Canada...600% importation tax!!!

[derango1]

Also, for comparison, a 35 gram tin of Skoal in Canada costs 18$. This equals 12$ for 24 grams, so snus is no more expensive than skoal even after shipping and paying the initial price of the snus.

Jesus H. Christ on a stick! That is completely stupid!

[tom502]

Does Canada have any locally available snus?

[TBD]

Does Canada have any locally available snus?

Yes they do, if you don't mind paying $8 + for a tin of 20 minis. :roll:

[whokilledmyhooker]

Does Canada have any locally available snus?

Dumaurier is all we got. Stores hide the fridge out of sight because you can't even show a label resembling tobacco sales anymore, there are metal cases blocking view of every single tobacco product. It sucks 20 mini portions of stale snus, total FAILURE by Imperial corp.

[kevin32]

Does Canada have any locally available snus?

Only in Alberta. Or, there may be some in Ontario aswell. Atleast not in Vancouver.

And no Canada isn't really "socialist", its somewhere inbetween the USA and Northern European social democracies in terms of social programs.

Actually, I'm considering ordering some minis next time. Half the tax for a tin of them, but I'll probably just end up using two at a time.

[kevin32]

I recently got another shipment of snus! This time I only had to pay 18$ for 5 cans. For reference, I paid 38$ last time for the same order. Here is the previous order's tax sheet:
Duty = $4.33
Excise tax = $0.00
GST/HST/TPS/TVH = $3.47
PST - TVP = $25.16
Handling fee = $5.00
Total payable = $37.96
Notes: Not opened. Exchange rate: 1.0842

Here is the newest order's tax sheet:
Duty = $12.02
Excise tax = $0.00
GST/HST/TPS/TVH = $1.05
PST - TVP = $0.004
Handling fee = $5.00
Total payable = $18.11
Notes: Opened. Exchange rate: 0.1498

So it seems like the Provincial Sales Tax people weren't doing job correctly this time. Ah well, could've been much worse! Last order having been not delivered in time (assumed lost but it showed up), this order was shipped for free by northerner aswell. Its stated value on package was 60SEK.

Either way, if you live in Canada and order snus, and you pay more than 8$ tax per 24g, complain. If it comes out lower than so, or for free, consider yourself lucky. I will continue ordering and updating this list for anyone seeking future reference. Also, if you order lös, order some portions aswell, they may only check the weight of one can, but if they check a lös they may charge you 45g tax for portions aswell.

[kevin32]

On a side note, since my first package was unopened, and only stated on the package that the contents were snus, the customs must be starting to learn what it is.

Only drawback is, the snus is not as fresh as I'd hope. I wish some Swedish company would set up a processing plant in North America with Swedish machinery and processing methods!

Also, upon observing, the value for duty on my first shipment was stated $65!!! It seems like they used the exchange rate for USD. This could very well be the reason it was taxed to hell and back. Are there any companies that ship without stating value, so they don't screw up again?

[darkwing]

As far as Canadain snus is concerned yes, we have the DuMaurier stale minis available in Edmonton and Ottawa only, as far as I know. We don't even have the Camel and other US snus. The only way to get snus is to order online from Sweden, and as this thread shows, you never know what duties etc. you may be hit with.

[kevin32]

Just got my newest order, NO TAX OR DUTIES! It comes down to luck I guess.

Despite the fact that the snus could've been fresher, as it took 17 days to deliver, I'm very pleased with the no duties.

Calculating the average of my three orders (northerner shipped the second free due to first presumed lost) I've paid $7.30 per can, including shipping.

I am pleased to say, from my experience so far, snusing is very possible in Canada. It has been a lot cheaper than smoking, which will cost you $10 for a pack of 20.

I'll continue updating this thread every two to three weeks so fellow Canadians can get an idea of the aproximate cost of snusing. Also keep in mind in the event you pay more than 13$ per can, you can send in a complaint sheet for a refund, it should come with your package if its taxed.

[Veganpunk]

Nice. I voted the gnome option. :wink:

[BatRastard]

$8 a can in TAX alone! Holy Guano that seems extreme!

As an American of Canadian parents I have the option of becoming Canadian
and many times during the Bush-Clinton-Bush years I've contemplated it,
but I may need to rethink my migratory route. Any snus in Mexico?

:twisted:

[Maahk]

Holy Cow! $18 for a tin of Skoal! OUCH. I thought we had it bad here in TAXachuesettes. Skoal is like $7-8 here, Griz (WG is my brand, although it takes me like sometimes two weeks to go through a tin now) is $2 and change..and fresh as all get out. Smokes are $10, but there are always deals like 2 for 1 ect. I put down the smokes for good though...$20 a day for smokes on top of snus was just kind of silly.

I wish there was some way for us in the States to help out our brethren in snus up north. Ya'll are getting porked something fierce :\ Serriously, if there is anyway that we can help any of you folks in Canada Im all for lending a hand. Thats a serrous offer too, not just lip service...just shoot me an pm.

[kevin32]

Ya I was for a while considering heavily going to the native reserve, where they advertise cheap (duty free) cigarettes, buying a whack of tobacco and making my own snus :lol: Even then I doubt it would be anywhere near the same quality as Swedish.

Anyway, I doubt there's much of a way to help us up here. Packages from the USA may be passed through customs a lot faster though, I'll have to order from northerner's US warehouse and see. Otherwise that's a lobbyist job. Which is very likely to happen in the future. Since the purpose of tobacco tax is to feed our healthcare system, one could lobby, using the Swedish study that it minimally affects health, to minimize taxes. That's what happened in Norway, causing snus to be nearly half the price of cigarettes, and its subsequent rise to popularity in Norway in the past 20 years.

Still, our system does not seem to pose to much of an inconvinence. I've paid an average of 7$ a tin INCLUDING the price of the snus itself, duties, taxes, and shipping. This is Canadian dollars aswell.

I hope the public becomes aware of the harm reduction with snus, that it becomes succesful in the states, and that its eventually sold in retail outlets all over Canada. I have no doubt that, if succesful in the US, it'll go international, the EU may repeal the ban, and that smoking will be a thing of the past. Still years away, but lets hope.

[kevin32]

New shipment arrived. Ordered 16 september. No taxes or duties!
However, I'm still awaiting an order from the US warehouse I put in on September 17. That means, ordering from the US is a waste if you live in Canada, as it seems.

[justintempler]

kevin32,

Thanks for the updates.

Just a thought. Those ziploc bags of snus like Discreet uses would increase the likelihood of passing through customs untaxed.