Shipping Policies

General Policies

• Pipes and Cigars does not sell products to anyone under the age of 21.
• Pipes and Cigars does not ship products to Utah. 
• Shipping delivery times are estimates and are not guaranteed unless otherwise noted.
• Due to Maryland State regulations, we cannot ship little cigars to Maryland residents.
• Due to Washington State regulations, we cannot ship little cigars or loose tobacco to Washington residents.

Sales Taxes

We are required to collect and remit sales tax in the following states. Remittance of any other state’s taxes is the responsibility of the purchaser.

Excise Taxes

As you may know, certain states have recently begun to impose excise taxes on tobacco products sold by online retailers. Pipes and Cigars collects excise taxes on your purchases as required by law. Please note that such tobacco excise taxes are in addition to applicable sales or use taxes, if any. 

Indiana

Effective July 1, 2023, the State of Indiana is imposing an excise tax on all tobacco products sold to Indiana customers. Cigars and pipe tobacco will be taxed at 24% of the wholesale purchase price. For more details on the Indiana excise tax, please review Indiana Code here.

Maryland

Effective October 1, 2019, the State of Maryland will be imposing an Excise Tax on all tobacco products sold by online retailers to Maryland customers. See Maryland House Bill 1301. Please note that this excise tax is in addition to the Maryland sales/use tax already imposed on tobacco products sold to Maryland customers.

The Maryland Excise Tax rate will differ depending on the type of tobacco product sold:

- Premium cigars will be taxed at 15% of the wholesale price.

- Pipe tobacco will be taxed at 30% of the wholesale price.

For more details on the Maryland Excise Tax, review the law here. 

Michigan 

Effective January 1, 2022, the State of Michigan is imposing an excise tax on all cigars sold to Michigan customers. Cigars are taxed at 32% of the wholesale price, with a maximum excise tax of fifty cents ($.50) per cigar. Additionally, there will be an excise tax on all "Other Tobacco Products" (including pipe tobacco) sold to Michigan customers. Pipe Tobacco is taxed at 32% of the wholesale price. For more details on the Michigan excise tax, please review here.

North Carolina 

Effective July 1, 2022, the State of North Carolina is imposing an excise tax on all cigars and pipe tobacco sold to North Carolina customers. Cigars are taxed at 12.80% of the wholesale price, with a maximum excise tax of thirty cents ($.30) per cigar. Pipe tobacco is taxed at 12.80% of the wholesale price. 

For more details on the North Carolina excise tax, please review here. 

Ohio

Effective October 16, 2019, the State of Ohio will be imposing an Excise Tax on all tobacco products delivered to Ohio customers. See Ohio Code 5743.62 Please note that this excise tax is in addition to the Ohio use tax already imposed on tobacco products delivered to Ohio customers. 

The Ohio Excise Tax rate will differ depending on the type of tobacco product purchased:

- Most premium cigars (and all pipe tobacco) will be taxed at 17% of the wholesale price, with a maximum of sixty-one cents ($.61) per premium cigar. 

- Most little cigars with a filter or tip will be taxed at 37% of the wholesale price.

For more details on the Ohio Excise Tax, review the law here. 

Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania imposes an Excise Tax on “small cigars” shipped to customers based in Pennsylvania. Specifically, small cigars weighing 4lb per 1000 or less, not in carton packs, and not containing 20 to 25 sticks per pack will be taxed at $0.13 per cigar. 

Please note, we cannot ship to Pennsylvania customers any small cigars weighing 4lb per 1000 or less packed in cartons that contain 20 to 25 sticks per pack.  

All Pennsylvania-based retailers are required to pay an excise tax on loose or pipe tobacco at the rate of 55 cents ($0.55) per ounce, with a minimum excise tax per package of 66 cents ($0.66). Rather than pass the entire tax on to our customers, we have decided to charge only 30 cents ($0.30) per ounce. As a courtesy to our customers, Pipes and Cigars will pay the remaining 25 cents ($0.25) per ounce excise tax imposed by Pennsylvania. 

South Dakota

Effective January 1, 2022, the State of South Dakota is imposing an excise tax of 32% of the wholesale price on all cigars shipped to customers in South Dakota. SD continues to prohibit the shipping of all other tobacco products.

For more details on the South Dakota excise tax, please review here.

Virginia

Effective July 1, 2022, the Commonwealth of Virginia is imposing an excise tax on all retail sales of cigars and pipe tobacco to Virginia customers. Cigars are taxed at 20% of the wholesale price, while pipe tobacco is taxed at 10% of the wholesale price.

For more details on the Virginia excise tax, please review here. 

Shipping Costs

Please note – certain items would exclude you from selecting some of the methods above, please refer to items that have 'shipping constraints' for more details.

Delivery Methods

• Free and Economy shipping will be delivered via UPS, USPS, or Surepost. Delivery addresses must be able to receive packages from either carrier.
• Saturday, Next Day, 2-Day, 3-Day, and Ground shipments are delivered via UPS.
• Priority Mail shipments are delivered via USPS.

Shipping Lighters and Butane

• Due to FAA regulations, all lighters that come pre-filled with butane are considered HAZMAT items and will ship via UPS Ground or economy shipping.
• Due to FAA regulations, all butane products are considered HAZMAT items and will ship via UPS Ground or economy shipping.
• Entire orders containing at least one HAZMAT item will ship via UPS Ground or economy shipping.
• Expedited shipping services are not available for all orders containing a HAZMAT item.
• All lighters that do not come pre-filled with butane are NOT considered HAZMAT items and may be shipped via expedited services.

When Will I receive My Order?

Please consult the ‘Estimated Delivery’ date in the cart for the most accurate information based on the shipping method you select. In-Stock orders received by 2PM EST will ship the same day.  

Backordered Items

As fellow pipe and cigar enthusiasts ourselves, we understand the importance of getting you the pipes, tobacco, cigars, and accessories that you have come to love. As you know some of these products are made internationally and we occasionally encounter delays and out of stocks when a manufacturer has material or production concerns. In these cases, we make available the ability to ‘Backorder’ a product that is not currently in stock but expected to return to stock. If you are interested in placing a tentative order for one of these products while we await receipt from the manufacturer, we would be pleased to accept a backorder. Please note that we will never charge your credit card while you await fulfillment of a backorder. In the event we are unable to ship the backordered product, we will contact you and you will have the option to cancel the backorder or replace it with an alternative item.

PO Boxes, APO/FPO, US Territories

Shipments to PO Boxes, APO/FPO addresses, and US Territories will arrive via USPS and may incur additional delivery times. Expedited shipping options are not available.

Alaska and Hawaii

Expedited delivery options to Alaska and Hawaii are available for an additional charge.

State Restrictions

California

While we require all purchasers to be over 21 years of age, California’s Senate Bill 39 requires us to:

• Confirm your delivery of tobacco products by telephone call after 5PM (PT) the day prior to shipment
• Obtain the signature of a person 21 years of age or order before completing the delivery.

Note, in order to comply with this restriction, we are unable to ship to a PO Box or offer certain shipping methods to California.

Connecticut

Due to Connecticut State Regulations, Pipes and Cigars does not ship the following products to Connecticut addresses:

• Small Cigars (Weighing 3lb per 1000 or less)

Delaware

While we require all purchasers to be over 21 years of age, Delaware’s Title 30 Chapter 53 requires us to:

• Receive and store age verification documents in order to sell a tobacco product to you. We have partnered with Veratad Age and Identity Verification Solutions to safely and securely store your information. This is a one-time process and the information will only be used to comply with your state’s requirements.
• Obtain the signature of a person 21 years of age or order before completing the delivery.

Note, in order to comply with this restriction, we are unable to ship to a PO Box or offer certain shipping methods to Delaware. 

Hawaii

Pipes and Cigars does not ship products to Hawaii.

Maine

Due to Maine State Regulations, Pipes and Cigars does not ship the following products to Maine addresses:

• Cigars with Homogenized/HTL Wrappers
• Small Cigars (Weighing 3lb per 1000 or less)
• Pipe Tobacco

Maryland

Due to Maryland State Regulations, Pipes and Cigars does not ship the following products to Maryland addresses:

• Machine-Made Cigars
• Filtered Cigars
• Cigars with Homogenized/HTL Wrappers

Massachusetts

Due to Massachusetts State Regulations, we do not ship any Flavored Tobacco products to Massachusetts addresses.

Montana

Due to Montana State Regulations, Pipes and Cigars does not ship the following products to Montana addresses:

• Filtered Cigars

Utah

Pipes and Cigars does not ship products to Utah.

Vermont

Due to Vermont State Regulations, Pipes and Cigars does not ship the following products to Vermont addresses:

• Small Cigars (Weighing 4.5lb per 1000 or less)

Washington State

Due to Washington State regulations, Pipes and Cigars cannot ship little cigars or loose tobacco to Washington residents.

Oversized Items

These items will ship via ground/freight services and may incur additional delivery times. Delivery may not be available to PO Boxes, APO/FPO, and US Territories for certain items. Driver will deliver to the shipping address, but is not required to assist in moving the oversized item into the building, or with setup/unpacking.

Lost or Damaged Packages

In the event of missing or damaged merchandise, your order showing delivered but you have not received it, or if the tracking information has not updated for more than 5 business days, please contact us as soon as possible and we will gladly assist. We are unable to resolve any lost orders or missing/damaged merchandise after 45 days from the delivery date.

Tracking My Order

You can check shipment status by using the My Account link found on each page. Orders ship from our warehouse located in Bethlehem, PA.

How Do I Get Free Shipping?

Free shipping is available for all orders over $99. Be aware that qualifying orders will ship via economy shipping (may ship via UPS, USPS, or Surepost, which is a combination of both).