37.5% duty charged on Ascilab speakers shipped to US [Resolved]

[PristineSound]

Hmm, then can you please convince SVS to reverse the price on their subwoofers to pre-tariff pricing?

 

[Somafunk]

A tax is a tax at the end of the day.

Nah, they’re really not the equivalent of each other

 

[Devnull]

What no one mentions is that maybe with tariffs causing price increases it makes people actually think about making purchases. Do I really have to get a new cell phone or do I just want one? Does the bedroom really need a AVR with Dirac? Are you going to curl up and die if you don't get new IEMs? OMG a new Rolex will cost 3k more.

People are incapable of differentiating between need and want. Maybe if they spent less on wants they'd have more to spend on needs.

 

[Beave]

What no one mentions is that maybe with tariffs causing price increases it makes people actually think about making purchases. Do I really have to get a new cell phone or do I just want one? Does the bedroom really need a AVR with Dirac? Are you going to curl up and die if you don't get new IEMs? OMG a new Rolex will cost 3k more.

People are incapable of differentiating between need and want. Maybe if they spent less on wants they'd have more to spend on needs.

While I strongly agree with this in principle, I'm afraid our economy depends in large part on people buying junk they don't really need.

 

[Beave]

Then I must be outdated.
That's unfortunate, Aerials used to be really good.

Well, they're still good, right? Where the parts come from shouldn't have any effect there.

If I remember right, a few years ago somebody noticed that their backplates said "Made in the USA," when in fact it should have said "Assembled in the USA." Somebody called out Aerial on this discrepancy, and Aerial had to come clean that, yes, their speakers are assembled in the USA with parts (including cabinets) made overseas. I think their backplates now say "Assembled in the USA." I'm not 100% sure of any of this, but I've read about it on at least a couple of other audio-related websites.

 

[PGansz]

The whole "Tariffs are inflationary" argument goes against economic theory. A tax is a tax at the end of the day. Does anyone think that raising income taxes is inflationary? Classic economic theory would say a consumption tax will reduce consumption just like an income tax or a VAT and prices will adjust to reduced demand. The difference is consumption taxes allow the taxing of the underground economy i.e. hookers and drug dealers because they all buy stuff. Also unlike income taxes they a "voluntary", you can chose to not buy something and save or invest the money instead which can be helpful for the economy. Finally the US is running huge deficits so helping to reduce the deficit is not all bad. I don't like taxes and any tax will reduce economic activity but consumption taxes can be preferable to income taxes and runaway deficits are not the long run road to prosperity either.

"I don't like taxes."

Who pays for your military which guaranteed Hitler didn't invade? Until 1980 the rich paid 70%.

 

[PGansz]

What no one mentions is that maybe with tariffs causing price increases it makes people actually think about making purchases. Do I really have to get a new cell phone or do I just want one? Does the bedroom really need a AVR with Dirac? Are you going to curl up and die if you don't get new IEMs? OMG a new Rolex will cost 3k more.

People are incapable of differentiating between need and want. Maybe if they spent less on wants they'd have more to spend on needs.

Taxation without representation is what built this country. One heathen deciding who to tax and how much is absolute insanity. OP's example is perfect representation of this insanity.

I can buy damn near anything I want that doesn't mean I like higher prices because the orange orangutan woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

 

[Somafunk]

What no one mentions is that maybe with tariffs causing price increases it makes people actually think about making purchases. Do I really have to get a new cell phone or do I just want one? Does the bedroom really need a AVR with Dirac? Are you going to curl up and die if you don't get new IEMs? OMG a new Rolex will cost 3k more.

People are incapable of differentiating between need and want. Maybe if they spent less on wants they'd have more to spend on needs.

Or perhaps those in the U.S. that are less fortunate in society on low incomes such like myself who survives on disability benefits which are considered below the poverty line in the uk will end up paying a significantly higher percentage of their income on daily living costs and goods that are ht by tariffs compared to someone who is earning the U.K. average wage which is 2.5x my current income.

This misunderstanding of tariffs and representation of tax revenue with regard to income levels shows either a paucity of educational literacy or disregard for economic nuance across social classes

 

[Pearljam5000]

OK but how do they sound?

 

[MarkS]

OK but how do they sound?

Fantastic! End game for me.

 

[Davey]

If the tariff situation is hard to swallow.....just hold off until it settles down. And if doesn't sort to a tolerable level, just don't buy the speakers.
'Pretty simple calculation, in my view.

 

[amper42]

The whole "Tariffs are inflationary" argument goes against economic theory. A tax is a tax at the end of the day. Does anyone think that raising income taxes is inflationary? Classic economic theory would say a consumption tax will reduce consumption just like an income tax or a VAT and prices will adjust to reduced demand. The difference is consumption taxes allow the taxing of the underground economy i.e. hookers and drug dealers because they all buy stuff. Also unlike income taxes they a "voluntary", you can chose to not buy something and save or invest the money instead which can be helpful for the economy. Finally the US is running huge deficits so helping to reduce the deficit is not all bad. I don't like taxes and any tax will reduce economic activity but consumption taxes can be preferable to income taxes and runaway deficits are not the long run road to prosperity either.

Consumption taxes (Tarriffs) always move the tax bill to the less fortunate. Rich people simply stop buying products or have their company find a way to get what they want without fees. Those that think the price of avocado's going up 50% last month or tomatoes and other vegetables increasing in cost due to immigration pressures isn't inflationary - are blind.

Insurance costs on homes have risen 150% in the last few years with a 35% increase this last year. It's getting to the point where the wealthy self insure and the poor have no choice but pay up. Rapid inflationary pressures are hitting every sector as a result of the Tarriff and immigration enforcement one, two punch.

I will simply put a pause on audio gear purchases until this mess is over. I guarantee you it can't last. People will be very angry and upset soon. First it will hit insurance and groceries. Electric and water bills are moving much higher too. Next, health insurance bills will rise by 30% and new auto's will be out of reach for most. It's going to be the biggest inflationary spiral of our lifetimes. Significantly higher rising prices will be imbedded in basic living expenses. It won't be possible to avoid increased costs even if you drastically reduce luxury purchases.

 

[AsciLab]

I received my Ascilab C6B speakers a few weeks ago. I paid $1145 for them, including FedEx shipping.

Today I received a bill from FedEx for $429.38 for a 37.5% duty charge:

It appears that FedEx has incorrectly classified this shipment as “Made in China” instead of “Made in Korea,” resulting in an excessive duty charge.
Please send the current case details to [email protected], and we will issue a Certificate of Origin.
You can submit this certificate to FedEx to claim a refund for the additional duties that were charged in error.

 

[Devnull]

Or perhaps those in the U.S. that are less fortunate in society on low incomes such like myself who survives on disability benefits which are considered below the poverty line in the uk will end up paying a significantly higher percentage of their income on daily living costs and goods that are ht by tariffs compared to someone who is earning the U.K. average wage which is 2.5x my current income.

This misunderstanding of tariffs and representation of tax revenue with regard to income levels shows either a paucity of educational literacy or disregard for economic nuance across social classes

Yup, life's not fair. Never has been, never will be. In terms of economic nuances look around the room you're in. You have possessions that people a hundred years ago could have only dreamed of. In fact, you live a life of luxury compared to a large percentage of people on the planet. In the US a typical "poor" family, about 10% of the population, has a car, air conditioning, a couple of TVs, stove, microwave and a fridge according to the US census bureau. That's a pretty good life compared to a lot of people

 

[MarkS]

If the tariff situation is hard to swallow.....just hold off until it settles down. And if doesn't sort to a tolerable level, just don't buy the speakers.
'Pretty simple calculation, in my view.

I was not given the opportunity to do the calculation. There was no indication that I would be paying China-level tariffs on the full retail price (including international shipping) of a product allegedly made in and sold by a company in South Korea, which has a much lower tariff rate. If I had been properly informed of that, I might not have bought them.

 

[zonk]

I was not given the opportunity to do the calculation. There was no indication that I would be paying China-level tariffs on the full retail price (including international shipping) of a product allegedly made in and sold by a company in South Korea, which has a much lower tariff rate. If I had been properly informed of that, I might not have bought them.

It's interesting to see how big is the difference, because South Korea has tariffs too.

The main problem is that at purchase it's not clear what are the extra costs.

 

[a4eaudio]

The whole "Tariffs are inflationary" argument goes against economic theory.

No. Tariffs will increase the price of goods. Increased prices show up as inflation.

A tax is a tax at the end of the day. Does anyone think that raising income taxes is inflationary?

A tariff leads to an increase in marginal costs - this is a negative supply shock leading to an increase in prices and a decrease in equilibrium quantity that clears the market. (Principles of econ would be a leftward shift in the upward sloping supply curve resulting in a lower equilibrium qty and higher equilibrium price.)

An increase in income taxes is a negative demand shock - this will lead to decrease in prices and a decrease in equilibrium quantity that clears the market.
(Principles of econ would be a leftward shift in the downward sloping demand curve resulting in lower equilibrium qty and lower equilibrium price.)

Classic economic theory would say a consumption tax will reduce consumption just like an income tax or a VAT and prices will adjust to reduced demand. The difference is consumption taxes allow the taxing of the underground economy i.e. hookers and drug dealers because they all buy stuff.

This is actually the opposite. I don't know anyone who declares their obligation for sales taxes on their purchase of prostitution services and drug purchases. However, most people I know do pay their income taxes.

...Finally the US is running huge deficits so helping to reduce the deficit is not all bad. I don't like taxes and any tax will reduce economic activity but consumption taxes can be preferable to income taxes and runaway deficits are not the long run road to prosperity either.

Are you confusing trade deficits with fiscal deficits? Why would a trade in goods deficit (which the US has with almost every major trading partner) which is offset by a trade surplus in services and surplus in financial flows, be bad?

 

[caught gesture]

I don’t see any economic theory underpinning the current use of tariffs. They are being used as levers of power and to facilitate profit-making from stock market manipulation and insider trading.

 

[Jon L]

Many things from China arrive by US Post Office. How is tariff handled by USPS?

I guess it was good while it lasted

 

[MattHooper]

If the tariff situation is hard to swallow.....just hold off until it settles down. And if doesn't sort to a tolerable level, just don't buy the speakers.
'Pretty simple calculation, in my view.

^^^ “ this is why we can’t have nice things”

(that point seems somewhat akin to the politicians who decried the price of eggs under one president, and when they stayed high under another president switched to
“ well have you thought of owning some chickens?”