2025 U.S. Tariff Implications for Lowprokb customers
Hello everyone, and especially our valued American customers,
I wanted to take a moment to update you on some important changes that could impact the prices of the products you’re buying from our Canada-based store. It’s not the news I wanted to share, and the impacts are still not completely understood, but I think it’s important to keep you in the loop!
If you’ve been keeping an eye on the news, you might have heard about the new tariffs being imposed on goods imported into the U.S. from Canada. In simple terms, a tariff is a tax that the U.S. government places on products coming from other countries. The Trump White House, in its infinite wisdom, has decided that as of Tuesday February 4th, a flat 25% tariff will be imposed on all products being imported into the US from Canada. This tariff is a tax that is collected by U.S. Customs and charged to you, the consumer, at the time of import.
In the past, we’ve been able to take advantage of something called the de minimis exemption, which basically meant that goods valued under $800 could be imported into the U.S. from Canada without incurring tariffs. This made it easier (and cheaper) for you to shop with us because most orders shipped to our American customers was far below that threshold.
But unfortunately, the de minimis exemption no longer applies under this new scheme. That means even small shipments that used to be tariff-free are now subject to taxes and duties. So, the price you see at checkout might not be as straightforward as before, and may not accurately reflect your ultimate total order price.
So, what does this mean for you?
- Price Increases: Although initially, I do not foresee a need to raise my pricing. At this time, my supplies and materials are not subject to this escalating situation. As things escalate though, this may ultimately have to happen. The price increases that Americans will see right now will be in charges levied by U.S. Customs to receive your shipments.
- Shipping Costs: On top of that, you might notice higher shipping fees at checkout. I’m committed to keeping costs reasonable, but the added tariffs mean that my shipping providers may increase the quoted prices to reflect the new reality. I do not mark up shipping, as my whole business model is to make things as affordable as possible.
As a small business owner, I absolutely hate this situation and that these tariffs result in additional costs to you, my loyal customers. I’ve always prided myself on offering new products at affordable prices, and I wish there was another way to handle this. But at the end of the day, these changes are beyond my control. I hope you understand that I’m doing my best to keep things running smoothly while still offering the best products and service possible.
Also, I am sure I am going to receive a ton of requests to lower the invoice amount to minimize the impact of the tariffs… this is something I will absolutely NOT do. The ramification of this activity, if discovered, will be devastating to my business and I am not willing to take that risk based on another country’s actions. I do apologize for not being able to do more to help at this time, but I am a one-person company working out of my home… I will not risk my livelihood or my family’s wellbeing to lower your tax burden. Thank you for your understanding.
If you have any questions or concerns about how this affects your orders, please feel free to reach out by emailing info@lowprokb.ca. I’m here to help however I can.
Thanks so much for your continued support, especially during times like this. It means the world to me, and I’m going to keep working hard to bring you the quality products you love at the best prices I can manage.
Stay awesome,
Darryl