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Topic starter
24/04/2026 3:03 pm
I don't know how many of you are interested in what is happening with the US tariffs, but I'm sure everyone (including myself) is sick of having to think about them. Implementing the tariffs was an idiotic idea in the first place, but at least the US supreme court (as corrupt as they are) managed to do the right thing and identify them for what they are: illegal under the US Constitution. The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency was ordered to stop collecting tariffs on 2-24-26. One thing that has never hit the news as far as I can tell, is that THEY CONTINUE TO COLLECT TARIFFS TO THIS DAY! I have seen news reports about them initiating refunds, but there is simply no information on when they are going to STOP collecting tariffs! Will they continue to collect tariffs on everything forever, and the make the importers continually beg for their money back in an endless cycle??
As a dealer, here is the bill I received a few days ago for the recent shipment from Stamp/GLM:
Just as it says, they will not deliver my packages until the tariff is paid. If I fail to pay the tariff within a short window, they will simply destroy the shipment. Since this extortion started in 2025, I have paid over $10,000 in tariffs, which is a LOT of money for a small business. I have had to raise prices to cover a portion of the tariffs, but if I raised my prices enough to cover ALL of the tariffs, I wouldn't sell anything. Even if I DO get all of my tariff money refunded at some point (which may or may not ever happen), it will not even BEGIN to cover the money I lost in 2025. Not even close. Sales were way down as you can imagine, but the profit margin for the sales I DID make was also down. I am one of the lucky ones that I was able to survive; many other small businesses were not so lucky.
Consumers are rightly outraged that they will not be receiving refunds from the government or from businesses on the higher prices they paid in 2025, but that will never happen. Most of the big companies will happily keep your money because they are run by complicit sociopaths that will never have enough money to make them happy, while most medium to small businesses have simply lost so much money already that sending out refunds will only deepen their losses and possibly lead to their bankruptcy.
To add insult to injury, tariff refunds will not just happen automatically. Importers need to jump through a million bureaucratic hoops with the CBP and wait for months to see if their refunds are "approved".
I am posting this not for sympathy; many other small businesses have it a lot worse than I do. I just feel the need to underscore the continued and blatant corruption that we US citizens are all being victimized by on a daily basis. And to explain why prices on everything we buy are not going to go down anytime soon. The fight is not over, we still have a lot to do. This problem is not going to go away on its own. We all need to continue to loudly declare that we do not accept this extortion. Silence is complicity!
This topic was modified 24 hours ago 3 times by Dave Gilbert
Dave Gilbert
Nashville, Tennessee
24/04/2026 3:15 pm
I absolutely feel your pain. In 2020, I started an import business bringing in vital medical supplies from China during COVID. I actually thought ALL medical supplies were exempt from the tariffs. I learned from US Customs that they were not, including the item I imported. In order for my goods to be released, I had to write a 25% check based on the cost of the goods. Ouch!
I paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in tariffs. My understanding, since SCOTUS ruled that broad, sweeping tariffs can only be imposed by Congress, not the Executive Branch, is that the tariff taxes we business owners paid will be refunded. However, it will require paperwork to be submitted. I'm looking forward to getting that money back.
24/04/2026 3:21 pm
Dave, I feel your pain and thank you for sharing these details; obviously there's much I can say, but...... 😬 😬 😬 😬
24/04/2026 3:23 pm
We have our Canadian version of this political power play being foisted upon us and continued ad nauseum by our Prime Minister Carney, who replaced buffoon Trudeau....and he is worse; more financially reckless and arrogant! Currently he is posing his laughable version of a tough stance against Trump et al over tariffs as they jockey for advantage over the upcoming trade talks/settlement later this year. All this as he parades around the world spouting off about The New World Order and forging new trading with China and other countries as a different pathway of trade instead of our historic and mutually advantageous and successful partner to our south border. All stuff no Canadian ever knew about or heard about prior to the federal election last year. Meanwhile as our two countries posture away time ticks on and business owners like Dave Gilbert and thousands of others suffer as collateral damage with no end date in sight. The Canada I used to love and be proud of has ceased to exist. My god what a mess. Infuriating!
Sorry to touch on the political side of things but it certainly impacts our hobby! I'll leave it at that.
Topic starter
24/04/2026 3:27 pm
@marty-johnson That is exactly correct, only Congress can approve this type of tariff. The president can do so only in a real emergency, but just "making up" an emergency is not acceptable. Many thanks for all of your hard work bringing in vital supplies to help your fellow citizens! As they say, no good deed goes unpunished...
Dave Gilbert
Nashville, Tennessee
Topic starter
24/04/2026 3:33 pm
@jack-dodds So sorry to hear that our friends up North are experiencing this same brand of lunacy! It is very hard to touch on this subject without making it sound political, but it does affect every aspect of our lives, including our hobbies. I hope things improve for you up there brother!
Dave Gilbert
Nashville, Tennessee
25/04/2026 8:26 am
What’s happening here? Aren’t discussions like this a “political” thing? Maybe I missed the train, but doesn’t this belong in another forum?
Zeeky Banutski
The People’s Republic of Maryland
Allan Ording and Brush reacted
25/04/2026 9:42 am
@terryslekar All this "tariff idiocy" has more to do with stupidly and illegal tactics that are benefitting no one other than a "select few." Sadly, those who truly don't understand precisely how tariffs work were easily fooled by a "select few" who also don't precisely understand how tariffs work. "It's easier to fool people than it is to convince them they have been fooled."
25/04/2026 9:47 am
You're quite right Terry. My apologies for venting about it but of course we all feel the effect and frustration.
This post was modified 5 hours ago by Jack Dodds
TerrySlekar and Christopher Moroni reacted