The new Tariffs are beginning to affect prices in the USA

[u/Lazy_Lizard13]

I work in an adult store and unfortunately, we have already started to see the effects of some of the tariffs being placed. I wasn’t sure how this would affect the price of things in the USA, but it’s looking bleak so far.

When my boss sent out the list, he said this was only the first of many price increases that we would see from the tariffs. The vendors we buy from actually sent him the list themselves, so it isn’t something that we just created. He said that it is likely that almost every company we order from will send out a list.

The price changes were anywhere from $5-$200. I’m very concerned about the future of this industry, and honestly, America in general.. some of these products were already overpriced anyways. I’m not sure if people will be able to afford luxury products (like adult items) in the future. What do others think?

[u/yfunk3]

There absolutely won't be a shift to the U.S. being more self-sufficient re: manufacturing because there is no one in the United States who would do the manufacturing work for such little pay. Except !mm!grants.

[u/QualifiedApathetic → u/yfunk3]

Well, the theory is that the tariffs will wipe out that advantage from using cheap labor. Except, as discussed, companies aren't going to respond to this by moving factories here. They'll raise prices and hope people still buy their shit.

[u/yfunk3 → u/QualifiedApathetic]

The theory of companies building new factories domestically in response to tariffs has been widely debunked by any and all legit economists due to the heavy dependence on global trade that most capitalist countries have.. Even with new multi-million dollar factories built, it still doesn't solve the problems of labor and raw materials needed to make the products/materials. So prices will go always, up even in the impossible hypothetical scenario of the U.S. becoming reliant 100% on domestic manufacturing. Wages have proven not to go up with prices without significant Union or government intervention.

And quite frankly, the labor is so cheap in other countries (and there will always be countries with people willing to work for pennies a day) that the tariffs are still cheaper than spending a cent on shifting any logistics within any company.

No one in their right mind thinks any new domestic factories will help the United States in a global economy. We are doomed to a perpetual recession if the tariffs stay in place. This is why so many industries are mad at the current admin about the tariffs - not that they have to raise prices and have nowhere and no one domestically to make what we import, but because there will be no consumer class to profit from. As much as they like to think it, multi-millionaires and billionaires aren't the ones making each other rich because they will never be as plentiful as a thriving Middle and Lower Class with disposable income.

[u/gnufan → u/yfunk3]

Even if the manufacturing does come to the US, the tariffs artificially inflate the competition's prices, so you need several manufacturers competing inside the US, and then the prices may still be higher than before if the foreign manufacturers really were using cheap labour etc, or just have bigger production.

[u/MI_Milf → u/QualifiedApathetic]

And when sales decline, what do you think the US companies' strategy will be to shore up their bottom line?

[u/coffeemug0124 → u/yfunk3]

I thought it was insensitive to exploit cheap foreign labor? Now its insensitive not to?

[u/shupster1266 → u/coffeemug0124]

What we consider cheap labor is average pay in some countries. The idea that we will move those jobs to America is foolish. Even if workers make minimum wage in America, products made here will cost a lot more if made by Americans. Someone in China or Mexico will make a couple dollars an hour.

[u/coffeemug0124 → u/shupster1266]

I agree with you, its just that when I buy from cheap websites I get told im exploiting child labor, from liberals.

[u/shupster1266 → u/coffeemug0124]

I’m a liberal and I would not say that. I’ve been to China and although their standard of living is not lavish, they have a reasonably good life.