Cheap Online Cigarettes Fast Disappearing

[jeffrey]

Inexpensive cigarettes being sold on the Internet that were plentiful a month ago are fast disappearing. The turn around is the result of an announcement two weeks ago by credit card companies that they would no longer accept payment for tobacco products bought online. The credit card ban has effectively crippled most online cigarette merchants.

Major credit card companies, including VISA, MasterCard, American Express & PayPal, entered into an agreement with the government to stop participating in Internet cigarette sales. They agreed to do so last month after being informed by a coalition of U.S. states and representatives of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms that virtually all such cigarette sales were illegal.





The bad news for smokers looking for deal doesn't stop there. The same groups that stopped credit card sales say they'll also take action against any Internet companies which are in violation of the cigarette sales state and federal laws.

Purchasing tobacco products online is against the law in several states. Last month Michigan sent over 550 tax notices out to various consumers purchased online cigarettes. The names were obtained by subpoena from 13 online tobacco shops which had to turn over the names and the order history of Michigan customers. Those with that received the tax bill had to pay an average of $2,500

For smokers who are willing to take the risk, it's still possible buy cigarettes online, but it's a lot less convenient. Payments now have to be made with personal checks, money orders or some other payment arrangement which can cause delays in the orders being sent.