“I just there should be a good market for inexpensive cigarettes,” Hartman said. “I don’t even smoke. Everyone thinks that’s funny.”
Hartman sells customers American blend leaf tobacco, then gives them the use of various machinery to shred and pack the tobacco, then roll into cigarettes themselves.
The cost is $2 a pack or $15 a carton.
“No place else can they buy a single pack for $2 and I sell a lot of them in this area, a packet at a time,” he said. “They save money buying by the carton, but they’ve only got money for a pack.”
Because Hartman takes a hands-off policy and allows customers to create their own product, there is no federal tax. That’s because cigarettes are subject to that tax but tobacco on its own is considered produce and is therefore exempt.
Cheap Smoke offers three blends from which to choose: full flavored, light and an English blend.
Although Hartman believes that many potential customers may not notice his small, 550-square-foot storefront, Cheap Smoke is building up a steady base of return clientele.
“They’re paying at least $4.50 (at other stores) for a pack of cheap cigarettes and on up to $6 for a pack and they’re finding this tobacco is very acceptable for the price,” Hartman said. “They can’t pass it up.”
Hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
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