2 of 15

Write now Article Tools

You will find the all-time winner in the hunt for cheap cigarettes at your nearest Indian Reservation smoke shop. Upon entering the reservation boundary, you are likely to find tax-free smoke shops thriving from border to border, as well as at every gas station, quick stop, craft store, trading post, and casino. You can pick up your favorite brand by the carton or the pack, or you can select from one of the many generic or locally packaged brands. These are the cheapest of the cheap, being packaged on the reservation, usually bearing a tribe's name, such as "Seneca", or "Native." You may also be able to pick up more expensive brands, like the popular Swiss Davidoff brand of tobacco products.

Locally packaged cigarettes are rolled and packaged on the Indian reservation by licensed operators using modern cigarette production equipment and imported tobbaco. Tobacco companies from various tobacco producing states and provinces in Canada sell their produce to tribally licensed manufacturers. The packaged product is exempt from federal and state taxes, which make them considerably cheaper than those sold in retail or convenience stores.

Because of the price differential, nearby non-native enterprises off the reserves find it difficult to sell their heavily taxed cigarettes. For instance, a carton of a popular brand of cigarettes at Wal-Mart sells for around $56.00 a carton before being rung up. Add to this cost state and local taxes and a carton of smokes can quickly reach around $60.00. Back on the Indian reservation, however, smoke shops will sell the same carton for at least ten percent less. This price differential, along with the fact that state and local taxes are not applied to the sale, makes them quite a savings for pack-a-day smokers. Naturally, the local brands are less expensive than the national brands, so the savings are amplified.

Inexpensive cigarettes are a major draw for Indian reservation casinos, restaurants, gas station operators, smoke shops and convenience stores. Smokers will travel considerable distances in order to spend a day relaxing at their favorite casino, enjoying the bustle of the community, and shopping or dining. Indian reservations near the US-Canadian border enjoy a particular advantage as cigarettes in Canada are heavily taxed.

In an attempt to drive down costs and increase the price difference even further, some Indian reservation manufactures are packaging their cigarettes in bulk, wrapped only in zip-loc bags, or so-called baggies. If you prefer, you can also purchase a 30-gallon clear trash bag filled with hundreds of cheap smokes from many smoke shops. These bags have become a favorite of many smokers that prefer cost savings over cigarette quality. Smokes in a bag are not likely to be found at the more reputable retail establishments.

In short, if you are searching for a place to buy inexpensive cigarettes, Indian reservation smoke shops may be the next best thing to just rolling your own. On the other hand, you may be surprised to find a nice selection of Davidoff tobacco products behind the counter as well.

Learn more about this author, Francis Jock.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Where to find inexpensive cigarettes?
We want to hear your view. Write now!