How will the recently implemented tariffs affect your doll collecting?

It's not just you. Before all of this, I was buying new dolls several times a year and had a weekly "doll allowance" that I spent regularly on new accessories, materials, props, etc. I still have that allowance and it's just been building because I don't even know what to get. I'm not buying outside the US because I have no clue what kind of tariffs to expect by the time it arrives, and I'm not comfortable risking it. I'm not making much stuff because there are no fabric stores left in my area, so I'm limited to what I can find online or thrift. And even finding the fabrics I want for special projects is stressful because I can't feel the weight or thickness of it, see how big the print/pattern looks, or know if I can get the trim/buttons/whatever to complete it. I'm still doing faceups for myself and friends (not commissions, thankfully), I have the supplies (for now) but when they run out, I don't know what will happen. I already can't get MSC locally anymore. The glosses I use are getting harder to find. I think a lot of the basic materials we use for crafting, sewing and faceups are either going to be impossible to get if it can't be shipped to us, or the tariffs are going to raise the price so much that we either can't afford it or can't justify it. I don't want to buy a bunch of supplies for projects I can't finish.

And then on top of all the direct hobby related stuff, there's also the issue of money in general. Everything's getting so expensive and who knows what jobs will get cut next, I'm actually scared to spend too much on hobbies when I may need it to survive before much longer. I hate the doom and gloom too, and don't want to spread it, and I know there are so much worse things going on right now than being able to buy dolls, but my dolls are my escape. It's really not good when the main thing that helps me relax is now at stake too.

I'm also very concerned for the US dealers, and how they'll be affected by the tariffs. I feel sure they'll either have to raise prices significantly, or have them shipped directly to the buyer and make it their duty to pay the tariffs themselves. For all those preorders already submitted and waiting, it's going to be a disaster when customers can't pay the additional fees to get the dolls or the dealer has to cover it out of pocket. IF they can even get the dolls at all. If they can't, they're going to lose a fortune with refunds, or have a lot of hurt and angry customers if they can't issue refunds. I feel so bad for them and anybody waiting on an order right now. Same with US doll artists. If importing the resin or tools needed to create dolls becomes too expensive, will we lose their amazing work too? Though if anybody has been eyeing an in stock doll with a US dealer/artist, now would be the time to grab it if you can! Support our dealers/artists, and get it tariff free!

(And I totally feel you on that shoe issue too. I just bought a pair from a US dealer for my girls, they arrived today and....they're too big. I don't have any other MSD girls who can wear them, either, so I guess I'll be stuffing the toes...)

 

Interesting because their US branch is doing this but their Global branch hasn’t, yet. If we look to BJD shops to compare to Denver Doll and BJDivas or other US based BJD places might have to do what GSUSA is doing and unfortunately potentially have to lean on their customers if it’s not financial safe to to take on the fees completely.

But GSGlobal places that ship directly to us, like ACBJD, LegendDoll could be fine because we’ll be paying tariffs when the doll hits customs not them. It’d probably be easier to get stuff to customers….if shipping methods to the US weren’t being temporarily suspended by the BJD importer or by the shipping companies themselves.

I’m gonna be positive and say we will get our dolls in pre-order limbo. But everyone’s going to take financial hits companies and customers. Getting new stuff will slow down I think because it’ll be cost prohibitive. Maybe second hand will boom? What I’m also worried about is what US BJD companies will survive after this and the ones that survive for how long without having to tack on additional tariff fees.

 

Yes, I started a big project at the start of this month (April) and I just can't bring myself to work on it. It was outfit sets for three different SD girl dolls two which I have, but one I wasn't going to order until June, and now I might not be able to order her at all, and if the tariff war continues I might have to look for a different doll on the second hand market to fill her place. I don't want to do this, and I've lost my motivation to sew for all three girls. Everything is cut out and pinned, but I can get myself to the sewing machine.

One of the dealers paused the dolls, and I am worried that this tariff war will continue before the end of July when the first ones PayPal protection runs out. I sewed for these dolls already, but I can't bring myself to shoe shop for them yet. I'll think I will just keep waiting before I buy anything for them. I am really hoping this tariff war get settled by then. I am going to be patient on this, because what else can I do?

But I'm even more worried about the doll I ordered in January from some place else. Also a Chinese company. I have no idea when this one is going to be sent. The website says 60 working days, which should have stuck it sometime in April, but other people that ordered from the company told me about five months which is sticking it in May, right into the middle of this mess. I paid for DHL and it's under 800USD. I am willing to pay the crazy tariffs, if need be, but I don't want to.

I just have my dolls projects on pause right now. I have plenty of supplies at home to make things for them. It's not like I have to go buy stuff to do the projects. I just can't find the motivation right now to do anything with them other then boop their little noses as I walk past them.

 

Definitely not just you. There's so much uncertainty abut the availability and costs of everything and with places like Joanns closing down, that really doesn't help with even trying to figure out what supplies might be needed. With all the stress about all the cuts being made everywhere (now the FDA has cut food inspections so that's terrifying. I remember having to read The Jungle in middle school; I don't want to live it!) it'd hard to focus on hobbies, even though I know they're good distractions from the stress. I'm more nitpicky about them needing to look perfect on the first try because i don't know when or if I'll be able to find materials to remake things, too.
It's all just a lot lately ><

 

JoAnn going under at the same time is really doing my head in, since I relied so heavily on them for my business. I've gone way too many times, and always get overwhelmed wondering how to get the "right things"... and I know it will have me intimidated about whether I should use it at all, or have to save it for some perfect project.

I too got some clothes, shoes and wigs/eyes because I was worried... and also, while frantic, got some things that aren't the right size. If only we could all just swap, hah!

I actually bought two dolls last year after over 10+ years out of the hobby, but still haven't photographed or named them (just some messing with eyes and wigs). I feel really bad about it, even though I think we have "bonded" and it's not like I regret it.

I guess I'm trying to remind myself that aside from the practical stress (will I be able to get x thing in the future? Will I be able to afford it? Will the company still be there?), there is a huge amount of resulting emotional stress. That's what's making it hard to do a project, or name a doll. Losing the ability to be spontaneous with things is tough.

So I guess the advice I have (for myself at least): don't give yourself a hard time over being in a difficult situation that's out of your control, or reacting normally to it. Don't force yourself to do your hobbies, or feel guilty when you can't; but do try to make time for "unnecessary" things. And use the good fabric.

 

I was just lamenting over this yesterday, because I realized I had just one spool(?) of lace left that I bought from Joanns and I think the lace was a joann specific brand because I cant seem to find it anywhere else. Not to mention, I had plans for making doll clothes and joanns was the only place to actually be able to afford and feel fabric in person and now that that is gone, I'm real sad over it...

On a more general note and a response to this thread, I've been feeling pretty anxious over all this stuff. I want to enjoy my dolls so bad but I just cant seem to be able to because I'm on edge all day thinking about the future (and this time for good reason.) Sigh.

 

That “feel” of the fabric you mentioned is so very important to me and why I am so upset about Joanne’s going out of business!

 

I've been feeling the same way. I usually love browsing new dolls and seeing what's out there but KNOWING I won't be buying kinda makes me feel less motivated and kinda hinders my desire for new projects which usually involves new clothing, makeup, etc

 

I don't really buy dolls consistently (I'm unemployed) but I know they're impacting my general purchasing choices. It's a bit frustrating honestly.

 

Unfortunately in the US. Q_Q

I hope you're right. Fortunately that's the only doll I'm currently waiting on at the moment, but I'm just nervous about how this stuff is going to affect her arrival and if i'm going to get surprised with an additional bill whenever she does show up.

I'm also kind of worried that the tariffs are going to end up with these businesses getting shut down since BJD are already expensive and to tack on an insane tariff... People (at least in the US) are likely going to be buying less.

 

It’s rather poor timing given doll leaves is discontinuing a sculpt I've had my eye on. Normally I would just have ordered the head and saved up to get the body later. But I don’t want to end up spending $100+ on a blank head.

 

A few sellers on Tao Bao have reached out to me saying they can’t ship to the US anymore. I don’t really understand Tarrifs 100%, but I’ve been seeing weird international shipping rates (like $400 for a $20 pair of boots). I’m going to have to resort to sending Chinese products to my uncle and sister in China now and picking them up in person when I do my yearly visit to see my family. Hopefully I won’t get stopped at customs for carrying over too many expensive items

 

I don't understand tariffs and how all that works but I'm sad I can't buy dolls and items from China anymore. I used to buy from allieexpress a lot and now 90% of the sellers I used to buy from have canceled shipping to the USA. I also collect items from popmart and they have raised their prices. All this is not looking good for us Americans because everything is expensive so what's the point of the tariffs?? like what's good for us? it's not even more jobs because I have seen many people losing their jobs due to these tariffs like ups, amazon etc this will significantly put a pause in this hobby for me

 

The simplest way to explain tariff is it’s a tax. Compare it to something like a state tax. Theoretically, when it’s a reasonable percentage it’s supposed to go the state to add to budgets. Same with tariffs a reasonable tariff would give some of the money spent outside the country back to the country and in a perfect world the government would spread the money from tariffs into various budgets.

Unfortunately for us in the US the president doesnt understand tariffs, or manufacturing and we get what we have now. To put it in perspective with BJDs, the president thinks China is taking advantage of us because we mainly buy BJDs and related goods from them. So he adds high tariffs, because he thinks that will make them stop “ripping us off” and make US buyers flock to USA made BJDs. Which obviously doesn’t work or make sense if you think about it for half a second.

I wonder if it’s because their local shipping (their version of USPS) and DHL have temporarily suspended shipping for various reasons. Those were the cheaper options for a long time and the alternative like FedEx were already pretty pricey.

Package forwarding services might get a little boom or a lot of us will be taking vacations in China or maybe Canada to go pick up orders from setting up a remote mailbox just for packages.

 

I know plenty of others have already replied and shown it's not just you . . . but here's one more!

I'm feeling deeply discouraged about both of my main hobbies right now—BJDs and off-topic nendoroid ob11 dolls.

I tried to remain optimistic for a while . . . but that's fading quickly as reality sets in.

I thought I would just have to pay extra to have these things shipped to me, and would've been willing to do so (just wouldn't be able to do so nearly as often). But most shops seem to be cutting off shipping to the US entirely.

The fact of the matter is I'm absolutely cut off from all suppliers of the materials and accessories I need for these hobbies, and I will never have access to them again.

It makes me feel like giving up and walking away. Trying to convince myself that I can still somehow work on shelling my OCs with the latest sculpts I acquired feels like some kind of naive dream. I might as well just sell them, because I can't customize them without supplies.

I hope I won't truly give up. But it's hard to sit here knowing that what I have now is all I'm going to get . . . especially when acquiring new clothes and accessories and whatnot for my BJDs and little nendolls is a huge part of the joy for me!

None of my BJDs are complete, and now it seems they never will be.

 

In the UK we've always had import tariffs on stuff from the US so here we get a 'ransom note' from the delivery office once it's gone through customs etc. They won't release the doll for collection or delivery till we've paid a handling fee, 20% VAT plus 'duty' charges on the item - which specifically for dolls is 5%. All items have different duty rates so they're all listed in a big book or online.

What's happened in America is similar to what happened to the UK after 'brexit' (an economic disaster too) in that there was such an increase in paperwork and charges for businesses importing goods from Europe after brexit that they were refusing to accept orders and returning them to sender, at cost to the sender - so of course European companies stopped sending stuff as it wasn't worth it to them when it was just going to be returned due to tariffs. 5 years later our government is still reluctant to admit it was a mistake as a large part of the (illiterate) electorate voted for it.

Everything especially food (a lot of which used to come from Europe for UK) has got so much more expensive now, and tariffs imposed on Europe were nowhere near as big as those imposed on people importing Chinese goods to US. But rising costs are just blamed on other world events rather than brexit so...(big sigh) I expect a lot of hobbies will become more expensive now in the US as so much of that type of stuff is supplied by China.

 

@elve

That actually gives me hope things might be fine in the end. Very expensive but fine.

BJD seems like a hobby that favors DIY compared to other off topic figures. Though I know from this thread many seem demotivated to even continue with projects…maybe once things calm down motivations will come back.

 

For my own contribution, this helped me become very motivated to learn to sew, do face paints, and 3D print I may not be able to obtain more dolls at the moment, but I can love the ones I have by sewing them new clothes, 3D printing props, and working on face-up techniques with supplies I already have.
I hope others find ways to enjoy the hobby during this time!

 

This is the direction I've decided to go in, too. I am just going to learn to be more crafty and take my time instead of rushing doll projects. I have a lot of wigs to make and face ups to plan out so here I go lol

 

Did anyone feel called out when he said 2 dolls instead of 30?