Essay Research: What Cigars Canadians Want Online

[CohibaChick]

Hey there!
Well, another school year has come and I'm hoping some helpful gorillas will be willing to help me out!

I have to do a feasibility report for a class. I have chosen to research how feasible it would be to open a Canadian online cigar shop that would not only offer cigars available in Canada, but would also offer cigars that are hard to find in Canada such as 5 Vegas, Don Kiki etc.

What I would like to know is if fellow Canadians feel that there would be a need for such an online store and if anyone would actually use such a store to purchase their cigars from!

Thanks for everyone that replies! This will greatly help start my research
And here is a dancing chicken as a thank you!

[nasa25]

Unless the Canadian government changed their tobacco tax structure to be more in line with the US rates, I wouldn't consider that. The only advantage that cdn onlines have over American ones is that they can sell cubans. IMO it's better to buy from the US at less than half the price and roll the dice on the duty. As for cubans, it's better to pick them up from Cuba or get them from online from Switzerland or wherever.

[O-Danger]

sorry man I can get opus at my B&M any time of the year... I just refuse to pay $55 for a corona

[nasa25]

your poll is not very realistic don't u think, because it's basically impossible for that price structure to be valid unless the online shop is getting their stock duty free.

[K Baz]

I voted only if the same as US.

With such a high percent of us living near or on the US boarder it is cheaper, quicker, and easy to "run across the line" to get those smokes.

Also from what I see the vast majority of Canadian's smoke cuban - I think this would be true even if they could by the other sticks locally.

[ZedR2]

Not sure how you would get around our HUGE LUXURY TAX but if the price was reasonable yes I would buy them ...
A Cohiba @ $76.00 a stick is just ridiculous plus I have acquired a taste for Hondurans over the years ...
The only Cubans that I have really liked were the ones that I bought right in Cuba at the factory or airport on the way home , I swear Castro has a little marihoochy put in those Cohiba Esplenditos , nothing bought up here comes close to what comes directly from Cuba IMO ?

[kayaker]

I don't mean to rain on your parade, but technically cigar shops (well anyone really) are not allowed to ship tobacco in the mail to other provinces. It's a tax control thing since the provinces add taxes on top of the federal tobacco taxes.

In any case, I have had shops offer to mail orders to me outside their province of residence, but it was on the QT.

Other than that, I would be willing to pay 10% more for a smoke in Canada so that I wold not have to worry about customs.

Good luck with your paper.

[nasa25]

with the current setup of most of the reputable american online shops, its basically impossible for a Canadian outfit to compete. As Kayaker said, the customs risk is worth, at most, 10% on top of what is paid at the US online retailers (I voted for +10%).......I had originally thought that Canadian retailers could not ship WITHIN province, but Kayaker is right, its interprovince shipments that are not allowed. Maybe Ontario might have a large enough customer base to support such a venture, but, still, the prices charged will be at least 100% more than in an American online retailer.

There is really no legal way for this venture to have much success.

[nasa25]

"Cohiba Esplendido - BOX 25 PCS. Length: 7 Ring Size: 47 (box per stick price $33.15) $828.80"

This is the price from Cdn cigar company in BC. It would wind up costing me the same price if I went down to Cuba for a week and stayed in a 2 star all inclusive, bought the box of esplendidos there, and came back.