Snus in the US

[lxskllr]

lxskllr, I will have to try one of the american brands. I've seen Lucky Strike and Camel snus at the store but like everyone I know I dismissed it as ''pussy snus'' maybe I was right, I don't know. I was also somewhat suspicious towards these brands cause who knows what's in em.

That isn't American Camel. Your Camel isn't bad. Many here love it, but I thought it was ordinary. The Swedish Camel is a solid snus. Nothing really stands out; it's fairly generic imo. We don't have Lucky Strike over here, but it's a good snus. It's reputation over here is a bit more than the snus deserves, but it's very good, and I prefer it to Camel. It comes in a nifty tin, and is worth getting for that alone. The lössnus tin was fantastic. The snus was ok, but the tin is what really made it shine. If I could have gotten it here, I'd have gotten a roll just to use the tins with other snus. I have one tin that a Swedish friend sent me, but I don't want to beat it up. It's a collectors item now :^D

[jimmeister]

8 bucks??? That's like... 25% more than a can would cost here I am completely ignorant of maths but still it's a difference that matters, that's not going to help with making snus an option for smokers. I don't know who Rick is, I've only been on here for literally a day. I'm glad to hear you have faith in snus growing in the US though.

[jimmeister]

That isn't American Camel. Your Camel isn't bad. Many here love it, but I thought it was ordinary. The Swedish Camel is a solid snus. Nothing really stands out; it's fairly generic imo. We don't have Lucky Strike over here, but it's a good snus. It's reputation over here is a bit more than the snus deserves, but it's very good, and I prefer it to Camel. It comes in a nifty tin, and is worth getting for that alone. The lössnus tin was fantastic. The snus was ok, but the tin is what really made it shine. If I could have gotten it here, I'd have gotten a roll just to use the tins with other snus. I have one tin that a Swedish friend sent me, but I don't want to beat it up. It's a collectors item now :^D

Really? I thought it was imported american snus. I feel like such a snus novice. More a reason for me to try it, will pick up a can of both brands next time I go to the store!

[GregH]

Swedish snus here is rarer than hen's teeth. A few tobacco stores around here carry General but they want close to $8.00 a can for it.

8 bucks a can! WOW! I officially consider myself lucky that I have a local cigar shop that stocks General for around 3 bucks a can.

[jimmeister]

3 bucks? Sounds shady. Most places here sell em for at least 6 bucks then again I'm shit with dollars and how much they are at any given time.
Edit: maybe it has to do with tobacco taxing difference from country to country
Damn I have no idea... 3 bucks is cheap as though.

[GregH]

Oops. I did the math incorrectly in my head. It's around 4.67 a can. Last time I went in, I got 6 cans, and the total was around 28.00.

[jimmeister]

Still cheap. You're lucky! I'm dumb enough to go to the closest store from here whenever I buy snus which happens to be one of them trainstation shoppes with insane prices, 7,56 bucks a can of whichever the f*ck SM snus. Pretty sure that's eating up my wallet in the long run lol but I'm sloth tier lazy.

[GregH]

Still cheap. You're lucky! I'm dumb enough to go to the closest store from here whenever I buy snus which happens to be one of them trainstation shoppes with insane prices, 7,56 bucks a can of whichever the f*ck SM snus. Pretty sure that's eating up my wallet in the long run lol but I'm sloth tier lazy.

LOL. I'm with you on that. If I had a place closer but more expensive, convenience would totally trump price. Besides that one cigar shop, the only snus I can find anywhere else around here is that American Camel and Marlboro crap.

[Darwin]

jimmeister there is not one single can of Swedish snus sold anywhere in the large midwestern state where I live and there is great retailer resistance to even consider carrying it. As others have described snus in stores in this country is a rarity and and virtually unheard of by the general population, tobacco using or otherwise. The only "snus" generally available is U.S. versions of Camel and Marlboro and they bear no relationship to Swedish snus--at all. They are candy sweet and pathetically weak garbage.

[Roo]

I'll chime in as a big city dweller and say that it is now easy to find General snus in large US cities. Personally, like lxskllr said, I don't know anyone else who uses it, but I do see spent portions laying on the streets of Seattle, and when I do go to a tobacco shop I always ask how the (Swedish) snus is selling and they tell me they have a hard time keeping it in stock. As people in smaller towns will note though, in much of the country they have the opposite problem -- can't sell it fast enough. But still, back to your question, Americans for the most part still don't know about Swedish snus, but the Camel shit is growing in popularity, and it usually doesn't take people too long to get curious and look up snus on the internet. I have still never used a non-Scandinavian snus product and intend to keep it that way Welcome to snuson

[Bigblue1]

guy in line in front of me the other day at the gas station was buying a pack of smokes and a tin of camel frost. Asked him if the snus was hfor him and he said yeah. What about the smokes? Yeah. Whipped out my tin of N&J and gave the spiel and offered him one. He said sure and was very interested in knowing more. Directed him here and to google as we were both in a hurry. Hope that pouch of N&J didn't scare him off, tho......

[GoVegan]

guy in line in front of me the other day at the gas station was buying a pack of smokes and a tin of camel frost. Asked him if the snus was hfor him and he said yeah. What about the smokes? Yeah. Whipped out my tin of N&J and gave the spiel and offered him one. He said sure and was very interested in knowing more. Directed him here and to google as we were both in a hurry. Hope that pouch of N&J didn't scare him off, tho......

You probably just created an addict. Once you try the real stuff there is no going back.

[rickcharles606]

Well, I'll chime in from the front lines so to speak ;-) I believe that real Swedish snus will be very successful in the US, and I believe it now more than ever. I spend a LOT of time talking with and educating retailers about real snus and how it differs from American dip and American snus. Every year more and more people (retailers) learn about real snus and are asking for Thunder, Jakobsson's and Oden's, not to mention a big jump in requests for Northerner brands.

The average person in the US doesn't know about snus....that I agree with, but industry people (retailers included) are quickly learning about it. I see this at every tobacco show I attend to exhibit our brands. This year and next year will be the tipping point for snus and many many big industry insiders and analysts see it. I'm excited because I've worked my ass off to see it happen and now it's not just me saying it....many others are saying it.

I will say this though...everyone here can help. Keep sending me leads of shops that you'd like to see Jak's, Thunder or Oden's in and I'll contact them to get it set up. If you've sent me one...I've got a HUGE list of these and get them from EVERYONE that finds my info on the net. I call them and have my distributor follow up with them. So, jump in and help. My generosity is at an all time high ;-)

[bgeno]

You probably just created an addict. Once you try the real stuff there is no going back.

Eh, I dunno. If I would have based my first impression of Swedish Snus after two years of camel Snus on my first pouch, I wouldn't have tried it again. Luckily, I'm open-minded and believe you have to try everything twice before you judge it.

[bgeno]

As for American perception of Snus as I have seen it...

Most people can't even pronounce Snus correctly and argue with me (seriously) that it rhymes with "bus," not "moose." And I think the estimate of Snus as 2% of cigar sales is EXTREMELY generous. Probably closer to .02%.

I work in a big chain of convenience stores in PA, OH, WV, MD, VA, and NC (I have worked in PA and now in NC) so I have some experience on the other side of the counter when it comes to American Snus. I have a few regulars (two I can think of right now) that buy American Snus. One gets two tins of Camel Robust (I think... Red can) every few days and the other gets Marlboro every couple days. On rare occasion we have the smoker who gets a can because he is going to a function where he can't smoke or has a coupon from Marlboro or Camel. Camel Frost is the best seller overall, and the Camel vender makes sure we have it stocked. We often end up wasting Skoal Snus.

When I found out another chain pf convenience stores in PA carried Ettan, I went to get some and the kid at the counter had tried it (not sure whether he tries Los or potion)... He said it was like the stuff pilgrims used and that he almost vomited.... Lol. He didn't even know it was Snus, since they market it as snuff in US.

I once found an empty General refrigerator at a smoke shop in the mall. It's the only one I ever found where I used to live in PA.

A chain of tobacco shops in North Carolina carries General. The closest one to me is a half hour away, and the only time I went they had month old stock in the cooler. The lady working said I was only the second person to ever have interest in the product, then retracted when she realized I was the person who called about it the day before... Lol. I was the only person to ever show interest in the General. She said she would order more now that she knows someone will buy it, but I prefer shopping at Snuson (the only site that will verify my age) since I don't have to travel an hour round trip, get fresher product, and get WAY more options.


I'm not sure how to make Swedish Snus successful in the US. I was never a dipper (tried some Skoal Xtra pouches and Grizzley pouches before), do I don't really know how the product compares. I know it's completely different from US Snus and that someone who is used to Camel and Marlboro will need more than a pouch or two of General or Jak's to appreciate it. I like the idea of keeping stock in bars and pubs, especially with the growth of the non-smoking movement.