New Yorkers Enjoying NJ, Vermont Cigarette Prices

Looks like the terrorists might be winning: New Yorkers are starting to go elsewhere to get their smokes. Some have found that they can save nearly $4 a pack by heading to New Jersey, and those upstate have been crossing the border to Vermont. Rachell Monty of Plattsburgh told the Burlington Free Press, "It’s absolutely insane. I’m going to keep buying my cigarettes on this side of the lake." Though Vermont's taxes are lower than Jersey's, it isn't worth the cost of gas to most city residents to schlep to the nearest Vermont border town. Though gas is also cheaper in both Jersey and Vermont.

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By Jaya Saxena in News on July 14, 2010 1:59 PM

Comments [rss]

LICer

Wow, where are all the smug, obnoxious comments of the anti-smokers now? Long live the Black Market and human ingenuity.

Petey

Imagine that? Taxes increase, and people take their spending elsewhere. Who would have guessed that?

latb

Duh...

Guest

ooh, haven't been to vermont in ages. fuckin' awesome!

aprilnyc

First: quit already!

FYI: the lest expensive American cigs are sold on cruise ships. $25 a carton for Marlboros, $30 for Newports. Two cartons per person when you go through customs.

Just saying.

Guest

i quit for about 3-4 months a year.

just because.

Nyctini11

STOP giving away all pour secrets or the feds will ruin it for us all! That said, i'll happily take orders for anyone... Delaware is $55 a carton!

NannyState

Virginia's even cheaper: road trip!!

HBHB

I'm all for taxing the hell out of cigarettes until marijuana is legalized. TAX! TAX! TAX! Also these fiends who actually travel across borders, unless you live on the border, are most likely still paying the NY amount when calculating gas and tolls.

areyoutuffenuff

They can tax all they want now. The black market is moving ahead full steam and very few will be going back to even paying $10 should they repeal their latest ludicrous tax. Also, you can take the PATH for a couple bucks and save $30+ a carton. Seems to make "dollars and sense" to me (god, I'm witty). Even if you don't live near a border I can tell you from second hand info that the black market is booming even mid-state.

As a pack-a-day smoker so far NYS has lost $160 in tax revenue from me in July. (4 cartons purchased away from NYS or on the black market and assuming the pre-July 1st tax rate of $3/state and $1/city.)

I'm loving this. I hope a case study is made of Albany's blundering application of sin taxes.

HBHB

Yeah but you at least seem to know where to go. I guarantee you the average Joe who's crossing into other states are stopping at the first gas station they see.

hotstepper

here here! for once there is actually a reason to visit NJ.

openheads

Obnoxious NY'ers smoking their lungs out & NJ is able to generate a profit to boot? I'm all for it.

hotstepper

well i'm sure we're all glad to have your blessing, grandma.

areyoutuffenuff

Just took delivery of 3 cartons from NC today at $70 each. I save money and my "smuggler" makes almost $30 a carton. Everyone wins.

Eat sh*t NYS!