Kiss my BUTT Northerner

[Ephemeris]

Interesting article from the past!

http://www.snuscentral.org/latest-sn...-fda-pact.html

Quote from Larry in the article:

Is Northerner building a snus empire or did they miscalculate and build a house of cards in a wind tunnel instead? Was this move ill-timed...either 2 years too late or 2 years too early?

The article was written two years ago last month, and we're all still scratching our heads.

I don't know what's going on with Northerner, but during Sandy we lost our main warehouse in Charleston, SC. Completely decimated. Within a week operations were up and running in a new plant and customers at the most had a 3-4 day lag between purchase date and ship date. I think blaming Sandy two weeks ago may have been a believable scenario, but it's since becoming a catch-all for many companies with apathetic customer service.

[GoVegan]

I find it interesting Northerner gave their distribution to another company after putting so much time and money into setting it up. I am wondering if selling snus in the USA is harder to do than previously thought. I am thinking that the EU ban was a lifeline for Northerner.

[rickcharles606]

I find it interesting Northerner gave their distribution to another company after putting so much time and money into setting it up. I am wondering if selling snus in the USA is harder to do than previously thought. I am thinking that the EU ban was a lifeline for Northerner.

Starting up a distribution (any product) is a very cost prohibitive endeavour, that being said...there were several reasons that Northerner gave up the US distribution. One of the main reasons is that these brands deserve to be distributed by the very best distribution house in US, especially when dealing with a "new style" of tobacco product that has legislative and regulatory issues with the FDA and needs a strong distributor that knows the turbulent waters of the US tobacco market.

In my eyes this can free Northerner up to be a better online retailer and get back to where they once were, and I hope that happens. Frank poured his heart and soul into Northerner and bringing snus to people around the world, and despite their recent issues (many it seems), they have done a LOT for snus in the US. Love or hate them, they've helped educate a lot of people in the US about snus and that will ultimately be part of what get's snus into each and every tobacco shop and convenience store. They gave me a platform to preach the good word of snus to a ton of retailers, which has opened up many doors in this market for the Oden's, Thunder and Jak's brands.

[Bigblue1]

So Frank is just a snus missionary he had no financial reasons to start a business? I'm sorry this martyrization of Northerner and Frank doesn't fly. The man had good intentions that were going to benefit him in the long run. Even you are getting paid to do a job. This whole "we're doing this for you BS" doesn't fly with me. It'd be like when I go in to remodel someones kitchen or bathroom and try to tell them I'm doing it entirely for them. It's just not true and is at the very least a bit disingenuous.

[zmanzero]

lookit, i'm no stranger to a rodeo here, so i'll toss my chip in the can and go to SC.

i've been reading the threads here for some weeks and it's confirmed something.

getsnus is blowing chunks. i guess that's northerner.

i can't even give them my money, their site is whacky and support (email stuff) is as lousy as my polio leg. my vent.

i'm sucking marlboro snus (the stinking portions) and sticking this stinking skoal long cut menthol in my lip until i get some real snus from someone that will take my money. i do not condemn northerner, they were my squeeze since i discovered snus, we loved.

[lxskllr]

zman! Been a loooong time. How ya been?

[Premium Parrots]

wow....glad to see you back old man

[zmanzero]

there's the pig! guys, i'm ok. i came here to copy the pig and i had to vent. getsnus ripped my balls out so i sniffle.

jeeze, what the hell happened? i know, i know, but what the hell happened? for christ's sake now i have to do the deed with a new company. this is snus gentlemen, and snus should be as unspoiled as a newborn child, and stinking getsnus is a map with north up. maybe it's a swedish thing.

anyway, i've been kayaking on the river and playing music and actually trying to produce a song that people like. i banged a girl 20 years younger than me and found out i'm no stud muffin anymore. other than that, i haven't been up to much.

except i'm mad as hell! i'm sucking on american snus portions from an american tobacco company and i'm not a happy camper...

edit - with the map south up. fixed.

more edit - just saw frank's post. 'tis all good, just be a good company, we loved.

ultimate edit - i meant rick's post.

[Bigblue1]

"i banged a girl 20 years younger than me and found out i'm no stud muffin anymore. other than that, i haven't been up to much."

Funniest shit ever.

[SnusoMatic]

Starting up a distribution (any product) is a very cost prohibitive endeavour, that being said...there were several reasons that Northerner gave up the US distribution. One of the main reasons is that these brands deserve to be distributed by the very best distribution house in US, especially when dealing with a "new style" of tobacco product that has legislative and regulatory issues with the FDA and needs a strong distributor that knows the turbulent waters of the US tobacco market.

In my eyes this can free Northerner up to be a better online retailer and get back to where they once were, and I hope that happens. Frank poured his heart and soul into Northerner and bringing snus to people around the world, and despite their recent issues (many it seems), they have done a LOT for snus in the US. Love or hate them, they've helped educate a lot of people in the US about snus and that will ultimately be part of what get's snus into each and every tobacco shop and convenience store. They gave me a platform to preach the good word of snus to a ton of retailers, which has opened up many doors in this market for the Oden's, Thunder and Jak's brands.

I agree with you. I have had personal dealings with Frank. I don't want to say why or how publicly but you may know how. Its not anything bad I just like my privacy. We are not "friends" or enemies, I had a business dealing with him. He could have stuck it to me and never looked back. He was in the drivers seat but he was very professional about it all. I came out just about like I should have and it could have been very different.

Personally, anytime I have/had a problem with northerner I always tell them about it. Not because I want to be hard to get along with but because I know if nothing gets said the people who need to know won't. My main idea for northerner is/was to become a steady dependable source of snus in the USA. Through my limited contact with Frank I believe his whole heart was in this, zero doubts. My dealings as a customer makes me feel like the problem is with the USA side of things. I have had plenty of one on one contact with people in the Swedish side. They ALWAYS seem to have it together. I could comment more about what I believe but it would be meaningless.

My latest issue with them involves a 28 day wait on an order of 7 cans. When it arrived it was 6 cans and four of them were out of date. I did put in a ticket for the reason I stated above. They have not lost me as a customer yet but I realize that I have a little of my heart into them making it work. but most people just want their snus and I understand that. I just hope they get it together soon.

[Roo]

ZZZZZZZZZ MMMMMAAAAaaannnnnnn !!

good to see you old man. That broad you were bangin had to still be at least 40 lol Come back soon brother.

[rickcharles606]

So Frank is just a snus missionary he had no financial reasons to start a business? I'm sorry this martyrization of Northerner and Frank doesn't fly. The man had good intentions that were going to benefit him in the long run. Even you are getting paid to do a job. This whole "we're doing this for you BS" doesn't fly with me. It'd be like when I go in to remodel someones kitchen or bathroom and try to tell them I'm doing it entirely for them. It's just not true and is at the very least a bit disingenuous.

Jesus Blue, it's not like I'm defending the customer service issues, I'm merely saying that he had a dream to bring the more "boutique" brands of snus to the US. Sure he get's paid, but what business doesn't set out with an "idea/dream" then checks to see if it's fiscally viable. I'll tell you what's disingenuous, it's your constant kneejerk reaction at the mere mention of Northerner, lol. I'm only saying that Frank did his fair share to further the cause.

Hell, Thunder and Jak's would have NEVER seen the shelves of local shops in the US without Frank's prompting. Neither company thought it made sense to come to the US when they did. Sure I got paid, that's what I'm in this for....I have a family to feed and take care of, but if I can do it AND do something that I love, then why not? How is that any different for the owner of any business, like Frank. Again...do they have issues to work out, sure...but i have faith that he'll get them worked out now that he doesn't have to also deal with the US distribution. Oh, and I'm doing it for everyone else BUT you....ahahaha

[Mr. Unloadingzone]

Also, what's stopping Northerner opening a warehouse in Norway, for EU customers?

Hi Vulpes! The Snus Ban in the current EU TPD applies to all EU countries, not just Sweden. It is illegal to ship Swedish snus from ANY EU member country to any other EU member country.

[Mr. Unloadingzone]

I am very disappointed with Northener. This was the only place that would send me snus to my deployed location (APO) in the middle east. Now I can't even order at all since they changed their site. When I email them about it they don't even respond. I'm completely out, I guess trying Swedish Snus was the biggest mistake I made before coming out here for a 365 day deployment.

That does really suck and thank Washington. Those who see the US military as a place for social experiments specifically banned tobacco shipments to APO or FPO addresses by eStores when the PACT Act came to be. If you live off base and are even deployed where there is off base housing, shipping snus is no problem (unless you're in the EU...Thank Brussels for that).

[Mr. Unloadingzone]

I only ordered Swedish Match

FYI, When the whole SnusWorldWide thing exploded, SM formally notified all their authorized retailers and distributors worldwide that they were forbidden to ship any Swedish Match into the EU from any country on the planet. This applies only to SM and isn't in the EU Snus Ban.

Those retailers/distributors who violated this rule are punished by Swedish Match. If it continues, Swedish Match can cancel their contract and refuse to sell the offender any more SM snus.

Especially in light of the whole John Dalli bribery scandal, the last thing SM needs is a retail package of their snus getting opened in Customs of any EU country. That would significantly hurt any chance of getting the Snus Ban eliminated in the next TPD.

The EU snus ban makes no sense. Then again, neither does the PACT Act, the Tobacco Control Act or stopping USPE/Swedish Post shipments to give UPS a monopoly. The world economy is collapsing so our governments fiddle with feel good topics while everyone else burns. Unbelievable.