tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2207076947655236975.post7538275010483110737..comments2024-03-14T07:32:30.141+09:00Comments on Marketing Japan: Old Fashioned Things Are Almost Always Bettermike in tokyo rogershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04977446676243085409noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2207076947655236975.post-17932232679064336692012-01-12T10:58:31.728+09:002012-01-12T10:58:31.728+09:00In most of Europe, they have taxed loose tobacco m...In most of Europe, they have taxed loose tobacco much less than cigarettes. Since a pack of cigarettes is $7-12, many have switched to rolling their own. There are many companies that have copycats that have similar names, like "Marlborough" tobacco. Otherwise smuggled ones have made a comeback. See:<br /><br />http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,618871,00.html<br /><br />In the US, there has been a big push in Indian cigarettes. They are again copies of traditional brands but a fraction of the cost. Also what has become somewhat popular are the smokeless tobacco/nicotine cigars. They are electronic nicotine delivery devices that use liquids or powders that are currently untaxed.<br /><br />In the last five years there has been a renewed interest in the old blue collar beer in the US, it's retro, local, usually tastes better than Miller or Bud, and is usually cheaper. Amongst the artists and hipsters PBR is a favourite. See the murals:<br /><br />http://cinchthatwaist.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/img_6699.jpg<br /><br />http://sfcitizen.com/blog/2009/07/16/loveable-i-am-pabst-mural-has-san-francisco-laughing-squid-tennis-beer/<br /><br />http://maccandace.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/dsc_0005.jpg<br /><br />https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/RVqTEFNRahqzmU3wGsnuPg<br /><br />http://www.kcconfidential.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/mural-dudes.jpg<br /><br />That being said, with the increasing cost of beer, most places want $3-5 plus mandatory tip, for a 330 mL glass, that usually has a gap or head of 25-50mL, many have switched to hard liquor. Many places offer vodka, rum, rye, or gin drinks for roughly the same cost, plus one can still get unlimited soft drinks at most places for $1-3 to help dilute them.<br /><br />BTW: Federal taxes may have gone down, but local taxes have gone up. FYI, LA tax is 8.75%! They now have state, plus county, muni, and city sales taxes in CA! Then other added taxes, for example car taxes, one has to pay a "non-use" car tax even if the car is not driven and is in storage the entire year!<br /><br />http://www.boe.ca.gov/cgi-bin/rates.cgi?LETTER=L&LIST=CITYAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2207076947655236975.post-69590712722538265102012-01-10T20:34:01.490+09:002012-01-10T20:34:01.490+09:00Oh, here's data on sales tax( every sate is di...Oh, here's data on sales tax( every sate is different). I'm from California.<br />In, say, 1962, the combined Sales Tax rate was 4%. In 2011 it was 7.25%. Considering that state sales tax applies for everything you purchase (except staples like raw milk, eggs and bread) This increase coupled with the declining buying power is devastating. See <a href="http://www.boe.ca.gov/sutax/taxrateshist.htm" rel="nofollow">"California State Taxes"</a>.mike in tokyo rogershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04977446676243085409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2207076947655236975.post-83591556358231349022012-01-10T20:29:20.070+09:002012-01-10T20:29:20.070+09:00Thanks Ryu,
The federal tax rates have fallen over...Thanks Ryu,<br />The federal tax rates have fallen over these last 40 years or so, but don't forget that the buying power of the dollar has fallen nearly 50% in just the last 20 years. Couple that with ever increasing sales taxes and state taxes and you have an overall burden of home income spent on taxation in one form or another increasing, especially in the last 20 years. I believe that this is one reason why, 50 - 60 years ago, mom could stay home and dad could support the entire family on one income. Today? Both have to work and they're still underwater.<br />Clark! Next time we want to see photos!!!!mike in tokyo rogershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04977446676243085409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2207076947655236975.post-48975308006732273462012-01-10T16:08:31.153+09:002012-01-10T16:08:31.153+09:00Ryu Oni, I'm not so certain about taxes in gen...Ryu Oni, I'm not so certain about taxes in general being higher back in the day, and certainly not on items like cigarettes. <br /><br />“A Cigarette for 75 Cents, 2 for $1:<br /><br />"The Brisk, Shady Sale of ‘Loosies’ ”<br />reminds me of my days as a high school student at Brooklyn Tech in the early 1940s."<br /><br />http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/07/opinion/l07loosies.html <br /><br />Also, what?<br />Among other similar ones, you never heard stories about how bad the old timers had it when they had to walk 20 miles uphill through the snow to get to coed-prison, er I mean school? <br /><br />Mike asked, "What sorts of "getting back to better times" type of things do you see where you live?"<br /><br />U.S. farmers markets, outdoor open air ones, often placed in spots where they did the same thing 100 years ago but stopped some time back.<br /><br />Or they have them in the mall parking lot on Saturdays.<br /><br />Not just produce and meats, but crafts, and certain clothing and such. However; no live animals or chickens of any kind, they're not permitted, or they're regulated too much.<br /><br />As far as retro goes, while I'm in the middle of the country and not exactly in trend-central, I have noticed the young women are wearing tight leather boots over the calf or thigh high.<br /><br />Tonight I saw a young checker girl at WalMart wearing The most colorful eye shadow I've ever seen on a woman. I'm guessing it's a 1960's look? Sorry I can't describe it except to say it was a blend/bands of vivid colors. <br /><br />- clarkAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2207076947655236975.post-75261305434751903032012-01-10T11:25:13.293+09:002012-01-10T11:25:13.293+09:00Yeah, I definitely know what you mean- the same th...Yeah, I definitely know what you mean- the same thing happens all over the world at some point. It's like trends at school, one month Yo-Yo's are in, then they're out, a couple of years pass then Yo-Yo's are back in again. Trends and customs go in cycles, and the length of the cycle depends on the size of the population. It's because the next generation only hears the good things about the previous, but not the bad.<br />I'd just like to correct you on Taxes (american taxes, anyway) in that they were much, MUCH higher "back in the day"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com