CVS makes a landmark decision

[Comrad]

Tobacco isn't bad, it's what the cigarette companies add to it to hook you that are bad.

 

[Bill Bates]

Good for CVS; they are a private business and made a decision based on their principles and beliefs. That is something all business should be allowed to do no matter how unpopular that belief is with others.

 

[brucev]

CVS decided to stop selling tobacco products by the end of this year because they say selling pharmaceuticals and tobacco are in conflict with each other. They say they are going to lose $2 billion annually. Can you believe that a profit seeking company could come to such a decision???

Yep. Not hard to understand. They expect to make more money with other items. Dumping tobacco gives them positive press/advertising. Win/win.

 

[1morethan8]

Good for CVS; they are a private business and made a decision based on their principles and beliefs. That is something all business should be allowed to do no matter how unpopular that belief is with others.

No.. don't think so...

It's based on money.. not principles and beliefs...
they do have stock holders.

 

[SgtLumpy]

... I will not spend money at a store that clearly discriminates against a legal right whether its something I participate in or not.

CVS doesn't sell lettuce.

My local Chevy dealer doesn't sell cigarettes.

Pizza Hut doesn't sell diesel.

Darn them all to heck.


Sgt Lumpy

 

[moe smith]

Marketing scheme. Got all kinds of pub on the media. Now the 75% who hate smoking say "that's where I'm gonna get my next scrip".

Sure, they may say that all day long, but they'll be back at the prescription counter at Walmart after their first "You've gotta be kiddin me, how much did you say that is?" experience at CVS.

 

[moe smith]

Tobacco isn't bad, it's what the cigarette companies add to it to hook you that are bad.

That almost sounds Dr. Spock-ish.

 

[Hodgin]

I wonder about this $2 billion dollar thing. That sounds pretty high to me. I quit smoking cigs about 10 yrs ago and still occasionally smoke a pipe. If I ever bought a tobacco product at a drug store I can't recall it, and I'm absolutely certain it was never a CVS. I don't see how CVS could account for even a half of a percent of total sales. That means total cig sales would have to be $400 billion. Maybe it's right but sure sounds exaggerated to me.

 

[JcMack]

I can see the Native American inhabitants of what is now Virginia gathered in the woods watching the arrival of early European explorers. A very brave, brave says: "What can we do Chief, they have firesticks and will surely conquer us" The wise old Chief replies: "Do not fear". "Remember that nasty Tobac that grows wild in the fields? We used it to wipe our butts with until the MDA (MEDICINE DOCTORS ASSOCIATION) told us it was giving us the terrible hienie sores". "We will give the Tobac to them and tell the fools to smoke it"' "That will be their undoing" "Our Lenape brothers to the north have sold that stinky Manhattan Island to the new comers" "That is the place of evil vapors that drive men to be stupid and that new word to us, liberal."

 

[rwsmith]

No Alcohol

In the 70's I worked for a grocery store that didn't sell alcohol on Sunday. Or Monday, or Tuesday or any other day of the week. The owner catered to his mostly straight laced clientele in the community. It was really strange to work in a supermarket and have somebody ask, "Where's the beer" and you have to ask "We don't have any"....."WHAT???", "We don't sell it." and the person walks off fuming. After work me and the other young men would hit the convenience store and get our Miller and Boone's Farm.

 

[Beemerguy53]

I can see the Native American inhabitants of what is now Virginia gathered in the woods watching the arrival of early European explorers. A very brave, brave says: "What can we do Chief, they have firesticks and will surely conquer us" The wise old Chief replies: "Do not fear". "Remember that nasty Tobac that grows wild in the fields? We used it to wipe our butts with until the MDA (MEDICINE DOCTORS ASSOCIATION) told us it was giving us the terrible hienie sores". "We will give the Tobac to them and tell the fools to smoke it"' "That will be their undoing" "Our Lenape brothers to the north have sold that stinky Manhattan Island to the new comers" "That is the place of evil vapors that drive men to be stupid and that new word to us, liberal."

You know, I used to have a co-worker who was very well-educated, and had a vast knowledge of history. She referred to tobacco as the "red man's revenge"...

 

[dcxplant]

Marketing ploy, nothing else.

 

[Mydogmax]

You know, I've never looked at CVS to buy anything tobacco related. I've always gone to a brick and mortar store, or online, if I've wanted to get cigars or pipe tobacco. If it was dip or anything like that, I just went to a gas station where the prices were cheaper. I don't see this as something that'll affect them too heavily.

As for the company's decision... it's their decision. People will still get it from other sources, and probably cheaper too. If enough people complain and they lose enough profits, then they may decide that it's worth it. Considering the size of the chain, I don't think $2 billion is too huge a sum though.

Don't smoke a pipe but I always liked the smell of pipe tobacco.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

I wonder about this $2 billion dollar thing. That sounds pretty high to me. I quit smoking cigs about 10 yrs ago and still occasionally smoke a pipe. If I ever bought a tobacco product at a drug store I can't recall it, and I'm absolutely certain it was never a CVS. I don't see how CVS could account for even a half of a percent of total sales. That means total cig sales would have to be $400 billion. Maybe it's right but sure sounds exaggerated to me.

The $2bil includes other items. Need a pack of smokes... grab a cold soda, snack, Bic lighter, breath mints, gum... whatever while you're there. CVS... Walgreeens... Rite Aid... they are all mini-marts with a pharmacy in the back. Smokers and dipsters(just made that up) often buy a pack or can every day, so I would guess that they frequent mini-marts pharmacy/gas more than the average guy.

 

[SgtLumpy]

I'm doing very loose math off the top of my head...

400 billion in cig sales in the US.
Pack of cigs costs $6
315 million people in the US
20% of Americans smoke (63 million smokers)


If all that's anywhere near close, each smoker buys about 1000 packs of cigs per year or about 3 packs a day.

Again my figures are surely a little off one way or another but I could see that 3 packs a day as being something like accurate.


Sgt Lumpy

 

[Hodgin]

The $2bil includes other items. Need a pack of smokes... grab a cold soda, snack, Bic lighter, breath mints, gum... whatever while you're there. CVS... Walgreeens... Rite Aid... they are all mini-marts with a pharmacy in the back. Smokers and dipsters(just made that up) often buy a pack or can every day, so I would guess that they frequent mini-marts pharmacy/gas more than the average guy.

Oh, I misunderstood. I thought there was a statement that CVS alone stood to loose $2b in sales as a result of dropping tobacco items. I was pretty sure that was a ridiculous figure.

 

[kaaskop49]

Apparently, they weren't selling enough cigarettes so they decided to make a 'statement.' I hate 'statements.' Heaven forbid the company would be honest.

 

[wheelgun28]

I guess now CVS wont have any extra money to buy a new vacuum cleaner for the carpets. I guess a sponge and Fantastic is out too.

Every CVS is so dirty inside its not funny

We call them SkeeVy S! blech.....

Walgreens is better

 

[rwsmith]

The $2 billion of tobacco saies.....

$2 billion is a drop in the bucket compared to the profits off of prescription drugs.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Roughly.... 40-45 million smokers in the US. 300 billion cigs sold yearly. About a pack per day.

On top of that... 13 billion cigars and 125 million pounds of smokeless tobacco sold yearly in the US.