Would You Pay More For Lös? If So, How Much?

[lxskllr]

Well, we'll see. I'll meet you here in 10 years, and we'll see which of us was right :^D

[Rattlesnake]

Threads like this does nothing to encourage the continuation of Los Snus.

[Bigblue1]

You know it's funny, How portioned snus is so popular but when it comes to dip it's the other way around. Being an ex dipper I am amazed that I use more portions than los. Primary reason for this is convenience. Portioned dip was always more convenient as well but I never used it. If I had to pinpoint the difference tho it would be that portioned snus is good where portioned dip never came close to the same experience as it's counterpart....... I guess it may be the expectorating. You just never could get an awesome stremer with American pouches...

[Monkey]

I would pay more for los as I prefer it but I prefer to not pay more for los...

[Snusdog]

I would think that the production cost for portions is higher than that of los

For example, the most expensive part of a Big Mack is the container it comes in.

That said...........I agree with what Lx and others have said.............the portions market is more viable and fluid.

However...............the market is that way because it is primarily a Swedish market.

If the American market (as it stands now) were to be considered.........los would rule.

However, I think if the American Market is to be opened..............it will be because snus can marketed as harm reduction...............in other words, the focus (and the demand) will be from x-smokers and thus portions will still be the preferred form of snus.

But that is not to paint a grim picture.

I think you will eventually see the American Market opened to snus...........and when that happens I think you will see the current cigarette-to-dip ratio mirrored by the portions-to-los ratio.

Now think about how many new brands and varieties of dips there are and how many of them are new. Loose dip is a viable and lucrative market in the states.

Until then..........I see the present companies in a holding pattern as far as los is concerned.

That's why Lx's idea about Gotlands releasing Gul, Green, Plain, and Jules Los as seasonal is so brilliant (especially if they did it via a pre order 5 can minimum).

Little risk...........and constant exposure..............Gotelands name will be constantly in front of the snus using community.

In the meantime..........I think what we are waiting for is either:

(a) a company like SM to break the code and figure the right way to market snus here in the USA

or

(b) the anti-government skepticism and growing disgust with the nanny state to combine with the growing number of researchers proclaiming the virtues of harm reduction...............and this perfect storm will open the market.

In the end, I think option [b] is the way it will happen (not SM marketing) I also think once it begins it will happen extremely fast....It is the building of that momentum (which has in fact already begun in a significant way) that will take the most time.

In the meantime.............I think that we can encourage companies to think outside the box about product development and marketing (e.g. Lx's seasonal Gotlands los).

Just my 2 cents

[Snusdog]

Oh and to answer the original question

I will pay more for snus...........food..................internet.........a nd etc.

BUT I will not like one damn minute of it (such is life).

However, basic economics will tell you that this is not the answer for the los market.

Raising prices at a greater rate than the the general curve of inflation will lower demand.

Instead, the answer is creative solutions that provide a fluidity to the los market (new types of los) while at the same time are worthwhile* to the producers

*worthwhile should be understood not only in terms of profit margins but also in terms of sustainability and the gains/maintenance of the company's place within the los market (a market that is and will continue to be a viable secondary target)

[GoVegan]

You know I might pay a bit more, say $1 or $2 just because I like los better. Why is it that manufacturers will talk about production costs being the same when you ask them why mini's cost more than regular portions and then they talk about the high cost of providing los?

[Snusdog]

Why is it that manufacturers will talk about production costs being the same when you ask them why mini's cost more than regular portions and then they talk about the high cost of providing los?

Now that's a great point...............cutting the amount of tobacco in half (in minis vs regular portions) has a negligible effect on the cost

[EricHill78]

As long as they keep making ettan and general los I'll be happy. Well considering the popularity of general and ettan I think I'll be dead before they ever discontinue those staples.

[Bigblue1]

I think if you made los more expensive you would just have more portion users. Maybe not you lx but most people especially newbs would just go for the cheapest alternative. I'm not a connoisseur tho. I'm just feeding the monkey.

[Jwalker]

I put I think 4.50, that's about my limit I would pay more for an occasional can but if portions were 30-40 percent cheaper I would go with them. I've realized I don't use loose much, like I'm looking at my cans and I have eight cans of portions gone but only 1 and a half cans of los.

[muddyfunkstar]

I get Mykislt's point that this sort of casual Internet banter can easily turn into rumour, and then before you know it people are taking it as canon, but it's still a fair discussion.

I can't see loose going away. People still roll their own cigarettes years after ready-mades came along and took the market by storm, and the big tobacco companies over here have been reporting an upturn in the amount of rolling tobacco sold in the last couple of years, mainly because smokers are feeling the pinch of the recession, and roll-ups are more cost-effective. I'd imagine many snus users would turn to a can of loose if they were a bit tight on cash, as it's possible to make it last longer than a can of portions.

And as someone said, they're not going to chop 1/3 of their market, because that's a huge hit. I expect the mark-up on loose could stand to see that market drop further still, due to the production costs, with no profit loss.

My conclusion, loose is here to stay, and it won't get more proportionally more expensive.

[teeotee]

I voted for $5.00 just because that's what i have paid in stores here. Iowa taxes loose tobacco by weight so a can of los is $5.00 and a can of portions is around $3.30. I'm with lsx though, i prefer los for the whole experience and with the extra cost of buying here it works out about even with portions. If it went up to say $6.00 and portions stayed the same then i would probably stick to portions.

[lxskllr]

You know I might pay a bit more, say $1 or $2 just because I like los better. Why is it that manufacturers will talk about production costs being the same when you ask them why mini's cost more than regular portions and then they talk about the high cost of providing los?

Minis are a rip off. They're getting a huge break on the taxes, but the price stays the same as regular portions. Minis /may/ subsidize the lös products. They keep the price high on minis(because people will pay it) to have price parity through the product line.

I think you're right Blue. People will switch to portions before paying more. If someone prefers lös, that's cutting off your nose to spite your face. Given my setup in the OP, lös is worth twice as much as portions. You get twice as much snus in a tin. You can argue that portions are more labor intensive, and I'd agree, but it's the taxes that really raise the cost. If snus was tax free for everyone, I'd say that portions should cost the same as lös. The reduced tobacco content makes up for the extra hassle of making portions. When the maker pays tobacco tax by the gram, that money has to be paid by someone. Either mini users, from the other products, or the end user. The manufacturers aren't charities.

[muddyfunkstar]

I hadn't thought about minis. Before all taxes, 1 can of General Mini is only 3 pence cheaper than General OP. After taxes it's only £1.10 cheaper. That's insane, for less than half the snus, what a rip-off!