InTimeWithMusic Excludes The United States Of America:Canada's Music Industry Memorabilia eBay Store

[intimewithmusic]

   Apparently Trump, his complete administration representing our American customers are following through on their threat.

   After a long heart to heart, and a generous period of considerance afforded to Mr. Trump, as of February 1, 2025 no sales of our historic music will cross our Canada USA border.

  At this time no other global countries are effected other than the United States of America. Music is universal. No politician should have control over who can afford it's heritage.

  InTimeWithMusic

[marnotom!]

So how will the tariffs be charged and collected on casual imports, such as eBay sales? Will tariffs be applied to sales of items shipped from Canada that are made in the USA? I haven’t been able to find this out.

Also, are you prepared to make exceptions to interested US buyers who aren’t fans of the President and/or his actions? Trump received 49.8% of the popular vote.

I’m not trashing your decision. I just want to spell out how complex this issue is, particularly as there seem to be many unknowns for Canadian eBay sellers as of 7 a.m. EST.

[fergua3]

Trump is having fun with his new toy: tariff threats.  He is in the process and will continue to, threaten every nation with tariffs unless that nations bends totally to the will of the US.    But this is going to be a foolhardy strategy.

At some point and before too long, people get tired of being extorted.  The US needs world trade just as much as everyone else does.  In the short term tariffs will really hurt the effected nations but in the long run everyone will adapt and the world will trade with one another, to the exclusion of the untrustworthy USA.

So in time, when the US comes to us for our rare earth metals or heavy crude etc we might be able to say "sorry, we are sold out".  The world will adapt in time and then we will see if Trump truly doesn't need what Canada or most other nations, have to sell. 

The US doesn't by stuff from Canada to be swell, they buy it because they need the stuff we are selling them.  Tariffs will hurt US consumers, who are expecting prices to drop not rise.   

I support your decision, as long as you are able to afford the loss of the US market.

[intimewithmusic]

@marnotom! 

@fergua3 

I wrote the title of this post to resemble a newspaper headline for a reason. You all have to decide how this is going to affect your own stores. When deciding if sales to the US will be worthwhile I think it's important to consider three issues;

1. Will there be a direct extra cost at the border or via eBay's checkout to our American friends on their purchases?

2. Are the items you sell (your niche) necessities or are they items that sell as a result of the Buyer's disposable income?

3. How will tariffs affect the economy of both countries and will it affect a Buyer's disposable income?

I don't want to exclude anyone. Frankly I don't even feel comfortable excluding the Ukraine. Music is a universal language.  Most of my items are rare music one offs. They should be available to everyone.

My niche goes to buyers with disposable income. The items are mostly 30 to 50 year old vintage collectibles. They are not necessities. They will be the 1st to stop selling if, and when the economy fails.

My items are from a personal collection. There is no money tied up. They likely won't depreciate over the next 4 years. If necessary I can put my stuff back in the "box" and wait out a recession. It  just get,s better with age.

If one of two things happen, either the cost of my items goes up and puts them out of the reach of my US friends, or, if the economy goes down and does the same thing I won't have to exclude anyone. For my stuff the exclusion will happen automatically if the prices increase  significantly. As far as weathering the storm and paying fees (and soon even more fees) for eBay and GoDaddy that profit reality remains to be seen. 

For those of us who sell to the USA I think it will take some time to see how the US citizens react to their new president's changes. We have recently seen how eBay Canada is preparing.

The bottom line is, if you're not making any money, what's the point? I don't know about you but I don't want to run a museum.

[flipistics]

I think the bigger issue with the USA is that they aren't set up to actually collect the volume of tariffs. I would expect the mail to pretty much grind to a halt. Excluding them, at least for the next while, might be wise as otherwise it will probably result in a lot of INRs (not to mention unhappy buyers who refuse to believe that they're the ones that have to pay it).

The Canadian government has said that it's not profitable to collect taxes and tariffs on items under a certain value ($50 I think?). That's partly why the couriers charge fees to clear items at the border.  The US government will probably lose more money from this than they'll make if they don't exempt cheaper items or implement a prepaid requirement.

[mrdutch1001]

"You all have to decide how this is going to affect your own stores. "

It isn't...I sell the occasional vintage vinyl record to the USA(maybe 1-2 per year)

I have 0 worry, 0 concern...

[intimewithmusic]

"it will probably result in a lot of INRs (not to mention unhappy buyers who refuse to believe that they're the ones that have to pay it)."

For sure. This is why I mentioned we will have to see how our buyers react.

"The Canadian government has said that it's not profitable to collect taxes and tariffs on items under a certain value ($50 I think?)."

I'm pretty sure the Deminimus has been under the US microscope for a year due to Temu's exploitation of it. Maybe this is a stretch but if the platforms already collect VAT wouldn't it make more sense for them to collect a tariff at checkout rather than interupt the flow of packages through the border? Of course FV fees would be added on top creating a big windfall for the platform like they were when the sales tax remitting began.

As far as cheaper items being exempt I hope you're right. That being said Trump is not the kind of guy to leave money on the table.  A few years back I saw a survey that stated 90% of items sold on eBay were under $30 in value.

[chicweb]

At this point, it seem Trump is using Tarif as a negotiation tactic.

What he doesn't seem to understand is with international politic, trust is very important. The more he will use tarif as a scare tactic, more countries will diversify their relations and the USA will lose a lot of business partners with time.

Just heard a news that it might be pushed back to march with the possibility to ask for exceptions... We will see tomorrow. But the thing is, it doesn't matter anymore. He already hurted the USA reputation worldwide politically.

Things will change no matter what.

Let's hope eBay will implement those fees (if they are coming, one day) directly in checkout. That will eliminate many problems and also show the USA customers directly what tarif on import means to the end-users.

Personnally, I will still ship to the States.  It is clear in my listings that the customers are responsible for duties, import fees, etc. It is also in eBay's documentation that the seller CANNOT add those fees to the prices or in the shipping.

https://www.ebay.ca/help/selling/fees-credits-invoices/taxes-import-charges?id=4121

"Buyers are responsible for paying import charges. If you offer international shipping, you can't include these costs in the item's purchase and shipping price. Make sure to let international buyers know this in your listings."

[intimewithmusic]

The title is "CLICK BAIT". It would be interesting to hear if you're making changes based on your niche or waiting until March when;

March 1 FV fees rise a little but it's a little on the top plus tariffs for Canada's US friends. Maybe they will exclude items that can't be made in the USA like collectibles.

March 1 Trump says he'll define his tariffs. He's already said that once and he retracted that today. 

Then there's our own government. Between now and then anything can happen. Even Singh is flip- flopping.

 Canada Post can strike come May.

Then... summertime.  

[mrdutch1001]

"He already hurted the USA reputation worldwide politically".

yeppers!>#1 for stupidity LOL! #1 for bullying! #1 for lying to the USA citizens, but still looking to be #1 first Dictator for USA!

[lotzofuniquegoodies]

---

@intimewithmusic wrote:

   Apparently Trump, his complete administration representing our American customers are following through on their threat.

   After a long heart to heart, and a generous period of considerance afforded to Mr. Trump, as of February 1, 2025 no sales of our historic music will cross our Canada USA border.

  At this time no other global countries are effected other than the United States of America. Music is universal. No politician should have control over who can afford it's heritage.

  InTimeWithMusic

---

In a distant land far far away back in the time of Nafta there was a thing called a COA - Certicate of Origin. Applicable to manufacturers and distributors. 

Jump ahead to USMCA the system suddenly changed.

No, under the USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement), a specific "Certificate of Origin" form is not required; instead, a minimum set of data elements must be provided to claim preferential treatment, which can be included on a commercial invoice or other documentation, meaning that the traditional "Certificate of Origin" is not used as it was under NAFTA. 

Per USMCA Annex 5-A, the data elements are: 

1. Importer, Exporter, or Producer Certification of Origin 
2. Certifier 
3. Exporter 
4. Producer 
5. Importer 

For reference:

https://www.cbp.gov/trade/priority-issues/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/USMCA/FAQs#:~:text=....

1. Description and HS Classification of the Good 
2. Origin Criteria 
3. Blanket Period (if applicable) 
4. Authorized Signature and Date 

Jump ahead to this LTEUTSBIADJT (Copyright pending) - Let's tariff everything under the sun because I am Donald J Trump compared to the former  USMCA/Nafta prior arrangements thrown to curb.  For your average person (Who has no access to that needed info) sending stuff from A to B - B to A  (Can-USA/USA-Can) will make the process a nightmare. I guess there will be no loophole for "Preferencial treatment" unless you count energy if that happens?

[intimewithmusic]

Thanks for the response @marnotom! 

 I agree. It's complex. It's different for all of us.

To be honest I base my decision on whether it's better to sell online or work a part time job in the paint department at Home Depot. I'm also a retired painting contractor. We have a construction boom going on in Kelowna at this time.  The part time pay at HD is better or I could instruct. 

 eBay is more fun and I enjoy my musical customers, most of whom are American. For me, at this time, it's a tough call.

I just wish the fuss was over and selling online was clear. 

[chicweb]

Personnally, I'm still dealing with the Canada Post new prices for lettermail.

Trying some discounts to test some middle ground between clicks/sales vs competitions.

For low value items, this is not that simple.

For the tariff, at least, there's nothing I can do. So I will not focus on it at all. Just keep doing my things as usual. Might lose US customers, but that's not a big part of my market anyway. I focus on Canada first.

[intimewithmusic]

Hi

   You're fortunate to have the domestic sales. I was closed for a month during the mail strike. I just got an email from eBay saying I have until March 1 to build my US sales or they will take away my top Rated Seller discount on FV fees.

  I've never used lettermail. Everything is tracked which might explain the low domestic sales. It's much cheaper for me to ship to Florida from BC than Montreal. The Canada Post discount is another mystery though. Ebay just referred to it as "temporary".

 I lot up my low value items. I try to keep the weight under certain thresholds. IE: 2 Cassettes in a bubble mailer with a cardboard insert comes in under 200 grams = Expedited Lite.

  As a teenager I worked on an ICBC salvage lot. The smashed cars that came in were auctioned in groups of 3. Usually there were 2 low value cars and 1 good one in the lot. It seems to work as long as you keep the tracked shipping cost lower than the value of the lot.

[intimewithmusic]

Ha ha... don't get me started on energy. The whole band has to play that song, not just the singer... 

[intimewithmusic]

" Let's hope eBay will implement those fees (if they are coming, one day) directly in checkout. That will eliminate many problems and also show the USA customers directly what tarif on import means to the end-users."

I'm glad you picked this out of the mix. I have nothing to add. You said it perfectly!

"Personnally, I will still ship to the States.  It is clear in my listings that the customers are responsible for duties, import fees, etc. It is also in eBay's documentation that the seller CANNOT add those fees to the prices or in the shipping."

Most people don't read the duties disclaimers in our listings. Contrary to the click bait in this title I have to sell to the US or not sell at all. that said it only works for me if my buyer is happy with the price.  If not "exclusion" is automatic. I'm currently as streamlined as possible. No one is going to pay an additional 25 % for my items.

As @lotzofuniquegoodies points out, "What about returns from the US where tariffs have been charged? " The buyer will need to get a refund from both the border and eBay. If it's completed by  eBay things are simpler if they can make correct tax and FVfee adjustments. It's likely they will add the FV on the tariff. I'm not sure if they could recieve a commision if they were to collect it. they would be saving customs a lot of work. Many people are unaware the provinces pay the PST remitters a % commision for collecting and remit the PST. 

[chicweb]

I'm not sure about the border's refund. I don't think it's possible to refund those fees?

This would not be on the seller's side anyway. We did not charge the import fees, we have nothing to do with it. The customers must ask their own governement, they are the one charging them those fees.

If ebay charges them the fee, then, they take care of this part of the refund ? I don't know, it's on their side.

I guess It's the same with refund/return and taxes. eBay take care of everything... Even if you partial refund, eBay will partial refund taxes.

[visual-sound]

Personally, I think you are getting worked up about nothing. I higely doubt that there will be tarriffs added to items sold on EBay. Instead of getting your obviously "liberal" panties in a knot, just relax and take a wait and see attitude.  

[intimewithmusic]

Hi @visual-sound  Thank you for your input.

As has been pointed out in the various threads it will affect most of us in different ways. No harm in preparing.

If you don't believe tariffs and De minimus changes will affect online sellers you could read the article " Five Trade Issues for Online Sellers in 2025". It's in the most recent edition of Ecommerce Bytes. The article is written for US sellers (not canadians) but it identifies areas that will affect online sellers.  

The concern is not totally about tariffs and Deminimus. It's also about preparing unique business models to weather a possible recession. Based on a quick look at your widgets you might be okay selling home entertainment in the domestic Canadian market. those of us who depend on the US have quite a different perspective. 

[marnotom!]

What I suspect is going to annoy some if not many American collectors of memorabilia, pop culture-related items, etc. is finding that they're blocked from purchasing from Canadian sellers who are selling mostly American-produced items in the first place.  That is, if they can find the listings.