Toys and Tariffs (US customers)

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Well, let's see what happens when a collector orders directly out of China.

I made a dinosaur toy order from Lana Time Shop, totaling $35, and it is scheduled to ship today/tomorrow.
 

Yes I'm very curious to see how that turns out. 

My next "toy" from Lana right now is the Nanmu Therizinosaurus.  Which is supposedly releasing this month I think.

I also have the Therizinosaurus on preorder. I was really looking forward to this one, but I already paid for it and I really can't afford to pay much more for it..

See that's it.  I've already paid for several pieces including a 600.00 model kit.  I can just imagine that costing 145% more..  Lana has said they will try to eat some of the costs but that much is ridiculous.  I do expect they might allow me to just have them sit on it until things change?

Yeah hopefully. I don't just want to cancel my preorder because I specifically preordered it so I could get the gift of the extra claws.

Same here, I totally understand.

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Not gonna lie, I'm anxious to see what happens, but I figured won't get another chance to test this at such a low cost. Paying the entire 145% tariff on my own would take the $35 (free shipping) HLG Tyrannosaurus to $85.75 by my math. Honestly, I paid more than that for the W-Dragon "Stan", and the HLG looks every bit the equal to that figure.  So, while it would suck to have to pay the whole thing myself, it's not the end of the world, and knowing what's really going on has value.

That is true. I'm just not sure where this ends? Obviously we can't keep it up for long.

[Over9K]

Hmm... if I understand this correctly, single, small packages sent via international postal network, with a value under $800 are still tariff free until May 2nd. Everything I've been able to find says that once we get to May 2nd, those small packages will incur a duty of either 30% of their value, or a flat $25 fee. Small parcels, sent outside the international postal network will incur whatever the tariff is for that product, up to the full 145%.

Following the Secretary of Commerce's notification that adequate systems are in place to collect tariff revenue, President Trump is ending duty-free de minimis treatment for covered goods from the People's Republic of China (PRC) and Hong Kong starting May 2, 2025 at 12:01 a.m. EDT.

    Imported goods sent through means other than the international postal network that are valued at or under $800 and that would otherwise qualify for the de minimis exemption will be subject to all applicable duties, which shall be paid in accordance with applicable entry and payment procedures.

    All relevant postal items containing goods that are sent through the international postal network that are valued at or under $800 and that would otherwise qualify for the de minimis exemption are subject to a duty rate of either 30% of their value or $25 per item (increasing to $50 per item after June 1, 2025). This is in lieu of any other duties, including those imposed by prior Orders.

We shall see.

[Crackington]

I guess for figures you really like, or even "grail" figures people would take a deep breath and pay more. This wouldn't be sustainable though for most and would kill the passing fancy type of purchases.

On the gift sending points earlier, I'm wondering if an informal buddy system could help alleviate things? Person A buys a figure that would be hard to get for Person B and vice verse and they send them to each other as gifts?

Probably have to open them or not include the packaging as people pointed out earlier.

There's other things that could be affected in time too,my Prehistoric Times subscription for instance, though the UK government is not putting up retaliatory tariffs yet.

As Gwangi said these are all first world problems though and I am worried about bigger things like how it will affect medicine and other areas as it goes on. Worrying times...

[andrewsaurus rex]

Complicating everything that has been said in the above many posts is the fact that the rules and tariff rates are regularly changing.  So by May or June it is very possible things could be completely different.

Just have to take this all one day at a time.

[Cpt Red 3eard]

I went ahead and canceled my W Dragon order of TLW rex. I am not aout about to take that kind of gamble of what the final price will be.

There are plenty of other more important tunings to spend that money on. At the end of the day, while I love them, they're just plastic and I don't need them.

[thomasw100]

Complicating everything that has been said in the above many posts is the fact that the rules and tariff rates are regularly changing.  So by May or June it is very possible things could be completely different.

Just have to take this all one day at a time.

The tariffs go up, the stock market goes down, then suddenly overnight some tariffs are waived, and the stock market goes up again. Some people probably make a lot of money from these cycles. And if some people would know in advance that the tariffs will be waived overnight, they would make even more money. While everyone else loses a lot of money.

[andrewsaurus rex]

Complicating everything that has been said in the above many posts is the fact that the rules and tariff rates are regularly changing.  So by May or June it is very possible things could be completely different.

Just have to take this all one day at a time.

The tariffs go up, the stock market goes down, then suddenly overnight some tariffs are waived, and the stock market goes up again. Some people probably make a lot of money from these cycles. And if some people would know in advance that the tariffs will be waived overnight, they would make even more money. While everyone else loses a lot of money.

i'm sure some people do make a lot of money. And i have a pretty good idea who those people are, as i think most of us do.  But the constant chaos and uncertainty is really beginning to hurt the US economy, as evidenced by the recent big drops in the US dollar, and bond yields rising rapidly (when they should actually be going down during times like this).  If it continues the world order, trade-wise, may well be forever changed.

[andrewsaurus rex]

Some bad news.  While Smartphones, computers and computer related devices have been excluded from the Chinese tariffs of 145%, toys have not.  So aside from a lot of frustrated board members there are probably going to be millions of disappointed children in the US when they or their parents, can't afford their favourite toys.  Hopefully that changes quickly and toys get a carve out from the tariffs.

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Hmm... if I understand this correctly, single, small packages sent via international postal network, with a value under $800 are still tariff free until May 2nd. Everything I've been able to find says that once we get to May 2nd, those small packages will incur a duty of either 30% of their value, or a flat $25 fee. Small parcels, sent outside the international postal network will incur whatever the tariff is for that product, up to the full 145%.

Following the Secretary of Commerce's notification that adequate systems are in place to collect tariff revenue, President Trump is ending duty-free de minimis treatment for covered goods from the People's Republic of China (PRC) and Hong Kong starting May 2, 2025 at 12:01 a.m. EDT.

    Imported goods sent through means other than the international postal network that are valued at or under $800 and that would otherwise qualify for the de minimis exemption will be subject to all applicable duties, which shall be paid in accordance with applicable entry and payment procedures.

    All relevant postal items containing goods that are sent through the international postal network that are valued at or under $800 and that would otherwise qualify for the de minimis exemption are subject to a duty rate of either 30% of their value or $25 per item (increasing to $50 per item after June 1, 2025). This is in lieu of any other duties, including those imposed by prior Orders.

We shall see.

I contacted Lana to see if I could get any larger/pricier orders shipped and delivered before May 2. Then I'll just have to not order until this gets sorted out better if it does.


Of course billionaries need their toys, phones and tech but we ( small and big kids ) get kicked.

[bmathison1972]

I ordered something (inexpensive) from China on April 2. It arrived today with no issues. If I am reading correctly above, the tariffs kick in on 5/2?

[Primeval12]

Yes

[andrewsaurus rex]

To be technically correct that tariffs are in place now. But packages coming through the postal system or by courier are still subject to the $800 deminiumus exemption until May; after that they will be charged the tariff rate too.  For now that's the way it is but it changes frequently as we know.

Any other Chinese goods coming into the US right now are being charged the 145% tariff rate now, except for the computer/smartphone exemption announced today.  Who knows maybe there will be an 'except on Tuesdays' exemption in place soon... 

[KronoGarrett]

This is a fiasco for everyone.  My spring build projects (committed to two months ago) had roughly 10-20% priced in.  "They'll lower de minimis a bit and I might have to pay a bit more on a few things and face a little delay, but it's not going to mess up my plans."  The past two weeks have been a horrid new surprise every day.  Are we going to end up with an embargo?  This is really going to absolutely $£€¥ over everyone I know who vends at conventions and shows along with the smaller stateside companies reliant on overseas manufacturing, even 20% would cut their margins to the bone.

The first of my three projects (estimated completion April 21st) should make it in via courier under de minimis before that ends on May 2nd, the other two (early-mid May) will need to be transshipped via a friend in the Netherlands.

Note:  There aren't any dinosaurs or other Mesozoic reptiles scheduled this year. Just a big cat, a fish monster, and a birb. I plan to finish the remaining sea reptiles (plesiosaur, ichthyosaur) next spring.

[Takama]

My newest set of finished prints are soon to be sent my way, and if im going to be honest, Im scared of what to expect


Am I going to have to pay a Fee at the Door?

Or the like?     

[andrewsaurus rex]

My newest set of finished prints are soon to be sent my way, and if im going to be honest, Im scared of what to expect


Am I going to have to pay a Fee at the Door?

Or the like?   

It will depend when the prints go through US Customs and where they are made.  If they go through Customs before May 2 then the current system will still be in place.  If after May 2 then the deminimus is gone and you will pay the tariff rate of whatever country the prints were made in (not the country they were shipped from).  If they were made in China then it will be 145% of the value of the prints plus perhaps a service fee and brokerage charge (if they come via courier).  This amount will have to be paid before the prints get delivered to you.  You might have the option to pay online, otherwise at the door during delivery or where ever you go to pick them up.

[Takama]

My newest set of finished prints are soon to be sent my way, and if im going to be honest, Im scared of what to expect


Am I going to have to pay a Fee at the Door?

Or the like?   

It will depend when the prints go through US Customs and where they are made.  If they go through Customs before May 2 then the current system will still be in place.  If after May 2 then the deminimus is gone and you will pay the tariff rate of whatever country the prints were made in (not the country they were shipped from).  If they were made in China then it will be 145% of the value of the prints plus perhaps a service fee and brokerage charge (if they come via courier).  This amount will have to be paid before the prints get delivered to you.  You might have the option to pay online, otherwise at the door during delivery or where ever you go to pick them up.

They where printed by Christopher Chevaz in Chile, before i sent them to Dinosaur_Model_Artworks to be finished

Speaking of which.

I have up to 10 unfinished prints comeing from Chavez in the comeing weeks. 

[andrewsaurus rex]

ah, well that's probably a lot better...i don't know the tariff rate for Chile offhand.  Probably 10% would be my guess.  You can probably look it up online but it may change several times between now and when the prints go through US Customs.

[Over9K]

ah, well that's probably a lot better...i don't know the tariff rate for Chile offhand.  Probably 10% would be my guess.  You can probably look it up online but it may change several times between now and when the prints go through US Customs.

The USA and Chile have a zero tariff agreement, since 2015, according to trade.gov.

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Talked to Ziyao Jiang from Lana, he said they are going to everything they can to help with fees, even covering some.  He's thinking they may do a sea transport of orders to their US warehouse. It might take a bit longer to receive but he says the fees will be a lot less. They are planning at least.