23 replies to this topic

[Astro Sky]

Will tariffs go up price on Astro Tech Refractors, ZWO Seestar S50?

Wait on my income tax refund come in..

 

JG

[CHASLX200]

They keep jumping around to none to 100% gents. So who knows from day 2 day.

[bobzeq25]

Depends (somewhat) on whether or not they come from China. They backed down (essentially totally punted) on tariffs for everyone else, increased them (to 125%!) for China.

Of course, since no one knows what they'll do next, manufacturers have no way of planning what to do. The US market will likely be unappealing. Manufacturing this stuff takes long term planning. Shipping it takes weeks.

I imagine the prices they set will be increased to compensate for the uncertainty. Or maybe they'll just give up on the US market. Could be that was the idea.

Of course China could do a workaround, and market their stuff through other countries. I hear the penguins on the Heard and McDonald Islands are chomping at the bit to do the deal. <smile>

Edited by bobzeq25, 09 April 2025 - 06:53 PM.

[ButterFly]

Will tariffs go up price on Astro Tech Refractors, ZWO Seestar S50?

 

Flip a coin, then ignore it.  That's the best advice for how to make sense of others' "genius".

 

 

Wait on my income tax refund come in..

Flip a coin for that too at this point.

[ButterFly]

Manufacturing this stuff takes long term planning.

The machinery to manufacture machines that machine other things are also subject.  They are indeed super geniuses.

[Cliff Hipsher]

Yep, so get it while you can.

 

On one hand tariffs kinda suck but had we not shipped the vast majority of our manufacturing off-shore we wouldn't be singing the blues.

 

Like the Prez has said, there is going to be some chaos, but the real intent is to get international fair trade practices, start making stuff in the US, and tell the climate change whiners to go pack sand.

[ButterFly]

.. had we not shipped the vast majority of our manufacturing off-shore we wouldn't be singing the blues.

 

That was you who did that?  How do we claw back the decades of profit you made off of that?

[Cryhavoc38]

Unless Optics are excluded from the Tariffs, I don't see how the manufactures will absorb 104% hike in import prices.

Electronics certainly won't be excluded.

 

They will cut a bit from the wholesale price to distributors most likely, but that would end up only being some small percentage.

On the whole, for any new gear coming into the states is going to see a pretty big price increase...as will used gear prices as we have seen a bit lately.

 

There is going to be alot of "coming soon", "more on the way" or "out of stock" listings at our favorite retailers.

get it now whilst you can.

Edited by Cryhavoc38, 09 April 2025 - 08:28 PM.

[ButterFly]

 

They will cut a bit from the wholesale price to distributors most likely, but that would end up only being some small percentage.

Doubtful.  The end consumer will bear the entire tax.

[Dynan]

I can see this thread disappearing like good prices...

[bobzeq25]

there is going to be some chaos, but the real intent is to start making stuff in the US

And how many years will that take? Who in their right mind would invest money in building the plants, when the rug could be yanked from underneath them at any time? Perhaps by people who sold their company short.

There are real benefits in investing in what your country can do well, and cheaply, and buying other stuff from people who can make it cheaper.

[ABQJeff]

They keep jumping around to none to 100% gents. So who knows from day 2 day.

You put some tariffs on, you take some tariffs off, you put some tariffs on and you shake us all about….

[ButterFly]

Before it disappears, though, it's a good time to mention how different this is than a VAT.  VATs tax added value at each step.  These taxes on everything are cumulative over the entire value, at each step of the chain in commerce.  A tariff of X% means you will be paying a whole lot more than X% for the same thing, because each and every step gets that tax hike.  So with a 100% tariff on that refractor you want, don't be surprised if it costs you three to four times as much with all the additional taxes included.

[Mike W]

Before it disappears, though, it's a good time to mention how different this is than a VAT.  VATs tax added value at each step.  These taxes on everything are cumulative over the entire value, at each step of the chain in commerce.  A tariff of X% means you will be paying a whole lot more than X% for the same thing, because each and every step gets that tax hike.  So with a 100% tariff on that refractor you want, don't be surprised if it costs you three to four times as much with all the additional taxes included.

What country are you from?

Edited by Mike W, 09 April 2025 - 09:24 PM.

[ButterFly]

What country are you from?

The one where I pay Socialist Security taxes every week.

[wykbbb]

Will tariffs go up price on Astro Tech Refractors, ZWO Seestar S50?

Wait on my income tax refund come in..

 

JG

Mike from Astronomics post estimated price  for Astro Tech refractors this morning. His estimate  was based on 104% tariff; the prices would be even higher for the current 125%.

 

https://www.cloudyni...ces/?p=14071987

 

Ed Thomas (aka EFT) from Deep Space Products & DSP Remote made a few post in that thread. He made it clear that every US astro retailer and manufacturer will be impacted by the tariffs.

Edited by wykbbb, 09 April 2025 - 10:48 PM.

[ris242]

 I hear the penguins on the Heard and McDonald Islands are chomping at the bit to do the deal. <smile>

penguins.jpg

I'm sure the penguins are all waiting for their astrotech refractors to arrive......with the longer winters nights coming up.

[Heywood]

Yep, so get it while you can.

 

On one hand tariffs kinda suck but had we not shipped the vast majority of our manufacturing off-shore we wouldn't be singing the blues.

 

Like the Prez has said, there is going to be some chaos, but the real intent is to get international fair trade practices, start making stuff in the US, and tell the climate change whiners to go pack sand.

 

I disagree with just about everything you wrote, and my mama didn't raise no fool.

 

As an aside, it's pretty clear to me that Astro-Tech prices are going through the roof and that Astronomics is going to suffer, bigly, all because of the tariffs.  

Edited by Heywood, 09 April 2025 - 10:06 PM.

[Polyphemos]

….. and tell the climate change whiners to go pack sand.

That is the most stupid and ignorant statement I’ve heard in some time, and that’s saying something.

[Coldwarwarrior]

A good work around would be to purchase thru European retailers such as APM or TS Optics, most of their gear is made in China and rebranded United Optics equipment sold under various brands.

[HydrogenAlpha]

A good work around would be to purchase thru European retailers such as APM or TS Optics, most of their gear is made in China and rebranded United Optics equipment sold under various brands.

Don't think that is an option for the US folks though? Since if they import it in as a consumer I reckon they must still pay the tariff tax. 

 

Of course for the rest of us, it no longer makes sense to buy from US retailers. There are plenty of options even aside from TS/APM - you can buy direct from China (e.g. Aliexpress, ZWO), Hong Kong (CyclopsOptics, Tan14), or Japan (Kyoei). They can cover pretty much everything we need, unless you specifically want an Astro-Physics (I know I do!). 

[Domerman]

Out of curiosity how will tarrifs impact companies based in America like TEC and AP?

[HydrogenAlpha]

Out of curiosity how will tarrifs impact companies based in America like TEC and AP?

Likely cost of component parts. The glass used to make scopes are imported from China/Japan. Feathertouch focusers also have parts made overseas. The question is probably how much of an impact. I'm not sure the cost of production breakdowns, but I would think a big proportion still comes from the labour in crafting the glass and putting it together. 

 

So there will be an impact for sure, just that it might only cause a 10-30% price increase instead of 100%+. 

[nicknacknock]

There are other topics discussing tariffs, and surprisingly those others do so without any animosity towards each other.

 

To answer the OP’s question: Yes, prices will go up. How much? It will take a while for the dust to settle. 

 

EDIT: Go check this topic in Equipment which is the appropriate place for such a discussion, as it affects ALL equipment.