Any thoughts on probability of 20% USA tariffs on purchases next year?

[jhoff80]

I'm about ready to give up on my most recent order (new bars) to the US, purchased Feb 17, "arrived at facility" in ISC New York on Feb 25, and absolutely no movement since.

Trying to not talk about politics here but this trade war stuff is infuriating.

Edit:  It looks like maybe on March 8 it may have finally left NY.

[jonathanf2]

https://www.bicycleretailer.com/industry-news/2025/03/04/congresswoman-introduces-de-minimus-loophole-legislation

Love how this Cunanne CEO dude is trying to spin this as positive thing. Definitely a good thing FOR HIS BUSINESS. Terrible for us direct-to-consumer shoppers.

Is this the same congress person who's husband was indicted on theft and conspiracy charges? That tells me all I need to know when it comes to bad apples.

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/nov/8/linda-sanchez-husband-james-sullivan-indicted/

[bremerradkurier]

Is this the same congress person who's husband was indicted on theft and conspiracy charges? That tells me all I need to know when it comes to bad apples.

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/nov/8/linda-sanchez-husband-james-sullivan-indicted/

Distributors like ASI and QBP add a lot of empty calorie costs to brick and mortar bike stores-typically their "wholesale" groupset pricing is right around or sometimes even higher than grey market OEM pricing available D2C.

[jonathanf2]

https://www.bicycleretailer.com/industry-news/2025/03/04/congresswoman-introduces-de-minimus-loophole-legislation

Love how this Cunanne CEO dude is trying to spin this as positive thing. Definitely a good thing FOR HIS BUSINESS. Terrible for us direct-to-consumer shoppers.

"Cunnane, an industry consultant and advisor to Hyper Bicycles, also is quoted in Sánchez's press release. He is the former CEO of ASE, the parent of the Performance Bicycle retail chain and the ASI distribution business."

I looked into Hyper Bicycles, their bread-n-butter are crappy e-bikes. He's just looking to eliminate domestic and overseas competition. I wish these companies would actually try being innovated, instead of resorting to underhanded tactics.

Distributors like ASI and QBP add a lot of empty calorie costs to brick and mortar bike stores-typically their "wholesale" groupset pricing is right around or sometimes even higher than grey market OEM pricing available D2C.

D2C purchases still benefit brick-n-mortar stores. I know many cyclists will just bring their bikes in to be assembled and/or retrofitted with new parts. In fact getting parts first by the consumer might be a better avenue for the bike shops, because ordering through  "official" channels can sometimes take a long period of time. My buddy finally got his retrofitted road bike completed after 3 months in the shop. He had to wait while his "domestic" wheelset were being built and shipped...from CHINA! 

[bremerradkurier]

D2C purchases still benefit brick-n-mortar stores. I know many cyclists will just bring their bikes in to be assembled and/or retrofitted with new parts. In fact getting parts first by the consumer might be a better avenue for the bike shops, because ordering through  "official" channels can sometimes take a long period of time. My buddy finally got his retrofitted road bike completed after 3 months in the shop. He had to wait while his "domestic" wheelset were being built and shipped...from CHINA! 

Back when I managed a chain bike store that was taken over by Performance before their rightful demise, I had to tell a customer that no, we couldn't handle warranty fulfillment for his broken Shimano crank purchased mail order from a 3rd party.  Aside from occasional swag and entertainment, this seems to be the only possible advantage for a retailer to buy product through the official distribution chain instead of gray market OEM.

Come to think of it, maybe having your own Ali sourced and private labeled, way overpriced carbon frameset seems like a good workaround to get legit OEM product for resale.

[coffeebreak]

Is this the same congress person who's husband was indicted on theft and conspiracy charges? That tells me all I need to know when it comes to bad apples.

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/nov/8/linda-sanchez-husband-james-sullivan-indicted/

As far as I am concerned every person now who's trying to paint positive picture about whatever is happening is a bad apple.

I am lucky I got all the parts I ordered in the last month but now I am done. Every day there is a new brain fart and things are tossed around like toddler playing in the sand. Its as infuriating as it is dangerous and I am now in fully "save the cash" mode whatever tht cash will be worth in coming months I am sure it will be better than some bike parts. I have stopped scouring eBay, FB Marketplace, OfferUp for used parts/frames too and trying to downsize my current stable of 8 bikes to 3.