CVS ending cigarette sales

[paulo57509]

Originally Posted By: CHARLIEBRONSON21
I always wondered why a "health" store sold tobacco and alcohol.


I've often wondered the same thing about the menu at the local hospital cafeteria. You can buy all the fats, sugars, sodium and chemicals you could ever want.

 

[simple_gifts]

The Westerly Hospital in Westerly RI has a Honey Dew Donut shop on site.

I'd be more critical of that, but those donuts are gooooood.

 

[salv]

I think it is a positive move regardless of it's motivation, regardless of whatever other unhealthy items their stores may sell, and regardless of the financial impact that it may have on the company.
Anything that helps shrink the market for tobacco products is positive. I hope this sets a trend for other drug store and retail chains.

 

[earlyre]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Someone mentioned that they are just making room for medical marijuana displays.

not every state has medical marijuana yet. mine being one that doesn't...

 

[Quattro Pete]

I realize that. It was said half-jokingly. Hence the smiley face.

 

[javacontour]

That's what oilBabe said today, that she would start using the CVS more than the Walgreens due to them not selling smokes.

Now, I don't think they are stopping until October, so we'll see how it goes.


Originally Posted By: Miller88
Today, everything is about PR. If you can make your company look good, people will go to your company.

Do you know how many times I saw this "shared" on Facebook today? No doubt, there were people that will now be shopping at CVS before - ONLY because they saw the post from CVS where CVS no longer sells cigarettes.

If you can make your company look "good" in some way, it's almost a guarantee.

If they really cared about people's health, they would stop selling:
- Cigarettes
- Energy Drinks
- Half of the prescription medications that have 10000 side effects and don't actually make people better.

 

[UncleS2]

Gotta start somewhere, I guess. Re: the energy drinks, wine & beer, etc:
Any life insurance company starts with what are, for them, the Big 3 Questions.
1. Age?
2. Gender?
3. Do you smoke?
No foolin'.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: UncleS2
Any life insurance company starts with what are, for them, the Big 3 Questions.
1. Age?
2. Gender?
3. Do you smoke?
No foolin'.

Not sure what you mean. An insurance company loves smokers because it gets to charge them higher premiums, so it actually makes more money off them. The higher premiums more than make up for the potential claim payment. They're in it to make money after all. It's all calculated.

 

[Doog]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Someone mentioned that they are just making room for medical marijuana displays.

Not a chance...the Smith & Wesson and Glock cabinets will take that space.....

 

[UncleS2]

What I mean is that smoking is so statistically significant a factor in life span, that they will ask you about that before ever bringing up things like skydiving or scuba diving. They will usually insure smokers, but charge more.

When it comes to very large numbers of people, *Nobody* knows more about causes of death than the life insurance companies.

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: supton
"Put simply, the sale of tobacco products is inconsistent with our purpose."


I think this is a very reasonable explanation and makes sense. Good for them.

I don't see it as such a big deal. Most people probably purchase their tobacco at convenience stores, grocery stores, or Wal-Mart. Usually convenience stores have the best prices on tobacco products because they play a much bigger role in their overall sales.

I am a tobacco user, but I don't smoke, I dip. I buy it at a convenience store because that's where it is cheapest. Though I do sometimes shop at CVS, I have never purchased tobacco there.

 

[Merkava_4]

A pack of Marlboro 100's used to cost 50 cents a pack -- what do they cost now?

 

[DBMaster]

If the cost of a pack of cigs was related to its ultimate social cost no one would be able to afford them. Lots of the health issues related to their use fall on the rest of us in that odd form of socialized medicine that we have. We refuse to call it such, but those of us who pay our bills and have insurance ultimately foot the bill for those who do not.

I am not saying they should be banned. Smoke 'em if you got 'em. But, the total cost of unpaid medical bills related to smoking ought to be tallied up and divided by the total number of cigs sold per year.

How much do you think a pack of smokes would cost then?

 

[Trav]

Now the rest of the story.
They are hoping to become a health care provider.
I knew there was more to this than good public image. I will bet money this whole thing comes down like a house of cards.

Quote:
Still, the company’s stock fell today about 1.7 percent as of 11:17 a.m. to $65.00. The move is expected to cut 6 to 9 cents of revenue per share this year, and about 17 cents annually next year.


This is going to be interesting to watch i figured this was going to happen, i don't believe it will be short term either, investors may not going to share the vision of the misguided CEO.

http://www.nj.com/business/index.ssf/2014/02/cvs_tobacco_sales_2_billion_obama_health_care.html

 

[refaller]

They built a new Walgreen's a block from my house. I still walk the 3 blocks to go to CVS and this affirms my choice. I respected that they stayed in our town when everyone else left. I truly appreciate a company staying true to its purpose. Looks like I need to invest too.

ref

 

[Garak]

From a Canadian perspective, some jurisdictions (this province, for instance) prohibit pharmacies (and stores that have pharmacies) from selling tobacco products. Superstore builds a separate, attached tobacco shop with a separate entrance. Other pharmacies gave up tobacco altogether.

 

[Vikas]

why don't we visit this in couple of years and then compare how CVS stock has done with respect to its peers? I am guessing this move will NOT hurt them but we will know if couple of years.

 

[earlyre]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
A pack of Marlboro 100's used to cost 50 cents a pack -- what do they cost now?

varies depending on where you are,(and store to store) but around here, it's the $5-6 ballpark.

ex:
the Meijer store where i work, the pre sales tax price for Marlboros is (iirc) $6.59, go to the end of our parking lot, to our gas station (Meijer gas station, same company, just a different department)your out the door price after tax is under $6. and they have a much larger selection/higher product turn over rate.

I know in NYC they were over $10/pack 5-10 years ago, can't even imagine nowadays..

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: earlyre
I know in NYC they were over $10/pack 5-10 years ago, can't even imagine nowadays..

Yeah, isn't it like $10-$12 in Chicago right now? Taxes alone are some $6-$7/pack.

 

[strat81]

Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
Nobile decision yes, however they truly don't care about the health of their customers if they continue to sell alcohol, Rockstar/Monster, and 5 Hour Energy.


Took the words out of my mouth, especially about the booze.

And I'm sure they'll be clearing their shelves of potato chips, candy, soda, and other junk food too. Enabling the obesity epidemic, diabetes, and heart disease surely can't be "consistent with their purpose"?

(Non-smoker here, so I don't have a dog in this fight. I also don't remember the last time I stepped in a CVS. It's been at least 8 years, when I left NYC.)