Any thoughts on the 145% Chinese tariff on purchases?

[Tijoe]

"unfair" is typically coded to "unfair competition" in our media, whereas what is happening with China was hyper-competition.
is it unfair because of CCPs mercantilist policies? I don't know that I would go that far as a consumer.

I agree that what the US is dealing with is hyper-competition, not unfair.    (Thanks for this input.)   I am now distracted in reading about hyper-competition.
First thing that stands out is China has a much more globally competitive manufacturing business model than we do. Their government invested huge amounts of money into their manufacturing system/equipment/automation/efficiency that is far surpassing our capitalistic dog-eat-dog approach. That these days, restricts innovations and funding of new modern factories only to the huge corporations and the rich.  The average businessman can no longer afford to start up a larger scale manufacturing business in the US without selling his sole to the investment firms.

[jonathanf2]

On a weekly basis, I do a group ride that consist of anywhere fro 50-100 cyclists (I do it mainly for the socializing). I'm literally the only cyclist with full AliEx components. At most I've met one guy with a RYET saddle or a MTB'er with a knock-off 5Dev crankset. Occasionally I'll meet a roadie with some Elite or Farsport wheels. The majority of the cyclists buy their goods from bike shops or used on Craigslist or FB marketplace. Many of the "average" US cyclists seem to prefer name brand bikes or boutique custom builds. We're totally a small niche of cycling enthusiasts from this forum. I can count on one hand how many Chinese built framesets I've seen in-person from the thousands of bikes I've seen. I seriously doubt we even put a dent into the small local bike shops.

[lidation]

Well said. 99% of the cyclists out there don't have or are not willing to put in the amount of time/energy/mental power to figure out the Chinerbike thing. Even in the SF Bay Area where a ton of tinkerers/techies reside, I have seen only a few Chinerbikes.  We are in a very niche market sector in this big big world.

On a weekly basis, I do a group ride that consist of anywhere fro 50-100 cyclists (I do it mainly for the socializing). I'm literally the only cyclist with full AliEx components. At most I've met one guy with a RYET saddle or a MTB'er with a knock-off 5Dev crankset. Occasionally I'll meet a roadie with some Elite or Farsport wheels. The majority of the cyclists buy their goods from bike shops or used on Craigslist or FB marketplace. Many of the "average" US cyclists seem to prefer name brand bikes or boutique custom builds. We're totally a small niche of cycling enthusiasts from this forum. I can count on one hand how many Chinese built framesets I've seen in-person from the thousands of bikes I've seen. I seriously doubt we even put a dent into the small local bike shops.

[coffeebreak]

I find it hilarious that the vast majority who ridicules anyone building/buying chiner stuff are ready to spend 3x to 5x for same part on Amazon. You link some part on AliExpress people go <insert insurance joke here> but if you link same Chiner part on Amazon, people say thanks LOL. That's Facebook for you.

If there is one entity that is single handedly destroying LBS business, it is Amazon and not us peasants trying to apply $3 off coupon on a $17 stem and $5 bartape.

[courdacier]

I find it hilarious that the vast majority who ridicules anyone building/buying chiner stuff are ready to spend 3x to 5x for same part on Amazon. You link some part on AliExpress people go <insert insurance joke here> but if you link same Chiner part on Amazon, people say thanks LOL. That's Facebook for you.

If there is one entity that is single handedly destroying LBS business, it is Amazon and not us peasants trying to apply $3 off coupon on a $17 stem and $5 bartape.

agreed, and it takes a certain kind of tinkerer/adrenaline junkie to pick a roll of $5 no-name bartape that might very well disintegrate upon opening the package over a $10 zipp bartape that you can take back for a refund to a bikeshop if it feels off.

[jonathanf2]

I'll take one for Team America and ordered a few small Choice items from AliExpress! From what I gather reading the AliEx reddit thread, it's mainly UPS/FedEx going on the tariff collecting rampage. USPS postal couriers don't seem equipped at all for collection from what I read.

I just bought some disc rotors, a small toy and sunglasses. I already paid the state sales tax at checkout and at 30% tariff pricing, I'll pay less than $12 if I get charged. All my choice items arrive via private courier (benefit living next to the distribution warehouse), so I'll see what happens!

[coffeebreak]

^^^ Be curious to know what happens. All my AliEx packages get delivered via UniUni or USPS too.

Edit: Some of the stores have just vanished outright. E.g. Goldix store from where I bought my last 12 speed cassette - https://www.aliexpress.com/store/1102623843.
I was going to order 11-46 but no dice. In other stores, this 20 dollar cassette is now $50 +.

[jonathanf2]

^^^ Be curious to know what happens. All my AliEx packages get delivered via UniUni or USPS too.

 I'll let you guys know what happens. Also I don't plan on buying any large items. I purchased my wheels and frames before the end of de minimis! Though I might be tempted to get another electronic groupset. 

[laneweaver]

FWIW, I bought a few miscellaneous items a couple weeks ago, post-tariff hike at 145%, for my upcoming bike build -- a thru axle, some titanium bottle cage screws, some TPU tubes, and bar end plugs -- shipped via AliEx Choice. No surprise charges, delivered to NY. I figured I'd roll the dice since all the prices were the same as before the hike, including shipping. Not sure how AliEx did it, but I was very happy. Ordered April 30, delivered on May 8, so it was during the peak tariff period.

[coffeebreak]

Not sure how AliEx did it, but I was very happy. Ordered April 30, delivered on May 8, so it was during the peak tariff period.

Good to know. When did it reach US shores?

[laneweaver]

Good to know. When did it reach US shores?

It arrived to the US on May 5. Uploading a screenshot of the travel history for your viewing pleasure.

[srf0638]

On one hand, I just had a fairly big-ticket panic buy show up via Fedex and it looks like another one will show up today, so that's cool.

On the other hand, I've heard of Fedex billing for import duties a couple weeks after delivery.

(On yet another hand, the Fedex tracking for both of the relevant packages shows that the package originated/label was printed in Fontana, CA, so maybe I'll squeak by. We shall see.).

[JG4700]

My Fedex IE (international economy) tracking number also says from California, but no delivery date yet. "We'll add a delivery date as soon as we get your package." Marked shipped on aliexpress on May 11 with an estimated delivery of May 18 but still nothing yet.

[GSoroos]

I placed an order on May 12 for some small items as a test to see about any extra charges or what the process was.

Things I noticed:

• Many items in my wishlist are no longer available to be shipped to my location (USA)
  
• Some items have Estimated Charges that are broken down to: Sales Tax, Import Charges, Delivery Fee. These can be expensive, but not all items have this. None of the items I ordered had this.
  
• Also some items are just higher in price than a couple months ago (not sure if this is tariff related or not).

One item I ordered has come in via USPS and they haven't asked for any additional ¢ besides what was paid for up front (which included a $5 shipping charge for an item that was less than a dollar). I expect the same for the other items when they arrive.

But it seems like AliEx and the sellers on there are mostly up front in the way it's priced out. It's still confusing and some items are not the deal they used to be. But still bargins compared to other marketplaces.
 

[jonathanf2]

Only small ticket and high volume items seem to have remained cheap. Cassettes, Chinese groupsets and carbon fiber components have gone up in price significantly. I've also noticed most of the Sensah hydraulic shifters have disappeared as Choice items or are no longer available. For example, Sensah released a new SRX mechanical rear derailleur that is now nowhere to be found. It was available last month. AliExpress isn't the wild west anymore of affordable, yet high end equipment.