Tariffs - The Elephant in the Room (2 Viewers)

[FirstLegion]

So guys, as you know effective March 4th, there will be 20% tariffs on all products coming out of China, where basically all toy soldiers are made. While I do NOT want this discussion to devolve into politics at all, as that's not the point, I'm very curious to hear what effect this may have on the large US collector base out there. Previously, there was that $800 USD exception with no tax, that's gone now. We are among just a few MFR's that primarily warehouse and ship from the USA. But with 20% Tariffs, it's unlikely we will continue to do so, particularly as more than half our customer base isn't even in the USA.

So what I'm wondering is are you all concerned about buying power and increased costs? Do you feel that MFR's like us or dealers should just try to absorb the costs, which realistically probably isn't 100% possible?

Again, please, not politics. That's irrelevant. We are where we are, doesn't matter how or why we got here. And while it could all just go away with a new trade deal, which i do find a realistic possibility, let's pretend it won't.

Share your thoughts on how this may impact your collecting habits and if it's something you're concerned about.



PS - NO POLITICS.

 

[Spanish soldier]

Will the figures be cheaper for us europeans?


Francisco

 

[bridport]

So guys, as you know effective March 4th, there will be 20% tariffs on all products coming out of China, where basically all toy soldiers are made. While I do NOT want this discussion to devolve into politics at all, as that's not the point, I'm very curious to hear what effect this may have on the large US collector base out there. Previously, there was that $800 USD exception with no tax, that's gone now. We are among just a few MFR's that primarily warehouse and ship from the USA. But with 20% Tariffs, it's unlikely we will continue to do so, particularly as more than half our customer base isn't even in the USA.

So what I'm wondering is are you all concerned about buying power and increased costs? Do you feel that MFR's like us or dealers should just try to absorb the costs, which realistically probably isn't 100% possible?

Again, please, not politics. That's irrelevant. We are where we are, doesn't matter how or why we got here. And while it could all just go away with a new trade deal, which i do find a realistic possibility, let's pretend it won't.

Share your thoughts on how this may impact your collecting habits and if it's something you're concerned about.



PS - NO POLITICS.

Tariffs will hit all things beloved by many Americans…

German cars, French wines, Scotch whisky, Belgian chocolate, even Chinese toy soldiers…

Prices will increase.

Will people put up with it?

Time will tell.

 

[Horus]

Tariffs will hit all things beloved by many Americans…

German cars, French wines, Scotch whisky, Belgian chocolate, even Chinese toy soldiers…

Prices will increase.

Will people put up with it?

Time will tell.

Buying American cars, Californian Wine, Tennessee Whisky American Chocolate would all no doubt help American manufacturers and keeping workers employed, putting more Dollars in American pockets, leaving them better able to afford the luxury of imported Chinese made Toy Soldiers !

 

[jazzeum]

I think it’s inevitable that it may impact buying habits. For example, a figure that now costs USD 80 will be 96. At the very least it may affect the number of figures you can purchase at any one time. Moreover, as the tariffs will hit essential items, this too will impact discretionary spending power on non essential items like military figures.

 

[bridport]

Buying American cars, Californian Wine, Tennessee Whisky American Chocolate would all no doubt help American manufacturers and keeping workers employed, putting more Dollars in American pockets, leaving them better able to afford the luxury of imported Chinese made Toy Soldiers !

Have you ever tasted American chocolate?!

A distinct hint of sour milk & sick.

 

[Obee]

This seems to me like a Federal Govt tax on the American consumers ???

 

[tmanthegreat]

I’m not looking forward to higher costs on already expensive items. Tariffs will restrict my purchasing power even more, making it more likely that I’ll just get specific figures instead of the whole series or just a specific paint scheme for armored vehicles. That said, I hope First Legion and the other manufacturers do not reduce quality control in an effort keep costs down as I don’t want to be paying more for less so to speak.

 

[FirstLegion]

I think it’s inevitable that it may impact buying habits. For example, a figure that now costs USD 80 will be 96. At the very least it may affect the number of figures you can purchase at any one time. Moreover, as the tariffs will hit essential items, this too will impact discretionary spending power on non essential items like military figures.

Remember though, the tariffs for lets say FL or dealers are based on their respective pricing, not retail pricing. If you buy direct from Asia, then it will be like you say. But for a dealer, it's taxed at the dealer price.

But as an example, we imported hundreds of thousands in stock just before the tariffs went into effect. Getting a $100k tariff bill doing the same now is a non-starter.

 

[Horus]

Have you ever tasted American chocolate?!

A distinct hint of sour milk & sick.

Yes, a distinct taste, but then since being taken over the taste of Cadbury's has declined with cheaper ingredients being used !
At least the Americans still have industries to manufacture the necessities and produce enough food, if not the varieties demanded today to feed their nation.
We nolonger manufacture much nor grow enough and with this relentless headlong drive for the lie of net zero, Britain and much of Western Europe is not in any shape to do anything ourselves and as for the stupidity of opening our doors to those who hate us, we'll !

 

[Panzer ace]

In a perfect world the burden of the tariffs would be covered equally by manufacturers, dealers and collectors.

 

[Jumper]

Quote:

• Baron von Richter: Look, David, the Fuehrer is being very reasonable. He offers guarantees.
• Sir David Kelly: Experience shows the Fuehrer's guarantees guarantee nothing.

 

[WesternOutlaw]

Interesting topic. We've already seen a significant increase in the cost of the vehicles/larger pieces over the years. Everyone has their limit. When they get over $400 for me, I am very reluctant to buy.

The thought of now adding a tariff will make the issue even worse. I would suppose that sellers will pass on some of the burden to collectors (completely understandable).

We all know that our hobby is a niche market as we get older and the kids focus on video games and social media.
Another blow to the hobby and if they get too expensive, suppose I'll be breaking out the old pieces instead and/or getting very selective over what new pieces to purchase.

Oh, and I while I love Swiss and German chocolate, some American chocolate is very good as well.

 

[wayne556517]

So as an international buyer from Treefrog etc, we will be paying an extra 20%??

 

[fmethorst]

So China --> USA (+20% tariff), then USA --> Canada (+20% retaliatory tariff) , then CAD exchange (+47%).

$100 product --> $120 --> $144 --> $211.68. Couple this with higher taxes and lower incomes and things get cost prohibitive very quickly. Where I used to purchase whole batches of figures as they were released, I've now become very selective. it's getting to the point where I'm buying the mainstream figures like I used to buy the fancy Russian figures.

On the plus side I've finally gotten brave enough to go down the repaint route for some of those models where the paint doesn't look quite right to me.

 

[jazzeum]

So as an international buyer from Treefrog etc, we will be paying an extra 20%??

Why not buy from Asia then?

 

[wayne556517]

Why not buy from Asia then?

Who??
Get Warpark from Singapore and K&C from HK, but First Legion, Britain's ??

 

[Obee]

So as an international buyer from Treefrog etc, we will be paying an extra 20%??

Probably only if you buy from a US shop, so stick to a local one where the postage is cheaper too !!!

John

 

[wayne556517]

Probably only if you buy from a US shop, so stick to a local one where the postage is cheaper too !!!

John

No FL or Britain's mate

 

[Warrior]

People really need a crash course as to how tariffs actually work.

As Matt pointed out, it's not a "hard" 20%, the tariff is paid by the importer at a 20% rate on the declared invoice value; since as an importer of toy soldiers I buy at wholesale/a discount, it's not 20%, it's lower than that.

But it's still a number that stings.

There is no plan/idea as to how this will be handled by toy soldier importers, we are all independent business owners and we each have to decide what's the best way to address this.

IMO, the manufacturers and the importers need to work together to try to figure this out, we as importers need an open dialog with the manufacturers to try to figure out how to handle this.

Not to get political, but anyone with an 8th grade civics class understanding of how tariffs work knows they are not a good idea and the point behind it is misguided.

China as a country does not pay a cent in tariffs, nor do the manufacturers, it's the IMPORTER in the US who pays the tariff; if the goal of this is to punish China, they are missing the target, WE as importers are getting whacked, it's moronic and idiotic.

The hope is cooler heads prevail here and this blanket, across the board tariff on goods from China gets rescinded, but I'm not going to hold my breath on that.

As a full time dealer since 1997, I've weathered the economic impact of the horrific events of 9/11, the housing crash of 2008 and the economic impact of COVID; this is another bump in the road that will have to be navigated is all.