Seneca cigarettes used to be a favored brand amongst those smokers who saw no reason to purchase highly taxed smokes when their non-taxed counterparts beckoned just over yonder from the Indian Reservation. Cheap Seneca cigarettes were found in a wide variety of flavors; there were the Menthols, Menthols Ultra Lights, Full Flavors filtered and unfiltered, and of course the Lights. Almost ready to call themselves Tobacco Ville USA, the Seneca cigarettes were a moneymaker for the Native American tribe from the get go.

Not only were the Seneca able to market themselves – after all, American Indian lore, closeness to nature, and mysticism play big in the minds of many – but they were able to sell Seneca cigarettes at a fraction of the cost that the regular brands were charging. If you are a smoker of Newport menthols you know that this particular brand is among the most expensive. Yet Seneca menthol light cigarettes not only offer the menthol flavor you have come to be accustomed to, but they are also available at a fraction of the price!

It did not take long for New Yorkers to make trips across the borders of the Reservation to buy their Seneca cigarettes and blow a big raspberry to the taxman who sat somewhat helpless on the other side. Yet it did not take long for the taxman to find a way to close down the tobacco industry the Seneca had discovered. Sure, they were able to make a stand by barricading Interstate 90, but since New Yorkers only represent a limited clientele, the taxman went looking for his dues elsewhere.

Next he zeroed in on the sale of Seneca cigarettes via the Internet. Arguing that while the state may be unable to collect taxes from the Seneca reservation, he did find favor with the assertion that cyberspace knows no boundaries, and hence there are no reservations online. Making a deal with the major credit card companies to prevent the sale of cheap Seneca cigarettes, Visa card, Master Card, Discover and others have bailed out on their agreement to be used as valid modes of payment, and thus the businesses had to change their modes of selling Seneca cigarettes.

Online savvy smokers can still get their Senecas – all it takes is a personal check or a cashier’s check, and a printed out order form to be mailed in. While the taxman may have won a couple of battles, it is doubtful he will win the Internet war – at least at this point in time.