Black Market Cigarettes

Real eye-opener. Very good report. GL.

I wish I could hear the interviewer on the couch more clearly. Otherwise, this is a pretty eye-opening pod. I had no idea this was going on, and right down the street from where I used to live. Definite GL.

Great work on a really compelling subject.

GL

An important story, the same thing happened all over Eastern Europe after the Berlin wall came down and cigarette prices doubled overnight. There is huge money in black market smokes, ask the Mohawk nation in Quebec where you can buy 200 loose cigarettes for $18 CDN or get a carton for $22 CDN. The same smokes cost $50 CDN a carton with the provincial tax. So where do you think smokers will go to fuel their addiciton? Answer: The black market, or Indian reservation smokes, even ordering them on the Internet. Anywhere except legal channels to avoid the 100-150% tax.

I quit smoking 3 months ago and glad I did, it was ridiculous how much money it cost to smoke. When i started cigs were $1.10 a pack, when I quit they were $7.00.

A friend of mine just died of Lung Cancer in December, he was 49 years old, too young to die from smoking - and he had smoked for 30 years. From age 19 to 49 - and it got him.

Good story, some audio tweaking would help your VOs, but I'll GL.

-zen

i like this piece alot. i am all too familiar with buying loosies at my local bodega! i think you've got some really strong imagery in this piece as well, and i wonder if you even need to have the interviewer in it. when i was watching it i thought how strong it would be if for instance the one guy with the hoodie was just talking directly to the camera. i think this piece is strong not only because of the subject matter but the players involved are so interesting. they are definitely cinematic. love the bit when the guy is on the phone with his mom. good job.
check out my film, 88, when you get a chance!

It is an important topic on this pod and has a good handle of interviews and images.
GL.

another example of your smooth storytelling. interesting subject too. GL

thanks so much for your encouragement and feedback on 88 and News Girl. really Impressed by your pods and your batting average! every one aired! way to go!

This video was well executed. Well filmed with incredibly interesting details. After living in Peru for several years, I have learned of the market, but it was incredible to get the perspective you brought into it. I thought the personal interviews were well stated and especially enjoyed the hood and sunglasses.. Well done. GL from me... danielmklopp....

Great Job maracamp, after living in NYC for a year I've seen this hustle...

This goes to show you that nicotine is a drug. GL!

Please view "Any Dad" video.

Very well done -- stayed on point and filled in with facts to support the anecdotal info from the interviews. Raises at least 2 interesting questions: a) has the City created new, not so illegal income potential independent, possibly unemployed citzens and b) are these operators robbing the city of needed tax revenues?

Why hasn't this been picked up yet? GL.

well done... raw, real story portrayal...

Really nice job!

congrats you've snuck past me into the number 12 spot! glad to see your pod is doing well.

i just up-loaded a new little pod that i made for chinese new year. check it out if you get a chance..."The Year of the Pig"

great piece..urban information

I am impressed of the detail and production/risk value of this pod, congratulations! the subject is raw, and relevant, thanks for your energy invested...

If you have time, check the final cut of my AD, "New Year's Favorite".

Good track

I like this one. GL.

Hello, I really enjoyed your piece. I continue to desire to hear from your material. I was curious if you could give your input and thoughts to my revision of The Voice of The Murmurs. If you have a chance to view it and give me our opinion. I respect your work and would value your input, and ideas. Thank you so much for helping me to speak for those who cannot.

A couple of weeks ago there was a 1 hr special on FOX news on this very topic.

This piece was more on point and was more interesting.
GL.

Please take a moment to click on my head and check out my pod small town climate change. Give it a GL if you like.

Thanks.

Down to earth. Nice expose. GL.

information is golden, a pod that educates is a pod that deserves a GL.

Check out my pod

In God's Image, I have a message to convey

Mark Angelo

entertaining piece.GL !

it seems so bananas to me that there is a 'black market' for cigarettes here here! as an ex-smoker, i totally get the jones, and those tax numbers are outrageous. good info. GL

please check out my pod, 'the big brother show,'

thanks.~kendall

Goes to show what happens when something is outlawed. Too bad the government never really learns their lesson on this one :(

Funny how the cigarette 'dealers' are so charismatic and intelligent, they understand the issues and economics behind it more than the politicians who came up with the scheme.

Not related at all, but I've got a pod called Eats Shoots and Plays Music about a young rock band in Oakland. It's not as cool as this one but enjoyable nonetheless (I hope).

$7.25 for a pack of cigarettes-?!!!! Holy Cow. That's crazy IMO. No wonder there is now a 'black market' in NYC. Very informative and worth a GL.

nice piece! Concise, too the point and... I liked those guys - you can see their point. This is what current TV should be about - the other side of the story & the causes not just the symptoms.
PS Check out the prices in London! 5.30 GBP! That's almost ten dollars.

wow i had no idea this was even an issue... GL this needs to be on tv!

sick wit it. fascinating.

good pod. informative and interesting angle. gl.

Entertaining and informative piece. My only critique is that it could benefit from additional sound work; leveling everything out, cleaning it up a little. But good job!

Even more interesting because smokers addiction is exploited worldwide by governments. Most of the price of a pack is taxes. My concern is how much is the tobacco producing peasant getting.

hadn't really thought about this issue before. very interesting.

Great pod!GL!

That was deep......

You had great access to a world that most would never get a peak into. Great idea, solid piece. Makes you think about how far things could go...

Check out my pod - The Dollar Store Show
link

If I ever go to NY I now know where to buy cigs. $250 a night, wow I need to start.

well-balanced ...props...

It is true. NYC, the only place in the US where weed is cheaper then cigarettes. $5 vs. $6.50. Personally if I had a 15 year old daughter I would rather see her experiment with marijuana then have her get addicted to cigarettes. I'm a 20 year smoker who moved to NYC 3 years ago and the high prices cut down my smoking. I would like to see them $20 a pack.

Very interesting how things are going with taxes and supply & demand etc..How can anyone afford to do anything in NYC?

shit! GL!

Cause and effect. Great Job.

I really enjoyed watching this--great use of graphics voiceover and b-roll (I especially like the flame at the beginning and transition into the statistics.)
Overall, I think the smooth pacing of this piece is what makes it so sucessful.
GL!