There has been collusion in the past between the manufacturers of light bulbs in both the U.S. and Europe. In 1924 they formed what was called The Phoebus Cartel. They lowered the lifespan of light bulbs from around 2500 hours to around 1000 hours. It also allowed them to set whatever price they wanted without fear of competition. Here's the proof.
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Phoebus_cartel
Phoebus cartel - Wikipedia
As I contended in another thread that got closed down because I didn't provide the proof I wasn't asked for, the same thing still goes on. Why? Basically because the wealthy and big business are above the law. The instance I brought up concerns the price for a pack of cigarettes.
If I could afford to smoke them, the cheapest I can buy a pack of cigarettes is for about $6.40 per pack. I looked into filtered mini cigars. As it turns out, the tobacco used in mini cigars has to be age for months if not years. That has to increase their price. A mini cigar also contains around 3 times the amount of tobacco than a regular cigarette uses. That too has to increase the price that it costs to manufacture them.
I was able to find a place that sells filtered mini cigars for $1.17 per pack. I think it is collusion between cigarette manufacturers to make them sell cigarettes for a minimum price of $6.40 per pack when a pack of the more expensive to make filtered mini cigars sell for a minimum price of $1.17.
Also, looking it up, the federal government doesn't require that cigarettes be sold at a minimum price. Though some states do have laws that require cigarette wholesalers and retailers to charge a minimum percentage markup for cigarette sales. But to go from $1.17 to $6.40 is a hell of a markup! Those laws don't account for anything near that amount of a price markup. The lowest percentage of a price markup was 1.65%. Though in Pennsylvania, a Bill called HB 1300 would gradually increase that percentage to 2027 to be 8.5%. Which still doesn't account for that much difference in price.
If you are interested in knowing about that, here is a website for you.
Nih
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov › articles › PMC4167119
Reducing Tobacco Use and Access Through Strengthened Minimum Price Laws - PMC
Having said that, I can tell you that if I could find a way to buy cigarettes at a cheaper price on the black market, I would be severely tempted to do so.
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Phoebus_cartel
Phoebus cartel - Wikipedia
As I contended in another thread that got closed down because I didn't provide the proof I wasn't asked for, the same thing still goes on. Why? Basically because the wealthy and big business are above the law. The instance I brought up concerns the price for a pack of cigarettes.
If I could afford to smoke them, the cheapest I can buy a pack of cigarettes is for about $6.40 per pack. I looked into filtered mini cigars. As it turns out, the tobacco used in mini cigars has to be age for months if not years. That has to increase their price. A mini cigar also contains around 3 times the amount of tobacco than a regular cigarette uses. That too has to increase the price that it costs to manufacture them.
I was able to find a place that sells filtered mini cigars for $1.17 per pack. I think it is collusion between cigarette manufacturers to make them sell cigarettes for a minimum price of $6.40 per pack when a pack of the more expensive to make filtered mini cigars sell for a minimum price of $1.17.
Also, looking it up, the federal government doesn't require that cigarettes be sold at a minimum price. Though some states do have laws that require cigarette wholesalers and retailers to charge a minimum percentage markup for cigarette sales. But to go from $1.17 to $6.40 is a hell of a markup! Those laws don't account for anything near that amount of a price markup. The lowest percentage of a price markup was 1.65%. Though in Pennsylvania, a Bill called HB 1300 would gradually increase that percentage to 2027 to be 8.5%. Which still doesn't account for that much difference in price.
If you are interested in knowing about that, here is a website for you.
Nih
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov › articles › PMC4167119
Reducing Tobacco Use and Access Through Strengthened Minimum Price Laws - PMC
Having said that, I can tell you that if I could find a way to buy cigarettes at a cheaper price on the black market, I would be severely tempted to do so.
