US tariff effect for US buyers

[myxyzptlyk2003]

Hi all,

As many, if not most, ship model kits come from Europe can anyone speculate how the US tariff situation is going to affect us modelers in the US?   I for one am patiently waiting for Vanguard's HMS Surprise

[Goodshipvenus]

I don't think anyone knows at this point except that there will be European tariffs of 15% to 25% and someone is going to have to pay them. Some European post offices are not even processing packages and mail to the US until this is clarified.

[chris watton]

This is quite frustrating for us, too, as we have not had a single communication from our carriers about the new tariff rules, and trying to decipher the rules is proving difficult. As far as I am aware, the US is getting rid of the no charge waiver for any product or shipment under 800 Dollars – which would not affect our more expensive kits.

 

All states in the US seem to have their own rules about what they charge the customer, and the forms I must fill in (some need something called a TSCA form, but only a few states, the majority do not).

 

But for the new rules that come into effect today, no one has told me anything at all – neither my government or my carriers I use to ship the goods!
 

[ccoyle]

My favorite card model vendor made an announcement on social media that they would suspend shipments to the US. I managed to sneak in an order before the deadline. Fortunately, I have a lifetime supply of models waiting to be built. That could be a good thing or bad thing, of course, depending on how life plays out. 😬

[Y.T.]

2 hours ago, chris watton said:

This is quite frustrating for us

Hi, Chris.

 

Where is your business located? Is it in UK or US? Not clear from your remarks.

[AJohnson]

2 hours ago, ccoyle said:

That could be a good thing or bad thing, of course, depending on how life plays out. 😬

If I read that right Chris, I sincerely hope you run out of card model stock!  😉

[chris watton]

3 minutes ago, Y.T. said:

Hi, Chris.

 

Where is your business located? Is it in UK or US? Not clear from your remarks.

UK

 

 

[catopower]

Well, since Ages of Sail sells Vanguard Models products (and other those other European brands) and is in the US, that's still an option for US buyers, and no special paperwork is necessary.

 

Pricing WILL need to be adjusted to cover the additional tariff cost, but as of this moment, it hasn't happened yet. There's been discussion about it, but I don't see anything happening before next week.

 

Shipping to some countries though, is going to be tough. Canada requires the US sellers to collect the tariffs for them, and will bill the selling company. But, since this stuff is mostly products of Europe, there should be a way to ship that stuff to Canada without requiring tariffs anyway. But, it means a lot of paperwork.

[sheepsail]

On the watch forums, there are complaints about used second hand watches. mostly Swiss, being hit with 35% tariff even if coming from other countries.  Even sending a watch to another country for repair, can get hit with import duty.

 

Turns out the Tariff is based on country of origin.  China was shipping things through Vietnam, so this is a way of closing that loophole.  So anything coming from Europe through Canada still gets hit with the higher rate.   Otherwise China could simply ship to Canada or Mexico first.

 

Not sure how some of this affects collectables aka antiques.  These though are subject to capitol gains tax according to the armchair experts on the watch forums.  eBay has to report some of this to the IRS if one sells too much. 

 

This is all uncharted water.  No one really knows what is true anymore.   Especially with computers where anything you tell me three times is true.  Or so said the Red queen to Alice ...

 

-julie

 

 

[chris watton]

OK, my wife just posted a small parcel to the US.

 

All that has happened is the postage cost has increased slightly to take into account the new tariff charges, so this charge (10%) means that the postage costs has increased by 10%. A package worth £84 has an additional charge of £8.40 on the postage cost.

 

ETA - for kits or orders over 800 Dollars, you would have always been paying the duties anyway, as these new tariffs rules only relate to orders of 800 Dollars and under. (we assume, anyway)

Edited 5 hours ago by chris watton

[Jack H]

I just sent a courier package to the United States. FedEx requires the prepayment of customs duties, and there is a complex calculation formula for it, with the duty rate being approximately 10%.Fortunately, it is neither the 125% tariff from a few months ago nor 30% currently .

Edited 4 hours ago by Jack H