| from around the world search, compare, and shop for | | | | utilized, etc. Buyers should use caution in their online |
| discounted cigarettes over the internet. This method of | | | | shopping when comparing prices and look for telltale |
| purchase is nothing new to smokers looking to | | | | signs of a product being sold at a price that’s |
| purchase lower priced cigarettes from the comfort of | | | | just too good to be true. |
| their home often at a greatly reduced price due to | | | | Another consideration before purchasing cigarettes |
| lower or no taxes paid by online sales. Since the | | | | online from discounters is the terms and methods of |
| advent of the internet, consumers and retailers have | | | | payment and shipping. Does the price include the |
| used this medium to advertise and sell their goods | | | | shipping? Is the shipping price too high or too low? Will |
| across the globe. The sale of discount cigarettes is | | | | the buyer receive their order in timely manner and if so, |
| nothing new as the market for such products is high | | | | will the package arrive in satisfactory condition? All |
| and the ease by which customer can choose and buy | | | | these are things that should be carefully considered |
| their favorite brands is an attractive incentive to buy | | | | before any purchase from an online cigarette discount |
| from the internet. | | | | store. Some discounters offer multi carton orders |
| As with all purchases from the internet, buyers should | | | | which are shipped in separate packages in order to |
| first evaluate their purchase before they commit to an | | | | circumvent the country of exports strict policies in |
| order. Some of the issues that should be considered | | | | regards to cigarettes. Not only does this method delay |
| are the product description and details. Are the | | | | the buyer from receiving their order, it also increases |
| cigarettes purchased from a particular website original | | | | the likelihood of lost orders or damaged orders from |
| and authentic? As popularity of certain brands of | | | | being shipping in smaller more damage prone packing. |
| cigarettes increases, so does the illicit manufacturing of | | | | Does the discounter offer payment methods |
| counterfeit cigarettes in such places as China, Eastern | | | | consistent with internet sales? The use of credit cards |
| Europe, and various other locations worldwide. The | | | | is by far the most convenient, safe, and fastest |
| product offered may appear or claim to be legitimate | | | | method of shipping. Use of electronic checks which |
| but upon closer inspection, these products may be | | | | divulge a buyer’s personal bank account should |
| counterfeit and made to low quality standards. Not only | | | | be carefully considered before purchase by this |
| are some of the products sold on discounted sites | | | | method. Another method of payment offered by |
| offering cigarettes which can be counterfeit, they can | | | | some cigarette retailers is use of Telephonic Transfer. |
| also be dangerous. Studies conducted in Europe on | | | | Not only is this method of payment cumbersome and |
| counterfeit cigarettes obtained on the local market | | | | slow, often taking 3-4 days before wire transfer is |
| which were determined to be smuggled into the | | | | complete, it is also expensive as most wire transfer |
| London market via China and Romania, have shown | | | | fees in the United States range from $10 to $40 per |
| that such products can contain dangerous levels of | | | | transaction regardless of the transfer amount. An |
| foreign substances in the tobacco of such products. | | | | order of $30 from an internet cigarette store may |
| Examples of these materials have been identified as | | | | cost an additional $40 in wire transfer fees to make |
| pieces of wood, plastic, paint chips, paper byproducts, | | | | payment thus eliminating any discount the buyer would |
| and other such items. Buyers of cigarettes from | | | | have enjoyed by ordering over the internet. |
| discounted cigarette stores should consider the place | | | | With all of this said, buying cigarettes from internet |
| of manufacture of the products they search for and | | | | cigarette discount sites is still the best option of buying |
| also consider the price of the items offered. We all | | | | cigarettes at the best prices. The taxes levied on |
| want the best price possible but a bit of caution should | | | | cigarette these days makes cigarette prices so |
| be warranted. Can the Ray Ban sunglasses sold at | | | | expensive that millions have turned to the internet for |
| the flea market for $5 per pair really be genuine? Not | | | | their cigarette needs. Why should local, state, and |
| likely. So too should buyers beware of offers on the | | | | federal governments line the coffers of their public |
| internet for cigarette prices which simply cannot be | | | | budget with the money of smokers with burdensome |
| real. Consider the fact that counterfeit factories in | | | | taxes? An online cigarette purchase over the internet |
| China produce and sell fake Marlboro cigarettes to | | | | is the easiest and best method to allow everyone to |
| unscrupulous internet sellers for about $2.50 per carton. | | | | be able to afford the cigarette they enjoy at a |
| That’s right, per carton, which means that the | | | | reasonable price. The only thing that should be done |
| profit margin of dealers of these fake products is | | | | before you being enjoying the savings is to ensure that |
| astronomical. The legitimate price of such a product is | | | | a careful and informed comparison be made of |
| many times this amount and accounts for the | | | | various websites and the methods they use to ensure |
| legitimate branding, quality control, quality tobaccos | | | | that the buyer is well informed before they purchase. |