Tariff Mitigation Fee

I was attempting to order a non shaving item online this morning and was presented a box saying that I agreed to pay an 8.9% Tariff Mitigation fee. At first I thought that perhaps this was sales tax that larger vendors have to charge for out of state purchases but, I was wrong. They also wanted to charge me an additional 10% sales tax and $10.95 shipping. Is this Tariff Mitigation fee something new?

News to me...Is it something related to Covid?  Or the new tariff war with China?

(07-20-2020, 08:00 AM)PATRIOT Wrote: News to me...Is it something related to Covid?  Or the new tariff war with China?

Good question, I do not know. I have ordered from this company many times in the past and the tariff mitigation fee is definitely something new. I'll try and give them a call to see if they can shed some light.

Best guess is that they are passing the cost of the tariffs onto their customers... rather than increase the price, they add a fee. Borderline false advertisement, since the total price has incresed.

The shed some light fee may be 6%, caveat emptor.

(07-20-2020, 09:14 AM)WegianWarrior Wrote: Best guess is that they are passing the cost of the tariffs onto their customers... rather than increase the price, they add a fee. Borderline false advertisement, since the total price has incresed.

Yes, this is what I suspect but, I will guarantee it is leading to cart abandonment. Sometimes it’s best not to see how the sausage is made.

(07-20-2020, 10:28 AM)jackgoldman123 Wrote: The shed some light fee may be 6%, caveat emptor.

Haha... I would not be surprised.

A number of businesses, primarily restaurants and hair salons, are now imposing a coronavirus surcharge.  The stated justification is to cover the additional costs related to preventing the spread of the virus.  Someone posted this receipt from a sushi restaurant.  

(07-20-2020, 12:18 PM)bullgoose Wrote:

(07-20-2020, 09:14 AM)WegianWarrior Wrote: Best guess is that they are passing the cost of the tariffs onto their customers... rather than increase the price, they add a fee. Borderline false advertisement, since the total price has incresed.

Yes, this is what I suspect but, I will guarantee it is leading to cart abandonment. Sometimes it’s best not to see how the sausage is made.

In what country does the company reside and from what country does it ship to you?

(07-20-2020, 01:16 PM)ChiefBroom Wrote:

(07-20-2020, 12:18 PM)bullgoose Wrote:

(07-20-2020, 09:14 AM)WegianWarrior Wrote: Best guess is that they are passing the cost of the tariffs onto their customers... rather than increase the price, they add a fee. Borderline false advertisement, since the total price has incresed.

Yes, this is what I suspect but, I will guarantee it is leading to cart abandonment. Sometimes it’s best not to see how the sausage is made.

In what country does the company reside and from what country does it ship to you?

I had to look it up but, the company is in San Diego California.  I had always assumed that the product was made in the United States but, apparently not.

(07-20-2020, 01:03 PM)TheLegalRazor Wrote: A number of businesses, primarily restaurants and hair salons, are now imposing a coronavirus surcharge.  The stated justification is to cover the additional costs related to preventing the spread of the virus.  Someone posted this receipt from a sushi restaurant.  

Interesting -I had not seen that before either.

(07-20-2020, 02:29 PM)bullgoose Wrote:

(07-20-2020, 01:16 PM)ChiefBroom Wrote:

(07-20-2020, 12:18 PM)bullgoose Wrote: Yes, this is what I suspect but, I will guarantee it is leading to cart abandonment. Sometimes it’s best not to see how the sausage is made.

In what country does the company reside and from what country does it ship to you?

I had to look it up but, the company is in San Diego California.  I had always assumed that the product was made in the United States but, apparently not.

Even if the product is made int eh US, there might be a tariff on raw materials or precursors? I've lost track on what the current administration have put tariffs on in the tradewars...

I called the company and got my answer. It turns out that the product is made in China and they did not want to raise the price.

Guess what?  They did raise the price!  
I’m pretty much done with buying Chinese stuff.

This is kind of the reveres of an EU vendor sale to a US address.  In that case the price is often REDUCED by the value of the VAT that would have been applicable for EU delivery -- the US buyer of course being responsible for any tariffs or duties due at point of import.

(07-23-2020, 09:02 AM)PATRIOT Wrote: Guess what?  They did raise the price!  
I’m pretty much done with buying Chinese stuff.

Yes- exactly. The product in question was Mutt Mitts - dog waste bags. Perhaps I should not have been surprised that they were made in China but, I was.

(07-24-2020, 08:36 PM)bullgoose Wrote:

(07-23-2020, 09:02 AM)PATRIOT Wrote: Guess what?  They did raise the price!  
I’m pretty much done with buying Chinese stuff.

Yes- exactly. They raised the price by 8.9%. The product in question was Mutt Mitts - dog waste bags. Perhaps I should not have been surprised that they were made in China but, I was.

Was not aware that dog waste bags were part of the US & China trade wars.  

Guessing price increase but blame someone else.