# So, found a basket 'o' smokes in the bargain bin @ Kroger (Rant: mild and menthol-y) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 3, 2009, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-found-a-basket-o-smokes-in-the-bargain-bin-kroger-rant-mild-and-menthol-y/479756 "2009-01-03T23:50:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![XJETGIRLX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9fc29f/32.png) [@XJETGIRLX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XJETGIRLX)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-found-a-basket-o-smokes-in-the-bargain-bin-kroger-rant-mild-and-menthol-y/479756/81 "2009-01-05T22:51:52Z")
And they sell beer right out in the open next to the potato chips. So? ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-found-a-basket-o-smokes-in-the-bargain-bin-kroger-rant-mild-and-menthol-y/479756/82 "2009-01-05T22:59:40Z")
The thing that gets me about the OP scenario is that he keeps repeating that they were **in the bargain bin, right next to the Snickers** to every person he talks to. Now, he eventually makes the link to his (totally wrong) armchair lawyering about how it is “illegal” not to have them in a special case, and his (totally wrong) statement that at the very least there would be a huge lawsuit. Were the personnel of the store standing there with mouth agape and not giving him a satisfactory reply because they’re stupid or want to kill kids, or because they didn’t understand the obvious non sequiter, and were baffled that a customer could realistically believe that an entire display filled itself and created the discount price label by accident or without management being aware? If someone felt they had to speak to the staff, why not say only “don’t you think it would be a good idea, and maybe even legally best, to put those smokes behind a counter? I’m worried that kids could get at them?” When someone instead keeps repeating a self-evident, and irrelevant-in-itself, fact “but they’re in the **bargain bin right next to the Snickers!!!** ” I begin to think they’re either kind of thick, or being purposefully obtuse so as to make some moral stand. Neither is calculated to motivate me toward new feats in customer service. ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-found-a-basket-o-smokes-in-the-bargain-bin-kroger-rant-mild-and-menthol-y/479756/83 "2009-01-05T23:10:59Z")
> [@Huerta88](#): > > The thing that gets me about the OP scenario is that he keeps repeating that they were **in the bargain bin, right next to the Snickers** to every person he talks to. Well you have to admit it would be irritating as all fuck to try to light up a smoke, and by mistake melt the end of a Snickers bar down your shirt. And to be honest, eating a Virginia Slims doesn’t come close to satisfying. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-found-a-basket-o-smokes-in-the-bargain-bin-kroger-rant-mild-and-menthol-y/479756/84 "2009-01-06T18:32:08Z")
> [@3acresandatruck](#): > > “You boys wouldn’t be planning to make gunpowder now, would you?”\* “No SIR!” was our emphatic reply. He rang it up and bagged our little jars of booty. We already had charcoal at home. > > - Now that I’m older, I often wonder if he was just planning to give us some pointers. My personal lab was abruptly shut down when my dad discovered the trays of drying gunpowder littered around my room. :rolleyes: Good thing I didn’t smoke at the time… ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-found-a-basket-o-smokes-in-the-bargain-bin-kroger-rant-mild-and-menthol-y/479756/85 "2009-01-06T18:48:31Z")
> [@Astroboy14](#): > > My personal lab was abruptly shut down when my dad discovered the trays of drying gunpowder littered around my room. :rolleyes: Wait – you’re supposed to wet it before grinding? Yes, we were that stupid. The ammonium iodide, we necessarily did mix wet. Still have the number of fingers appropriate to my station in life. ---
**Author:** ![Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abby_Emma_Sasha)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-found-a-basket-o-smokes-in-the-bargain-bin-kroger-rant-mild-and-menthol-y/479756/86 "2009-01-06T18:59:24Z")
Well, I’ve responded to many other threads tonight so I might as well give my two cents here. I asked my husband to look at our locally owned Kroger store for cheap ass bargain bin cigs, but he said it was a no go. I don’t remember the OP’s name and I’m too lazy too look, but hey, can you buy up all those cheap packs of cgcarettes ans send them to me? That way no kids will ever smoke them, they will only be smoked by me, an adult. I swear. I will kill to buy them for $1.99 a pack. Please, buy them all and sell them to me. Think of the children. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-found-a-basket-o-smokes-in-the-bargain-bin-kroger-rant-mild-and-menthol-y/479756/87 "2009-01-06T20:09:37Z")
> [@villa](#): > > Freshness is a big concern for the tobacco companies. Stores are in violation of their promotional agreements (or used to be) if the cigarettes they sold were not within a certain date, and the companies would send mystery shoppers round pretty frequently checking on this (amongst other things, predominately signage size and positioning). Go figure - I never realized this. I guess it makes sense. I go to enough trouble with my humidor to keep my cigars fresh, so it should be somewhat the same for cigarettes. Of course, they put glycerin and stuff on cigarette tobacco so it burns differently. Apropos of nothing, here is a quote I got from _Esquire_ the other day, that I am thinking of adopting as my new sig - > [@](#): > > I suppose if I took the label off, I couldn’t tell the difference between a Dominican and a Cuban. > > But why would I take the label off? Regards. Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abby_Emma_Sasha)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-found-a-basket-o-smokes-in-the-bargain-bin-kroger-rant-mild-and-menthol-y/479756/88 "2009-01-06T20:39:14Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Go figure - I never realized this. > > I guess it makes sense. I go to enough trouble with my humidor to keep my cigars fresh, so it should be somewhat the same for cigarettes. Of course, they put glycerin and stuff on cigarette tobacco so it burns differently. > > Apropos of nothing, here is a quote I got from _Esquire_ the other day, that I am thinking of adopting as my new sig - > Regards. > Shodan Dear **Shodan** , I’m not one of those assholes who think your signature is showy or insignificant. I like you. Really. If you have any pull with the OP please have him sell me the menthol Virginia Slims for 41.99 a pack. Please, think of the children. ---
**Author:** ![Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abby_Emma_Sasha)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-found-a-basket-o-smokes-in-the-bargain-bin-kroger-rant-mild-and-menthol-y/479756/89 "2009-01-06T20:48:37Z")
Well, for the god’s sake I tried three times to get the price at $1.99 not forty nine whatever is in my last post. Just disregard everything I have posted in the last year. I am obviously a troll. Or I have had too much Champipple. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-found-a-basket-o-smokes-in-the-bargain-bin-kroger-rant-mild-and-menthol-y/479756/90 "2009-01-06T22:08:43Z")
Too late. I have already arranged for him to sell you twenty five packs at $41.99 apiece. Think of it as motivation to quit smoking. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-found-a-basket-o-smokes-in-the-bargain-bin-kroger-rant-mild-and-menthol-y/479756/91 "2009-01-06T22:20:00Z")
Day two. _twitch_ ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-found-a-basket-o-smokes-in-the-bargain-bin-kroger-rant-mild-and-menthol-y/479756/92 "2009-01-06T22:20:48Z")
My dad says the first five years are the hardest. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-found-a-basket-o-smokes-in-the-bargain-bin-kroger-rant-mild-and-menthol-y/479756/93 "2009-01-06T22:22:29Z")
I actually made it 6 years once. Then I went back to grad school. ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-found-a-basket-o-smokes-in-the-bargain-bin-kroger-rant-mild-and-menthol-y/479756/94 "2009-01-06T23:27:04Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Apropos of nothing, here is a quote I got from _Esquire_ the other day, that I am thinking of adopting as my new sig - > > > [@](#): > > > > I suppose if I took the label off, I couldn’t tell the difference between a Dominican and a Cuban. > > > > But why would I take the label off? The reason for this, according to my buddy who runs the cigar store I frequent, is that a very significant proportion of “Cubans” smoked in the US are actually Dominicans with a Cuban label. He was saying 70%+. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-found-a-basket-o-smokes-in-the-bargain-bin-kroger-rant-mild-and-menthol-y/479756/95 "2009-01-07T02:23:58Z")
I forget - is the #1 cause of health problems in America smoking or obesity? Yeah, I’d be pissed that kids could grab the Snickers so easily, too. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-found-a-basket-o-smokes-in-the-bargain-bin-kroger-rant-mild-and-menthol-y/479756/96 "2009-01-07T02:55:28Z")
> [@villa](#): > > The reason for this, according to my buddy who runs the cigar store I frequent, is that a very significant proportion of “Cubans” smoked in the US are actually Dominicans with a Cuban label. He was saying 70%+. It’s quite possible. I wouldn’t know - I have only had two proported Cuban cigars in my life. One I bought in Canada. The other my son brought me back from Europe. The one my son brought me was the best cigar I have ever smoked in my life. That sucker was as smooth as cream, and darn near hallucinogenic. It took me about two hours to finish that thing, and at the end it burned as evenly as heart could wish, and with this beautiful silvery gray ash. And as cool as a breeze down to the last puff. Now it’s back to the two dollar Dominicans of a Saturday night, but with fond memories. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-found-a-basket-o-smokes-in-the-bargain-bin-kroger-rant-mild-and-menthol-y/479756/97 "2009-01-07T04:01:48Z")
I just read the OP as “found a basket ‘o’ snakes in the bargain bin @ Kroger”. I don’t care if they’re on special or not. And reptiles belong in the meat department. I believe that I have worked late enough and it is time to go home. ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-found-a-basket-o-smokes-in-the-bargain-bin-kroger-rant-mild-and-menthol-y/479756/98 "2009-01-07T17:33:59Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Now it’s back to the two dollar Dominicans of a Saturday night, but with fond memories. What do you smoke? I finished recently the box of La Aurora 125th Anniversary Cigars I had in the humidor, and wept a little for the final one. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-found-a-basket-o-smokes-in-the-bargain-bin-kroger-rant-mild-and-menthol-y/479756/99 "2009-01-07T17:52:50Z")
Day 3. I’d kill every single one of you just to hold an unlit cigarette right now. ---
**Author:** ![Sateryn76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Sateryn76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sateryn76)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-found-a-basket-o-smokes-in-the-bargain-bin-kroger-rant-mild-and-menthol-y/479756/100 "2009-01-07T17:55:46Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > Day 3. I’d kill every single one of you just to hold an unlit cigarette right now. You can do it brother - I would kill all of you just to get the guts to be able to make the final step and quit fucking smoking. ☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-found-a-basket-o-smokes-in-the-bargain-bin-kroger-rant-mild-and-menthol-y/479756.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-found-a-basket-o-smokes-in-the-bargain-bin-kroger-rant-mild-and-menthol-y/479756.md?page=6)