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Smoking out ?

MrBillM - 9-29-2009 at 02:51 PM

Is there something (Else) going on that I've missed ?

Seeing that my Cigarette supply was down, I stopped at Five different stores in San Felipe today to find that NONE had any cartons of cigarettes. Only two had any "packs" at all and only a few of those. AM/PM had some Marlboros and Benson & Hedges. None of the clerks seemed inclined to explain why.

???

DENNIS - 9-29-2009 at 02:58 PM

They're concerned for your health. :lol:

Health Concerns

MrBillM - 9-29-2009 at 03:50 PM

In Mexico ? Thanks Dennis. That would be funny, but we know it's not that.

I haven't smoked a cigarette since February 1969.

I keep them in stock to hand out to the Mexican Workers whenever they're around filling the water, emptying the trash or whatever. It's one thing they ask about frequently.

A couple of years back, Cigarettes started spiking upwards in SF. A carton of Marlboros got up to over $30.00 so I started buying the "Boots". Funny thing today was that the ONLY (Few) Cigarettes available were American Brands. I can't believe that they've priced themselves out of the market. We can buy elsewhere, but where would the Mexicans go ?

Another Mexican Mystery.

The Classic Enabler

Bajahowodd - 9-29-2009 at 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MrBillM
In Mexico ? Thanks Dennis. That would be funny, but we know it's not that.

I haven't smoked a cigarette since February 1969.

I keep them in stock to hand out to the Mexican Workers whenever they're around filling the water, emptying the trash or whatever. It's one thing they ask about frequently.

A couple of years back, Cigarettes started spiking upwards in SF. A carton of Marlboros got up to over $30.00 so I started buying the "Boots". Funny thing today was that the ONLY (Few) Cigarettes available were American Brands. I can't believe that they've priced themselves out of the market. We can buy elsewhere, but where would the Mexicans go ?

Another Mexican Mystery.

monoloco - 9-29-2009 at 04:01 PM

Quote:

I guess you would consider it a "win win situation if those at the bottom of the food chain get cancer.

SDRonni - 9-29-2009 at 05:03 PM

Maybe it's a good time to quit! :yes:

Oops, didn't see above where you haven't smoked for years. Sorry 'bout that!

[Edited on 9-30-2009 by SDRonni]

vgabndo - 9-29-2009 at 05:43 PM

Hmmmm giving deadly addictive drugs to your servants as a gratuity. :no:

I usually never open your posts, I've just been reminded that there was a good reason for that. Shame on the progressive. :lol:

redhilltown - 9-29-2009 at 10:56 PM

If he was handing out fatty, double cheese hamburgers--which are at least as dangerous for your health--would you be giving him just as much grief?

Stickers - 9-29-2009 at 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by redhilltown
If he was handing out fatty, double cheese hamburgers--which are at least as dangerous for your health--would you be giving him just as much grief?

YES

larryC - 9-30-2009 at 07:59 AM

Wow, I don't think you could swing a dead cat around your head without getting critisized on this board :lol:

Somehow I doubt that his giving cigaretes to someone that already smokes is going to impact their health all that much. They'll just get them somewhere else.
Larry

Smoke plants

wessongroup - 9-30-2009 at 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by larryC
Wow, I don't think you could swing a dead cat around your head without getting critisized on this board :lol:

Somehow I doubt that his giving cigaretes to someone that already smokes is going to impact their health all that much. They'll just get them somewhere else.
Larry

You can give this a try... I was this year..

I don't smoke, but know a few that do...

You can get "free" seeds from the Federal Government, and the grow your own

They are in flower now, and that is when you pick the leaves off and hand to dry..

Have gotten around 100 leaves off so far and they are still producing..

Have no idea what it will be like, but for free, thought I would give it a try..

Will say, they are a hard plant to get up, and every bug seems to really like the "leaves"

BMG - 9-30-2009 at 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by wessongroup

Will say, they are a hard plant to get up, and every bug seems to really like the "leaves"

Hmmmm...the plants I grow to smoke come up like weeds.

weeds

wessongroup - 9-30-2009 at 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BMG

Quote:

Originally posted by wessongroup

Will say, they are a hard plant to get up, and every bug seems to really like the "leaves"

Hmmmm...the plants I grow to smoke come up like weeds.

Hmmmmmmm ...

What we have here is a Failure to Communicate

MrBillM - 9-30-2009 at 09:26 AM

ALL I wanted to know was if someone else had run into this "problem" and had any idea why. I have NEVER seen a shortage of Cigarettes in Baja in 50 years.

AND, I am PROUDLY Enabling.

There are those who may have confused me with someone who gives a Crap. Surprising given my history of showing otherwise.

I have many times truthfully related my concerns over the actions of others as follows: IF I were to see someone about to jump off a Bridge and IF I were feeling REALLY involved at that moment, I MIGHT ask them if they REALLY wanted to do it. If they said Yes, I'd say go for it. And, Hope I was carrying my camera.

I give them Beers all the time, too. Hamburgers (and Salted Chips) for Lunch whenever they've been doing work for me. I bring down Bags of Chocolate and other Candies year-round to hand out to the Kids along with Sodas with SUGAR.

I could care less whether anyone who makes the decision to smoke suffers from doing so. They're adults and it doesn't affect me. When it comes to Cigarettes, they seem to enjoy what they're doing so why worry about it ? It could be akin to those in combat who aren't worried about Twenty years down the road when they might not make it through tomorrow. Being at the bottom of the Mexican Food Chain probably makes them worry less about the distant future.

Jeez. Ask a Simple Question and get nowhere.

I told my wife that it would be the ultimate Irony IF I start bringing Cigarettes FROM the U.S. to Baja to give out to Mexicans.

BUT, I will if need be.

Woooosh - 9-30-2009 at 09:47 AM

Gowing up in CT, we had lots of tobacco growing around. Some tobacco varieties are for the filling and other leaves are grown specifically to be the outer wrapper of cigars. Not sure which ones are in the pic...

capt. mike - 9-30-2009 at 10:49 AM

when they're ready roll some up like cubanos puros and let us know how they taste.
the thing is the comm'l guys dry/cure/age them in barns for 18 months.

on another note.....we used to give the airport federales old playboys when landing at Serenidad and other spots. they really liked them and treated our arrivals with utmost courtesy - really expedited the inspection processes to non events.

Woooosh - 9-30-2009 at 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by capt. mike
when they're ready roll some up like cubanos puros and let us know how they taste.
the thing is the comm'l guys dry/cure/age them in barns for 18 months.

on another note.....we used to give the airport federales old playboys when landing at Serenidad and other spots. they really liked them and treated our arrivals with utmost courtesy - really expedited the inspection processes to non events.

What is it with Mexican men and old porno magazines? Our house has been finished five years and we still find magazines hidden above cabinets from the workers. Even our vet has a few old playboys on his desk.

Bajahowodd - 9-30-2009 at 11:09 AM

That's what you tell your wife when she finds them?

DENNIS - 9-30-2009 at 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh
What is it with Mexican men and old porno magazines? Our house has been finished five years and we still find magazines hidden above cabinets from the workers. Even our vet has a few old playboys on his desk.

There are a few things the wife wont allow them to do to themselves at home. :lol:

vgabndo - 9-30-2009 at 12:14 PM

I guess I fell victim to my prejudice against both smokers and Mr. Bill. First, I invite you to look at the people who are still smoking. In my experience they are in the lower socio-economic group. That same group is the one least likely to have good health insurance. Smokers are dying at a rate far above a quarter million a year, but they don't just quietly accept their suicide, they head straight into the health care system and demand to be kept alive at all costs. The cost of keeping them alive has to be paid my SOMEONE, and that someone is me and other non-addicted citizens who have that burden added to their insurance bills. I would MUCH rather pay to support drug treatment for these people. Anyone promoting the addiction of anyone to any drug earns my legitimate enmity.

Second, as a veteran and a patriot I have a real problem with expatriots who advocate the failure of my government and, however thinly veiled, the assination of our president.
(Yes Bill I still visit the off-topic forum although I haven't posted there for about two years.)

I take full responsibility for my post, and I will continue to hold accountable those whom I judge to be out of integrity.

If one is not part of the solution, they remain part of the problem, and in my judgment all Americans must aspire to higher standards of conduct and rationality if we are to have a shred of a chance of leaving America a better place than we were born into. That's my two cents; Bill, you can keep the change.

Perry Sims

Bajahowodd - 9-30-2009 at 01:40 PM

vgabndo- It's the thinly veiled part that apparently keeps him from being banned. Often the veil barely covers racism.

No Veils Here.

MrBillM - 9-30-2009 at 05:35 PM

I said the same things about Willie Wanker, but nobody could call that racism.

ALTHOUGH, there were those who said HE was our First Black President.

I wan't one of them, though. That all came from the Lefties.

I DO want Y'all to know that I'll give your thoughts the consideration those thoughts are due.

Two Cents is WAY Over-Priced.

BTW, Hadji Hussein is a Smoker. Still.

Donjulio - 10-1-2009 at 09:58 AM

MrBillM

I think the answer to your question has to do with the economy. Business has been so down that a lot of the store owners are only able to buy bare minimums. They can't afford to stock cartons right now. Unfortunately that is the way it is.

Smoke out...Please!

toneart - 10-1-2009 at 10:26 AM

:yawn:

DENNIS - 10-1-2009 at 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Donjulio
I think the answer to your question has to do with the economy.

Donjulio.... :lol:

....The first thing Bill does when he buys a computer is rip out the ? key with a pair of pliers. He doesn't ask questions.
Please accept my invitation to the OFF TOPIC side of hell and you can observe this phenomona for yourself.
Bon Voyage.

Preguntas

MrBillM - 10-1-2009 at 12:47 PM

Despite what Dennis says, the intent was to ask a serious question. When it veered off, I veered merrily along as I ALWAYS will.

I think Donjulio may be correct because I've noticed how much inventory is down in many categories in the shops that deal a lot with the "Immigrant" (U.S.) crowd. Since the San Felipe prices on Cigarettes were (are) opportunistic, the Gringos may me stocking up in the major cities at outlets with competitive pricing. It may also explain why those shops are carrying Only U.S. name-brands now. The Marlboros at AM/PM worked out to a little less than 30 pesos each. Still Better than U.S. prices, but not by a lot.

It may be that the mercados who cater primarily to the Mexicans have, or haven't, had significant decreases. I wouldn't know and I probably won't find out since I usually confine my shopping to known outlets.

DENNIS - 10-1-2009 at 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MrBillM
It may also explain why those shops are carrying Only U.S. name-brands now.

Those are made in Mexico, Arn't they Bill? I don't smoke or know.

k-rico - 10-1-2009 at 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MrBillM
The Marlboros at AM/PM worked out to a little less than 30 pesos each. Still Better than U.S. prices, but not by a lot.

That's $2.40 a pack +/-

Here are prices in the states as of May 2009. Notice Staten Island. NYC has really jacked up the prices and gives away nicotine patches for nothing. Smoking has dropped to 15%, whereas the national average is around 23%. Bloomberg is no dummy. Make the smokers pay for nicotine patches for those who want to quit.

Miami- $4.75
Los Angeles, California - $6.75
New Orleans - $4.70
New Jersey- $7.00
Connecticut - $6.20
Casper Wyoming - $5.20
Central Tennessee - $5.55
Indianapolis, Indiana - $5.50
Eastern North Carolina - $4.50
Staten Island - $9.15
N. Virginia - $5.25
Oklahoma City - $4.75
Las Vegas, Nevada - $5.15

It's no wonder Mexican stores frequented by gringos are running low on smokes.

http://cigarettepricewatch.blogspot.com/2009/05/cigarette-pr...

[Edited on 10-1-2009 by k-rico]

Hecho en Mexico ?

MrBillM - 10-1-2009 at 01:37 PM

Something I've Long wondered about. Not enough to research it, though, since it doesn't affect anything.

Yes, ALL of those Cigarettes bear the "Hecho en Mexico" and ALWAYS have as far as I know. 40 years +, anyway.

I wonder how TRUE that is for many products. Whether they're actually produced or simply labelled as such.

I wonder, too, about the pricing shown above. I don't remember them being that High at Walmart a couple of weeks back and I usually look at the Cigarette prices whenever I'm there.

[Edited on 10-1-2009 by MrBillM]

k-rico - 10-1-2009 at 01:42 PM

Probably use Cuban tobacco, at least the Marlboro REDS. :yes:

DENNIS - 10-1-2009 at 01:42 PM

My neighbor buys his smokes at Duty Free. Says they're around $2.50 a pack for US made name brands.

k-rico - 10-1-2009 at 01:47 PM

I think prices vary not only from state to state but from city to city too. I've heard that retail (7-11, etc.) for major brands will be close to $7.00 in San Diego soon.

[Edited on 10-1-2009 by k-rico]

Bajahowodd - 10-1-2009 at 02:02 PM

It's cynical to assert that hecho en Mexico is nothing more than a label. Just for informational purposes, PMI, Phillip Morris International, headquartered in Switzerland, operates 60 cigarette manufacturing plants around the world. Their biggest brand, of course is Marlboro.

DENNIS - 10-1-2009 at 02:12 PM

Well, answering my own question, they are different. I don't smoke now but, I did ten years ago, Marlboro Lites. The Mexican version is stronger. Noticeably so. That opinion is shared by every person I've discussed the subject with. Maybe they're purposly made that way for the Mexican smoker. I know the Coca Cola in Mexico is made differently than in the states, sweeter. Different sugar, I believe.

DENNIS - 10-1-2009 at 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by morgaine7
Why wouldn't San Diego smokers simply buy them in Mexico, or arrange with commuters to do so for them?

Kate

If that was the only reason for your trip, to buy smokes, it wouldn't be worth it. You can't bring back but two cartons...I think it's two.

Bajahowodd - 10-1-2009 at 04:08 PM

UNLESS

DENNIS - 10-1-2009 at 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
UNLESS

Yep....Unless you quit smoking. Then you won't have to worry about it any more.
JUST SAY NO.. :biggrin:

Bajahowodd - 10-1-2009 at 04:15 PM

Sory, Dennis. My "unless" was about smuggling. Not that anyone ever does that.

DENNIS - 10-1-2009 at 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Sory, Dennis. My "unless" was about smuggling. Not that anyone ever does that.

NONONO.....gasp...sputter..... Do what? OHMYGAWD. What has happened to this world?

k-rico - 10-1-2009 at 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by morgaine7

Quote:

Originally posted by k-rico
I've heard that retail (7-11, etc.) for major brands will be close to $7.00 in San Diego soon.

Why wouldn't San Diego smokers simply buy them in Mexico, or arrange with commuters to do so for them?

Kate

duh!

Sorry don't mean to be a wiseacre.

Sounds like a business opportunity doesn't it?

I imagine Mexican prices, at least for American brands, will jump soon.

k-rico - 10-1-2009 at 06:49 PM

I've been spending about $500 a week on cigarettes in TJ lately. Better than buying gold.

Just kidding, not a bad idea tho.

[Edited on 10-2-2009 by k-rico]

durrelllrobert - 10-2-2009 at 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
My neighbor buys his smokes at Duty Free. Says they're around $2.50 a pack for US made name brands.

for the last year I have been buying the Sheriff brand (made in North Carolina) @ 3 cartons for $20 @ UETA duty free. Thats 67 cents a pack :tumble:

shari - 10-2-2009 at 09:45 AM

just bought a pack of Marlboro reds for a worker...he paid so dont execute me....30 pesos.

vandenberg - 10-2-2009 at 10:07 AM

Drinking and smoking habits have always been a mystery to me. Raising prices doesn't seem to affect the popularity any.
For exemple: booze prices in Canada are outrageous, but those Kanucks put it away like there's no tomorrow.
Same in most European countries.

shari - 10-2-2009 at 10:25 AM

yup...canucks have their priorities straight :biggrin:

BajaWarrior - 10-3-2009 at 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by shari
yup...canucks have their priorities straight :biggrin:

When visiting my cousin and family in Vancouver he always insist on picking me up in Bellingham, Wa. just so we can each bring booze across...He'll even bring a extra people to fill the car!

Bringing Home the Smokes

MrBillM - 10-3-2009 at 10:05 AM

Back when friends in the U.S. were always asking me to bring back cigarettes, I Asked the question at the border regarding how many cartons I could bring across.

The answer was TWO per adult Duty-Free. However, I was told that I could bring across TEN per person by paying duty on the additional cartons. The duty itself was small. I believe less than 25 cents a pack at the time, BUT that would mean going into Secondary, filling out a customs declaration, yada, yada, yada.

Not something I'd do for someone else. If I were feeding my own addiction, it could be worthwhile.

mtgoat666 - 10-3-2009 at 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by vandenberg
Drinking and smoking habits have always been a mystery to me. Raising prices doesn't seem to affect the popularity any.
For exemple: booze prices in Canada are outrageous, but those Kanucks put it away like there's no tomorrow.
Same in most European countries.

spend it now, as you can't take it with you. is pointless to save money until the day you die if it means giving up pleasures you can enjoy today.
live for the moment!
yes we can!