Current Tariff Situation

[glocke12]

I am thinking of ordering a couple of Mato tanks direct from Mato and am trying to figure out what the current Tariff situation is. A brief google search showed conflicting results. Is it a flat 10-15% across the board for everything or are things like RC vehicles facing a higher rate still of 30-35% as was indicated by some of the results I found.

[761st]

It's a challenge. I email the supplier and ask what they know. So far all have replied. Yet combined they agree there is a tariff/import fee/penalty tax of a variable amount. Remember the carrier can be the one you pay the "fee" to. I bought two 1/10th scale F1 helmets from England. They totaled with shipping, $40.00. UPS tacked on their $33.00 "import fee." I did not accept delivery.

[xviper]

An "import fee" is not necessarily a "tariff". It may just be part of their "brokerage" charge. When I get stuff from the US or from China that is not sent by mail, UPS and FedEx brokerage fees are outrageous, then comes the tax. How much of that "import fee" was "tax"? Did you look at the break down?
I'm not so sure a foreign supplier would know exactly what will be assessed once the package arrives on US soil since they are not the ones paying it. Ultimately, it's up to the shipping agent who decides what they'll charge based on what information they have at the time. FedEx is still trying to get 100's of Billions of $$$ in tariff refunds that is stalled in the "beaurocracy".

[Evan D]

Americans are hung up on “tariffs“… What’s a penalty tax?

[RichJohnson]

When I purchase product in China to resell here I have them check with the shipper usually FedEx and quote door to door.
the tariff and brokerage fee is paid up front. Nothing due upon delivery. No surprises.
Before I learned of this service I also had to pay the $30 brokerage fee to FedEx or ups for handling the import duties and paper work.
With all due respect, having your product arrive in the US and then refusing delivery because there was a brokerage fee for the tariffs is quite rotten to the business that sold it to you because I’m sure you filed a dispute with your credit card to get all of your money back on the purchase and the product will remain in customs forever and not sent back overseas to the retailer that sold it. They will be out the product and the sale.
Knowing that we are now paying tariffs on all goods coming in you must expect that you are going to be paying fees either before or after.
I know this because of all the dealers and mfrs that I work with around the world and many will not ship to the US anymore because they have been stiffed just like this.
I have a reputation with my vendors and suppliers and I pay them upfront for the product and the fees and that’s how I’m able to offer the products I have imported but I have terrible trouble forging new relationships with foreign businessmen because they just don’t trust Americans since the tariffs started because exactly this situation occurs and they loose.
Americans have been spoiled by the 50 years of one sided free trade that has created the consumption economy we have. Europeans are used to paying these import fees because even the stuff coming from the US is tariffed going into Europe.

[761st]

All interesting points. The product was actually returned and received by the vendor. No dispute was filed with the credit card company but that is a good idea. So, importers aren't shipping because they have been " stiffed like this" There must be a ton of stiffing nationwide. Perhaps Americans shouldn't be hung up on "tariffs" as that would likely be a distraction from other worthy and new hangups. Besides Americans don't actually pay for a "tariff." Perhaps turning a blind eye is the best thing to do. Afterall, everything is great again. Right?

[RichJohnson]

Its good you got the product back to the retailer. That rarely happens when the shipment is refused at the time of delivery because of the COD for the tariff or the handling fees. I have had to pay both with products for my business and model kits I have purchased personally.
There seems to be some variance as to the rate at which they charge the tariff as one product order spent over 5k and the tariff was $50. Another product I attempted to order for myself once convincing the rc kit maker to sell me the product and that I was legit going to pay him and not stiff him when the tariff bill was due, if he could get the door to door shipping quote. the quote for the tariff was $100 and the shipping was $100 on a $200 tank kit. That was the highest I had seen yet so I apologized for wasting his time as I didnt feel it was worth the double cost. He had been stiffed and lost revenue and a kit or two at first with the tariffs so he did not want to ship to the US at all now. Another big rc kit maker that I do alot of business with, DKLMRC will no longer to ship the US unless they really know you. I have been working him and distributing some of his kits here. They just cant afford to loose these expensive RC kits to customs limbo because they never make their way back to the orient, they just linger until customs clears them out somehow.
As for the tariffs themselves, yes Americans do pay the tariffs. Pretty much at this point, everybody is paying them on anything that came from China or most other countries, though definitely China. I knew that without Congress involved they would not last for very long as noted by the recent legal decision on them. I was surprised they lasted this long though, and they will linger at the new rate that they were fixed at across the board for a time until that expires and things may get back to normal after that hopefully. We shall see.
Back in the day, like the 1970s everything coming in to the US had tariffs. Just like Europe does today. My father used to talk about the RC Amazon class frigate kit (7ft long) that he bought from England and had to go down to customs (in Long Beach from San Diego) in person and pay an import duty (tariff) on before they would release it. He could have done it all by mail and had a freight company forward it for even more money but it was a days adventure he said.

[xviper]

Besides Americans don't actually pay for a "tariff."

Then, who pays it? Tariffs imposed by a country upon incoming goods from other countries, primarily and first, hurt their own citizens. Secondarily (and indirectly), the "other" (selling) country is hurt because fewer products/services are being purchased due to the higher end price. The exception being where a particular product/service is desparately needed and can come from only a few sources, tariffs ultimately increases costs and the resultant rise in cost of living. However, we're not talking such commodities here. We're talking hobby supplies - things that we can take it or leave it, depending on the price we wish to pay.
The example would be FedEx collecting tariffs. This money is sent to the US treasury (or whatever branch it goes to). FedEx then adds that to the fees that the customer pays. In some cases, the foreign seller may reduce their price to "ease the pain" for the buyer, but tariffs are still collected, only on a lesser declared value.
Insofar as trade imbalances and how money flows from one place to the other ............. well, that's a whole other equation.

[xviper]

FedEx is still trying to get 100's of Billions of $$$ in tariff refunds that is stalled in the "beaurocracy".

Here's a kicker ........................ IF and when FedEx does get a refund on all this money, will they give it back to the customer (recipient) or will they just keep it? And will FedEx charge a "handling fee" to return the money, since they charged a handling fee to collect it in the first place?

[glocke12]

Besides Americans don't actually pay for a "tariff."

Huh ?

I've got a bill here from Fed-Ex for ~$335.00 for a Tariff Charge ( I believe it actually used those words ) for a tank from Torro-Shop I ordered right before the tariffs kicked in last summer but didn't get shipped till after they kicked in. Lets not let facts get in the way though.

[Tang - RC.Senshado]

Huh ?

I've got a bill here from Fed-Ex for ~$335.00 for a Tariff Charge ( I believe it actually used those words ) for a tank from Torro-Shop I ordered right before the tariffs kicked in last summer but didn't get shipped till after they kicked in. Lets not let facts get in the way though.

I believe some people in here are trying to steer the convo to share their politics with remarks about Americans and being disingenuous to the objective facts and experiences people have countered with in this thread on the subject of tariffs. Though I don't see why someone would be shocked if people offered their American perspective, this message board and the business that hosts it is American and so are the customers. I think Rich offered a lot of valid points and also has gone through it importing stuff on a regular basis with receipts to prove it, as have I. It's not made up or coming from feelings but some people are clearly caught up in theirs (not directed at the OP). The situation changes nearly daily and though yes it is looking to be overturned, there's possibilities through other legal maneuverings that there could be a temporary stay on the order for example. Even as an importer I can't keep up with the changes for my own sake or get solid answers through my freight and brokers.

[glocke12]

Okey doke.

I have some current information from someone I trust that works in the import/export industry ( no it's not George Costanza ! )

" that 15% was never officially put into effect. So the new flat rate under section 122 is 10% through July 20ish.

From looking RC cars up in CBP CROSS ruling database, it seems they’re classified under toys, which have 0% base duty. Toys also don’t get hit with any of the 2018 China duties.

So it seems you’d just get hit with 10% for the RC cars "


Now the only question is this. Should the King Tiger I order from Mato be Dunkelgelb or Dunkelgrau ( not that it matters. Mato paint comes off literally by blowing on it )

[Elbee]

Gentlemen,

Thank you for keeping this thread civil.

Respectfully, LB

[761st]

Okey doke.

I have some current information from someone I trust that works in the import/export industry ( no it's not George Costanza ! )

" that 15% was never officially put into effect. So the new flat rate under section 122 is 10% through July 20ish.

From looking RC cars up in CBP CROSS ruling database, it seems they’re classified under toys, which have 0% base duty. Toys also don’t get hit with any of the 2018 China duties.

So it seems you’d just get hit with 10% for the RC cars "


Now the only question is this. Should the King Tiger I order from Mato be Dunkelgelb or Dunkelgrau ( not that it matters. Mato paint comes off literally by blowing on it )

I have both colors. The paint quality actually lends itself well to road wear. I like both. I thought George moved from import to architecture.

[SoCalBobS]

This may help the decision about which color to use. Bottom line, yellow was the go-to color in the late war. However, it is definitely user preference in this hobby! I have a Mato KT that I keep unpainted, just to show off the metal.

https://panzerworld.com/german-armor-camouflage

A little off the original topic though, huh.

[Too Many Hobbies]

Some places say right up front that the purchase price includes all fees, taxes and tariffs. Some others say the fees are the responsibility of the buyer. Best to contact Mato and find out their policy firsthand.

[glocke12]

Some places say right up front that the purchase price includes all fees, taxes and tariffs. Some others say the fees are the responsibility of the buyer. Best to contact Mato and find out their policy firsthand.

I actually did ask them that they never responded.

[Meter Rat]

Unfortunately, tariffs hit everyone, world wide, and ultimately drive up the cost of living. I am able to buy direct from China, as luckily we don’t have a tariff war with them. However if I buy from Motion EU, I get hit with a tax, and a surcharge from FedEx for collecting said tax. This was even before tariffs came into being. If anyone looking at getting into the hobby, they look at the prices, and think they are getting a good deal, but by the time you add in VAT@20%, delivery costs, and the cost by fedex to collect all of this, the cost spirals. Buying from Haya, or Forgebear in the UK, look on paper more expensive, but they do add in all the costs, so actually it works out cheaper. I had an interesting discussion with a person, who advocated that WPL should move their factories to the US, to avoid the tariffs. I really didn’t think he understood the global market. When I pointed out the reason WPL are so cheep, is because the Chinese work for £3 a day, and would any Americans work for the same wages? I don’t know what the minimum wage is in America? But I bet it is more than £3 a day? Even if £12.60 an hour the same as the UK there is an instant increase in cost, so the final product would cost even more than it would with tariffs. I see the impact of these policies in the supermarkets. I’m afraid American whiskey is now sitting on the shelves, and buyers are opting for whiskey, and whisky from other countries. I would like to support Rich, and purchase some products from him. But at this time it seems cost prohibiting.

[Meter Rat]

I have both colors. The paint quality actually lends itself well to road wear. I like both. I thought George moved from import to architecture.

Up to 1939 colours were dunkelgrau and dunkelbrun.

1	Commercial cars for senior staff, miscellaneous posts, and intelligence commands	To be specified when ordering.
2	Motorcycles including side cars	Dark gray, matt, number 46	No shiny parts; canvas in dark gray fabric, seats and backrests in weatherproof dark gray grained leather1 in 46 of the color card; storage bags dark gray, their covers2in dark gray fabric as per 46 of the color card.	1) Substitute fabric allowed. 2) Storage bag covers are currently not included in deliveries.
3	Commercial cars for unit staff and service posts
4	Cars for units with two or more axels, with special purpose superstructures	Two-color pattern in number 45 dark brown and number 46 dark gray (see paint pattern for weapons and color card number 840 B 2, fourth supplementary sheet from May 1938)	No shiny parts; canvas and tarpaulin two-colored in number 45 and 46 of the color card; seats and backrests in weatherproof dark gray grained leather1 in 46 of the color card
4	All motor vehicles not mentioned in item 1 through 4 and their trailers

Mid war 1940 -1943.

After 12 June 1940, units stopped buying paint directly from the suppliers. Instead, paint was issued directly to the units, with Dunkelgrau being the only issued color.

On 31 July 1940, to save paint, Inspectorate 2 issued an order to temporarily suspend the use of dunkelbraun paint.

North Africa and Southern Europe. 1941-1943.
On 17 March 1941, Inspectorate 2 ordered that equipment in North Africa should be painted two-thirds yellow-brown (gelbbraun RAL 8000) and one-third gray-green (graugrün RAL 7008). Canvas items was to be also to be painted using a special type of paint.

Late war. 1943-1945.

On 18 February 1943, Inspectorate 2 issued an order to paint all vehicles in a base coat of dark yellow (dunkelgelb. On top of the dark yellow was to be painted a pattern of olive green (olivgrün, a color adopted from the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (Reich ministry of aviation)), red brown (rotbraun RAL 8017), and dunkelgelb. Paint was ordered by the units according to their types and amount of equipment for re-painting in the field.

[keilau]

Besides Americans don't actually pay for a "tariff."

Tarriff is a comsuming tax imposed by the US government on US residents. It is a fantasy if you believe the US government can tax any foreign citizen or subject.