Does anyone have any idea as to how proposed or in-place tariffs are going to affect our hobby? Maybe I should not be asking this question. If so, my apologies. I will refrain from further political-colored commentary. However, I can't believe that prices of kits and after-market items we purchase from companies like Cornwall Model Boats (England), Dry Dock, (Canada), Eduard Photo Etch (in the Czech Repub.), etc. , or through American companies such as Model Expo and Sprue Brothers will not go up as a result of these ridiculous political wranglings. Members who are overseas, i.e., Germany, Australia, South Africa, etc., may see the similar effects when they try to purchase American-made items for their builds. There may be an increase in the number of scratch-built models being presented and discussed on these pages until this stupidity is resolved. I intend to let my representatives (loosely-used term) know of my displeasure and concerns. I hope others will do likewise.
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I will be watching this topic with great interest. I cannot provide any comment at the moment as the future of tariffs (sales taxes) by USA to other countries and other counties against USA is currently completely unknown.
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i have no idea but companies that deal with imports like model Expo or Dry dock models might be able to shed light on the subject.
My thoughts are these tariffs deal with large corporations and not as much with small enterprises like mom-and-pop operations.
we do not have any major model ship kit makers in North America they are all small business operations which i think many of the companies in China and other countries are also small operations. So this hobby is sailing under the tariffs radar. When you buy a kit your dealing directly with the company so there is no importer exporter involved.
i use to deal with exotic imported lumber but the cost has gone so high it is no longer worth the cost. now if i were dealing with container loads of 5,000 board feet that might get the attention of the trade wars. but model ship businesses are not using that amount of raw materials, and if they do just source the materials locally
My thoughts are these tariffs deal with large corporations and not as much with small enterprises like mom-and-pop operations.
we do not have any major model ship kit makers in North America they are all small business operations which i think many of the companies in China and other countries are also small operations. So this hobby is sailing under the tariffs radar. When you buy a kit your dealing directly with the company so there is no importer exporter involved.
i use to deal with exotic imported lumber but the cost has gone so high it is no longer worth the cost. now if i were dealing with container loads of 5,000 board feet that might get the attention of the trade wars. but model ship businesses are not using that amount of raw materials, and if they do just source the materials locally
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model ship kits fall in the catagory of toys and here is a statement Toy Association trade group
Toys are another category of consumer products that relies heavily on imports from China. Greg Ahearn, the president and CEO of The Toy Association trade group, said he thinks toy companies that source in China are going to absorb the cost of the new tariff
Toys are another category of consumer products that relies heavily on imports from China. Greg Ahearn, the president and CEO of The Toy Association trade group, said he thinks toy companies that source in China are going to absorb the cost of the new tariff
For a regular consumer as I am, Canada always applied and still applies 13% import sales tax for any items imported to Canada. This included ship kits I purchased from USA and other countries. If tariff war continues the 13% just may become 25% or larger for anything imported from USA.
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Y.T., that 13% is HST which is the combination of Ontario sales tax & Federal tax as other provinces have different % for sales tax except maybe Alberta that i think has no sales tax. anytime i bought model or computer parts under at least $100Can from the US before this tariff business started, i was not hit with the HST & i am in Ontario.
Sometimes Canada Border Services Agency just ignores or misses to tax my packages from USA. But most of the time they are consistent. I pay 13% plus some import fee. Most of my purchases are over CAD 100. If you noticed I am in Toronto Ontario.
May be you could explain how it does work?
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I will explan it later today
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On the other side of the coin, our foreign friends often complain about the Tariffs that THEIR governments have been imposing on excellent made in USA products that they wish to buy. For example Byrnes saws sanders, etc.
Model Expo does sell Model Shipways kits although these too might now be imported. Bluejacket and AJ Fisher are also American sources.
Roger
Model Expo does sell Model Shipways kits although these too might now be imported. Bluejacket and AJ Fisher are also American sources.
Roger
One more opinion.......I love this site as it is about ship models, not politics, the preferences of which one might have are usually best expressed at the voting booth. A concern for money is pretty much international but moving the post into politics would be better with websites such as Pew Research or The Political Compass.
Where does one find the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for a ship model kit? It's not like it is posted on the price sheet on a new car. And, even some cars sell for over sticker price, if the consumer is willing to pay. Supply and demand!
Allan
The question is fair, but politic comment to be avoid to keep the peace in this wonderful community. It is useful to know and approximative value of all the duties and taxes when we purchased outside our contry, espically on those high value model ship that cost a couple of week pay. I have interest on some China High end ship, but the shipping and others fee afraid me, as per exemple.
Please refrain from any political comments on this topic ,later will be explained hhow tariffs works as far as I know,but we have no control over it also is pointless fingerpoint on anyone
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Hello guys
Tariffs are imposed based on the Country of Origin not on Country you purchased from ,meaning if you purcased from Usa and the product is Made in China,EU ,Mexico etc no tariff inposed ( I am talking about the ne 25% Tariff )The tariff is on Made in Canada product that is imported in Usa ,Made in Usa imported in Canada .Products Made in China imported from Canada has the Tariff rate imposed on China $20%,but there is $250 value tariff free and everything above is subject to Tariff.Now at the moment I do not know anybody in the Usa who had to pay the tariff on Chinese products,exemple is 1:48 Enterprize kit with the value over $1000 .It is not clear that these Tariffs on Made in China products are imposed already or not yet,nor the opposite.
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Here is a screenshot about the Tariffs imposed by the Usa
www.clickship.com
US Tariffs: What You Need to Know
ClickShip is paying close attention to the ongoing trade disputes between the US and Canada, Mexico, and China, and will continue to provide updates as they arrive.
www.clickship.com
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The manufacturers website. If say Amati will charge me 200.00$ for kit 009, and online retailers are charging 250$, do you feel good about that retailer, or do you feel good for paying more for it?
Us retailers have to pay shipping,import fees ,custom feesxand taxes plus they are in a business to make profit,they cannot sell the kit in the Us for the same price as the manufacturer.Also bigger retailer have to pay employees too.
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You do know that retailers do not pay msrp to get the item right?
To make it less eventful of discussion, let us discuss Walmart and its toy department.
I worked at walmart for 5 years. Last year as a department manager. I spent 2 years doing inventory.
Walmart buys a 2 count box of the big fancy "christmas 2024" barbie doll. They pay X for the box of two dolls. Then they take the case price of X, increase it by 10-15% and it becomes the price for each barbie doll. Yeah, thats how it goes in retail. And thats how it goes with most toys youll find at walmart. Some of those toys, like
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Disney-P...s-How-Far-I-ll-Go/587870033?classType=REGULAR came 3 or 4 in a box, and so the purchase price plus 10% gives you roughly 19.00$ retail per item.
things like this following, came in cases of 6/8/10/12 from the factory. IN CHINA.
Robot or human?
www.walmart.com
Robot or human?
www.walmart.com
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