Regular readers here will know that your chief Bear is a political animal (!) mostly in private and among like-minded li-bear-tarian/Classical Liberal/"Constitutionalist" comrades. Nonetheless, trade-related issues occasionally rear their ugly heads and give me cause for expressing some growliness publicly.
I just received the Customs declaration for our most recent shipment of B-size and 125-B-size enclosures. The present administration's 10% tariff on Aluminum does apply, and is reflected in increased posted pricing for these items. I hope that the tariff is temporary and does not represent the beginning of a mutually-destructive walling-off of economies.
SD
I just made an order of some enclosures direct as well. Should be here tomorrow. Do you know at what dollar level the tariff is enforced?
MC
Shoot, I just got a 125B from you and was gonna go for another when I decide on my next build. I will save a few more pennies then. Hope its temporary...
Quote from: italianguy63 on April 24, 2018, 05:15:35 PM
Do you know at what dollar level the tariff is enforced?
AFAIK, it is enforced on specific tariff codes, not on dollar amount.
I'll report if I get hit too...
I'm against tariffs. That's why, as a constitutionalist also, I believe international trade should be done with NO tariffs on either side....free market = no surcharge on what I send to you. That is what is going on, though, and has been for decades. Not good.
What some call 'tariff' I call evening the playing field. But yup, it'll be nice when things are re-negotiated to be fair, and then there will be no 'tariffs' to worry about!
QuoteI call evening the playing field.
I think it's a good thing.
We used to have local secondary industries that produced stuff from local raw materials. Local manufacturers would buy off those guys and sell finished products. Many of those companies were smaller and sold to local markets.
The world become more global. Large companies sold to a world market. The smaller local guys couldn't compete. It's got to the point where there's no middle industries. As each layer of industry closes there is a domino effect up the chain. All we do now is ship unprocessed raw materials out of the country, then import goods with all the value adding markups back into the country. The people who worked in those industries disappeared. There's not even a brain drain, the "how to do it" knowledge is completely gone. As a country we are a bunch of dumb arses! The US might be saveable.
I have talked to a guy here in Australia in the timber industry. Australian logs apparently are now loaded onto ships, taken overseas and then brought back as timber. It is cheaper than cutting it in Australia because there are countries where you can pay somebody nothing to work and you don't care about safety so the machinery is much cheaper as well.
QuoteI have talked to a guy here in Australia in the timber industry. Australian logs apparently are now loaded onto ships, taken overseas and then brought back as timber. ...
Yep, exactly that type of thing.
Canada is exempt from the Al tariff, right? Might we reach a point where actual Hammond brand enclosures become the economical option?
Quote from: thermionix on April 25, 2018, 04:28:31 AM
Canada is exempt from the Al tariff, right? Might we reach a point where actual Hammond brand enclosures become the economical option?
It will take a lot more than a 10% tariff for that!
Quote from: italianguy63 on April 25, 2018, 04:49:05 AM
Quote from: thermionix on April 25, 2018, 04:28:31 AM
Canada is exempt from the Al tariff, right? Might we reach a point where actual Hammond brand enclosures become the economical option?
It will take a lot more than a 10% tariff for that!
I would have guessed, but I don't see the wholesale prices on these things.
Quote from: thermionix on April 25, 2018, 04:28:31 AM
Canada is exempt from the Al tariff, right? Might we reach a point where actual Hammond brand enclosures become the economical option?
Might be hard pressed to get a Made in Canada die cast, maybe NOS. At first after the Made in Canada's, Made in the EU, the last batch, and it's been a few years, found one still in the wrapper, wrapper says Made in Taiwan.
Hammond factory's about 30 minutes down the road from me in Guelph ON, unless they've moved since we last drove past.
dave
Quote from: davent on April 25, 2018, 08:26:53 PM
Quote from: thermionix on April 25, 2018, 04:28:31 AM
Canada is exempt from the Al tariff, right? Might we reach a point where actual Hammond brand enclosures become the economical option?
Might be hard pressed to get a Made in Canada die cast, maybe NOS. At first after the Made in Canada's, Made in the EU, the last batch, and it's been a few years, found one still in the wrapper, wrapper says Made in Taiwan.
Hammond factory's about 30 minutes down the road from me in Guelph ON, unless they've moved since we last drove past.
dave
Didn't know they were no longer made in Canada. The transformers still are, to the best of my knowledge.
Quote from: thermionix on April 25, 2018, 08:37:32 PM
Quote from: davent on April 25, 2018, 08:26:53 PM
Quote from: thermionix on April 25, 2018, 04:28:31 AM
Canada is exempt from the Al tariff, right? Might we reach a point where actual Hammond brand enclosures become the economical option?
Might be hard pressed to get a Made in Canada die cast, maybe NOS. At first after the Made in Canada's, Made in the EU, the last batch, and it's been a few years, found one still in the wrapper, wrapper says Made in Taiwan.
Hammond factory's about 30 minutes down the road from me in Guelph ON, unless they've moved since we last drove past.
dave
Didn't know they were no longer made in Canada. The transformers still are, to the best of my knowledge.
My last batch of six (three pairs) was a mix, two pairs were Canada one pair China. The smallest and cheapest, Made in China, nothing's sacred anymore.
dave
> Hammond factory's about 30 minutes down the road from me in Guelph ON
The shack is plenty big to be doing die-castings.
(https://s31.postimg.cc/qebscmm47/Hammond_Front.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/qebscmm47/)
(https://s31.postimg.cc/y72g4m7iv/Hammond_Bird.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/y72g4m7iv/)
Another building, Power Solutions (the transformers), now has the Hammond Museum Of Radio. Some old catalogs and company history linked from their site.
http://www.hammondmuseumofradio.org/museum.html
http://www.hammondmfg.com/pdf/Hammond_G48.pdf
Quote from: davent on April 25, 2018, 09:14:19 PM
Quote from: thermionix on April 25, 2018, 08:37:32 PM
Quote from: davent on April 25, 2018, 08:26:53 PM
Quote from: thermionix on April 25, 2018, 04:28:31 AM
Canada is exempt from the Al tariff, right? Might we reach a point where actual Hammond brand enclosures become the economical option?
Might be hard pressed to get a Made in Canada die cast, maybe NOS. At first after the Made in Canada's, Made in the EU, the last batch, and it's been a few years, found one still in the wrapper, wrapper says Made in Taiwan.
Hammond factory's about 30 minutes down the road from me in Guelph ON, unless they've moved since we last drove past.
dave
Didn't know they were no longer made in Canada. The transformers still are, to the best of my knowledge.
My last batch of six (three pairs) was a mix, two pairs were Canada one pair China. The smallest and cheapest, Made in China, nothing's sacred anymore.
dave
Wow the transformers? What the hell do they do in the factory? The last Hammond iron I bought was a choke, a year or two ago, made in Canada. Can't remember where I ordered it from, may have been on the shelf a while.
I wonder if they can be imported as cans of light salmon.
Was "100% Canadian" in 1935.
(https://s31.postimg.cc/gd2t90l6f/Hammond-_Canada.gif) (https://postimg.cc/image/gd2t90l6f/)
All my life, US-Canada relations were cordial. I'm only now realizing the back-story was turbulent. The "100% Canadian" thing was going strong in this period.
I got my enclosure order today... No tariff!
Shipped via FEDEX. Maybe I lucked out because the manifest said "die cast enclosures" and not specifically aluminum??
MC
Shipped to your residence, right?
Yes.. But, it is also my business address.
Quote from: Rob Strand on April 24, 2018, 09:00:16 PM
I think it's a good thing.
I think we just figured out who owns shares in an aluminum plant... ;)
Quote from: italianguy63 on April 27, 2018, 12:21:34 AM
Yes.. But, it is also my business address.
I understand, I just don't see tariffs being collected by FedEx drivers at people's homes. Not in the US anyway. COD, postage due, but not tariffs, or import duties. Do we even have import duties? I've never paid any, but I don't get international shipments very often.
Like I asked before... I think there is probably some limit (let's make up a figure $400) to which under is considered personal use, and it exempt. Like the bottle of liquor you allowed to purchase on a cruise.
BTW-- if you go "over" your cruise allotment just claim the purchase to Customs and they will calculate your "duty" -- and it is very small. I've done this before, they calculated the fee-- and then waived that because the amount was so small.
What I am saying is-- I think unless you are importing very large amounts of product-- you are off the radar. That's my guess. Only conjecture. Small Bear may have ordered a pallet. I only ordered $45 bucks worth.
Take my opinion for what it is worth -- nothing/it's free!
MC
Quote from: thermionix on April 27, 2018, 03:59:27 AM
Quote from: italianguy63 on April 27, 2018, 12:21:34 AM
Yes.. But, it is also my business address.
I understand, I just don't see tariffs being collected by FedEx drivers at people's homes. Not in the US anyway. COD, postage due, but not tariffs, or import duties. Do we even have import duties? I've never paid any, but I don't get international shipments very often.
Actually. I have once. I purchased some nice-hand made pottery in Italy once (Florence). It was pretty expensive-- call it $400. It was too big and fragile to take on the plane, so I had it shipped.
It arrived at the house in this huge (Mil-Spec) plywood box. I still have the box! I may post a pic. Anyway, attached to it was a Custom's duty form. I believe it was UPS, and they had to collect around $80 from me before they would release it to me. This was a long time ago...
MC
Right on. I've probably never received anything valued over $30. Small potatoes. But still, import duties and tariffs are two different things. Neither of which I know anything about, obviously.
Quote from: thermionix on April 27, 2018, 04:30:32 AM
Right on. I've probably never received anything valued over $30. Small potatoes. But still, import duties and tariffs are two different things. Neither of which I know anything about, obviously.
I'm with you. Very little experience. I just pay what they say I owe.
MC
Quote from: italianguy63 on April 27, 2018, 04:31:33 AM
I just pay what they say I owe.
I just hide in the basement and don't answer the door.
Quote from: thermionix on April 27, 2018, 04:34:06 AM
Quote from: italianguy63 on April 27, 2018, 04:31:33 AM
I just pay what they say I owe.
I just hide in the basement and don't answer the door.
But, then you don't get your eagerly awaited stuff.
And, about that box from Italy. Picture the big box from "A Christmas Story" that the leg lamp came in. It even had in big letters "FRAGILE" or in Italian - "Frage-Jill-Aye" stenciled on the side. I really laughed out loud. But, not so much for the extra $80 ding-- since I had prepaid in Italy for it to be shipped.
MC
QuoteI think we just figured out who owns shares in an aluminum plant... ;)
I never do things for selfish reasons.
Quote from: thermionix on April 27, 2018, 04:30:32 AM
But still, import duties and tariffs are two different things.
I always thought it was just a difference in spelling.
Quote from: smallbearelec on April 24, 2018, 05:06:28 PM
Regular readers here will know that your chief Bear is a political animal (!) mostly in private and among like-minded li-bear-tarian/Classical Liberal/"Constitutionalist" comrades. Nonetheless, trade-related issues occasionally rear their ugly heads and give me cause for expressing some growliness publicly.
I just received the Customs declaration for our most recent shipment of B-size and 125-B-size enclosures. The present administration's 10% tariff on Aluminum does apply, and is reflected in increased posted pricing for these items. I hope that the tariff is temporary and does not represent the beginning of a mutually-destructive walling-off of economies.
SD
Ain't America feeling great.....again? :icon_rolleyes:
Do they offer a refund on the tariff for re-exported goods?
The US is not alone in the "let's ream the buying public" games.
Small personal imports to Australia for everything (legal) except nicotine and alcohol, of up to AUD$1000 in value have been exempt from import duty and taxes.
As of 1st July 2018, 10% GST (goods and services tax, like the UK's VAT) will be imposed on all international purchases. it's up to people like e-bay to collect and remit it.
They are also discussing a 'security levy' of around AUD$5 for customs to check all packages at the border.
If it's bad trying to buy from the US & UK down under now, it's about to get a lot worse.
david
Quote from: smallbearelec on April 24, 2018, 05:06:28 PM
...I just received the Customs declaration for our most recent shipment of B-size and 125-B-size enclosures. The present administration's 10% tariff on Aluminum does apply, and is reflected in increased posted pricing for these items...
It was my understanding that the aluminum (and steel) tariffs affected raw aluminum imports, but not downstream products—at least directly. I heard an interviewed keg manufacturer talk about how this affects the import of raw material, but would not affect the import of the actual kegs themselves from overseas. Does anyone have information about why stompboxes, clearly a downstream product, would
not be considered a downstream product?
The US has always had tariffs, since the Constitution became law of the land in 1789. The last 80 years or so have seen a steady decline in revenue raised from tariffs, thanks to globalization. This isn't new and it has nothing to do with the constitution. It does have everything to do with cheap, shallow, identity politics and modern Americans' distaste for pragmatism.
I will certainly be willing to pay 10% more for enclosures if that means Small Bear can continue to operate the way it does. Niche suppliers in the age of Ebay/Amazon are priceless. It sucks to have less money in your pocket but such is life.
Quote from: italianguy63 on April 26, 2018, 01:45:15 PM
I got my enclosure order today... No tariff!
Shipped via FEDEX. Maybe I lucked out because the manifest said "die cast enclosures" and not specifically aluminum??
MC
my last order via fed ex was delivered, fine, guy says nothing...he walks off... , 2 weeks later i got a 'duty' fee to pay..... :( just a heads up man..
Quote from: deadastronaut on May 01, 2018, 03:21:28 PM
Quote from: italianguy63 on April 26, 2018, 01:45:15 PM
I got my enclosure order today... No tariff!
Shipped via FEDEX. Maybe I lucked out because the manifest said "die cast enclosures" and not specifically aluminum??
MC
my last order via fed ex was delivered, fine, guy says nothing...he walks off... , 2 weeks later i got a 'duty' fee to pay..... :( just a heads up man..
NOW, I will hide in the basement like Thermionix!!!
;D
MC
Everbody knows there are no basements in Florida. Until that day when the ground opens up and converts your whole house into a basement. Yes, even the planet hates Jimmy Buffett fans.