Big News: USPS halts packages from China

[Dan Carmell]

Free link:

https://wapo.st/42Cacps

 

Theres a good article at Vox.com that discusses the whole issue of the current ‘de minimus’ exception to import tariffs. 

[inkstainedruth]

Unfortunately I got a popup when I clicked on your "free" link, saying that I could subscribe or turn off my ad blocker.  Given that I had to GET said ad blocker because the ads on HERE were so egregious (and occasionally for ILLEGAL products) and also caused my laptop to freeze and crash?  The adblocker and script blocker software STAYS....

But there's a story on the local news just now (about 5:30 PM EST) about the China tariffs supposedly being imposed -- but it wasn't clear whether or not those have been postponed or backtracked for the time being.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

ETA: Just hoping this won't affect the shipment of the burgundy Pilot Decimo I got for my husband (I've already had some communications/language barrie issues with the seller over making sure it's the CORRECT pen -- so it hasn't been shipped yet -- but at least (all things being equal) still arrive within the originally listed timeframe, with my previous experience with a pen being shipped via Japan Post (albeit from a different seller).

[I-am-not-really-here]

Well for now the above decision has been reversed.  Here's a gifted (should be no paywall) link. 

 

 https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/04/business/usps-china-de-minimis.html?unlocked_article_code=1.uk4.6gni.AvOrewEGCyg5&smid=url-share

 

[inkstainedruth]

Well, that article is being sluggish to load for some reason....  Sigh.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

[I-am-not-really-here]

25 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

Well, that article is being sluggish to load for some reason....  Sigh.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

Maybe the gift doesn't work past the first person to open it?  This is my first time trying the gift option. 

[Dan Carmell]

3 hours ago, I-am-not-really-here said:

Maybe the gift doesn't work past the first person to open it?  This is my first time trying the gift option. 

No, your link worked for me and the link I provided is working as well. I dare say Ruth has some hardware/software configuration issues. 
 

By the way, my package from AliExpress has now bounced between San Francisco and my town 400 miles north TWICE because of this hasty decision and then its reversal. Will I ever get it? Probably, but I’m certainly won’t be placing another order until things settle down. 

[Penguincollector]

I have a few out in the ether as well, one of them the Hero green dragon. Maybe the Cross Century II Snake will be back in stock once the dust settles. 

[mke]

There is a bigger question for you Americans lurking: how long will that de minimis exception of $800 for packages coming from everywhere continue to stand?

 

 

 

[Ron Z]

From the article that I read, maybe not very long - but EU countries are looking at as well...

[I-am-not-really-here]

8 hours ago, mke said:

There is a bigger question for you Americans lurking: how long will that de minimis exception of $800 for packages coming from everywhere continue to stand?

 

 

 

As I understand it, the exception was raised to $800 partly because CBP didn't have the staffing level to support the old lower amount.  Lowering it now would return the same challenges.  It'd be simpler for CBP to refuse entry of all USPS packages inbound from China regardless of declared value.

[Dan Carmell]

14 hours ago, mke said:

There is a bigger question for you Americans lurking: how long will that de minimis exception of $800 for packages coming from everywhere continue to stand?

 

 

 

Excellent point, it’s an easy target for revenue, because it doesn’t affect everyone, just those who choose to purchase directly from outside the country. It also segues with the ‘Buy American’ or suffer tariffs thinking that is becoming popular. 

[inkstainedruth]

20 hours ago, Dan Carmell said:

No, your link worked for me and the link I provided is working as well. I dare say Ruth has some hardware/software configuration issues. 

That would not surprise me one bit. 

Of course, I spent half the morning going back & forth with a local estate sale company on their FB page because they supposedly posted photos of this weekend's sale on their wall only the most updated photos (at least as of this morning) were from SEPTEMBER.  And I pointed out (via FB Messenger -- I was nice and DIDN'T post on their wall for the world to see -- that they were NOT doing their clients any favors; especially since they are NOT the only game in town on any given Saturday).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

edited for typos

[AmandaW]

7 hours ago, Dan Carmell said:

‘Buy American’ or suffer

How much is actually made in America? Thinking about previously American-made brands such as Parker, Cross and Sheaffer. And these days Narwhal and Monteverde that never were, but kinda claim to be.

[Dan Carmell]

12 hours ago, AmandaW said:

How much is actually made in America? Thinking about previously American-made brands such as Parker, Cross and Sheaffer. And these days Narwhal and Monteverde that never were, but kinda claim to be.

Edison and other small pen makers are it now for the US. Bexley was the last pen maker here of any size and I’m not aware they are still making pens. 

[Ron Z]

Bexley got bought out by the Pen Family when Howard retired.  I'm not sure what they're doing with new models these days.

[gweimer1]

23 hours ago, Dan Carmell said:

‘Buy American’

 

More complicated than it sounds.   Get a Hyundai, rather than some Fords.   Get Toshiba, not Zenith.   As mentioned above, brands and country of manufacture may surprise people.

[inkstainedruth]

I remember one Chevy my parents bought when I was growing up was actually made in Canada (don't remember which now).  And I think that at least one of the major Japanese car makers has a factory here in the US.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Faisel]

On 2/6/2025 at 3:07 PM, Ron Z said:

From the article that I read, maybe not very long - but EU countries are looking at as well...

Here in the UK we are supposed to pay VAT (essentially a 20% sales tax) on all purchases from outside the UK. Then duty on imports over £135.
Collection of the taxes and duty fall to the carrier (e.g. Royal Mail) who are entitled to charge a fee for collection.

On average this means that a pen that costs £150/£160 to purchase can cost an additional £50 in taxes and carrier fees. Something most of us in the UK have to factor into pen purchases from abroad.

Then again sometimes one’s purchase seems to fly under the radar and arrive tax free. 😉

[dm14]

Same thing for the EU, but VAT is around 24%, then an additional duty for purchases over 150 euros. We welcome USA to the real world. 

[drakolord]

2 hours ago, Faisel said:

Here in the UK we are supposed to pay VAT (essentially a 20% sales tax) on all purchases from outside the UK. Then duty on imports over £135.
Collection of the taxes and duty fall to the carrier (e.g. Royal Mail) who are entitled to charge a fee for collection.

On average this means that a pen that costs £150/£160 to purchase can cost an additional £50 in taxes and carrier fees. Something most of us in the UK have to factor into pen purchases from abroad.

Then again sometimes one’s purchase seems to fly under the radar and arrive tax free. 😉

Do you still have an income tax taken out each paycheck?