In Sweden..

[muddyfunkstar]

Or perhaps with a large enough purchase you can file for a VAT return? European countries do that for large purchases, don't know if that would extend to snus.

Because it's illegal to sell snus anywhere in the EU apart from Sweden, I don't think anyone could legitimately import a load of the stuff and then write the VAT off as a business expense without attracting all sorts of unwanted attention, nor could they write off the VAT and claim it's for personal use.

[chossy]

Yes snus is more expensive now then some years ago, but still pretty affordable if you know where to buy, and I ofcourse know just where to buy.

Prices are for buying in rolls.

Lucky Strike portions cost 280 SEK
Kronan portion 204 SEK,
General portion 280 SEK
Grov Lös 375 SEK

I know these prices because I buy for several people at work.

Enjoy.

For the people in the U.K. You´r sterling pound has dropped a lot of value so dont blame us

[Langdell]

chossy, that is interesting information from Sweden. Here's a question I have: Do most Swedish snusers use loose (at least sometimes), or do most use portions only? Just curious. Like I wonder if maybe loose is used mostly by older snusers while younger Swedes are more likely to use portions exclusively.

[snusgetter]

Yes snus is more expensive now then some years ago, but still pretty affordable if you know where to buy, and I ofcourse know just where to buy.

Prices are for buying in rolls.
Lucky Strike portions cost 280 SEK
Kronan portion 204 SEK,
General portion 280 SEK
Grov Lös 375 SEK

I know these prices because I buy for several people at work.
Enjoy.

For the people in the U.K. You´r sterling pound has dropped a lot of value so dont blame us

Just out of curiosity, and for the sake of comparison,
I just had to look these up:

280 SEK = 39.73 USD
204 SEK = 28.95 USD
375 SEK = 53.21 USD
(18 SEP 2010)

Yep, base cost is cheaper.
So much for curiosity ...
Carry on.

[chossy]

chossy, that is interesting information from Sweden. Here's a question I have: Do most Swedish snusers use loose (at least sometimes), or do most use portions only? Just curious. Like I wonder if maybe loose is used mostly by older snusers while younger Swedes are more likely to use portions exclusively.

Hey Langdell

Not really sure, but I think portions are more popular now, up north lös is probably more common due to being a bit hillbilly country.

I only use portions, its cheaper and less messy ofcourse, but I can enjoy a fat lös sometimes when a friend offers some, because tobacco tax is based on weight lös is alot more expensive here. also when using lös one tends to bake fatter prillas.

There are older laborers that still use two lös tins in a workingday and they take a huge chunk of it and just throw it in and pack it with the tongue.

But overall portions are probably slowly gaining ground over the loose.

[chossy]

Just out of curiosity, and for the sake of comparison,
I just had to look these up:

280 SEK = 39.73 USD
204 SEK = 28.95 USD
375 SEK = 53.21 USD
(18 SEP 2010)

Yep, base cost is cheaper.
So much for curiosity ...
Carry on.

Hi Getter

I dont know what you pay nowadays with the taxes and crap shipment fees?

Unlike cigarettes in Sweden which cost the same everywhere snus has no maximum price so buying in gas stations and small stores tend to be extremely expensive, upwards of 50 SEK for a general portion, so one finds it adviseable to stock up once a month at the " SNUS STORE "

[Langdell]

Hey Langdell

Not really sure, but I think portions are more popular now, up north lös is probably more common due to being a bit hillbilly country.

I only use portions, its cheaper and less messy ofcourse, but I can enjoy a fat lös sometimes when a friend offers some, because tobacco tax is based on weight lös is alot more expensive here. also when using lös one tends to bake fatter prillas.

There are older laborers that still use two lös tins in a workingday and they take a huge chunk of it and just throw it in and pack it with the tongue.

But overall portions are probably slowly gaining ground over the loose.

Thanks, chossy! That's about what I would have guessed is the case.

[snusgetter]

Hi Getter

I dont know what you pay nowadays with the taxes and crap shipment fees?

Unlike cigarettes in Sweden which cost the same everywhere snus has no maximum price so buying in gas stations and small stores tend to be extremely expensive, upwards of 50 SEK for a general portion, so one finds it adviseable to stock up once a month at the " SNUS STORE "

I just checked getsnus and a roll of
Kronan portion is currently

35.60 USD [251 SEK]
PLUS Tobacco Tax of about 20.00 USD [141 SEK]
PLUS shipping of about 15.00 USD [127 SEK]
= 70.60 USD [498 SEK]
-- this does not include sales tax

Of course I wouldn't order just 1 roll -- more like 4 assorted rolls --
so the shipping would be spread out for the 4 rolls --
but you get the picture.

Does your cost of Kronan portion [204 SEK] include any taxes
and shipping?

[rollinred]

I just checked getsnus and a roll of
Kronan portion is currently

35.60 USD [251 SEK]
PLUS Tobacco Tax of about 20.00 USD [141 SEK]
PLUS shipping of about 15.00 USD [127 SEK]
= 70.60 USD [498 SEK]
-- this does not include sales tax

Of course I wouldn't order just 1 roll -- more like 4 assorted rolls --
so the shipping would be spread out for the 4 rolls --
but you get the picture.

Does your cost of Kronan portion [204 SEK] include any taxes
and shipping?

Holy Crap....

A roll of Kronan portion for me in MI would be this:

Kronan, Portion 10 Yes $ 6.40 $ 33.80 $ 33.80 (0%)
UPS Ground 1 $ 0.00 $ 12.13 $ 12.13 (0%)
Total weight: 0.968 lbs
Items: $ 33.80
Tobacco tax: $ 6.40
Discount (2%): $ 0.70
Delivery from US-PA: $ 12.13
Total: ~$ 51.63
Charged in USD: $ 51.63

[chossy]

I just checked getsnus and a roll of
Kronan portion is currently

35.60 USD [251 SEK]
PLUS Tobacco Tax of about 20.00 USD [141 SEK]
PLUS shipping of about 15.00 USD [127 SEK]
= 70.60 USD [498 SEK]
-- this does not include sales tax

Of course I wouldn't order just 1 roll -- more like 4 assorted rolls --
so the shipping would be spread out for the 4 rolls --
but you get the picture.

Does your cost of Kronan portion [204 SEK] include any taxes
and shipping?

204 SEK is everything included. Tobacco tax and sales tax. I counted it some time ago and the snus itself costs about 90 SEK or so, then add tobacco tax of roughly 60-70 SEK + sales tax =204 SEK. There is no shipping since I drive to the store and buy it over the counter.

So when you buy online you should pay what I pay, say 90 SEK for a roll, then when entering the U.S add your local tobacco and sales taxes. plus shipping ofcourse.

I checked last year the online shops and they are extremly expensive considering they had no taxes to the U.S at that point.

The truth is the online stores are screwing you big time with their outrageous prices, since it´s hard for you to know the real prices.

But maybe they need to overcharge since sales are low, what do I know.

[khalid]

204 SEK is everything included. Tobacco tax and sales tax. I counted it some time ago and the snus itself costs about 90 SEK or so, then add tobacco tax of roughly 60-70 SEK + sales tax =204 SEK. There is no shipping since I drive to the store and buy it over the counter.

So when you buy online you should pay what I pay, say 90 SEK for a roll, then when entering the U.S add your local tobacco and sales taxes. plus shipping ofcourse.

I checked last year the online shops and they are extremly expensive considering they had no taxes to the U.S at that point.

The truth is the online stores are screwing you big time with their outrageous prices, since it´s hard for you to know the real prices.

But maybe they need to overcharge since sales are low, what do I know.

O.K so I buy snus from the U.K, so I would need to add on the E.U taxes, it still works out cheap though. On your figures of SEK204 all in, that would be a roll for £18 or so. I guess I could do with some Swedish friend to send me snus, as this is way cheaper than buying online, even cheaper than VIP.

[snusgetter]

204 SEK is everything included. Tobacco tax and sales tax. I counted it some time ago and the snus itself costs about 90 SEK or so, then add tobacco tax of roughly 60-70 SEK + sales tax =204 SEK. There is no shipping since I drive to the store and buy it over the counter.

So when you buy online you should pay what I pay, say 90 SEK for a roll, then when entering the U.S add your local tobacco and sales taxes. plus shipping ofcourse.

I checked last year the online shops and they are extremly expensive considering they had no taxes to the U.S at that point.

The truth is the online stores are screwing you big time with their outrageous prices, since it´s hard for you to know the real prices.

But maybe they need to overcharge since sales are low, what do I know.

chossy, thanks for your input.

Your situation seems to be manageable since you have ready access to a reliable source of snus. The rest of us are royally screwed.

As you can see from my earlier example, even our base rate is higher but that is to be expected since it has to be shipped here from 'overseas'.

It's the subsequent shipping along with all the various taxes that makes things frustrating. Prior to PACTCRAP it was no problem ordering multiple single cans to find the ones we liked. Nowadays a forum like SNUSON is almost a necessity to weed out the hype to get a better idea of what we might like and where to order it from. It's not infallible but we do get to hear the bad along with the good about any given product. Multiple 'test orders' are needed to come to a decision and, unless you're a 'numbers' person, it does take some of the joy out of what is basically a hobby.

Thanks again for your insight.