Order Status / New Tariffs (Tax)

The disastrous, un-thought-through tariffs, removal of the de minimis rule that allows packages under $800 from processing quickly through customs without added fees and tariffs, and the temporary shut down of all packages from China by the US Postal Service, caused total chaos. Over a million packages were stacked up in the port of NY alone in just 24 hours. Already shorthanded customs officials were overwhelmed. One of our shipments temporarily got held up in the mess. The administration quickly rescinded the order to re-think things .

There was a temporary reprieve until President Trump put a 20% tariff on all shipments from China and 25% on Canada and Mexico on 3/4/25. So this was an extra 10% in addition to the 10% already announced on China and new 25% taxes on our northern and southern neighbors. But it is important to know that this is OVER AND ABOVE already existing tariffs. For example power supplies already had a 25% tariff. So that means power supplies went up in cost to 45%. In addition, the potential of removing the "de miminis" exemption (under $800 rule) would trigger fees including the $31.67 customs "formal entry fee", a processing fee, and brokerage fees of anywhere from $20-$100. Clearly, under that model, no one could afford to import $100 worth of goods to pay $100 or more in tariffs and fees.

We have had to increase prices (temporarily, we hope) since we pay those tariffs when the shipment arrives in customs. While not all tariffs are bad, in this instance, we feel this trade war unfairly affects all American businesses, but especially small business and US Shoppers. Many Etsy, eBay, and Amazon stores may be forced to close. People who order from stores like AliExpress, Banggood, Temu, Shein, eBay, Etsy, Amazon, etc. will be affected. And the entire model train community will be paying higher prices and suffering availability problems and delays.

We intend to absorb some of this new tax, but we can't absorb all of a 20-45% increase. We will monitor things closely and promise to adjust prices down if and when things change. In addition, if we have any adjustments in price to inventory we have arriving, we will refund that do you when we ship your order.