[Consumerwide_ HueSoung, Jun Reporter / Yohan, Bok Reporter] The tobacco industry says that it is speeding up the spread of non-combustible products. Limited sales of non-combustible devices are coming soon. It can be interpreted as a strategy to set a low entry for non-combustion products by reducing the price, which might attract users of combustion products.
BAT Rothmans became the first to make discounted sales of a new product in the tobacco industry. There will be a 50% discount from the regular price until June 9th. Usually it costs 50,000 won to switch to a non-combustion product from a combustion product. But, it will cost only 19,000 won during this period. The entry got lower, up to 50%. The warranty period will be extended to one year from six months if customers who purchase the device register them online through the official website. This means that consumers have access to use the device even longer.
Philip Morris Korea will offer a 20,000 won discount on their new non-combustion product for three weeks' time starting from the 4th of May. Accordingly, devices can be purchased between 49,000 won and 79,000 won, which is a chance for former cigarette users to switch to a non-combustion product.
KT&G slashes the price to max. 31,000 won until the 7th. Both existing and the latest products are discounted. Customers can purchase the newest non-combustion device at 79,000 won, which is a 28% discounted price from the regular market price, 110,000 won. Moreover, an additional discount will be offered between 8th and 21st of May. The Max. discount rate is 28%. A transition from combustion products to non-combustion products is considered as a value consumption.
It has been discussed frequently that environmental and social problems occur from using combustion products, such as secondhand smoke, fire risk, and cigarette smoke. Nevertheless, part of these problems may be solved by using non-combustion products. Yet, as a matter of fact, non-combustible products bear more cost. It requires a device plus a 300 won extra charge for a non-combustible product compared to a combustion product. I see that it is a consumption value to choose to use non-combustible products instead of combustion products despite the cost. This could be a grand opportunity to shift from combustible products to non-combustible products while there is an easier entry.
