With New Zealand's NAZI inspired Health Dictatorship, and its loony anti smoking agenda, we are seeing in New Zealand the loss of the once familiar Tobacconist shop from our streetscapes. The Tobacconist I knew of was the friendly fellow that was the man to see about all things tobacco related. Buying tobacco over the counter now is both a soulless and a harrowing experience now that we have lost the classic tobacconist and are forced to use the services of convenience stores. Whereas in the old days one could go into the tobacconist and have a friendly chat about tobacco and pipes, nowdays the shop assistant or proprietor is not allowed by law to talk his stock in trade which is absolutely over the top ridiculous. And now they have successfully achieved this in Tobacco stores, its only a matter of time before the same thing applies to books and god knows what else. What we are seeing in New Zealand is an assault on personal liberty's.
Given that the tobacconist is a dying breed in New Zealand, some of us here are facing up to the fact that if we want to get some of our favourite brew at slightly reduced prices and less hassle then buying over the counter, the thing to do is buy it online from the USA, a nation where Real Tobacconists still exist. I would recommend this method to anyone who like myself is fed up with short supply, high cost and red tape associated with trying to buy tobacco over the counter here in New Zealand. One of the benefits of online purchase is the wider range of tobaccos one can choose from when compared to the limited brands that are brought into New Zealand by the wholesalers that supply our small insignificant market. With Online purchases of tobacco, Obviously you will have to pay duties on what you import. However the end price is still slightly cheaper then buying over the counter now. And the more you buy the more you save. The other thing you can do is to push on generous relatives and friends to buy you a gift of tobacco from an overseas retailer. I believe that Gifts don't incur as severe a duty as if you were buying same for your own use.
A friend asked me what I wanted for My Birthday this year and I have given them a list of tobaccos. I will have to wait a few more months however at least I have some stuff cellared that will keep me going for a little longer. Its a crying shame that briar smokers and cigar smokers are lumped into the same category as those who partake of tailor made cigarettes. Im no elitist however I know as a briar smoker that I smoke for relaxation and to sample the taste the tobacco. Essentially pipe and cigar smokers are tobacco connoisseur's not consumers. We are no different from wine connoisseur's and should be treated no differently I believe.
Given that the tobacconist is a dying breed in New Zealand, some of us here are facing up to the fact that if we want to get some of our favourite brew at slightly reduced prices and less hassle then buying over the counter, the thing to do is buy it online from the USA, a nation where Real Tobacconists still exist. I would recommend this method to anyone who like myself is fed up with short supply, high cost and red tape associated with trying to buy tobacco over the counter here in New Zealand. One of the benefits of online purchase is the wider range of tobaccos one can choose from when compared to the limited brands that are brought into New Zealand by the wholesalers that supply our small insignificant market. With Online purchases of tobacco, Obviously you will have to pay duties on what you import. However the end price is still slightly cheaper then buying over the counter now. And the more you buy the more you save. The other thing you can do is to push on generous relatives and friends to buy you a gift of tobacco from an overseas retailer. I believe that Gifts don't incur as severe a duty as if you were buying same for your own use.
A friend asked me what I wanted for My Birthday this year and I have given them a list of tobaccos. I will have to wait a few more months however at least I have some stuff cellared that will keep me going for a little longer. Its a crying shame that briar smokers and cigar smokers are lumped into the same category as those who partake of tailor made cigarettes. Im no elitist however I know as a briar smoker that I smoke for relaxation and to sample the taste the tobacco. Essentially pipe and cigar smokers are tobacco connoisseur's not consumers. We are no different from wine connoisseur's and should be treated no differently I believe.
