There always seem to be many flyers and menus cluttering the entranceways of Hoboken apartment buildings, but last weekend there was a unique advertisement in the shuffle.
“Got Cigarettes, 24hr./7day, Delivery Service,” was written in black type on white sheets of eight-and-a-half-by-11-inch paper.
Cigarette Delivery Service (CDS) founder Adam Dratch, 23, of Hoboken, is a first year Rutgers law student who is now looking to be a cigarette delivery entrepreneur.
“They deliver pizza, groceries and even beer now, and I always wondered why they don’t deliver cigarettes,” said Dratch. “So now, I’m going to be the ‘they’ who does.”
He came up with the idea last Sunday when he was trying to figure out a way to make some extra cash to help pay for his tuition, bills and rent on his Willow Avenue apartment.
“I smoke and I understand what it’s like to want a cigarette, especially at like 2 a.m. when you’re coming back from a night out and you’re out of cigarettes and no place seems to be open,” said Dratch, a three-year, pack-a-day smoker. “Some people also don’t like to miss their shows or don’t want to move their cars after they found parking or sometimes it’s just to cold, so I’m here to provide a service to these people. I’ll run out and do it for them and they can help me pay for law school.”
Dratch doesn’t work alone. CDS is actually a four-man operation including his friends, and they will all take shifts covering the phones and making deliveries from Dratch’s home.
“Who knows, if this takes off I might actually have to hire people,” said Dratch.
The average cost of cigarettes is about $3.75 to $4 a pack. Dratch plans to charge $5 a pack with a two-pack purchase minimum.
“I only make about a buck a pack,” said Dratch. “Tips aren’t required, but they’re welcome.”
Dratch said he can cater to smokers’ preferences for a particular cigarette brand.
“If I don’t have a brand in stock that someone requests, then I’ll pick it up on my way there,” said Dratch, a Marlboro Red smoker. “If the stores are closed, then I’ll suggest a similar brand. Like, some Marlboro Lights smokers can smoke Parliament Lights. But I’ll always have Reds. I’ll give you the ones from my pocket if I’m out.”
No minors
CDS has already thought of a way to address calls from underage smokers, and they’ve installed a strict policy against the selling to minors.
“If someone looks under 21, I won’t sell them cigarettes,” said Dratch. “And if they do look over 21, I’ll still card them. I don’t want parents freaking out, you know.”
Dratch’s delivery business should be officially open after the city approves his tobacco license next week. The state requires a license for all retailers selling tobacco products to consumers. Although he admitted that he hasn’t told his parents about his business idea, Dratch said he was proud of the service, especially if it prevents drunk driving.
“There are a lot of people in this mile-square city, and a lot of them happen to smoke,” said Dratch, while smoking a third butt in the span of an hour. “If someone doesn’t feel like leaving the house or a bar, either because they’re not in the right state to drive or just don’t feel like moving, we’ll do it for you.”
Dratch said CDS will only deliver in Hoboken, and the delivery time should be about 10 to 15 minutes after the order is taken. Although he is not yet delivering, he has been getting a lot of calls inquiring about the delivery of other products.
“We will just deliver cigarettes,” said Dratch. “We don’t deliver cream cheese, bread or drugs.”