Let's keep an eye on tariffs

[SoCalBobS]

My head is spinning! The de minimis cancellation has been postponed as of Friday. Customs apparently stated they did not have the resources to implement the duty requirements. I'm guessing it will happen eventually, but it would behoove anyone planning to buy stuff from China to do so soon.

On a related issue, DKLM RC is accepting pre-orders for the Tongde Leclerc MBT, with an anticipated release of April.

Ready, Fire, Aim.

[SoCalBobS]

Has anyone here in the US ordered anything from China or Hong Kong in the last week or so? If so, did you encounter a tariff, say through US Customs duty or other?

[RichJohnson]

I have a large order coming from hongkong. Still waiting on it as its in transit. Will see if I have to pay a tarrif on it.

[SoCalBobS]

Consequence or Coincidence?

I have a small part mailed from Toucan in Hong Kong last week. Today I received the following notice: “Delivery attempt unsuccessful. Unable to deliver due to force majeure, Carrier note: Unforeseen circumstances.”

It remains to be seen why it wasn’t delivered. I’m sharing this as a caution for anyone making large purchases from China, just in case the current volatility and confusion affects shipping. If others have experiences, please don’t hesitate to share.

[RRHandy]

I have one that as of Thursday cleared US Customs but has not moved sense, I will post when moving again and delivered.

Ron.

[keilau]

I am a retired engineer who lives on the IRA saving and social security check. With all the talks about pre-1930 history and what may happen in the next 4 years, the tariff on my RC toy purchase may only be a fraction of 1% of my saving asset losses. If you are a small business owner, you may be hurted more by the tariffs. A trade war is a loss-loss situation due to the loss of trade and business.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYTpmjFCpaw

[RichJohnson]

My package from Hong Kong arrived yesterday without tarrifs.
Personally I think Trump is trying to end a tariffs because our products entering Mexico Canada and the Orient are tariffed heavily.
It's about time we get some reciprocity or force them to end it.
The problem is the tariff likely gets tacked on to the end buyer, us and for our hobby products most of it is made in the Orient.
But hey, my products are made here in the US of A so no tariffs. Just taxes inside CA.

[SoCalBobS]

When the American consumer pays more for the same item and the Government pockets the extra, seems like another tax to me.

[tdriver113]

I received a RC vehicle kit today from China. It was shipped on 26 Feb and made it through the shipping system with no extra charges.

[SoCalBobS]

I received a RC vehicle kit today from China. It was shipped on 26 Feb and made it through the shipping system with no extra charges.

Cool! Good info.

[tdriver113]

With yesterdays tariff announcements looks like duty free "de minimus" shipping is being eliminated from ALL countries just as soon as the systems are ready. Not just China.

[RichJohnson]

A couple of us have a few kits coming from DKlM next week so we will see.
i also have a model coming from New Zealand so will see what happens there.

[SoCalBobS]

The news reports that the de minimis exemption for items less than $800 will take effect May 2, per executive order signed Wednesday. Buy your stuff this month if you can!

[keilau]

When the American consumer pays more for the same item and the Government pockets the extra, seems like another tax to me.

The tarriffs are tax on the average American consumer. The government need to do that to pay for their tax cut for the rich.

There is no mechanism for the US government to tax any foreign country or their citizen. So the US citizen pay for the tarriffs.

[Elbee]

Opinion

At this very moment, tariffs are being used as a leverage tool and nothing more.

Today, Vietnam has just announced they will drop tariffs on the US to 5% from the current 34%.

On the other hand, China has said they will increase US tariffs.

This is all a negotiation and at this point and to commit to any one single thought on the outcome is myopic at best.

This is about "fair trade" for the American manufacturer and not free trade for manufacturers in other countries.

In the long term we might experience price drops to the end user not increased prices as manufacturers adjust.

As for our hobby, we are a small niche' market and might very well see higher prices from fair trade policies.

If tariffs assist in eliminating income taxes for <$150,000 earner, which is the current plan, there will be more discretionary income for us to pay higher prices for some items, if we so choose.

This is the 'glass half full' scenario.

Only time will tell, IMHO, how this shakes out and hand wringing about it now is a waste of your [our] time.

I think we, as Americans, are accustomed to immediate gratification; however, this is how the long game is played and that thought process might be new to some.

Respectfully, Steve Thomas (Elbee)

[SoCalBobS]

Not concerned about the why, just want to know how much more we'll be paying, to whom, for what, and how. Wanting to know isn't hand wringing, IMHO.

[Elbee]

Speaking in general terms, not aiming my comments at any one specifically, hence Opinion header.

Perhaps I should have written 'waste of [our] time'. Note: Amended first post to include [our].

Logic might dictate, that any question about how much, to whom, and when is premature.

Markets, including 401Ks, will suffer short term as witnessed if you're watching the Dow.

Simply too early to answer correctly and definitely too early to project the impact on our hobby items.

Like Tom mentioned in the thread origin, now is the time to buy if want accurate pricing from any vendor that sells Chinese, Korean, or Vietnamese goods.

Sage advice, IMHO.

The 'why' is relevant in my way of thinking as I am as interested as anyone in justifying any extra expense in my discretionary spending, including my hobby stuff.

It is not always the vendors responsibility to answer, "Why are all your prices going up?" from its' customer base when the signs are there if you're paying attention.

As for me, I will just stop watching stock markets for a couple of weeks to wait for more intel and buy that airplane I've been contemplating adding to the hanger.

Respectfully, Steve

[Scott Larkins]

Just bought myself a Walker Bulldog before the tariff prices hit the new incoming stock items. Was trying to save enough money for an Abrams, but now that the tariffs have hit, I can't guarantee that the Abrams won't cost even more in a few months. Gotta strike now.

[Rubicon99]

Larger order placed on April 2nd with DKLM RC, it arrived on April 5th no extra fees paid.

[keilau]

Larger order placed on April 2nd with DKLM RC, it arrived on April 5th no extra fees paid.

A tariff is a tax imposed by US government on goods imported from other countries, typically calculated as a percentage of the product's value, and paid by the importer, eventually the consumer, to the US government.

Based on a provision in Section 321 of the Tariff Act of 1930 that allows importers to bring shipments into the U.S. without paying duties or filing formal entry paperwork, as long as the total daily value of the shipments is below $800. It is also known as the "de minimis exemption," allows goods valued at or below $800 to enter the United States free from tariffs, but this exemption has been modified by the Donald Trump administration, especially for goods from China and Hong Kong, with changes taking effect on May 2, 2025.

We have 3 more weeks to order our hobby items tariff free. Pay extra for the air shipment. Sea shipment will not cut it.

https://www.reuters.com/markets/trump-considering-revoking-tariff-exemptions-cheap-shipments-china-source-says-2025-04-02/#:~:text=The%20White%20House%20said%20the,per%20item%20after%20June%201.