Cigar Weekly

grtrx · 02-05-2014, 06:31 AM

CVS has decided to quit selling tobacco. Wonder if Walgreens will follow them.

My guess is they are not making enough money to justify the space, but I could be wrong

BigJohn · 02-05-2014, 06:50 AM

the space? at a typical CVS the space is about 8 feet of wall behind the counter.
What are they going to put there, instead? Condoms? freeobamacarebirthcontrol? Idiots. I never shop there anyway.

hockeymaniac · 02-05-2014, 06:51 AM

The report I saw said CVS made 2 billion a year on cigarettes. I'm thinking insurance companies are starting to put pressure on pharmacies.

tonycsmoke · 02-05-2014, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hockeymaniac

The report I saw said CVS made 2 billion a year on cigarettes. I'm thinking insurance companies are starting to put pressure on pharmacies.

Insurance companies could really give a shit. This is a push from the anti-tobacco, pharma public health nutballs. Still, CVS made the choice.

grtrx · 02-05-2014, 07:29 AM

Health insurers, who CVS needs to keep happy because they pay for a lot of prescriptions, may lean on them, but I am not so sure.

CVS didn't make 2 billion selling tobacco, maybe they sell $2 billion of retail volume. Maybe.

CVS will find something for that space that makes sense for tehm, we will find out, my guess it will be high volume/high margin given where it is, it could also be stuff needing security. The layout of a retail pharmacy is no accident. The whole planogramming of a store is a big big deal.

CVS has been struggling, and this gives them a nice publicity announcement and they can look like this is all health based, but I am certain it is a business decision because they are a business.

grtrx · 02-05-2014, 07:31 AM

and, as a pharmacist, I have to say, selling tobacco and liquor in a pharmacy does make for an interesting professional thought. I know some of you don't agree but tobacco os not healthy, and healthcare professionals are supposed to furhter the health.

I am not trying to set off a debate on safety/health/tobacco/freedom of choice.

I do find CVS' decision interesting.

There will not be black market sales of tobacco because of this. There may be increased tobacco sales at other stores. CVS will bask in the glow of this for a while.

beevod · 02-05-2014, 07:35 AM

Maybe they're making room for anticipated marijuana sales.

tonycsmoke · 02-05-2014, 06:54 AM

I find the reaction more entertaining then the decision. It's a private company that is making a decision that they think will help them, either through PR or sales.

Anti-Tobacco is hailing this as a major victory. It is not. There simply will be 7000 less places to buy tobacco. With several million places to buy it now, it has no affect.

As to the other side (which I closely align) - there are claims that it will force those sales to the black market. That this will somehow start the conversation getting rid of tobacco sales. It won't.

I find it hypocritical. If they are really concerned with health then they wouldn't have 25% of their stores dedicated to chips, soda and candy.

Briandg · 02-05-2014, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonycsmoke

I find it hypocritical. If they are really concerned with health then they wouldn't have 25% of their stores dedicated to chips, soda and candy.

When I see a company eliminating the candy gauntlet at the registers I'll be impressed. Maybe thirty years ago a a local store instituted program that there would always be one "candy free" register that mommies could drag their children through. I'm still not sure what to make of that one tiny experiment.

OregonDuck · 02-10-2014, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonycsmoke

I find it hypocritical. If they are really concerned with health then they wouldn't have 25% of their stores dedicated to chips, soda and candy.

And beer, wine, and liquor.

02-05-2014, 06:31 AM	#1
grtrx Contributing Editor Herf God Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Naperville IL Posts: 44,446	CVS CVS has decided to quit selling tobacco. Wonder if Walgreens will follow them. My guess is they are not making enough money to justify the space, but I could be wrong __________________ "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." - Sir Winston Churchill "A sick thought can devour the body's flesh more than fever or consumption." - Guy de Maupassant

02-05-2014, 06:50 AM	#2
BigJohn Chief Geek, @cigarweekly Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta (north burbs - Woodsto Posts: 14,094	the space? at a typical CVS the space is about 8 feet of wall behind the counter. What are they going to put there, instead? Condoms? freeobamacarebirthcontrol? Idiots. I never shop there anyway. __________________ Government breaks our legs, then hands us a pair of crutches and says, "You see? If it wasn't for us you wouldn't be able to walk.".... Aren't we so lucky!? Need a website? Get one from a BOTL - > PM me! *"I swear by my life, and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine."* Help support the CigarWeekly webhost (me!) > Shop online? Start HERE: direct to Amazon.com Protect your computer from VIRUSES > Get Avast!

02-05-2014, 06:51 AM	#3
hockeymaniac Herf Meister Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hutto, Texas Posts: 6,674	The report I saw said CVS made 2 billion a year on cigarettes. I'm thinking insurance companies are starting to put pressure on pharmacies. __________________ Member Full Flavored Federation Such a long long time to be gone and a short time to be here "No, I'm not a pessimist. At some point the world shits on everybody. Pretending it ain't shit makes you an idiot, not an optimist."

02-05-2014, 07:29 AM	#5
grtrx Contributing Editor Herf God Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Naperville IL Posts: 44,446	Health insurers, who CVS needs to keep happy because they pay for a lot of prescriptions, may lean on them, but I am not so sure. CVS didn't make 2 billion selling tobacco, maybe they sell $2 billion of retail volume. Maybe. CVS will find something for that space that makes sense for tehm, we will find out, my guess it will be high volume/high margin given where it is, it could also be stuff needing security. The layout of a retail pharmacy is no accident. The whole planogramming of a store is a big big deal. CVS has been struggling, and this gives them a nice publicity announcement and they can look like this is all health based, but I am certain it is a business decision because they are a business. __________________ "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." - Sir Winston Churchill "A sick thought can devour the body's flesh more than fever or consumption." - Guy de Maupassant

02-05-2014, 07:31 AM	#6
grtrx Contributing Editor Herf God Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Naperville IL Posts: 44,446	and, as a pharmacist, I have to say, selling tobacco and liquor in a pharmacy does make for an interesting professional thought. I know some of you don't agree but tobacco os not healthy, and healthcare professionals are supposed to furhter the health. I am not trying to set off a debate on safety/health/tobacco/freedom of choice. I do find CVS' decision interesting. There will not be black market sales of tobacco because of this. There may be increased tobacco sales at other stores. CVS will bask in the glow of this for a while. __________________ "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." - Sir Winston Churchill "A sick thought can devour the body's flesh more than fever or consumption." - Guy de Maupassant

02-05-2014, 07:35 AM	#7
beevod Herf God Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: New York City Posts: 20,927	Maybe they're making room for anticipated marijuana sales. __________________ "Moderation in all things. Excess in everything else."

02-05-2014, 06:54 AM	#8
tonycsmoke Club Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: St Louis Posts: 2,951	I find the reaction more entertaining then the decision. It's a private company that is making a decision that they think will help them, either through PR or sales. Anti-Tobacco is hailing this as a major victory. It is not. There simply will be 7000 less places to buy tobacco. With several million places to buy it now, it has no affect. As to the other side (which I closely align) - there are claims that it will force those sales to the black market. That this will somehow start the conversation getting rid of tobacco sales. It won't. I find it hypocritical. If they are really concerned with health then they wouldn't have 25% of their stores dedicated to chips, soda and candy. __________________ "Homer, slow down you'll kill us" yelled Marge. "Or die trying" exclaimed Homer.

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