Federal officials are seizing more shipments of unauthorized electronic cigarettes at U.S. ports, but thousands of new flavored products continue pouring into the country from China, according to government and industry data reviewed by The Associated Press.

The figures underscore the chaotic state of the nation’s $7 billion vaping market and raise questions about how the U.S. government can stop the flow of fruit-flavored disposable e-cigarettes used by 1 in 10 American teens and adolescents.

More than 11,500 unique vaping products are being sold in U.S. stores, up 27% from 9,000 products in June, according to tightly held industry data from analytics firm Circana.

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    Is 2 customers per day really sustainable for a business like that? The only thing I can think of is that they’re just waiting for the state to legalize weed and all become dispensaries, but there is absolutely no movement on that front.

    • Steve@startrek.website
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      10 months ago

      Maybe, if they both are there for their whole year supply of vapes…

      I dont know how much you can spend on vape, but let me guess $1000 for the year x 2 customers, and assume 50% gross margin.

      So thats $2000 revenue per day, less 1000 for the product, leaves $1000 per day to pay for employees, rent, utilities, advertising, and profit for the owners.

      This assumes everyone in town is a customer…

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        I see a lot of people around here vaping, but I don’t think that’s a safe assumption. Otherwise, you could be right. I have no idea. I’ve never vaped and I quit smoking 23 years ago. I just think it’s weird that there are so many.

      • Sylver@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        At $20 a pop, with some nicotine addicted habits of buying a new one every other day, that’s over $3,500 a year for just one customer.

    • Galapagon@sh.itjust.works
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      10 months ago

      It depends, if they’re spending say… $60 each? That’s enough to pay a minimum wage employee at least. Also remember these are conservative numbers I’ve made up. It’s likely that people visit more than once per year, sometimes spend more, sometimes spend less exc.