COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — Vapes and nicotine pouches in Washington became significantly more expensive yesterday when the state’s 95% tax on these nicotine products went into effect.
The tax is hurting both local smoke shops and consumers’ wallets in Washington. However, not everyone is upset about this tax. Businesses across the state line in Idaho say the tax is making them money.
“There’s been an increase on customers coming in to get products that are taxed higher,” said Ngewakl Sakuma, manager of A1 Smoke Shop.
That’s how it’s been for several smoke shops along the state line ever since Washington’s tax went into effect.
“They don’t want to buy over there because it’s over twice what we’ve got for prices anyway,” said Joni Hepler, manager at Liberty Stop-N-Go.
The 95% nicotine tax has nearly doubled the prices on certain products like vapes and pouches, so they’re now taxed at the same rate as cigarettes. Now customers are debating whether they should buy these items at all, or go the extra mile to stock up.
Jeff Long made the drive from Liberty Lake.
“Basically, you’re gonna end up paying double, you know, essentially what you were before. So you either do that or stop doing it. And this is close,” Long said.
Many customers have made trips much longer than Jeff’s. At the A1 smoke shop, they’re seeing customers drive from as far as Wenatchee to purchase items in Idaho because they’re that much cheaper.
“They’re not very happy with Washington State and they enjoy coming in. They like service, so. And the prices they help,” Sakuma said.
These shops were anticipating this would happen, which is why they’ve stocked up on product.
“We had a customer the other day yesterday buy 15 rolls, because he was afraid that we were going to raise our prices. And we told them we’re not going to. But he said he’ll be here every week now to buy his product,” Hepler said.
While these stores have a revolving door of customers, these are sales Washington smoke shops are losing out on.
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