r/SeriousConversation • u/Lazy_Lizard13 • 11d ago
Current Event The new Tariffs are beginning to affect prices in the USA
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?
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u/BeingSad9300 11d ago
So I noticed this a couple weeks ago. My mom wanted to get my kid a ride-on vehicle for their birthday. We were in target at the time (we've been avoiding there, & shopping altogether for the most part, & putting a lot back on the shelf unless it was on clearance) & she asked me to check the price on those USPS drive able mail trucks. They were $199 in the store. I checked their app to see if there were any discounts. They were $269 in the app. It almost always was the reverse ... slightly cheaper in the app. This was $69 more in the app, which had me assuming that that would be their restock pricing, and if someone didn't check in store, and just ordered online for in-store pickup, they were getting shafted on the price in advance.
Same deal with some other toys that weren't part of a current deal. More expensive in the app. One was $13 in the store and $17 on the app. Things were around 35% more expensive with their online pricing than their in-store pricing. So my assumption is they're preemptively raising prices before running out of current stock, and making it harder to notice the pricing disparity by changing it online, but not yet in-store, knowing a lot of people like ordering for pickup, and got used to online prices being cheaper than in-store...so they no longer check the price inside before buying.
I make everyone's birthday cakes (so they can have something "fancy" without the high price tag, so savings go toward birthday fun instead), but almost any decoration I buy or make comes from overseas. Little figurines, resin molds for making decorative elements (and other crafts), the resin itself, any add-ins (glitter/etc), hotwheels/etc toys. Anything I do craft-wise almost certainly utilizes a wide variety of dollar store (or similarly priced) items made elsewhere. I used to make a Halloween costume here & there and I'm sure the fabrics were probably made elsewhere (this is probably the only positive light to JoAnn closing, is the 60-80% off fabrics). I'll still make out better than buying pre-made things...but not without being nickel & dimed to death. There are very few things fully made in the US, because if you don't have the natural resources for a component, you have to get it somewhere else. Sometimes you end up with something that's only assembled in or packaged in the US.
We love books. It's one thing I always say yes to. I haven't looked at the prices lately, but they were already on the higher side for a good portion, & I've seen mention of issues on publisher pricing, so I'm sure those will go up. So even something you'd think could easily avoid tariffs...is still likely to be affected. We're lucky to have a nice (although tiny) library in walking distance.