Illegal To Ship Tobacco To Maine

[seaweed]

I reside in Maine, and the real pain is that it’s illegal to ship tobacco here. I could make nice with a cigarette shop (the only kind of B&M near me) and see if they’d purchase pipe tobacco for me at a steep markup (not to mention pestering them with ordering dozens of different new blends to try all the time - or to act fast on quick sell outs like FVF)….

Or, I could pay the $150/yr fee and obtain a tobacco retailer license. I’m struggling to see the downside to this, other than not having a clue how to open wholesale accounts with various tobacco companies, and if I actually need to turn any sort of profit on the business to keep the license. I wouldn’t be opposed to opening a part time B&M specializing in pipe tobacco if anyone else in the area would even shop there.

Anyone see any obvious downsides that I don’t, being totally ignorant of all things business?

 

[macaroni]

I'm stunned you have to go through this in order to receive pipe tobacco.

Did I read here that Oregon or Washington (state) is similar?
good luck
mike

 

[fireground_piper]

I mean, you’d still need to buy the tobacco from yourself and pay all applicable sales and excise taxes as if it was at a B&M. That’s where most of the mark up comes from at a B&M.

Where in Maine? If I was in the south part, I’d probably just plan some occasional day trips to watch city cigar or Peretti, etc.

 

[seaweed]

I mean, you’d still need to buy the tobacco from yourself and pay all applicable sales and excise taxes as if it was at a B&M. That’s where most of the mark up comes from at a B&M.

Where in Maine? If I was in the south part, I’d probably just plan some occasional day trips to watch city cigar or Peretti, etc.

I figure I can still save a buck or two per tin, and not have the hassle of hassling someone else. Unfortunately, I’m pretty up there, and I’m allergic to cities. Though I do enjoy Peretti, and might be able to convince myself it’s worth it

 

[seaweed]

I'm stunned you have to go through this in order to receive pipe tobacco.

Did I read here that Oregon or Washington (state) is similar?
good luck
mike

Yeah, it’s bonkers. I know Washington is similar, but I’m not sure about Oregon. Wouldn’t be surprised, though.

 

[CoffeeAndBourbon]

Good luck! If you go the license route, let you know what hoops you have to jump through

 

[David D. Davidson]

Take this with a pound of salt, as I only have experience in Canada, which has a labyrinthine tax code for small businesses, but I would imagine you might also need to register a business number and file business taxes annually to qualify for the license, which are (here at least) far more of a pain in the rear end.

Hopefully not the case, but definitely worth checking out beforehand!

 

[fireground_piper]

I figure I can still save a buck or two per tin, and not have the hassle of hassling someone else. Unfortunately, I’m pretty up there, and I’m allergic to cities. Though I do enjoy Peretti, and might be able to convince myself it’s worth it

If that was my situation then, I’d make friends with a local retailer first by looking at the retailer directory on this site for any leads and branching out as needed. Retailer friends in any market are always a great asset.

 

[AJL67]

Cambridge isn't really a "city" compared to large cities, plus a nice walk around Harvard yard and down to the Charles is always nice, Watch City certainly isn't near a "city".

Have a friend in another state buy it for you and reship to you .. i mean it's not rocket science.

 

[seaweed]

Cambridge isn't really a "city" compared to large cities, plus a nice walk around Harvard yard and down to the Charles is always nice, Watch City certainly isn't near a "city".

Have a friend in another state buy it for you and reship to you .. i mean it's not rocket science.

Cambridge is plenty of a city to me. Don’t know many folks out of state that aren’t anti-tobacco.

 

[seaweed]

Take this with a pound of salt, as I only have experience in Canada, which has a labyrinthine tax code for small businesses, but I would imagine you might also need to register a business number and file business taxes annually to qualify for the license, which are (here at least) far more of a pain in the rear end.

Hopefully not the case, but definitely worth checking out beforehand!

The legal labyrinth is what I’m worried about. Don’t know how to go about navigating it, and hiring a lawyer seems like a bit much just to feel out an idea.

 

[sablebrush52]

I reside in Maine, and the real pain is that it’s illegal to ship tobacco here. I could make nice with a cigarette shop (the only kind of B&M near me) and see if they’d purchase pipe tobacco for me at a steep markup (not to mention pestering them with ordering dozens of different new blends to try all the time - or to act fast on quick sell outs like FVF)….

Or, I could pay the $150/yr fee and obtain a tobacco retailer license. I’m struggling to see the downside to this, other than not having a clue how to open wholesale accounts with various tobacco companies, and if I actually need to turn any sort of profit on the business to keep the license. I wouldn’t be opposed to opening a part time B&M specializing in pipe tobacco if anyone else in the area would even shop there.

Anyone see any obvious downsides that I don’t, being totally ignorant of all things business?

I would assume that there’s a fair amount of paperwork involved with that license, as well as paying your state’s sales an excise taxes.
How much tobacco do you smoke? Is it enough to satisfy wholesale purchase requirements from the various distributors?
How close are you to the border with a neighboring state that allows internet tobacco sales? You could rent a mailbox and use it for your tobacco drop.
Oregon prohibits internet sales of cigarettes and vaping products, FYI.

 

[woodsroad]

I mean, you’d still need to buy the tobacco from yourself and pay all applicable sales and excise taxes as if it was at a B&M. That’s where most of the mark up comes from at a B&M.

Where in Maine? If I was in the south part, I’d probably just plan some occasional day trips to watch city cigar or Peretti, etc.

Personal consumption could be written off as "store samples".
If Maine has a sales tax, excise tax, etc., you will need to set up an account with the state and remit those taxes. Then you'd have to file business taxes. And carry liability insurance.

Ask me about all the ways our government discourages entrepreneurship and self-determination.

 

[andrew]

Is it illegal consumer to consumer? In Canada shipping tobacco is prohibited but if it's between two consumers or retailers it's ok. But retail to consumer is prohibited. Very confusing

 

[kcghost]

It is tough to live in Maine but your restriction on where you will get your tobacco are also quite demanding. Have you considered moving to Vermont or New Hampshire??

 

[Lumbridge]

Or, I could pay the $150/yr fee and obtain a tobacco retailer license.

Nothing of value to add to this discussion, but wow, that is insane. It's like applying for an FFL or C&R, but to be able to buy... tobacco? Seriously? Do you have to pass a background check and go through a waiting period too?

All in all, it could be a lucrative side business to start a home-based tobacco store. Maybe it's legal to ship entirely within the state? That would require some research, but if so, you could be a valuable lifeline for all of the Maine pipe smokers struggling to find a good supply.

 

[Seeleybc1]

Man that stinks. Frustrating to say the least. We go through it in AK with ammo. Have to jump through a million hoops if you want something specific shipped up from lower 48. At least there’s a sliver of logic there because of how geographically stuff on the road system would have to go through Canada. I’ll still complain about it every chance I can though lol.
Tobacco though, jeez!

 

[seaweed]

I would assume that there’s a fair amount of paperwork involved with that license, as well as paying your state’s sales an excise taxes.
How much tobacco do you smoke? Is it enough to satisfy wholesale purchase requirements from the various distributors?
How close are you to the border with a neighboring state that allows internet tobacco sales? You could rent a mailbox and use it for your tobacco drop.
Oregon prohibits internet sales of cigarettes and vaping products, FYI.

I hadn’t thought of doing a tobacco drop. I’m about four hours from NH, but it could be worth it. Easier than starting a business haha.

 

[seaweed]

Nothing of value to add to this discussion, but wow, that is insane. It's like applying for an FFL or C&R, but to be able to buy... tobacco? Seriously? Do you have to pass a background check and go through a waiting period too?

All in all, it could be a lucrative side business to start a home-based tobacco store. Maybe it's legal to ship entirely within the state? That would require some research, but if so, you could be a valuable lifeline for all of the Maine pipe smokers struggling to find a good supply.

As far as I can tell, it’s illegal to ship in state no matter what. I’d love to start a little side business shipping around the state, but it doesn’t look like I could

 

[didimauw]

Everytime I move, I ask the nearest gas station to stock Carter Hall for me. I know this is a common tobacco, and most places will oblige. So If I were you, I'd try to find a "Codger" blend that a gas station or cigarette store could order, to stock up on that you like.

In Wisconsin, I have the opposite problem. I can order any tobacco I want and have it shipped to me. However legally I can't send tobacco out of the state. So anything I dont smoke, I can't legally sell.