How will the recently implemented tariffs affect your doll collecting?

I've already cut down my doll buying to almost nothing, and I have a hefty stash of crafting supplies if there's anything I want for my current dolls. That said, if I need something like glue or needles, I'll have to pay more, along with household necessities.

 

So I have a doll I paid for already, through Alice Collections. When it comes ready to be shipped to the US I might have to pay an extra fee, either to AC or when it hits my post office? Or warehouse in California I suppose.

 

Personally I oscillate between UK and EU and dolls come from China or Korea so not too much impact on myself. But it just ads to the general sense of craziness of the world and some countries in particular.

 

Yeah, I shopped a lot in advance in Dec. and stocked up, just to make sure I would have all I needed and would not have to shop much at all instead for food necessities, under this hare-brained- well never mind. I even stockpiled Mr. Super Clear! the doll I am awaiting now will be the last one, as well, until the insanity has passed.

 

Yes, you might have to pay an additional fee when it gets to the US in order to have it delivered to you. Depending on when your doll is ready, it might be something they charge Alice's for on top of the usual shipping fee, and then it's up to them to decide if they'll pass the charge onto you, since Alice's usually offers free shipping on dolls. I think in a lot of international online marketplaces, things like the VAT are added at checkout, but there hasn't been time for places to figure out how to work with these new tarriffs.

 

I'm sorry if this is dumb question, but I'm having trouble finding reliable sources that clearly explain anything without heavy biases or arguments for whether tariffs are good or bad. So, my question is this---do the tariffs only affect stuff being imported in bulk, like for retail or businesses? Or does it affect individuals just buying single items for themselves? Is this something we even know yet?

I'll admit, I've panic bought a lot of dolls/accessories in the last few months. My number of dolls has more than doubled in the last year, just because I'm so afraid that it won't be long before the current situation makes it impossible for me to buy new dolls. I guess I'm sort of "stocking up", both to keep me active in the hobby and give me a distraction.

I guess maybe the one single silver lining here is that maybe the secondhand market will pick up...if anybody can still afford to buy, and we're not all panic selling to afford necessities...

(Apologies for the doom and gloom. I usually try to keep my responses in the hobby positive and cheerful, but this has really been weighing on me and frying my nerves.)

 

I didn't think the tariffs would necessarily affect me as an Australian, but with the AUD now very low against the USD, I am extremely reluctant to buy anything where I have to pay in USD.
The only doll parts/accessories I'm likely to buy this year will now be from Japan

 

@CloakedSchemer You might have to pay a tariff if you ordered directly from a company in China. If you went through a dealer, they may tack it on to your overall cost. But, I think that some would rather eat the cost as you already agreed to a certain amount. Unless, their profit margins are so slim they would go out of business? I think this is a question that’s unanswerable until it happens. If you did order through a dealer or company, you can try to ask them. That’s what I would do.

 

I am in EU and have to pay VAT (which is not the same as a tariff, but I assume the logistics would the same for the consumer) - the parcel goes through customs and I have to pay the fee in the post office (some countries also send a bill online or via mail before delivering the parcel). I assume it will be a similar process in the US.

It's also worth noting that ACBJD and some other companies and dealers mark a lower price on the customs form on the package so the fee itself will be quite small in the end.

 

I think the bigger issue is the USD having zero value then you can't buy dolls at all

I just thought, people hated it how US collectors would not ship overseas (not including me I love selling international, you meet new people)now we'll be begging for yalls money.

 

I have three dolls that I'm waiting on, some ordered back when I naively thought the tariffs would not happen (which is putting way too much trust in our government system that I won't get into). I know I'll pay for these dolls but I do think depending on the tariff situation I'll slow down my purchasing a lot, and I typically order a lot from China. It's super disappointing, and very concerning.

 

Definitely won’t be ordering off the popular apps of Temu, Shein, Aliexpress since that 10% tariff is substantial enough to deter me. I can continue ordering from Japan and Europe for now. Definitely will be steering clear of Canada and Mexico because 20% is too rich for my blood.

 

I'm pretty sad about the tariffs because any bargain I find will stop being a bargain... There are no dolls or craft stores in my city so I can't simply buy them in person, I'll have to cut out the shopping for some time.

I noticed that too, I'm thankful they mark it a lower price but at the same time I feel bad because if they get caught they could get in trouble, or that's what I heard.

 

I tried to impulse buy a doll before tariffs a few months ago but couldn't find any I wanted so here I am enjoying the dolls I have instead ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

Looks like the Mexican tariffs got stalled for another month (yay for food prices!) but that probably won't affect much else for the hobby.
I think the no buy thread is about to be a great inspiration to many of us. I keep falling off the wagon, but compliance is about to get a lot more incentivised.

 

That delay is so meaningless compared to everything else. I want to live
This is so unfair

 

There sure is a lot more on my mind about this situation, but to keep it doll-relevant: I've cut back my doll buying significantly in the last year anyway, and managed not to buy any new dolls at all in 2024. I was hoping to keep that streak going, but I guess this just cinches it. Most of my dolls are from China as it is, and my favorite company right now is Dream Valley, so any potential purchases, if I wasn't on this "no spending" spree, would be affected.

Again, keeping it hobby related, I mostly just feel bad for everyone else, and for the companies that will be negatively impacted. I know the US isn't the biggest BJD market, but losing sales here probably won't be a non-issue. (And for those who already have to pay big fees outside the US, I feel for you as well, I've always thought it was unnecessarily harsh.)

 

Tariffs?? Haha! I think I should update my doll list....

 

An update for all US based collectors the postal service USPS has temporarily suspended packages from China & Honk Kong due to the tariffs.

 

Yep and I have a bunch of stuff from both I have no idea how to get home to me