Starting a Online Tobacco Store - Advice?

Discussion in 'eCommerce' started by m1ndless, Aug 26, 2010.

  1. #1
    I am starting a store that sells tobacoo online, I already have my state tobacco license to sell so now I am just looking for some advice on what to do with the site.

    I was able to get a VERY GOOD domain for my site, it's buy-keyword.com, so I think it can rank VERY well for my products.

    I am thinking of using magneto, and just using a basic theme. Do I need to look into SSL certificates or anything? I don't want to get hacked.

    What can I do to get this started?
     
    m1ndless, Aug 26, 2010 IP
  2. jestep

    jestep Prominent Member

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    #2
    Find a credit card processor first. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to find a tobacco processor. It may be the single make or break point in your plan. I would make sure you have this capability before going any further.
     
    jestep, Aug 26, 2010 IP
  3. allthegoodnamesweretaken

    allthegoodnamesweretaken Peon

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    #3
    Off topic, but PM me a link to your site please I'm interested :)
     
  4. efikra

    efikra Guest

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    #4
    send me detail pls
     
    efikra, Aug 26, 2010 IP
  5. ask talk

    ask talk Peon

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    #5
    i think you can choose z-cart,it is more easy to open your online shop!and have so many modual can be choose.
     
    ask talk, Aug 28, 2010 IP
  6. marshalprince

    marshalprince Peon

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    #6
    ya you should use SSL in your domain as it is related to buy- trade kind of site..
     
    marshalprince, Aug 28, 2010 IP
  7. UnBooked

    UnBooked Peon

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    #7
    Make sure you have all of the required legal documentation to sell tobacco online. Keep in mind that there often is some legal work when you sell these types of products.
     
    UnBooked, Aug 30, 2010 IP
  8. monimon

    monimon Peon

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    #8
    i agree with jestep, the first thing you should do is find payment processor who will agree to process your payments when this is done, i recommend to use Magento you can buy great theme in $50-$100
     
    monimon, Aug 31, 2010 IP
  9. johnaxel

    johnaxel Peon

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    #9
    Please send me an email. I provide Merchant Payment solutions to many online Cigar / Tobacco merchants.

    Thank you.
     
    johnaxel, Sep 9, 2010 IP
  10. m1ndless

    m1ndless Peon

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    #10
    What if I am doing dropshipping, I am not actually selling any tobacco, right?
     
    m1ndless, Sep 10, 2010 IP
  11. burnzzy81

    burnzzy81 Peon

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    #11
    How are you planning on shipping your tobacco products? If you are in the US, they recently passed a law banning shipping cigarettes through US postal mail and FedEx and UPS won't ship them either.
     
    burnzzy81, Sep 11, 2010 IP
  12. zodiac

    zodiac Peon

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    #12
    cigarettes and tobacco are two different things.
    you can still ship tobacco.

    they also require you to collect state tax for each state.
    some online stores stopped selling out of state or they just sell pipe tobacco that you can smoke like regular tobacco.
     
    zodiac, Sep 12, 2010 IP
  13. Gareth_Boyd

    Gareth_Boyd Well-Known Member

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    #13
    If possible, you should really try to use an affiliate so you don't have to bother with shipping, moaning customers etc etc.
     
    Gareth_Boyd, Sep 12, 2010 IP
  14. johnlennon2

    johnlennon2 Peon

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    #14
    Find information about the specific policies regarding sale of tobacco in your target countries. My advice.
     
    johnlennon2, Sep 16, 2010 IP
  15. HoopsFan

    HoopsFan Member

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    #15
    Interesting, so how do cigarettes ship? DHL? :)
     
    HoopsFan, Sep 20, 2010 IP
  16. johnaxel

    johnaxel Peon

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    #16
    Please send me an email... . I need to get a few questions answered. Thanks.
     
    johnaxel, Sep 20, 2010 IP