How will the recently implemented tariffs affect your doll collecting?

I would really not trust any LLM/AI responses on what is actually true, especially for this situation but also for anything in general. It only pulls what it finds on the internet, which can include sources with misinfo, and even things like reddit threads which are often just people making speculations or posting joke statements. AI is often wrong or only partially correct. Even if the response you got this time is correct, it may not be next time.

 

Come here to confirm that this does happen to me too! I'm reside in Japan and had shipped a package to US recently.

The package proceed smoothly to US like usual until the delivery day and then they suddenly said : address not found, return to sender. When I check the label after they return, it show the correct address! (My buyer also confirm this )

I resent it to a different address in the same town and the same thing still happen, but this time I monitored it and let my buyer know asap when the status change to 'return to sender'. They went to their local post office and got the box.

I don't know if they were charged tariffs or not and why does this happen though... From the sender pov, it just tell you that package went to prepare for delivery and'then suddenly return to sender

 

My order from Stacy's Pink Ocean was shipped last week and today I had to pay a tariff fee.
SPO offered me three shipping options: DHL ($43.00), UPS ($43.00), and FedEx ($46.00). I chose UPS. Today I received an email from UPS with a bill for $39.00 to prepay my "fees and taxes". I ordered two heads, and before the heads were shipped I asked for the package to be declared at around $100.00.

So in total I paid $82.00 for both shipping and tariff fees.

 

I just got my TTYA package today, so it was not turned back for no reason, which is good! I was also not charged any unexpected fees or tariff. They very kindly were cautious about the customs label, even though by all rights it shouldn't have had a customs fee anyway, as it's below de minimis (which we still have a LITTLE longer with). But mentioning since I can't say that had no impact on it going smoothly. I have small temptation to order some more stuff from them right now in the hopes it would make it in, with so much uncertainty around any packages from outside the US... I will simply say I continue to be frustrated about this escalation of these policies and what it may do to small companies, even though they have substantial other markets.

 

A sigh-of-relief update: my EMS package from S. Korea was hand delivered to me today by my postal carrier. Not a word about fees...let it stay that way. Anyhow, at least I don't have to worry about this fella anymore.

Will post again about other doll coming from Japan, same shipping method as the first attempt: EMS. If it doesn't work again, I will have to come up with another strategy, after screaming into a pillow for a few minutes. Will let y'all know!

 

I'm still waiting on an accessory package from LegendDoll that I don't expect to ship until next month. I contacted Erica about it and she assured me that she has taken care of everything, and not to worry, there will be no extra fees, even if shipped after de minimis ends. So....I'm hoping she's right!

 

Whew, I'm glad I got my shoe order in from Alice's... I didn't get any fees or anything, but it arrived on the 9th FWIW.

I'm not planning on making doll purchases, which also puts me out of the market for eyes and wigs, but even if I go into focusing on my own sewing and such, I'm concerned about what prices will look like when I inevitably run out of my small snaps, which I think are from China. Not to mention other notions like needles, zippers, thread... heck, if I want new fabric or yarn, that, too. And I'm just sewing for me! I don't sell the clothes I make. And my dolls better be happy with the shoes they've got!

 

I was just charged nearly $250 tariffs on a doll from buyee. So it is happening, no matter how sporadic. Mercari sent out a warning email about it yesterday too.

 

If you don’t mind me asking, where did it ship from and what was the value of the purchase?

So sorry to hear that you got slammed with a charge like that

 

It shipped from Japan, Volks SDGR Shampoo, so an expensive doll but still. From what I was hearing online, UPS is charging people tarrifs pretty consistently, while other shipping companies are more sporadic. UPS is who charged me so I recommend avoiding them.

 

Thanks for sharing. That doll would have been higher than the de minimis exemption. Still, I have pretty much never seen anyone from the USA talk about fees for dolls from Japan, even when they are over $800.

Seems like they are cracking down on this already for smaller packages.

I could be wrong about this, but I am pretty sure that de minimus was raised from $150 to $800 in 2015? Still, I pretty much never saw Americans mention custom fees before that. Tariffs seemed to be a thing that were targeted at very large overseas purchases (usually business/industrial purchases). Now they are going after smaller individual purchases. :/

Edit: congrats on Shampoo though! She is a cutie!

 

Has anyone ordered anything directly from Volks Japan, and if so, which shipping service was used, and did you get charged any fees?

 

I recently received an outfit set and sweater from Volks Japan via EMS and was not charged anything on it.

 

If you get anything that *arrives* after August 29, you will definitely be charged tariffs. Earlier packages valued under $800 have not because de minimis is still in place until then. (With some exceptions, based on shipping carrier. Some have charged it anyway, for some reason.)

 

I've seen some BJD crafters on instagram say that all packages and registered letters with a declared value sent to the US are being suspended until further notice.
Does anyone know if this is true?

I have US buyers paying things on layaway with me (I'm Australian) and would hate to send their packages into the void or be meaninglessly returned to sender...

 

I've seen some people not in the BJD community saying their countries are suspending mail to the US until they can sort out processes, but they're in the EU. Things like UPS, Fed Ex, and DHL are still available from what they've said, but there are higher costs associated.

 

DHL is paused as of today. It's incredibly hard to find a list, and it just changed today apparently... plus some packages have been randomly sent back, as well. Most complete list currently, though BBC says Royal Mail, too: https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/22/business/dhl-us-shipments-de-minimis-intl

If you've got things on layaway, personally, I'd suggest the customers wait, and see how things shake out. Right at the start (end of next week) will be the most chaotic.

 

@quilleth and @Ayaka Thanks for the information. My buyer still has another 2 months to go, so hopefully things calm down a bit on the parcel front by then

 

Hi folks, I’m in the UK and have just popped in to confirm that according to BBC News Royal Mail is one of the companies that have suspended US delivery. What a nightmare!

 

I'm in Germany and have also come to confirm the news are correct - it's currently only possible to send gifts (and documents) with value under 100 USD (85 EUR) from DE to USA with DHL (aka the USPS or Royal Mail equivalent of Germany) - so small stuff will still be possible but it will also be subject to more strict customs checks on both sides it seems. UPS seems to be the only courier still offering full operations to the US for the moment.