We just got this in an email from another cigar company. I tried searching online and I wasn't coming up with much but I did hear about this last week as well. A few years ago we used PayPal as out payment system online. They shut us down--with no notice--because they said tobacco products were against their acceptable use policy. Now this. I almost feel like shutting the company down. Between the taxes we are getting hit with, the increase in cost for tobacco and the flavorings and now not being able to accept some credit cards. We are doomed.

MasterCard Anti-Tobacco Policy Change

Mastercard recently added cigars to their anti-tobacco policy. This change in policy now forbids anyone from selling any tobacco products on the Internet to customers who use a Mastercard. The fine for retailers is $25,000. We still accept orders via payment with AMEX, Visa, and Discover. These cards haven't included cigars in their anti-tobacco policy yet, and hopefully won't.

Wow...

That sucks.

Charlie, Tuck, et al, this may effect that email I sent to you guys. 🙂 I a couple credit cards...all Mastercard. 😞

THAT SUCKS!!!!!

I'm glad I don't have a MasterCard.

LH, that sounds a little over the top--I you sure it is not fraudulent?

I don't believe it, Lauren. I would contact the credit card service provider & MasterCard directly if I were you.

I'm with Big Chief, something sounds fishy here...

#3

should read "I have a couple of credit cards...all of them MC"

i ready something about this back in the spring that MC was going to do this.

how crazy is it that I can us a MC to order and pay for a 50 cal. assault rifle and all the necessary items to make a bomb, porn, alcohol, and just about any other dangerous item or vice, but no cigars.

what a crock of ....

ready = read

There are rumors about this on the net at least dating back a year. Hopefully it's false.

I thought I heard something about all of this as well. I wouldn't doubt it, but what about people (of legal age) that walk into a store and buy cigarettes and/or beer (which they will include that as well eventually if they're going to ban tobacco)?

I think this rumor goes back to about 2005

just topped a thread started by Zito back in January 2009.

Visa check card time.

This was copied from a notice we got from another cigar company. I am still trying to find out more information about it.

Um, Mastercard is a company and not a Govt agency,. Therefore they have no legal right to fine anyone..

they have a contractual agreement with their vendors

What about using MC to purchase merchandise (clothes, humidors, cigar accessories, etc)? How would MC know whether I bought 2 boxes of cigars or a humidor? I guess they figure they wouldn't know so they are going to just throw the baby out with the bathwater, so to speak (if this is in fact happening).