Walk A Mile In Our Shoes - Tariffs Yech!.. the silence is deafening...
Summary: intimewithmusic discusses the impact of the 50% tariffs on Canadian sellers, describing their decision to focus on selling domestically and internationally except to the USA due to high costs. They share efforts to pivot their business strategy by listing different products and adapting to changing circumstances. Other participants, such as flipistics and chicweb, contribute by sharing their own strategies and experiences with shifting sales and dealing with international shipping complexities. The discussion includes reflections on the challenges of maintaining profitability and the need for sellers to adapt to new market conditions.
Hi. Wow! What a day! This is not a solicitation for debate. Unless you walked a mile in my shoes (I'll get to that later) you cannot understand why this is my reaction. For the benefit of other sellers please print your reaction instead of questioning mine. Thanks!
In response to the 50% tariffs:
This is "me".
In July to add to @lotzofuniquegoodies informative post here in our forum I posted a more complete list of the types of widgets that would be affected including collectibles.
In July I engaged Liz Morton to write about eBay Canada's sellers and their feelings about a potential 50% tariff. She did that brilliantly on her "Value Added Resource" website.
When I learned the potential effect on InTimewithMusic a week ago I sent the following letter to "The Selling On eBay Radio Show" hoping for attention to the plight of eBay Canada sellers.
When I got the news at 9.30 August 21 I thought it over and at 10.00pm last night I Opted Out of EIS. I've sold to the USA since 1981 and I do have many friends there. Most of the musicians I know are Americans. I can't wait to resume shipping there when it's cost effective. This is my personal choice and not a recommendation. I'm going to focus on Canada and the rest of the world one package at a time. Again I'm not recommending this. I can afford to make the choice because I sell mostly for enjoyment and have quite a lot of international selling experience. You do you.
Letter to The Selling on eBay Radio Show
Hi. Thank you! Unfortunately the eBay widget items included are not getting media attention. Yes to lumber, auto parts and hockey sticks etc, Most people do not know the other 497 categories that include collectibles, coins, art and antiques etc that will cripple eBay Canada sellers.
Abridged: "For example I sell music memorabilia a lot of which I obtained working with American artists like BB King. ALL of my widgets can be hit by this added 50% tariff.
[Research not fact checked]-------"The 50% Section 338 tariffs implemented by the United States on Canadian imports cover an estimated 554 tariff lines across more than a dozen distinct subcategories. Music memorabilia is fully subject to the 50% Section 338 tariffs if it crosses the border from Canada into the United States on or after August 19, 2026. Because the "Motor Vehicles" proclamation serves as a broad umbrella covering hundreds of non-automotive consumer goods, music memorabilia gets caught under several strict Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTSUS) classifications. How an item is hit depends entirely on what the piece of memorabilia actually is:
Autographed Instruments & Stage Gear Instruments: Guitars, drum components, and amplifiers used or signed by musicians fall under Chapter 92 classifications. These musical instrument lines do not have an exemption and are hit by the 50% duty. Stage Clothing: Stage-worn costumes, shirts, hats, or footwear face the tariff under the broad Apparel and Textiles blanket lines included in the proclamation.
Paper Memorabilia, Posters, Autographs, Signed Photos, Concert posters, signed promotional photos, and hand-written lyric sheets fall under Chapter 49 (Printed Books, Newspapers, Pictures, and Other Products of the Printing Industry). These lines are fully captured by the tariff. Ticket Stubs & Backstage Passes: Historical concert tickets or laminated tour passes are categorized under paper or plastic packaging and printing lines, which are subject to the 50% tax.
Rare Vinyl, Box Sets, & Physical Media Vinyl Records and CDs: Collectible first-pressings, rare acetate discs, and limited-edition box sets fall under HTSUS codes for recorded media. These are included in the electronics and media subcategories of the proclamation, triggering the 50% rate."
...end of letter to Selling On eBay Radio Show...
``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Using the knowledge to market music on eBay Canada I began selling non music items in case something like this should happen. This year my "Beyond Music" non music sales which are mostly domestic, yield nearly 50% of my total sales so far. I'm sharing this for folks who can use their aquired eBay Canada selling knowledge to pivot.
I always say You do you, I'll do me. Online selling is different depending on what you sell, where you're located and who your customers are: You can change what you sell and who your customers are!
Back to "Walk a Mile In My shoes". If the link works this is a song my band recorded in 1973 in a Canadian Mexican themed Cabaret when I was just a teenager. It has been rescued from a very old cassette tape. The singer died shortly after in a fire. I think this song is strong and relevant to our current situation. It is a positive reminder Canada is an amazing melting pot! The image of the female soldier at the beginning is my mother and she used to love hearing us practice this song in the basement.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1011013005080981
I hope you take this with a positive twist, besides, it's my birthday!
As well, just so you know to be nice, I've invited Liz of Value Added Resource into this thread.
Please let the group know your reaction and if you may pivot.
Thanks!
IT
intimewithmusic
OP1 week ago · EditedOn today's (August 28) Episode of "The Selling On eBay Radio Show" Shari West (nee Smith) and Philip Jackson express sympathy for our sellers and discuss the changes eBay Canada has made to eBay Seller Help in Toronto.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-161-new-item-page-layout-nifty-ai-tool-asq/id1610885063?i=1000786562497
mandicrafts
·1 week agoWhile most of my items are NOT "made in Canada", the whole tariff discussion is scaring off US buyers from buying ANYTHING from Canada regardless of COO.
So a pivot to other items may not "work".
My sales $ are DOWN by 60% year over year because I've lost most of my US buyers. There are not enough collectors in Canada or worldwide for my niche on eBay that can replace those US collectors who used to buy from me.
It is sad. Selling is no longer fun. Having to be some sort of export expert should not have to be in our "job description".
I've been selling on eBay since 2004. Now I just want out. But I have a house stuffed with inventory I need to move first.
intimewithmusic
OP1 week ago · EditedThank you for your post. Much of what you've shared has been running through my mind. Another post talked about COOs so I did some research. If you ask about that via Google or AI depending on the exact wording you get different answers. No wonder American buyers are apprehensive and confused. When this began last August even the pros at the 3rd party forwarders varied in the amounts charged.
You've said you want out. When I began to feel that way I thought about all the work it's taken to get here. There's that. You're right about this nonsense with respect to every country having it's own import game with different rules. It's ugly. An unspoken problem with EIS apart from buyer's landed cost and waiting for their goody to wing it's way around 2 continents is your BRAND. If you list an item in the USA that has comps and those comps are located down there you look like the bad guy. They list a $10 magazine and it ships free or for $5. Yours is $10 but EIS is charged $23 for the cocktail of import charges.
I'm not packing it in. I needed to step away for a bit so I opted out of EIS and put my eBay store on Time Away. Now that I don't have to think about selling I'm improving my shelving, cleaning my garage so I have space to clean items to sell on another platform, editing my listings, harvesting my garden, canning and starting to edit part 3 of a music documentary I'm creating for my YouTube channel. I'm trying not to watch the news. All this is helping me relieve stress and let off steam. If you haven't already you might put your store on Time Away during this summer slow period and take a step back from it.
At the best of times selling on eBay is hard and it takes skill. If you've been selling on eBay since 2004 you have a ton of knowledge and business skills. I hope the tariffs and this international shipping don't take that away from you.
I mentioned in another post I sent a letter to Shari and Phillip who have the podcast "Selling On eBay Radio Show". They read my letter on today's episode #161. They expressed sympathy for Canadian sellers but only lightly touched on tariffs. They did go into detail about the changes eBay Canada has made in Toronto that polarized seller service.
It's very obvious the average American doesn't know the effects of this mess more than the tariffs impose on Canadian sellers. The fact we have trouble selling to Americans is also a good thing for sellers down there. We are on our own.
Best wishes and thank you so much for sharing your thoughts.
phc64
·1 week agoSince the latest tariffs came into effect, I have shipped both Canadian vinyl records and CDs (RIP Dolly) to the US (as recently as this morning), going through the Zonos process, and no tariffs were charged. So it appears that vinyl records (8523.80.1000) and CDs (8523.49.3000) are still exempt
intimewithmusic
OP1 week ago · EditedThanks for your input. Right, RIP Dolly for sure. Glad Zonos has been working for you. I have psossibly a thousand unlisted older media 78s, 8 tracks, cassette, vinyl, VHS, CDs and DVDs to list. I list media Oct 15 - Oct 30. The 1st item on the block is David Peel's "The Pope Smokes Dope" on vinyl. (his collab with John Lennon) It should be OK thru EIS. It had minimal comps last time I looked. Due to EIS landed costs its not worth listing anything under $25. Most of what I have is below $15 so I list them in lots to make the listing/play grading worth it.
I did recently sell the 1960s double album/book "Bootleg Him" by Alexis Korner with the rolling Stones on it before they were the Stones. I sold that domestically for $28 (BIN). Packed it was 850 grams and was $22 to ship to Quebec. It took 20 months to sell. Anything less than that isn't worth listing with EIS unless it's unique.
intimewithmusic
OP2 weeks ago · EditedA few more "pivots" I'm making while the situation is unfolding;
With 37 days left to the beginning of 4th quarter I'm filtering my listings. I've almost maxed out the allotment I get with my subscription. I might as well replace the non sellers with more popular domestic widgets.
Normally when I list I rotate my 26 internal categories bi weekly. That means I should be listing photos, backstage passes, stage items etc from August 15 to 31. Little of that sells in Canada so instead I'm listing vintage camping and fishing gear. From another business I'm listing painting equipment. Typically our painting season here dries up in November (Pun there.. )
In another post I mentioned I accidentally discovered an active global market for vintage pens. I have 4 left. The other 4 have sold already. They're easy and cheap to ship. Try them out. Highly recommended!
Declining disposable income. This relates to 3#. The pens sell in the $20 to $40 and appeal to multiple markets. No one needs music memorabilia. I'm focused on widgets that appeal to a weaker economy. I'm about to try fishing lures. There's a collectible market and also a lot of people are vacationing in Canada who want to take little Johnny fishing.
If you're also pivotting to boost your sales please share before I run out of ideas!
Do you sell fishing lures! Let us know.
Thanks!
chicweb
·2 weeks ago · EditedI'm happy to have switched to eIS now... Even if not perfect, it allows us peace of mind.
The US market will be difficult for a time... I'm mostly sad for american citizens tho... Collectors that want to get specific items from Canada (Canadian culture piece, specific comic books only sold by canadian sellers, etc, etc)... They won't be able to get it as cheap as before.
But we have no control over this. If a buyer really want an item, they might pay for it. By using eIS, the headaches of international shipping is on eBay, not us. They have experts that deals with it, and so far, didn't have any problems.
We will have to wait and adapt. There's nothing more that we really can do, unfortunately.
intimewithmusic
OP2 weeks ago · EditedThanks for your post. I intend to Opt back into EIS when there's stability. 85% of my customers are Americans. Compared to 2024 in 2026 my gross sales, exempting freight, are down 46%. Having said that my domestic sales are up due to the pivots I've made away from popular US music widgets.
I never had a single issue with EIS other than very slow deliveries due to my BC location and that high customer cost you point out. Due to good communication I've never had an EIS complaint and despite those problems I still receive high quality positive feedback.
I like what you said: "We will have to wait and adapt."
and want to add "keep a close eye on the numbers so you can see what works.
rdemaree
·2 weeks agoLuckily for me my HTS codes arent hit (for now) and are covered by CUSMA still.
I just hope the orange and our mature normal leader can hash out a solid and predictable deal before Q4.
Either way, it doesnt matter too much. We are just a few months away from the orange becoming a lame duck. The next few years (after November) should be a bit more reigned in than the insanity we have been seeing.
byto253
·2 weeks agoHappy to see that you are not getting dinged for once! Still dealing with the eBay mis-messaging about custom fees of course.
intimewithmusic
OP2 weeks agoThanks for the post! Let us know if you make any changes later to "pivot".
sapphyres-designer-jewellery
·2 weeks agoI'm glad to hear, I was worried about you when the tariffs hit because your stuff is all made in Canada. I don't know in all what's hit and not hit, just in my category stamps and coins (not legal tender, like tokens and medals) have all been hit.
intimewithmusic
OP2 weeks agoThank you!
transtraders
·2 weeks agoYou are aware that the 50% tariff is only on Made in Canada items, right?
intimewithmusic
OP2 weeks ago · EditedHi. Thank you for a response. My request to the forum wasn't about speculation it asked how the community is reacting to the 50 % tariffs imposed. Are you pivoting?
Your comment suggests you're not pivoting away from the USA. You have a valid view and a business reaction that works for you. In time effects will ripple down to the CBP and filter through couriers, 3rd party package handlers and Zonos etc. Last time they had different interpretations of the Order.
Come Tuesday or Wednesday unlike before, there may be incoming (retaliatory tariffs) causing further border/courier/3rd party handling confusion.
With respect to your COO claim it will take time to for things to adjust. My research differs from yours. My reaction is going to be different. So just like before there won't be one answer. I f you sell from Skookumchuck BC and use CP or if you sell from Niagara Falls and use Chit Chats you're likely to get a different answer for the next few months.
AI Overview
The U.S. 50% tariffs apply based on specific product classifications (HTS codes) originating from Canada, not based on whether a third-party item was merely transshipped through Canada. PBS and general reporting correctly clarify that the tax hits designated Canadian products on the official annex lists, regardless of CUSMA/USMCA origin compliance.
How the Tariffs Apply
Product-Specific: “These tariffs are determined by the product's HS or HTS codes, specifically if they are included on the published annex lists.”, as explained by legal and trade analyses like Cassels.
Country of Origin Rules: Customs laws dictate that the 50% Section 338 levies target goods originating from Canada under standard trade origin rules, meaning foreign goods merely shipped or transshipped through a Canadian port do not become Canadian goods simply by transit.
```````````````
PBS says
"Unlike traditional trade agreements that feature carve-outs for products complying with strict rules of origin, the Trump administration has explicitly stated that these 50% tariffs apply to the designated goods even if they are CUSMA-compliant. If a covered product is processed in or shipped from a Canadian warehouse or port to the U.S., it faces the tax.
For anyone just tuning in the list I posted is back in July and hard to find in this new forum arrangement so here is a new but less detailed list posted at 5:30 August 22 on Global can be seen here; https://globalnews.ca/news/12031333/heres-what-items-will-be-tariffed-by-the-u-s/
Suggestion: Do your due dilligence. Don't trust anything you read. Check your high end listings for notes you may have put in the description that could cause confusion such as "this item ships only to the 48 contiguous states" that will remain in your listing if you change your business policy or Opt Out of EIS.
transtraders
·1 week agoGreat post about the %50 tariff and what products it effects was posted today by NetParcel. The following is taken from their post regarding non-Canadian made items:
Does this tariff apply if I’m a Canadian merchant selling non-Canadian goods?
Not necessarily, and this is good news for many sellers who may assume the worst. Since the tariff is based on country of origin, not country of shipment, a Canadian merchant selling goods manufactured outside Canada is not subject to this 50% duty, even though the shipment ships from a Canadian address.
Example: if you’re a Canadian retailer selling a product made in Vietnam, Mexico, or the U.S. itself, and you ship it from your Canadian warehouse/location to a U.S. customer, that shipment isn’t a Canadian-origin good under this tariff. The proclamations target goods that originate in Canada, based on where they were made or substantially transformed, not where your business is based or where the parcel is dropped off.
A few things worth keeping in mind:
Accurate origin documentation matters. If you’re shipping non-Canadian goods from Canada, customs will want correct country-of-origin paperwork. Defaulting to “Canada” as the origin because that’s where you ship from can trigger the duty incorrectly or look like an attempt to evade it.
Other duties can still apply. This tariff doesn’t replace other trade measures. A product’s actual country of origin can still carry its own separate tariffs; this Section 338 action just doesn’t add the extra 50% layer on top for non-Canadian goods.
Mixed catalogues need SKU-level review. If you sell a mix of Canadian-made and non-Canadian-made products, you can’t treat your whole catalogue the same way. Each SKU’s actual origin determines whether it’s exposed.
intimewithmusic
OP1 week ago · EditedThank you for the update. You have a lot of experience. Thanks your sharing!
Re: Net Parcel
Once each freight handler puts the new tariffs into use I hope your outline would be fool proof for each freight handler. That said those final 3 caviats at the bottom are beyond the shipping skill and/or motivation for most eBay sellers who are part time. Creating a good listing is work and numbers 2 and 3 add to that. If you haven't already read the post in this thread by @mandicrafts please check it out. In my view @mandicrafts has one of the nicest stores I've seen on eBay hands down.
Let's look at the recent past.
Clear rules were announced last August 2025 for the US. New rules came out last spring for the EU imports. Then reports of discrepancies began to arise for goods entering the US depending on the expediters' interpretation (Chit Chats, Zonos, UPS, DHL, Stallion, Fedex etc) Probably a lot had to do with the shipper's interpretation of the HS code but it seemed like reports were coming from shippers using the same code with different expediters. A LOT of items sold by Canadian sellers don't bear COO markings. Reports of "MIC" stickers being created and attached were in the media. Something that should be simple became not so much.
Then some of the tariffs were deemed illegal in the USA and the system changed again. After that each EU country started imposing country specific rules on imports. Then the tariffs overlapped.
Do you trust the individual reports enough to create your 2026-27 business plan?
How much work will the average part time eBay seller accept if the end result of getting into the US market with widgets that have domestic comps down there non competitive anyway?
If you have a lot of repeat customers as I do how much damage are those EIS prices/ship times going to do to your brand?
Mandicraft has been selling on eBay since 2004. ALL of these issues (except the brand damage, that's me) are heard in her honest post yesterday in this thread.
I don't think anyone would argue eBay Canada's problem is not it's sellers desire to sell internationally. The problem is without EIS it's too much trouble and with EIS the dwindled.... no, the crashing foreign market has shrunk exponentially creating a dwindling... no, a crashing profit margin.
The eBay store subscriptions and PL etc fees based on the 2025 market share of approx 450M US/Can people have not been reduced to reflect the new market share. I'm guessing they will be coming out of some seller's bank accounts instead of their proceeds of sales. It's about to happen to me Sept 1. That's not sustainable.
Is the big picture tariffs or is it perseverance?
flipistics
·2 weeks ago · EditedMy reaction is that I try to only worry about what I can control, and that is sourcing and listing. I have a massive pile of unlisted inventory so increasing my sales to make up for the loss of US orders is entirely in my own hands.
It's unfortunate since I sell a lot of books and media, but a large portion of my sales are to Canada anyway. My USA sales are about 23% of my sales volume right now so it hurts, but it's not crippling.
It would really help if eBay would fix the wonky international shipping charges some categories are seeing right now (which is not limited to the USA). It would also be a nice boost if we can get the number of international countries included in eIS expanded.
I also plan to start selling more on FBM.
intimewithmusic
OP2 weeks ago23% isn't good but sounds like you're in better shape than me!
Thank you for your reaction.
intimewithmusic
OP2 weeks ago · EditedI'm also starting to list on FBM. In the lower mainland some RCMP detatchments have actual buy/sell areas onsite with cameras for security. We never had that here in the Smokanagan. There were issues so I have to check again once the smoke clears and I can find their parking lot. If you have any tips please share!
sapphyres-designer-jewellery
·2 weeks agoI don't know how much my US sales, but 25% sounds about right for now. Most things people in the US buy are banknotes and stamps that go in a letter with a stamp. I'm not getting many people buying anything "package like" that could have tariffs.
I recently sourced 6 bankers boxes of outmoded banknotes (that are not hit with tariffs) and am going to focus on getting those listed. There's a history of sales with these, but not many sales and sometimes far between. Hopefully I can encourage a dealer somewhere to buy this new-old-stock inventory so they can sell them in singles.
intimewithmusic
OP2 weeks ago · EditedLucky for you I think 25% US is relatively low compared to sellers in the western provinces. Our poulation (total market share) is so much smaller than the east including Ontario. I'm guessing our BC average for USA sustomers is minimum 50% USA or like myself much higher unless your niche is wildfire smoke. Some sellers sell beach sand. Feel free to visit and take some smoke home to list. As it's MIC the tariff is 50%. Do you know the HS code for smoke?
90 % of the readers in the forum never post anything. I often check out Reddit but I admit I have never posted there. They are sellers trying to navigate the confusion and come for ideas and to figure things out. It's great you share your experience. Thank you for that!
At a time like this enjoy your location. I have a USA museum piece that I just lowered the price down to $6K. It ships in 3 boxes weighing 120 lbs. I had a 5K domestic offer which was low but it would have been an easier sale than a cross border sale. For shipping it had a flat Can/USA lower 48 rate of $900 which is also low. I expected to supplement it.. If they had agreed to the cross continent shipping I'd have accepted. It was a private sale, not a museum and they balked. If I could only put it in an envelope! EIS couldn't expedite something like that. Those items require direct communication with the buyer, the courier and sometimes the border. 3 years ago that would have been normal. Now, if you phone the buyer in the USA you sound like an idiot because you have no idea what their landed cost will be.
I hear you on selling your banknote lot to another seller. Sounds better than by the piece. I've upped my single BIN minimum to $15. My sales are so slow even those sales are annoying after fees. The memorabilia market's status quo is BIN w "Best Offer". The diminishing disposable income means I'm getting ridiculous offers. My auto decline used to be 50%. I'm upping it to 75% and upping Best Offer minimums on $40plus items.
flipistics
·2 weeks agoI know you're joking, but I've heard of people selling fresh mountain air and newly (cooled) lava from active volcanoes. Maybe you found yourself a new niche...