Tobacco Runs

dacouch

Smoking cures kippers!

nearlyrich

baza52 wrote: »

At least the lung cancer guy had most likely paid more than enough into the nhs to cover his treatment.
Who paid for yours?

This is one of most horrible comments I have read on here for quite a while.....:(

s_b

im an ex smoker but i dont preach
i leave that to people who wear gowns and silly hats
depending where you live OP many coach companies do runs to Belgium,a customer of mine twice yearly catches a dedicated coach that costs £40 ish it drives to bruges they get kicked off bug the shop keeper near the station and then get back on the coach to come home
journey all done in 24 hours
dont forget your passport as she recalls the tale of driver kicking someone off at dover to make their own way home because they hadnt read the t@c 's

Wammer

fifeken wrote: »

Rough figures:

£3 per carton saved x 160 cartons (old guidelines I know) = £480 saved per trip.

It depends where you live/how you would travel for the direct costs and any indirect costs you would incur as to whether it's worth it for you.

The guidelines isn't 160 cartons, it is (was) 16 cartons or 3200 cigs per person.

The amount saved is nearer £33 a carton based on £70 a carton here so 16 x £33 = £528.

fifeken

Wammer wrote: »

The guidelines isn't 160 cartons, it is (was) 16 cartons or 3200 cigs per person.

Sorry, 16 cartons or 160 packets. I'll correct the post.

budgetflyer

In the Algarve, some of the American brands were about 32 Euro.
JPS Silver were around 38 so I reckon theres a potential saving of up to £40 per carton.
If you are a couple with no intention of stopping, thats a serious saving if you bring back the max allowed.
Before I stopped, we used to justify a long boozy weekend on the Costa Brava, with the savings.

booter

wackojacko99 wrote: »

Hi all!

With the new tax coming in on cigarettes it may be cheaper for me to just do a run back and forth every few months to Europe.

I was just wondering currently the best way to do it and if the potential savings are worth the hassle?

I suppose if you live near(ish) a crossing point and can get a good price for the crossing (I believe P&O have a deal on at the mo) then yes, it would be worthwhile - get the calculator out!:)

s_b wrote: »

depending where you live OP many coach companies do runs to Belgium,a customer of mine twice yearly catches a dedicated coach that costs £40 ish it drives to bruges they get kicked off bug the shop keeper near the station and then get back on the coach to come home
journey all done in 24 hours
dont forget your passport as she recalls the tale of driver kicking someone off at dover to make their own way home because they hadnt read the t@c 's

Did this once - and would never do it again! It was the longest, most uncomfortable 24 hrs of my life (although financially worth it) - but then, if you can sleep anywhere at any time, then go for it! I believe most coach companies t&c's state that you can only bring back the amount given in the HMRC guidelines and if you're over, then they can throw you off the coach.

Here's some info you may want to look at - it may help
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/thelibrary/tobacco-products.pdf
http://www.day-tripper.net/tobacco-in-belgium.html
http://nothing-2-declare.blogspot.co.uk/p/current-prices.html

baza52

nearlyrich wrote: »

This is one of most horrible comments I have read on here for quite a while.....:(

Why?
Smokers are always bashed for having NHS treatment when they "bring it on themselves"
Everyone forgets that a smoker will pay thousands of pounds a year more than a non smoker will.
Either the non smoker or the smoker can get cancer whether its a genetic mutation inhereted or smoking related.
Why should a non smoker think they are better than or more deserving than a smoker?

For the record, Im a smoker yet my wife who does not smoke has had cancer twice. (due to her genes not passive smoking) When i hear a cancer sufferer trying to score points off another i think that is unacceptable

wackojacko99

pompeyrich wrote: »

A day trip to Belgium works for us, expect to pay £19-£25 for a car and all passengers for a day trip. Legally there is no limit on what you can bring back, as long as it is for your own personal use. However UK Customs have had a "guideline" of 3,200 cigs and 3 kgs of baccy, these amounts have recently been reduced to 800 cigs and 1kg of baccy. As I said this is a guideline and if the customs can be satisfied the goods are not to be sold on, you should be fine.

As for prices, around £41 for premium brands, B&H etc. £35 for JPS but only 19 in a pack of these, so 5 % dearer. GV baccy is around £4.85 for 50g. It takes about 30-45mins to get to Belgium from Calais, straight down the A16 and off at the 1st exit past the border, no tolls. REAL TOBACCO BELGIUM or DAYTRIPPER for more info

That's very informative thank you!
I live in Cardiff so it's adding into consideration the diesel cost of the extra 300 odd miles to get to Portsmouth and back or 600 to get to Dover.

It might be easier then to get a coach over there, save the hassle of driving. However I can't seem to find a 'day trip' over there apart from tours that seem to cost £200 for the 3 nights which defeats the object slightly.

The choices!

agrinnall

pogofish wrote: »

And do they stand the chance of becoming as preciously self-righteous as you?

Go light-up and chill please!

Can you point at anything in my post that was not true? No, didn't think so.

If the OP and other smokers on here want to waste their money on a habit that is likely to shorten their lives that's their decision, I was simply suggesting an alternative that is a far bigger money saver than any other option.