books for tobacco taxing, and the profits they make on them would be clear, no sales tax, and no profit on them shown at the end of the year.
Don't forget the average smoke shop is mainly a cash business
Jim
cwilhelmi Offline
#9 Posted: Fri, May 24 2002, 7:40 PM EST
Joined: 07-24-2001
Posts: 2,739
It's also illegal.
cwilhelmi Offline
#10 Posted: Fri, May 24 2002, 7:40 PM EST
Joined: 07-24-2001
Posts: 2,739
Am I right?
eleltea Offline
#11 Posted: Fri, May 24 2002, 8:01 PM EST
Joined: 03-03-2002
Posts: 4,562
Dont use the i word, willahemi. cuz the other i word is ISOM.
GetYourOwn Offline
#12 Posted: Sat, May 25 2002, 6:35 AM EST
Joined: 04-05-2002
Posts: 734
Cigar taxes? I thought the reason cigars are "cheap" is because there is no added sin tax.(Many congressmen smoked them in the early days) When you bring back cigars from Mexico you do not have to pay tax on them. Alcohol and Cigarettes have a border tax but cigars do not. The officers do not even ask if you brought back cigars they only ask about cigarettes, booze,produce,animals and plants. I always wanted a chihuahua that barks spanish. Anyone know the the real story on cigar taxes? I can stick my TeAmos under the seat from now on.
tandem401 Offline
#13 Posted: Sat, May 25 2002, 8:45 AM EST
Joined: 03-01-2002
Posts: 112
GetYourOwn, the cigar tax depends on the state you live in. Some states have a "tobacco" sales tax which, I have heard, ranges from 15% to 100%. This is on top of "sin" taxes which are levied, especially, on cigarettes. If you're not aware of such a tax on cigars you must be living in a state that doesn't have one.
joeswift Offline
#14 Posted: Sat, May 25 2002, 11:09 AM EST
Joined: 11-01-2001
Posts: 37
GetYourOwn,there are no US or Mexican taxes for cigar purchases from Mexico's duty free shops that are in abundance at the airports. But, as you know, we are not allowed to bring back Cuban cigars into the USA because of the embargo. I travel to Mexico many times per year on business and I do buy some almost every time I go. Sadly, I have had some of my Cuban beauties confiscated from time to time because of the Cuban tax stamp that the cuban government requires on every box or 5 pack. But usually, the US Customs agents neglect to ask if I am bringing back cigars so I observe the "don't ask, don't tell" rule and just walk on through with them safely tucked inside my briefcase or my coat pocket. I know, I know, it's against the law but it's really the devil that makes me do it. joe
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