28 replies to this topic

[MeridianStarGazer]

And does this make the classifieds a better buy now? Or chance for owners to ask higher prices?
I looked on certain sites, and prices are the same. But if the item is coming from our of country, the buyer then gets a notice to pay the tariff. And some sites say they will protect the seller in that situation.

So does that mean now is a good time to buy buy buy from astronomics before they order new inventory?

I wonder if any domestic producers will make 25mm symmetrical plossls and a 3x Barlow out of 1" blanks. Simple achromat, cement, and some MgF. That combo would get consumers started.

If a seller drop ships from China, I wonder who is directly responsible for the tariff, as far as PayPal is concerned.

Edited by MeridianStarGazer, 21 June 2025 - 04:34 PM.

[bobzeq25]

The answer is definitely maybe. <smile> Uncertainty here is every bit as much of a problem as the tariffs.

[MisterDan]

Find the "best" bargain you can (not necessarily lowest price).  That goes for new, used - whatever.

If that best bargain is still beyond your budget, don't buy.

 

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

 

Cheers.

Dan

[RichA]

And does this make the classifieds a better buy now? Or chance for owners to ask higher prices?
I looked on certain sites, and prices are the same. But if the item is coming from our of country, the buyer then gets a notice to pay the tariff. And some sites say they will protect the seller in that situation.

So does that mean now is a good time to buy buy buy from astronomics before they order new inventory?

I wonder if any domestic producers will make 25mm symmetrical plossls and a 3x Barlow out of 1" blanks. Simple achromat, cement, and some MgF. That combo would get consumers started.

If a seller drop ships from China, I wonder who is directly responsible for the tariff, as far as PayPal is concerned.

You.  Just like with taxes.  

[Astrojensen]

You.  Just like with taxes.  

Tariffs are really just sales taxes on foreign products. 

 

 

Clear skies!

Thomas, Denmark

[SeattleScott]

Many vendors stocked up before tariffs went into effect, but when that inventory runs out, tariffs will kick in. Granted, Trump has been up and down and all over the place on tariffs, so one can only speculate about what will really happen. But right now I think we are looking at something like 30% tariffs on Chinese goods since Trump took office.

[RichA]

Tariffs are really just sales taxes on foreign products. 

 

 

Clear skies!

Thomas, Denmark

Duties, taxes, tariffs, it's all the same.  What I really HATE about the process is the idea that you are paying the tax to "support industry in your country."  As if half of the stuff bought from overseas is manufactured or even SOLD here.   I had a C8 repaired in the states, it cost me (at the time) almost  $200 in taxes and duties, around $700 in today's dollars.  No doubt someone in Canada was grinding corrector plates for C8s in his basement and I was "taking work away from him."  

[CrazyPanda]

Tariffs can make sense in some situations when a country has a strong industry and is competing against unfair market practices in other countries. When an import's price is artificially depressed for the express purpose of killing competition in the importing country, you need tariffs to level the playing field.

 

Or maybe tariffs are used indirectly to hurt a country's chief export if they are deliberately harming your exports to that country.

 

But such cases are rare. If you are just slapping tariffs on imports of things that you have basically zero industry for in your own country, then it's nothing more than a tax and cost of living increase for your citizens.

[MeridianStarGazer]

The Tariffs might help scope makers like Obsession and eyepiece makers like Televue, but the budget market is non existent right now and would need a long time to grow, during which people would be paying more tax for almost no benefit. Once a sector is dead or nearly so, it takes a long incubation to get it back up again.

[Jehujones]

Why must we keep starting threads about tariffs?

[izar187]

No doubt someone in Canada was grinding corrector plates for C8s in his basement and I was "taking work away from him."

_______________________

 

Darn you.  : <

Next time grind and coat your own.  : )

[Astrojensen]

Why must we keep starting threads about tariffs?

Because people are frustrated and need to vent. 

 

 

Clear skies!

Thomas, Denmark

[MrsM75]

It already go up, the Celestron X-Cel before was $67 on Amazon. Now the same Celestron X-Cel after tariff it $93 on Amazon.

[MeridianStarGazer]

Why must we keep starting threads about tariffs?

So we know if we should be selling used eyepieces like normal, or waiting, or buying, or considering manufacturing?

[MeridianStarGazer]

The answer is definitely maybe. <smile> Uncertainty here is every bit as much of a problem as the tariffs.

Uncertainty. A domestic company that already invested in tools will see tariffs as the help they need. An investor thinking of finding a US start up will wonder how long the tariff will last. They can invest and get burned when they are eliminated, or just fail to invest out of such fear and thus prove that tariffs don't work. All this back and forth does not help. There would need to be time lines coded by Congress, not executive order, or I don't see new start ups beyond those already planning to do so.

Right now, most "domestic" vendors get their products from China, especially the eyepieces. Amateurs can make a 30mm plossl, but maybe not for $30. Or certainly they won't get rich. Doable, along with a 1.5x Barlow and 2.5x Barlow that maybe give 3.75x depending on spacing. And plain MgF coatings.

[MeridianStarGazer]

I was thinking of buying some eBay eyepieces, but now am thinking of just doing the classifieds. I wonder if they get bought up fast or if people start asking more for their used goods.

[SeattleScott]

In my limited experience, I feel like stuff on eBay sells around 10% higher than CN classifieds. Granted, this resulted in me stopping following eBay, so I don’t know if this is still the case. And with many things sold every day, obviously there will be exceptional values from time to time on either platform.

[MeridianStarGazer]

The deadline to import without tariffs was May 2. Had I known that, I would have bought a few things.

Same for my student loans. The deadline to consolidate and keep credit for payment history was in 2024. But I never heard of it till now.

As for eBay costing 10% more, we are talking new vs used. All the used eyepieces I bought have been excellent though. So better to help someone who wants to clean their stash.

I'll have a look at the classifieds and see if anyone caught on. Since eBay prices don't show the tariffs, many sellers might think that is what they must compete with. And it is. The buyer does not get the tariff till it arrives in customs. The prices at domestic retailers might tip off used sellers that they can raise them. But they often compete with holiday sales prices regardless. And no guarantee the tariffs will still be here come the holidays.

If buyers think tariffs will go away, then retailers will have trouble selling. That is the biggest issue we face now. Retailers but at tariffed prices, then can't sell because buyers think the tariff will go away later.

[Starman1]

The Tariffs might help scope makers like Obsession and eyepiece makers like Televue, but the budget market is non existent right now and would need a long time to grow, during which people would be paying more tax for almost no benefit. Once a sector is dead or nearly so, it takes a long incubation to get it back up again.

Tariffs won't help Tele Vue, as their products are from Japan and Taiwan and there are import tariffs imposed on those countries too.

Nor help domestic telescope makers like Obsession or New Moon Telescopes when their products are 4-10x as much as imported telescopes of the same size.

 

In the case of eyepieces, a 4 element eyepiece made in the US is over $270, so the eyepiece manufacturing is NOT going to return to the US when 4 element eyepieces out of China are $30-$50.

Even with 500% tariffs, the Chinese products would be cheaper than a made-in-the-USA eyepiece.

 

Unfortunately, what I see right now is that tariffs have changed so many times that most importers have simply stopped importing until there is some stability in the tariffs.

No one wants to be the importer at 145% tariff when the following week it's 30%.

As a result, I'm seeing a huge number of "out of stock" messages on dealers' websites.

I fear retailers will have nothing to sell if this continues.

 

To the OP's questions:

Yes, prices will go up, and astute sellers on eBay and CN and Astromart will raise their prices accordingly.

[MrsM75]

The deadline to import without tariffs was May 2. Had I known that, I would have bought a few things.

 

 

Tell me about that, I bought my 90mm Skymax Mak at Amazon Japan for $170 brand New

 

Had I know that I would buy another one, as soon as April 30 turn 12AM, Amazon Japan took down the listing, now that scope is no longer be able to ship to US

 

Freaking, it was the best price I can ever get, 90mm Skymax Mak for $170

 

I did think of buy another one, but it was too late.

[MrsM75]

I got lucky, I bought 3 of the Vixen 30mm NPL eyepiece from Amazon Japan before this tarriff hit. My eyes is very sensitive, all other 30mm eyepiece give me kidney beans and blackout, only the Vixen NPL work for me, and I was able to get it for $40 at Amazon Japan.

Now Amazon Japan pull down the whole listing, it gone now.

 

And everywhere else is sold out too, even Explorer Scientific is sold out and Explorer Scientific is the dealer of Vixen, and they tell me they not even know when they will get more in stock.

 

I literally cannot talk to the rich people who support this tarriff stuff, and I don't ever mesh with rich people, period. You do you, me do me.

 

And it not just this hobby, it your everyday life too, household stuff, everything will go up.

Edited by MrsM75, 22 June 2025 - 07:14 PM.

[MrsM75]

OP, whatever eyepieces you want to buy, buy it now OP. Because once their stock run out, there no timeline in when they get more in.

Edited by MrsM75, 22 June 2025 - 07:08 PM.

[MJB87]

A friendly reminder to please stay on topic. Posts about the general state of retail in the United States, the general impact of tariffs not the economy, etc., are off topic and will be removed.

[MeridianStarGazer]

Looks like GSO is in Taiwan, not China, and only has the 10% tariff, not the extra 30%. So maybe GSO eyepieces will still be affordable.

[MeridianStarGazer]

Looks like there is a realistic chance of the tariffs going away due to some pending court cases, which I will stay out of. But my point is that prices are unpredictable. Maybe buy some now, but I would not stock up now, not that I think anyone was going to.