How Does The PACT Act Affect Online Shopping For Vaping Products?

The PACT Act, originally passed in 2009, has been extended to the sale of e-cigarettes and vaping products in December 2020. Officially coming into effect in March 27, 2021, this means that the U.S Postal Service (USPS) is no longer able to ship vaping products and e-cigarettes to customers. What this means, essentially, is that retailers will have to look for alternative shipping providers to continue getting their products to customers. While this can result in slightly higher shipping costs, you can be assured that retailers are working with attorneys and private carriers to ensure that you can continue purchasing the products you need with confidence.

Higher Shipping Costs

As retailers make the switch to private carriers, this can mean an increase in shipping fees. The carriers they engage also have to abide by strict obligations, including:

• Verifying the recipient’s age upon delivery.
• Clearly labelling all parcels with their contents and attaching the required tax stamps.
• Making clear the buyer’s obligation to pay all applicable taxes on the parcel.
• Retaining buyer’s information for a period of up to 5 years, especially if they have reason to suspect they have violated the PACT Act.

As this will mean more work for private carriers, you may experience an increase in the shipping fees you are used to.

Stricter Age Verification Process

As retailers, carriers and buyers can suffer heavy penalties if products are sold to a minor, you will find that the age verification process is stricter than before. This will be done once during the checkout process, where retailers verify customers’ age through a commercially available database. A second verification will be conducted upon delivery of an order, with adult signature required and a valid government issued ID to provide proof of age.

Obligation to Pay Taxes

Part of the reason the PACT Act was extended from the original Jenkins Act of 1949 is to ensure that retailers and buyers do not avoid paying taxes and to prevent the illicit sales of tobacco products. If you frequently purchase vaping products, chances are, you may already know your tax obligations and what they go towards. However, if you don’t, the enforcement of the PACT Act means that your obligations will be clearly highlighted on your orders, so you always know what you are paying for. You may also find that some products may be slightly more expensive to account for the taxes.

Purchase Vaping Products with Confidence

At Discount Vape Pen, we understand that some customers may have reservations about purchasing vaping products when the PACT Act comes into effect. However, you can be assured that we are doing everything possible to keep in compliance and ensure that our customers can continue to shop with confidence. Whether you are looking for vaping devices or e-liquids, we are your trusted one-stop shop who always strives to deliver timely and reliably.