Cheapest ciggies in Europe ?

Delancey

Just wondering what are good countries to buy fags in ? I stress that I am asking about cigarettes for personal consumption only . Given the rip off that goes on here ( and will continue regardless of the recent European Court ruling ) I'm just wondering what sort of savings there are to be made and where ?
Which leads me to a second question : obviously bringing (say) 10,000 ciggies through Customes is a no-no ( even if for personal use only ) , by the same token 200 is not a problem - at what point does someone encounter potential Customs issues ?

HalloweenJack

Bulgaria is really cheap. It's like 3 lev (about €1.50) for 20.

In Spain, you can get 20 for about €2.50. Germany is a bit more expensive, iirc, maybe €3.30 for 18 (box sizes there are abit differen).

The Hill Billy

delancey42 wrote: »

at what point does someone encounter potential Customs issues ?

All you need to know is here.

lord lucan

delancey42 wrote: »

Just wondering what are good countries to buy fags in ? I stress that I am asking about cigarettes for personal consumption only . Given the rip off that goes on here ( and will continue regardless of the recent European Court ruling ) I'm just wondering what sort of savings there are to be made and where ?
Which leads me to a second question : obviously bringing (say) 10,000 ciggies through Customes is a no-no ( even if for personal use only ) , by the same token 200 is not a problem - at what point does someone encounter potential Customs issues ?

I done a day trip to Barcelona in early February to buy a load of smokes. Bought 2000 Marlboro Red,a pack of 200 cost me €38. So €38 x 10 = €380. The same amount here would have cost me €850 so i saved €470.:)

Elevator

lord lucan wrote: »

I done a day trip to Barcelona in early February to buy a load of smokes. Bought 2000 Marlboro Red,a pack of 200 cost me €38. So €38 x 10 = €380. The same amount here would have cost me €850 so i saved €470.:)

If you had just quit the smokes you would have saved all that few quid andnot lost a day of your life to sourcing cheaper ways of losing even more days of your life

lord lucan

Elevator wrote: »

If you had just quit the smokes you would have saved all that few quid andnot lost a day of your life to sourcing cheaper ways of losing even more days of your life

I enjoy smoking,always have,always will. I'm more than aware of what they can do to me but i love them and will continue to do so. If going abroad to save myself a few quid is what i have to then so be it,i've a pain in my hole giving the government more tax than i need to.:)

The Hill Billy

Elevator - If you have an issue with Smoking, take it to another forum. Judgmental posts like the above are not acceptable here.

Back on topic please.

HB

Delancey

Hill Billy wrote: »

All you need to know is here.

Thanks Hill Billy , interesting that over 800 cigs could be a problem.

kev9100

Smokes in Bulgaria are very cheap and are of a pretty good quality as well.

ArmaniJeanss

Hill Billy wrote: »

All you need to know is here.

delancey42 wrote: »

Thanks Hill Billy , interesting that over 800 cigs could be a problem.

In reality just over 800 won't be a problem.
I've a friend who is a customs officers normally based in Dublin Airport, and she has told me countless times that all the customs staff there work to a guideline of around 3000 cigarettes (purchased within the EU) for personal use.

(They use these guidelines for the genuine holidaymaker, and can lower the amount for someone who they suspect has gone abroad purely to get cigarettes. e.g., a go in the morning, back in the evening trip to Poland).

The Hill Billy

That may be so, but the customs officers are within their rights to impound your smokes if you attempt to bring in over the maximum quantity of 800.

Delancey

The link that Hill Billy provided is to a Customs page that says uptil 31 December 2009 the maximum number of cigarettes that can be brought in from Bulgaria is only 200. Of course it is now 2010 so I wonder if that Bulgarian cap still applies ?

eoindrummer

Visited Montenegro over the Summer, local cigarettes that go by names like "Fast" and "Respect" start at 50cent for a soft pack. Marlboros are €1 a pack and Davidoff are the most expensive in the country at €1.50. Brought back 1000 fags with me from there, not a thing was said. You have to bury them in your luggage.

CJhaughey

This would appear to say there is no limit for personal use.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/kfkfeycwojmh/rss2/

The Hill Billy

Hill Billy wrote: »

That may be so, but the customs officers are within their rights to impound your smokes if you attempt to bring in over the maximum quantity of 800.

* Looks for large slice of humble pie *

Irish Indo wrote:

No limit for cheap holiday cigarettes and drink
By Fiach Kelly Political Correspondent

Friday March 12 2010

HOLIDAYMAKERS returning from trips to Europe can effectively bring back as much alcohol and cigarettes as they like, Revenue chiefs admitted yesterday.

Irish people travelling abroad are consistently warned they can only bring back 800 cigarettes and 90 litres of wine with their holiday luggage.

Those going on holidays to places like Spain sometimes take advantage of the much cheaper prices to bring home multi-pack cigarettes and bottles of alcoholic spirits.

But Josephine Feehily, head of the Revenue Commissioners, told the Dail Public Accounts Committee, that cigarettes bought within the EU already have their duty paid on them.

Ms Feehily said although there was a limit advertised at places like ports and airports, it would be extremely difficult for the Revenue Commissioners to prove in court that any number of cigarettes were not for someone's personal use. A spokesman for the Revenue later confirmed the same applied to cheap alcohol bought within the EU. A person could say they were using the alcohol for a wedding or similar event, he added.

Ms Feehily said most large-scale smuggling was happening at ports around the country.

But there was "very significant" case law which said the taxman must prove that cigarettes bought by tourists were not for personal use, she added.

She said people were free to brink back massive quantities of tobacco if they wanted.

"In the context of our membership of the European Union, people can bring duty-paid tobacco from other member states for their personal use and while we have an indicative guideline of 800 cigarettes, that is only indicative.

"What the law says is you can bring in tobacco for your personal use and there is very significant case law in the European courts and, indeed, domestically that suggests that the burden of us establishing the cigarettes are not for personal use is very high.

"So people can bring in many, many thousands, legally, legitimately into the country for their own use."

Ms Feehily was being questioned on the wider issue of cigarette smuggling and said that there was a huge market for knock-offs in Ireland.

Another avenue of smuggling was through suitcases, she said, but the really big shipments came in containers through ports, including the massive €50m seizure of 120 million cigarettes in Greenore, in Co Louth, last year. She described the Irish market for counterfeits as "fairly lucrative" and added that criminals usually followed public demand.

ArmaniJeanss

Hill Billy wrote: »

* Looks for large slice of humble pie *

Sure have a humble cigarette instead.

Its not really your fault anyway - the revenue have attempted over the last few years to get the 800 figure into the publics mind and people actually start to believe it. (I've seen friends deliberately limit themselves to this amount despite me patiently explaining the 3000 rule and how I'm not the slightest bit worried about 'smuggling' 12 sleeves of smokes through the airport).

Its only when someone from the revenue is actually forced to tell the truth in front of a Dail committee that the reality about the 800 figures starts to come out.

By next week they'll be back to talking about 800 cigarettes as being the limit.

Delancey

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

Sure have a humble cigarette instead.

Its not really your fault anyway - the revenue have attempted over the last few years to get the 800 figure into the publics mind and people actually start to believe it. (I've seen friends deliberately limit themselves to this amount despite me patiently explaining the 3000 rule and how I'm not the slightest bit worried about 'smuggling' 12 sleeves of smokes through the airport).

Its only when someone from the revenue is actually forced to tell the truth in front of a Dail committee that the reality about the 800 figures starts to come out.

By next week they'll be back to talking about 800 cigarettes as being the limit.

Absolutely back to the bully boy tactics

lord lucan

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

Sure have a humble cigarette instead.

Its not really your fault anyway - the revenue have attempted over the last few years to get the 800 figure into the publics mind and people actually start to believe it. (I've seen friends deliberately limit themselves to this amount despite me patiently explaining the 3000 rule and how I'm not the slightest bit worried about 'smuggling' 12 sleeves of smokes through the airport).

Its only when someone from the revenue is actually forced to tell the truth in front of a Dail committee that the reality about the 800 figures starts to come out.

By next week they'll be back to talking about 800 cigarettes as being the limit.

The UK have a figure of 3200 as a guideline,that's what i used in my head as a base guideline. I only bought 2000 in Barcelona because i couldn't it anymore into the sports bag i had with me.:p

As you say,they'll still try and keep that figure of 800 in peoples minds as the upper limit.

rolion

I came back from holiday through Budapest.My wife smokes a lot so i went to shop in airport to get a cheappy pack for her.I asked the girl at the counter that i'm flying to Ireland and if there are any restrictions in number.She checked with other girl and she said that i have to buy from EU racks...at 22 euro each.No limits number wise...

Got myself 25 boxes ( 25 x 2000 )at 22 euro each,it compensate paid for flight tickets,car rent,taxi home and still money left for an indian food !! i still have the receipts from the airport...

Unbelievable the difference in price over here...EU limit of 800 ? My arse...is EU,why there are taxes if you buy an item from States ? Because is outside of EU !? Then,why impose limits and taxes INSIDE the EU ??? Why,from France to Spain there are no restrictions ???

I'm sick ...

amacachi

4.99 for 200 in Lanzarote a coupla years ago. :pac: Easily smokable as well. Think I took back over 5000, customs lad went through the bag but let me on ahead. Was lucky, had a whole summer with no income ahead of me. :pac:

Degsy

amacachi wrote: »

4.99 for 200 in Lanzarote a coupla years ago. :pac: Easily smokable as well. Think I took back over 5000, customs lad went through the bag but let me on ahead. Was lucky, had a whole summer with no income ahead of me. :pac:

Lanzarote is the place for cheap smokes.
Dont buy in the Bazaar-style shops that sell counterfeits and stuff like binoculars.
There are specialist duty-free shops and supermarkets where you can buy 200 marlboro for 17 euro or as little as 5 euro for 200 Winfield.
I dont smoke btw so bring me back some booze for telling you!

lord lucan

amacachi wrote: »

4.99 for 200 in Lanzarote a coupla years ago. :pac: Easily smokable as well. Think I took back over 5000, customs lad went through the bag but let me on ahead. Was lucky, had a whole summer with no income ahead of me. :pac:

Lucky man. Lanzarote and the rest of the Canary islands are treated as outside the EU so the duty free limit coming back from there is 200 smokes.

amacachi

Degsy wrote: »

Lanzarote is the place for cheap smokes.
Dont buy in the Bazaar-style shops that sell counterfeits and stuff like binoculars.
There are specialist duty-free shops and supermarkets where you can buy 200 marlboro for 17 euro or as little as 5 euro for 200 Winfield.
I dont smoke btw so bring me back some booze for telling you!

Think the ones I had were Desert Gold. Didn't think it was worth paying 3 times as much for nice ones.

lord lucan wrote: »

Lucky man. Lanzarote and the rest of the Canary islands are treated as outside the EU so the duty free limit coming back from there is 200 smokes.

We were only searched because my mate was a tool so we were the only two people going through customs at like half 12 I think. He took them all out, put 800 aside and said "That's how many you're allowed." So I put 800 back in, mate put 800 in his and as I was zipping the bag yer man goes "Go on ahead this time, just so you know in future." Happy days. :pac:
Nearly be tempted to head over to stock up sometime soon.

lord lucan

amacachi wrote: »

We were only searched because my mate was a tool so we were the only two people going through customs at like half 12 I think. He took them all out, put 800 aside and said "That's how many you're allowed." So I put 800 back in, mate put 800 in his and as I was zipping the bag yer man goes "Go on ahead this time, just so you know in future." Happy days. :pac:
Nearly be tempted to head over to stock up sometime soon.

Jaysus you were blessed!! That saved you a few bob i bet.:)

amacachi

lord lucan wrote: »

Jaysus you were blessed!! That saved you a few bob i bet.:)

Aye, couldn't believe it. Was ready to go mental at me mate for causing the search til yer man said to work away. Like I said I'd a whole summer with no income whatsoever, about 3 months, and they lasted about a month longer than that, and I donated some to my parents which they were grateful for and for unrelated reasons gave me some money. Completely legal. :pac:

dubtom

That's interesting news about the limit of smokes,I wonder could a person who has had thousands taken from them claim them back. I picked up a woman last year at the airport who had 8000 taken and she was a genuine holiday maker.
It was her years supply. Are customs still relying on our ignorance and seizing large quantities?

pebbles21

Was in Tenerife a few weeks back,brought back ten thousand L&Bs(john p blue alt) at €17 for two hundred

We were the only flight in that night at 1am,and i seen at least six custom officers waiting at the x-ray machine

I put the bags with smokes in them onto my 75 year old mother in laws trolley and told her to go out side see if our lift was there, and i would wait for our other luggage to arrive(never mentioned the smokes)

She waltzed passed the customs,five mins later as i was walking past them i was stopped and asked to put my bags through the x-ray machine which were grand

It was worth the few slaps i got off the wife amd mum in law when i told her

Delancey

Good thinking - well done !

amacachi

dubtom wrote: »

That's interesting news about the limit of smokes,I wonder could a person who has had thousands taken from them claim them back. I picked up a woman last year at the airport who had 8000 taken and she was a genuine holiday maker.
It was her years supply. Are customs still relying on our ignorance and seizing large quantities?

Was she searched? I was only searched because me and my mate were the only two people around at the time.
If it's busy I've heard people say with 5-10,000 that if you argue at all they usually let you through.

dubtom

She was searched yea,the confusing thing at the time was that her friends were allowed through with 3 or 4 thousand each.I'd love to see this brought to the general public's attention,It's a scandal that people have been literally robbed by customs through ignorance for years.

CSC

What is the cheapest European country for Cigars?

I have only ever bought them in Dublin.

theblueirish

back on track again:

countries i have been to the last year, prices are for Marlboro Lights (gold)

Italy (Milan) €4.50 per pack
Spain (Madrid) €3.50 per pack.
UK €6.60 per pack
ROI €8.50 per pack

18 months ago
Romania (Cluj) €1.10 per pack
Hungary (Budapest) € 1.60 per pack

I am out now so will probably being doing a run shortly, If anyone else has any other prices I would appreciate it.

Regards

Theblueirish

thierrym

Hi, I' ve just come back from a few days in Fuerteventura with 20 cartons of silk cut. I paid 23.50 euro per carton. I wasn' t even looked at by the custom in Dublin airport. I am planning to travel there again for a day or 2 when my stock runs out.

dr.fuzzenstein

I usually go to Germany for Tobacco.
I buy De Moriaan in Aldi, 40 gram for E3.40. Usually bring back 20-40 packets, that does me till the next time.
Here 25 gram of tobacco will cost you damn near 8 Euro, haven't bought a packet in 10 years, so I wouldn't know.
I estimate I pay about E150 a year for my smokes (not a heavy smoker).