Shutting Down Operations - Tariffs

Hi all,

I am currently shutting down operations while the tariff thing gets sorted. There are 33,000+ items in my eBay store. We gross around $300k annually across all sales platforms.

There is too much uncertainty regarding compliance. S/S+ goods are tariff free if CUSMA compliant? A flat fee of $80-$200 per package? CoO rate + rate tariffs? Proof of origin documentation? Shipping bonds required for entry?

Chit Chats is already having their B.C. and Alberta trucks rejected over primary customer de minimis issues.

I am shipping today’s orders and shutting everything down until there is more clarity. If if my packages are compliant, well it doesn’t matter because so many others will not be, which means trucks will be rejected.

Everything can change in a heartbeat, so let’s wait and see. I do not want to get caught up in fines and shipping rejections, similar to January’s debacle.

Good luck to all! Remember that this is all outside of our control … try and enjoy the last bit of Summer!
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Re: Shutting Down Operations - Tariffs

byto253
Community Member

I did last shipments today and did it through Canada Post to minimize the potential for truck turn backs or UPS wanting big fees paid on a return. 

 

I was already planning to shut down until January but the timing ends up being very fortunate!  I did push hard and moved out a lot of items the last month.  Most were not at max price compared to grinding out a listing but not heavily discounted, and they still had healthy margins.  

 

If I want to clear out stuff at heavily discounted prices, I will do that for Canadian buyers in the new year! 

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Re: Shutting Down Operations - Tariffs

Rather than closing, I have chosen to raise all of my prices substantially to counter this change. I doubt I will have many sales at the higher prices but that gives me the possibility to reduce my prices back to what they were prior if there is a reversal. I am also on vacation (time away) right now and will not sell anything at this time.
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Re: Shutting Down Operations - Tariffs

Good game. I followed your store often as a way to challenge my own. We saw your name come up in one of the websites you would source from occasionally and was impressed with the amount you were able to spend on some good looking gambles, it was a goal to get to that level.

I never got up to the gross sales that you’ve mentioned in your post but I had worked my way up to be on pace for about 50% of that this year.

I know it doesn’t mean a lot but you’ve definitely been an inspiration to an up and coming store in the same area as you.

I hope you continue to find success, and hope for all of our sakes that we get some level of reprieve from this hastily thrown together whirlwind of a change.

All the best to ya!
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Re: Shutting Down Operations - Tariffs

Thank you, Fruga!  Hang in there ... eventually they will come up with something and we will all get back to business!

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