I worked with a lot of ecomm and especially crowdfunded companies that shipped to 100+ countries. Outside of the US, most consumers expect to have to pay import fees as a separate line item.
But this is new for US consumers. My hope is that US companies will add temporary price increases if they can't eat the tariffs in their existing margins and then reduce when tariffs are reduced. But my guess is that most companies will increase prices, blame the tariffs (rightfully so), but then not fully reduce prices if/when the tariffs decrease.
It's similar to what happened with tipping for takeout food during Covid. It's now a permanent tax.
> Outside of the US, most consumers expect to have to pay import fees as a separate line item.
Only if you buy from a foreign store directly which is relatively niche. It's much more common for an importer to pay the duties and then put the product in local stores.
Buying from a foreign store is not niche at all. I think it's insanely common. I think most people do it multiple times a year. Why would you think it's niche?
Part of the reason it's relatively niche is because people did it once, then didn't like the surprise customs bill that arrived. (Or they heard about this from a friend/colleague.)
But this is new for US consumers. My hope is that US companies will add temporary price increases if they can't eat the tariffs in their existing margins and then reduce when tariffs are reduced. But my guess is that most companies will increase prices, blame the tariffs (rightfully so), but then not fully reduce prices if/when the tariffs decrease.
It's similar to what happened with tipping for takeout food during Covid. It's now a permanent tax.