679 replies to this topic

[BlueMoon]

 

These companies charge for the paperwork and time to check the goods through Customs.  It's called a brokerage charge or fee.

No doubt of that. I thought it was interesting to see it listed as a separate fee on his order. With all the items I've ordered from overseas over the years, I've never see a brokerage fee broken out like that before. I've not ordered anything from overseas since the whole tariff debacle started so perhaps I've just missed out. Cheers.

Edited by BlueMoon, 16 February 2025 - 01:00 PM.

[RLK1]

Two weeks ago I bought an ES68 24mm on Aliexpress for $155 + sales tax. It arrived quickly once it cleared customs. I looked today and they are still the same price. I really like to help US vendors but $100 price difference is significant. 

I bought one on those last year via aliexpress and although I was able to do better on the price at the time, your point is well taken. 

[RLK1]

I ordered three items from Aliexpress yesterday and they shipped the following day from China. These items included a 4.25" f900mm focal length mirror kit with primary and secondary, an eight piece spacer kit for increased flexibility of use with a coma corrector and a broad band 2" UHC filter, all for about $65.00 shipped during one of many of the coupon events on Aliexpress. Thus far, there appears to be no additional tariff or import fees and the order(s) appears to be in transit without difficulty in accordance with my experience with previous orders via Aliexpress.

 

So, it seems, as noted by previous posters, that as long as the cost doesn't exceed a certain amount, perhaps $800.00 or so as per previous postings in various threads, it's business as usual on Aliexpress without a penalty in the form of an additional tariff fee or import duty for customers in the states.

Edited by RLK1, 19 February 2025 - 06:29 PM.

[RLK1]

I received notification that the above items noted in post #103 have cleared customs and do not appear to have any additional fees tacked on with a delivery date for all on March 7th. 

 

Looking at the Aliexpress site for astro-related items, some prices appear to have risen while others are the same. It's hard to determine if this is tariff-related or not since pricing on the site varies quite a bit depending on the vendor selling it.

[triplemon]

I just this week received several atsronomy and other items via Aliexpress and it does not appear any tariff was imposed. Pricing was also unchanged compared to a few weeks ago.

[RLK1]

I received notification that the above items noted in post #103 have cleared customs and do not appear to have any additional fees tacked on with a delivery date for all on March 7th. 

 

Looking at the Aliexpress site for astro-related items, some prices appear to have risen while others are the same. It's hard to determine if this is tariff-related or not since pricing on the site varies quite a bit depending on the vendor selling it.

I got my items today,  2-28, well ahead of the scheduled delivery date and no additional tariff/import fees after clearing customs. With the additional tariff now being imposed, I guess we'll have to wait and see if that changes things.

[CrazyPanda]

Welp, 20% tariffs on Chinese imports signed today.

That increases them from 10% to 20%.

Looks like 90% of astronomy gear is about to get more expensive.

[jragsdale]

Welp, 20% tariffs on Chinese imports signed today.

That increases them from 10% to 20%.

Looks like 90% of astronomy gear is about to get more expensive.

So far the "under $800" rule still applies, but Trump has said he's coming for that too.

[CrazyPanda]

So far the "under $800" rule still applies, but Trump has said he's coming for that too.

I thought he already closed the de minimus loophole, but I guess if not, then it's guaranteed he will.

But either way, it still impacts any retailer that imports more than $800 worth of gear whose country of origin is China. Astronomics, Agena, High Point etc.... everyone who imports a bulk of gear more than $800 pays tariffs on it. They were paying 10%, now it's 20%.

 

Either they will pass that extra cost along to consumers, or they will swallow the cost and take a hit on margins (which are already razor thin to begin with). And since there are few viable domestic alternatives, the *only* thing that might actually coerce Chinese manufacturers/exporters to lower prices to compensate for the tariffs, is a drop-off in demand on the consumption side.

 

Tele Vue will be happy unless higher tariffs are put on Taiwan and Japan too. But let's say demand for Chinese eyepieces does drop off, and demand for TV eyepieces increases as a result. By the laws of supply and demand, Tele Vue would have cause (or even necessity) to raise the cost of their items too.

Edited by CrazyPanda, 04 March 2025 - 12:16 PM.

[Starman1]

they did close the de minimus rule but immediately rescinded it as import brokers said it would essentially halt all imports, or slow them down 98%.

For larger orders, the tariffs since 2018, imposed in 2020, are, for eyepieces, 8% + 25% punitive surcharge tariff.

That's why Explore Scientific prices jumped in 2020 ($499>>$799, $799>>$1299, and so on.)

If that went up 10%, it means eyepieces from China will now have a 43% tariff.

Edited by Starman1, 04 March 2025 - 02:02 PM.

[MJB87]

Thanks, Don. And as others have suggested, manufacturers not directly subject to the tariffs may take this as the perfect opportunity for a price increase of their own. My recommendation is put your orders in now for Tele Vue, etc. I just received the last Tele Vue eyepiece I need for my collection (8mm Ethos).

[Starman1]

Thanks, Don. And as others have suggested, manufacturers not directly subject to the tariffs may take this as the perfect opportunity for a price increase of their own. My recommendation is put your orders in now for Tele Vue, etc. I just received the last Tele Vue eyepiece I need for my collection (8mm Ethos).

Might be good advice.  For example, Tele Vue hasn't changed its prices in 4 years, and has there been inflation during that period?  Uh huh.

I suspect every company is going to raise prices on everything imported if they intend to stay in business.

How much of an increase will likely be determined by how long ago they changed their prices.

[RLK1]

I would expect imported astro-items to go up at this point including those sold on Aliexpress and we'll likely know for sure very soon since the CEO of Target, which sells a lot of stuff from China, said today their prices will go up in two or three days. Most new car prices are said to be going up soon, on average by $3000.00, so based on all of it, it seems there's only one place for prices to go: up. 

[Starman1]

I would expect imported astro-items to go up at this point including those sold on Aliexpress and we'll likely know for sure very soon since the CEO of Target, which sells a lot of stuff from China, said today their prices will go up in two or three days. Most new car prices are said to be going up soon, on average by $3000.00, so based on all of it, it seems there's only one place for prices to go: up. 

Why would you think prices would go up on AliExpress?  Those sellers are in China, and they don't pay US tariffs.

You'd pay the tariffs on arrival in the US.

Of course, if tariffs are not applied to de minimus purchases, then you won't pay any tariff at all.

[RLK1]

Why would you think prices would go up on AliExpress?  Those sellers are in China, and they don't pay US tariffs.

You'd pay the tariffs on arrival in the US.

Of course, if tariffs are not applied to de minimus purchases, then you won't pay any tariff at all.

Well, in the same manner sellers are in China for items sold by Target here, the prices will go up and whether or not the sellers there pay it directly or you pay upon arrival, the bottom line is that the prices goes up.

 

Additionally, it still remains to be seen whether or not the tariff is applied to the de minimis purchases and, if the trend continues, it may very well.

[SteveThornton1]

Even a lot of items made in USA depend on parts from China and abroad.  Pretty much everything Celestron sells is from China. Retailers are going to take a hit.

[RLK1]

BTW, getting back to "equipment", I checked a low cost unbranded 2" UHC filter I bought a few weeks ago from  a vendor on Aliexpress. Although the vendor website had the word "Svbony" in the description, I seriously doubt it had anything to do with it unless these were Sybony rejects. I mean the performance of it was absolute poop, beyond absolute poop to be exact, and, needless to say, I already have the return label printed out from Aliexpress and the item ships back to Aliexpress tomorrow.

 

I have a couple of the Svbony-labed 1.25" UHCs, and even though they are a board band version of a UHC, they do provide a reasonable level of improvement in my 12" and 16" dobs and I use 'em for viewing certain responsive emission nebulae and some galaxies from my moderately light polluted home.

 

What I got from the 2" unbranded UHC was essentially an illuminated field of illumination! I mean it was bad! I popped in a decades-old Orion Ultrablock that I had handy at the time just to make sure I was on the target, NGC 2022, a relatively bright planetary nebulae at magnitude 11.9 in Orion, and it was cleary in the field of view and invisible in the unbranded UHC. 

 

This is the second bad experience I've had with an unbranded filter from a vendor on Aliexpress and, based on my experiences, I would recommend avoiding unbranded UHC/0111 filters.

 

Additionally, the easiest way to get the return label and a refund back to your card is to click on the "no longer needed" option in the return process that negates the need to download an image/provide proof of defect and/or send a message to the seller. 

Using the "no longer needed" option gets you the return label within a half hour or much less. 

[Cali]

If you want to see the U.S. tariff rates on astronomical equipment (and everything else) you examine the online Harmonized Tariff Schedule 2025. It's pretty much The Bible. 

 

//////

Click here and Scroll down to Chapter 90 - "Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof"

 

Then Click on DOWNLOAD

 

Scroll down to page 5 to start seeing the tariff rates.

 

Not sure when this document was updated though it does state 2005 Edition 2. I _think_ there is a new edition each month. May want to keep your eye on it. 

 

- Cal

Edited by Cali, 04 March 2025 - 11:18 PM.

[JimTheEngineer]

Maybe tariffs will just create Chinese warehouses in surrounding countries like Cambodia set up just to avoid the tariffs?

[jragsdale]

Maybe tariffs will just create Chinese warehouses in surrounding countries like Cambodia set up just to avoid the tariffs?

No, it's where the item was manufactured, not the origin country (I'm pretty sure).

[Bob Campbell]

 return label printed out from Aliexpress and the item ships back to Aliexpress tomorrow.

 

Have to ask: How much did you have to pay to return it? If it was free (possible), I would assume there would be customs tags that needed to be filled out, and attached to the package, and when you take it to post office, they need to fill electronically fill in the customs data to attach their label? Seems like a major hassle.

 

Or does ali-express have a us address that you return stuff to? Shein (clothes) has this and it is convenient.

 

Bob

[Starman1]

Have to ask: How much did you have to pay to return it? If it was free (possible), I would assume there would be customs tags that needed to be filled out, and attached to the package, and when you take it to post office, they need to fill electronically fill in the customs data to attach their label? Seems like a major hassle.

 

Or does ali-express have a us address that you return stuff to? Shein (clothes) has this and it is convenient.

 

Bob

If you use an on-line service like Stamps.com, the customs documents will print along with the label.

[RLK1]

Have to ask: How much did you have to pay to return it? If it was free (possible), I would assume there would be customs tags that needed to be filled out, and attached to the package, and when you take it to post office, they need to fill electronically fill in the customs data to attach their label? Seems like a major hassle.

 

Or does ali-express have a us address that you return stuff to? Shein (clothes) has this and it is convenient.

 

Bob

No fees for return shipping, just print out the return shipping label, tape it to the envelope or box, insert the item and drop it off the post office and ask for a receipt. One and done. As soon as the package enters the return process after drop off, your card is credited with the full amount you paid for the item. It's quite similar to Amazon returns except I use a drop off box at a Whole Foods market instead. 

[MJB87]

A friendly note from your administrator…

 

I just want to thank everyone for continuing this very useful discussions without veering into “hot-button” territory. I personally find the commentary here quite insightful and helpful.

 

Nicely done, everyone!

[Starsareus]

I assume everything including US made (if any) will go up.