How will the recently implemented tariffs affect your doll collecting?

Yeah, the fee could still be pretty beastly, but at least now it shouldn't bankrupt me completely I have... hm... two or three that could reasonably arrive pretty soon? I think I read that Gem of Doll generally has a quick turnaround time (and this is a nude doll), so that one might well appear soon even though it was a more recent order. My Dollzone and Dream Valley lads are fullsets but were ordered somewhere around 6-7 months ago. Those are somewhat questionable, but if their total turnaround time hits 7-9 months, they might make it before the end of that 90 days.

Of course, I hope that after 90 days, this tariff either stays where it is or lowers some more so I won't need to be worried about the stragglers (DZ 1/3 Yin Long being the scariest one of all those). I have other things on order that I'm all but positive won't make it (nothing from the harpy sisters onward from DV is likely to appear anytime soon, going by my experiences thus far), so I've got my fingers crossed.

 

Some positive news, while I don't know if this changes anything for orders under $800, the tariff rate on shipments higher than that is being reduced down to 30% (at least for the moment). I'm hoping that signals the de minimis exemption may also eventually be put back in place, or at least the fees lowered.

 

I did find more information, and as I suspected, the tariffs were going to be 120%/145% or $100 ($200 in June) whichever was higher. But this morning the percentage tariffs had been reduced to 30% with no mention of whether the de minimus number had been reduced. CNN was not very informative on that subject. I would operate under the assumption that the de minimus is now $100 ($200 in June) or 30% whichever is higher. So budget accordingly.

 

I was going to hold off on getting clothes and eyes for my dolls until I paid off the layaways but with the latest news I’m going to order a handful of stuff now. 30% is still awful but way more manageable than paying for the item practically twice because of tariffs.

I wish good luck for anyone who’s preorders have started to ship between now and the 90 day reprieve from the insane tariff %.

 

Does anyone know if we’ll still have that $100/200 per package that we were going to have before? Sry for no sources, do you know what I’m talking about?

 

Yeah that's the de minimis fee, and as far as I've been able to find, they're still going forward with that. It'll just be on top of a 30% tariff instead of a 120-145% one

 

I have been trying to find more about that box fee, but all I am getting are articles about the tariffs (at their varying amounts over the course of this past month). If anyone has any resources on this, please share.

There’s a wig I want to get, but all the ones I am finding I really like are from China. If I break down the price, tariffs, etc:

wig: $35 shipped
30% tariff: $10.50
box fee: $100
Total: $140.50

If there is actually a box fee of $100 on top of the tariff, that’s insane and I won’t buy it. $10 extra is one thing. $110.50 extra for a wig is absolutely not worth it.

 

I apologize it took a minute to get back to you.

From the routers article linked:
“Items valued at up to $800 and sent from China via postal services are treated differently. They are now subject to a tax of 120% of the package's value or a flat fee of $100 per package - an amount that rises to $200 in June.”

It seems fairly clear that tariffs are paid either ad valorum or as specific duty as chosen by the currier, rather than whichever is higher.
From the executive order removing the de minimus exemption on parcels from China:
“(c) Duty Rates. Transportation carriers delivering shipments to the United States from the PRC or Hong Kong sent through the international postal network must collect and remit duties to CBP under the approach outlined in either subsection (c)(i) or subsection (c)(ii) of this section. Transportation carriers must apply the same duty collection methodology to all shipments; however, transportation carriers may change their collection methodology once a month or on such other periodic timeframe as CBP determines appropriate, upon providing 24-hour notice to CBP.

(i) Ad Valorem Duty. 30 percent of the value of the postal item containing goods for merchandise entered for consumption on or after 12:01 am eastern daylight time on May 2, 2025.

(ii) Specific Duty. 25 dollars per postal item containing goods for merchandise entered for consumption on or after 12:01 am eastern daylight time on May 2, 2025, and before 12:01 am eastern daylight time on June 1, 2025, and 50 dollars per postal item containing goods for merchandise entered for consumption on or after 12:01 am eastern daylight time on June 1, 2025.”

As a note, tariffs on packages under $800 from China have since been reduced to 54% or $100. Source.

 

Unfortunately, if this article is correct, it looks like that flat fee will remain: [Article]

It's just the first one I've found that specifically mentions the flat fee, so there might be conflicting information elsewhere. If it's correct, ouch, that makes accessory purchases ludicrously expensive. It's going to hit me too, I had an outstanding order for several wigs... perhaps enough to make it feel a bit less painful if they all ship at once, but it's going to be bad if they are staggered.

...Actually, I guess it's time to fire off a message to Legenddoll and ask if they can hold all my wig orders until they can be shipped together. I do NOT want to get hit for 100$ multiple times on some wigs.

 

Not a finance article but this article from verge says:
From May 14th, packages from Hong Kong and China valued below $800 will be subject to either a 54 percent tariff — down from 120 percent — or a flat $100 per-parcel fee

So maybe it’s not tariff plus fees on top. But we still have to pay something and it seems it’s up to companies to decide if they want the percentage or flat rate. Bonus is the increase to $200 is gone for now. Bad that well still get dinged for ordering small inexpensive stuff like eyes and wigs.

Maybe bundling orders as much as possible will make the sting hurt less? Instead of buying one wig it’ll seem better to buy a full outfit set and the wig. Or always bundle orders like you can do on package forwarding services?

 

That would be so much better! It’s absurd (not only the ever changing tariffs but also) that nothing is clear.

I just got an email from Supia saying they’re shipping my order. We shall see what I have to pay, thankfully it’s from Korea, so shouldn’t be TOO bad. But again, finding accurate information is painful lately. It’s all “wait and see”.

 

I did not know about the $100 fee.

That seems really steep!

 

But this morning the percentage tariffs had been reduced to 30% with no mention of whether the de minimus number had been reduced. CNN was not very informative on that subject. I would operate under the assumption that the de minimus is now $100 ($200 in June) or 30% whichever is higher.

At this point I can only conclude that the number is going to change based on a throw of the dice.

 

Unless I am reading it incorrectly, it seems like it’s an “or” situation, that you wouldn’t pay both the tariff and the box fee, only one of them.

Not sure why the article mentions the tariff being 54% and then 30% later in the article unless it was 54% before a deal was made? Seems like there are changes constantly

Anyway, doing a similar break down as in my last post, if someone orders a $500 doll:

doll: $500
30% tariff: $150
Total: $650

doll: $500
Box fee: $100
Total: $600

edit: and my wig example again, since it’s a less expensive item.

wig: $35
30% tariff: 10.50
Total: $45.50

wig: $35
box fee: $100
Total: $135

In that situation, for a more expensive item like a doll, it makes more sense to pay the box fee since it comes out to be less. For the wig, the tariff charge total is less, and makes more sense to pay that instead of the box fee.

That article also uses “or” between the tariff or box fee. Doesn’t suggest both. Strangely that one is also mentioning the 54% tariff, not the 30%.

Not sure why it would be the companies who ship out to decide this either, they are not the ones paying them.

Though I have some thoughts:

The reply from a company that someone got here (from Ringdoll) said something about pre-paid tariffs, but seems like that’s because of the shipping company. My best guess here is that it would help move the shipment through customs faster and more easily if the shipping company is paid ahead of time. The doll company “pays” the tariff similar to how they technically pay for a shipping label, even though it’s the customer’s money being used for this.

 

Hopefully it's that, because it could be something worse, which is "X or Y, whichever is higher". If that's the case, it'd be brutal for low-value items. I would have to cancel all doll accessories unless a dealer is willing to hold and bundle them together, or with a new purchase of higher value.

I'm having trouble keeping up too. As I currently understand it, the 54% is for de minimis items (under 800$ value) and the 30% must therefore apply to things of over 800$ value? I might be very wrong... all I know is, my poor brain is starting to melt a little. I am not a numbers gal! The inconsistency is awful.

 

From what I just read that's how it's supposed to be. I really hope that the report I read was wrong.

That's what I just read as well.

It's just getting crazier. I really wish that the de minimis examptus would come back for China, because it's rediculous to pay $100 soon to be $200 on a $30 doll wig.

 

I think you’re right about this. Which would explain why places like AliExpress has some stores increase the prices. Store A has a wig listed for $20 and Store B list the same wig for $27 (or probably more so they can still profit). A will just let the customs fees hit you when it gets to customs, B pre-paid so it should be in and out unless paperwork was done wrong or missing.

We customers are paying for it in all scenarios . The prepay model might make customers happy because we pay up front and less headache. But if the wind blows in the wrong direction the tariffs could be different and you might have underpaid. Then that headache happens. The other way might be more frustrating because of more uncertainty and, I mentioned this before, this way you might have to pay extra fees to the shipping company too because they’ll add on their brokerage fees for getting it out of customs.

So far the only thing they actually cancelled was the $100 to $200 dollar increase. They’ve axed the increase totally and for now, it’ll stay at that $100 dollar amount. Not that thats great…….

 

I contacted both ACBJD and Ringdoll and offered to prepay tariffs, which their major shipping partners are requiring. Too many consumers got the customs bill and noped out of deliveries, so Chinese shipping companies are insisting on prepayment.
ACBJD has already shipped one (small) order, and Ringdoll says they are going to ship this week.
To be continued...
Oh - apologies about reading the tariffs wrong. I hate customs.

 

I'm wondering did ACBJD tell you that your order was ready or did you have to ask them? I don't think that either of my dolls from them would be ready yet. But I am curious how their notification is going. Of course I'll also pay my tariffs. I hate this whole tariff situation, but I still want my dolls that I ordered from them.

 

If pre-paid tariffs is actually a thing, that is a bit of a relief to hear. I hate this whole tariff situation but the worst I foresaw was severe package delays and losses because of customs suddenly being overwhelmed by the extra load. If the shipping companies are having packages cleared ahead of time, that helps significantly.