Tariffs As They Might Affect The US Market

Oh, did I forget to add a smiley face. oops.

Back on track, has anyone here experienced the process at the USPS for paying a tariff (de-minimus or otherwise?) Was it smooth, or did the clerk seem a little confused? I assume it will get better over time as they start to handle more of these.

Was there a service charge above and beyond the base tariff? How much was it? I understand that UPS charges $12 and USPS charges either $9 or $14 (8.30 USPS fee and $5.50 CBP processing fee) which is a lot of pay for a $5 replacement part ordered from China.

Postal employees have been collecting fees specific to foreign goods delivery since the later 1880s. Not just the delivery fee, customs clearance fees but also actual customs fees assessed on the goods themselves. For a period, 12-1917 through 12-1921, they even collected a parcel tax on incoming foreign matter subject to duty in addition to that duty with the same documentary stamps used to collect the domestic WWI Parcel Tax.

Edited to add: Sadly the OP no longer cares about tariffs impacting philately. I sent an not to have his avatar box updated.

It was, I suppose, simpler forty years ago, when any duty was collected by the postman. Or maybe not. Did you have to hand the £30 required to get hold of your pile of 45s from Memphis (or Mumfurs, as Cher calls it) that the seller had unfortunately put the real value on? Otherwise, back to the sorting office, they'd go, and you'd have to make a separate trip once you'd cobbled together the cash.

Today for the first time when checking out from ebay cart, I received a red banner advising I may be responsible for US tariffs and related fees on item(s) which are being sent from out side of the USA. Of course no indication of what the fees may be.

Now if would be great if postage stamp could be used to pay for those fees as in years past. What a away to unload sheets and blocks of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 cent stamps.

eBay's faq says the seller has the option to have the tariffs pre-paid at checkout, at least if the " ebay International Shipping" service is used.

I looked at a dozen sellers from China and all of them said the tariffs are already paid, but every seller I looked at from Europe, Australia etc. said the tariffs would be due on delivery.

Here is a listing from China,


And one from Europe. No mention from any of them about all shipping to USA being halted.

USPS priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope from Meise in Belgium? On which planet?

ZebraMan, that is the informational text I was speaking about, mine showed at checkout in a red banner. I just did not take a screenshot. I plan to next time it shows.




This one. Priority Mail can be sent for near there from an APO/FPO as domestic US mail.

So, terrible example.

This seems to be the latest: Appeals court strikes down many Trump tariffs, saying he overstepped his authority
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/29/...court-ruling

The uncertainty is not just affecting buyers. Quite a number of my overseas friends have stopped consigning material to Siegels, Kelleher and Cherrystone etc till the situation gets clearer.

The tariffs remain in place at least until October while this makes its way to the SC. If the SC does not take up the case or upholds the lower court the US would have to return in excess of 200 billion dollars collected so far. If the SC overturns the ruling the tariffs continue with a projected 4 to 10 trillion dollars going to pay down the National Debt over ten years. For reference, a few days ago 22 billion dollars was collected in just one day. The initial tariff collection total for this FY was originally estimated at 300 billion dollars but has now been raised to 500 billion dollars. This FY ends in September.

Does anyone actually believe that the money collected will actually be used to lower the debt (which the Republicans are responsible for increasing over the last several decades)? Anyone can look that up, by the way. It's being squeezed out of us to go to the billionaires. But if it ends then possibly the Boston show will turn out well. Otherwise……

And not to governments, I presume, but to thousands of firms and traders.

The net is it is a deficit reduction tax that consumers will mostly end up paying as it will be passed along. How the final prices change will vary due to type of goods and country.

I have purchased Lighthouse binders and have not seen any price increase from my usual source. I doubt that the tariffs create more US sources for mounts, etc.

I believe the increase in postal rates is another increase.

On our way to yet another locked topic. Have you absolutely zero control?

I'm sorry that the truth hurts. Not my problem.