Question about online cigar sales

[Kliedus]

Why is it that all the cigar retailers online only sell to people 21 or older?? Id like to buy some cigars online because of the cheaper prices, compared to the local cigar shops around me, but cant because im 20... is there some law stating its illegal to sell cigars online to peoples under 21?? or is it just a precaution the retailers take? I tried searching google and this forum but came up with nothing. I live in CA and the age to buy tobacco is 18, so Im kind of confused and bummed at the same time.

[thehat101]

They cant ID you online if you are 18 and of age order them there is no way to track your age.

[Dusty2119]

Hey, first off, welcome.

Second, well I second what thehat said. I asked the same question a while back and Rick explained it to me really well. Though I probably couldn't explain it as good as he did it really made since. But ya they won't know and I've been using places like CBid (DON'T, I REPEAT DON'T GO THERE) and CI for a while now with no problems whatsoever. Good luck with your purchases.

[Kliedus]

why shouldnt i use cbid?? It seems like you can get good cigars for pretty cheap off there?

[slowburning]

Originally Posted by Kliedus

why shouldnt i use cbid?? It seems like you can get good cigars for pretty cheap off there?

Because it is very addictive.

Let me see if I can explain it in another way. CBid is like the CIA or the mob. Once you are in, you can't get out.

Well, it's not like "every time I am out, they pull me back in" thing, it's just like sex, you keep going back for more. (not that there's anything wrong with that.)

btw, welcome.

[Kliedus]

LOL.. ic, i thought you were being serious, like theres something wrong with that site.

[KevinG]

Kliedus,

Welcome to Cigar Review and thanks for posting. As you know, the laws regarding the minimum age for buying tobacco products are on the state level.

Some states require the age to be 18, some 19 and many 21.

Here's what I know from my experience working with an online cigar retailer a couple of years back.

- Yes, you are correct that they require the age to be 21 just to make their lives simpler and out of caution, instead of trying to keep up with the ever changing laws of 50 different states.

I used to try to follow the age requirements and they would frequently change. I can't remember, but I think, for example, that NJ used to be 18 and then they raised it to 19.

Instead of trying to keep ones database up to date with the changing laws, it is a lot easier to just set it at 21 nationwide.

Originally Posted by thehat101

They cant ID you online if you are 18 and of age order them there is no way to track your age.

Yes and no.

Yes, I believe that most do not really do a check of your age. They make you click something to swear that you are, but they don't really check.

However, there are age verification systems out there which I have first hand experience with. In my business of web development and programming, I did a project for Japan Tobacco.

They have a site for promotion of one of their cigarette brands. We did the programming that integrated an age verification system that works with databases like Lexis Nexis, to confirm age.

It can be done, but it is expensive and I think most do not do it.