TARIFFS AND THE SKATE INDUSTRY

[Too Frank To Fred]

For sure. And hard to believe DLX would support a MAGA that hard, if that was indeed the case...

[Osage]

For sure. And hard to believe DLX would support a MAGA that hard, if that was indeed the case...

  Maybe they just found out like the rest of us.

[Too Frank To Fred]

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For sure. And hard to believe DLX would support a MAGA that hard, if that was indeed the case...

[close]

  Maybe they just found out like the rest of us.

Doubtful to be honest. BBS and DLX have had a super close relationship for a long time.

[LA Native]

It read very much like "Although it will be really shitty for just about everyone else, it works for me so I'm down"

[gumsole]

It read very much like "Although it will be really shitty for just about everyone else, it works for me so I'm down"

I mean he did answer the questions asked. Everyone is going to be opinionated but if you run a business that doesn't source from China then how else would it need to be worded?

It's like asking a vegan if meat prices go up will that affect their spending at a grocery store...

[Mongo Lloyd]

I’m glad I’m not the only who was rubbed the wrong way by the BBS rep’s comments.

Kind of a bummer as a BBS 8.3 is my jam.

Also, props to Dustin at Rapid for speaking the gospel.

[TwisT]

It read very much like "Although it will be really shitty for just about everyone else, it works for me so I'm down"

I mean, I don’t  know where you get the “i’m down” interpretation from. He just points out that in his specific case he’s positioned to benefit and that others may be screwed. Which is just a fact

you all are reading too much into it

[Mongo Lloyd]

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It read very much like "Although it will be really shitty for just about everyone else, it works for me so I'm down"

[close]

I mean, I don’t  know where you get the “i’m down” interpretation from. He just points out that in his specific case he’s positioned to benefit and that others may be screwed. Which is just a fact

you all are reading too much into it

If someone minces words, it’s on them.

We don’t exactly live in a time in this very moment where things should be left to interpretation.

[Too Frank To Fred]

I certainly did not read enough into this to warrant any form of boycott yet.

[BartHarleyJarvis]

Big
Beautiful
Skateboard manufacturer

[LA Native]

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It read very much like "Although it will be really shitty for just about everyone else, it works for me so I'm down"

[close]

I mean he did answer the questions asked. Everyone is going to be opinionated but if you run a business that doesn't source from China then how else would it need to be worded?

It's like asking a vegan if meat prices go up will that affect their spending at a grocery store...

Ok, ok. Thanks, I see your point. Hard to isolate anything nowadays with all the insanity. The line of literal truth and opinion is quite blurry nowadays. Open to hearing everyone's thoughts

[steve]

y'all might feel better if you mail me all those iced up BBS decks. get going before the USPS is done for.

Might as well throw all your NB# in there for me too, since old Jim Davis goes that way too.

[Big Baby Jesus]

Dude from BBS definitely lives in Huntington, drives a raptor and has a thin blue line sticker.

[gumsole]

All you guys that want to judge someone because he states the tariffs doesn't hurt his business needs to read this article from 2012 about Grant Burns. He's been against working with China well before Trump. He did the exact opposite of what Trump wants to do with US manufacturing as he moved BBS from California to Mexico.

Again, this man answered a question he was asked plain and simple. He secured himself financially by not having to deal with China since 2004.

https://money.cnn.com/2012/02/03/smallbusiness/us_manufacturing/index.htm

[Made In China]

Rapid Skateshop keeping it real. I fuck with that shop heavily since they're in my partner's hometown, which is a notoriously Republican leaning place. They just did this big fundraiser for a local woman who runs a little snack cart and got harassed/assaulted by an old white karen.   

[TwisT]

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It read very much like "Although it will be really shitty for just about everyone else, it works for me so I'm down"

[close]

I mean, I don’t  know where you get the “i’m down” interpretation from. He just points out that in his specific case he’s positioned to benefit and that others may be screwed. Which is just a fact

you all are reading too much into it

[close]

If someone minces words, it’s on them.

We don’t exactly live in a time in this very moment where things should be left to interpretation.

What words did he mince!?!? He said that the trump tariffs work in his favor. He’s in a good position. Those making other products are probably screwed. And the tariffs may not last.

BBS MANUFACTURING
MEXICO

“Tariffs won’t affect our business, because we manufacture in Mexico. And we’re part of the USMCA [A free trade agreement between Mexico, Canada and the US]. All of our raw materials come from the US, virtually 99% of them. Our wood comes from Wisconsin, our glue comes from Ohio. Our lacquer comes from Southern California. The only thing that comes from outside of the United States of America is the pigment that we use to dye the wood. And, for the most part, it’s the same thing for the trucks and wheels that we produce.

So in my specific case, what Trump wants to do with bringing manufacturing back, it’s going to work. Even though we produce in Mexico, I buy literally 100% of my raw materials from the United States. So, it will bring up employment here. If due to tariffs things become more expensive to make in China, it will improve manufacturing in the United States.

For other brands in the industry, things are going to go up. Certain products more than others. The cheap completes, those will go up in price. Those are 100% made in China. Around 30% of the high end decks [the decks you pick off the wall] are made in China, so some of them will go up. Around 50-60% of trucks are made in China, so some of those brands will go up.

Shoes are going to go up, backpacks are going to go up. T-shirts maybe not as much because I think a lot of them are produced in North America. Apparel, the people that source soft goods are probably struggling quite a bit. But that’s not my world, so I can’t speak for them.

But, I don’t think there’s going to be 145% tariff on China forever. Things will shift.”
– Grant Burns

I'll gladly take an L, but I'm not seeing a problem. Please point it out to me.

[LA Native]

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It read very much like "Although it will be really shitty for just about everyone else, it works for me so I'm down"

[close]

I mean, I don’t  know where you get the “i’m down” interpretation from. He just points out that in his specific case he’s positioned to benefit and that others may be screwed. Which is just a fact

you all are reading too much into it

[close]

If someone minces words, it’s on them.

We don’t exactly live in a time in this very moment where things should be left to interpretation.

[close]

What words did he mince!?!? He said that the trump tariffs work in his favor. He’s in a good position. Those making other products are probably screwed. And the tariffs may not last.

Expand Quote

BBS MANUFACTURING
MEXICO

“Tariffs won’t affect our business, because we manufacture in Mexico. And we’re part of the USMCA [A free trade agreement between Mexico, Canada and the US]. All of our raw materials come from the US, virtually 99% of them. Our wood comes from Wisconsin, our glue comes from Ohio. Our lacquer comes from Southern California. The only thing that comes from outside of the United States of America is the pigment that we use to dye the wood. And, for the most part, it’s the same thing for the trucks and wheels that we produce.

So in my specific case, what Trump wants to do with bringing manufacturing back, it’s going to work. Even though we produce in Mexico, I buy literally 100% of my raw materials from the United States. So, it will bring up employment here. If due to tariffs things become more expensive to make in China, it will improve manufacturing in the United States.

For other brands in the industry, things are going to go up. Certain products more than others. The cheap completes, those will go up in price. Those are 100% made in China. Around 30% of the high end decks [the decks you pick off the wall] are made in China, so some of them will go up. Around 50-60% of trucks are made in China, so some of those brands will go up.

Shoes are going to go up, backpacks are going to go up. T-shirts maybe not as much because I think a lot of them are produced in North America. Apparel, the people that source soft goods are probably struggling quite a bit. But that’s not my world, so I can’t speak for them.

But, I don’t think there’s going to be 145% tariff on China forever. Things will shift.”
– Grant Burns

[close]

I'll gladly take an L, but I'm not seeing a problem. Please point it out to me.

Pretty sure he meant me. Also, we are in a time where this statement isolated is straightforward, but comes with an immense amount of baggage.

[ToriNoFuji]

Big
Beautiful
Skateboard manufacturer

Boomer
Bull
Shit

[Mongo Lloyd]

@LA Native

No, I was referring to the BBS rep.

Slap Now pretty much got me covered in his take.

[Sedition]

“Grant Smith is the sole owner of BBS. They are registered in San Diego County but do a lot of political donations to Orange County which is HEAVILY Trump. There is a 2012 article where he is quoted about moving his operations to Mexico. He gave the same lip service to US manufacturing but obviously will go where he gets the best tax deal.”

 -Friend who did some research

[neonbrown]

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It read very much like "Although it will be really shitty for just about everyone else, it works for me so I'm down"

[close]

I mean, I don’t  know where you get the “i’m down” interpretation from. He just points out that in his specific case he’s positioned to benefit and that others may be screwed. Which is just a fact

you all are reading too much into it

[close]

If someone minces words, it’s on them.

We don’t exactly live in a time in this very moment where things should be left to interpretation.

[close]

What words did he mince!?!? He said that the trump tariffs work in his favor. He’s in a good position. Those making other products are probably screwed. And the tariffs may not last.

Expand Quote

BBS MANUFACTURING
MEXICO

“Tariffs won’t affect our business, because we manufacture in Mexico. And we’re part of the USMCA [A free trade agreement between Mexico, Canada and the US]. All of our raw materials come from the US, virtually 99% of them. Our wood comes from Wisconsin, our glue comes from Ohio. Our lacquer comes from Southern California. The only thing that comes from outside of the United States of America is the pigment that we use to dye the wood. And, for the most part, it’s the same thing for the trucks and wheels that we produce.

So in my specific case, what Trump wants to do with bringing manufacturing back, it’s going to work. Even though we produce in Mexico, I buy literally 100% of my raw materials from the United States. So, it will bring up employment here. If due to tariffs things become more expensive to make in China, it will improve manufacturing in the United States.

For other brands in the industry, things are going to go up. Certain products more than others. The cheap completes, those will go up in price. Those are 100% made in China. Around 30% of the high end decks [the decks you pick off the wall] are made in China, so some of them will go up. Around 50-60% of trucks are made in China, so some of those brands will go up.

Shoes are going to go up, backpacks are going to go up. T-shirts maybe not as much because I think a lot of them are produced in North America. Apparel, the people that source soft goods are probably struggling quite a bit. But that’s not my world, so I can’t speak for them.

But, I don’t think there’s going to be 145% tariff on China forever. Things will shift.”
– Grant Burns

[close]

I'll gladly take an L, but I'm not seeing a problem. Please point it out to me.

[close]

Smells like a Trump supporter to me. Always making things just vague enough to leave room for deniability without saying the quiet part out loud. Bunch of absolute pussies.

This is borderline Trump Derangement Syndrome.

[neonbrown]

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It read very much like "Although it will be really shitty for just about everyone else, it works for me so I'm down"

[close]

I mean, I don’t  know where you get the “i’m down” interpretation from. He just points out that in his specific case he’s positioned to benefit and that others may be screwed. Which is just a fact

you all are reading too much into it

[close]

If someone minces words, it’s on them.

We don’t exactly live in a time in this very moment where things should be left to interpretation.

[close]

What words did he mince!?!? He said that the trump tariffs work in his favor. He’s in a good position. Those making other products are probably screwed. And the tariffs may not last.

Expand Quote

BBS MANUFACTURING
MEXICO

“Tariffs won’t affect our business, because we manufacture in Mexico. And we’re part of the USMCA [A free trade agreement between Mexico, Canada and the US]. All of our raw materials come from the US, virtually 99% of them. Our wood comes from Wisconsin, our glue comes from Ohio. Our lacquer comes from Southern California. The only thing that comes from outside of the United States of America is the pigment that we use to dye the wood. And, for the most part, it’s the same thing for the trucks and wheels that we produce.

So in my specific case, what Trump wants to do with bringing manufacturing back, it’s going to work. Even though we produce in Mexico, I buy literally 100% of my raw materials from the United States. So, it will bring up employment here. If due to tariffs things become more expensive to make in China, it will improve manufacturing in the United States.

For other brands in the industry, things are going to go up. Certain products more than others. The cheap completes, those will go up in price. Those are 100% made in China. Around 30% of the high end decks [the decks you pick off the wall] are made in China, so some of them will go up. Around 50-60% of trucks are made in China, so some of those brands will go up.

Shoes are going to go up, backpacks are going to go up. T-shirts maybe not as much because I think a lot of them are produced in North America. Apparel, the people that source soft goods are probably struggling quite a bit. But that’s not my world, so I can’t speak for them.

But, I don’t think there’s going to be 145% tariff on China forever. Things will shift.”
– Grant Burns

[close]

I'll gladly take an L, but I'm not seeing a problem. Please point it out to me.

[close]

Smells like a Trump supporter to me. Always making things just vague enough to leave room for deniability without saying the quiet part out loud. Bunch of absolute pussies.

[close]

This is borderline Trump Derangement Syndrome.

[close]

That’s not a real thing.

I hear it'll be in the DSM-6.

[Mongo Lloyd]

Imagine still using the term “TDS” after America has fully unmasked itself as a fascist autocratic oligarchy.

[neonbrown]

Imagine still using the term “TDS” after America has fully unmasked itself as a fascist autocratic oligarchy.

Yes, unmasked itself.

[nah-nah-nah]

I really don’t see how the markets outside of the US will continue to support Amerikan brands in all this. There is no trust on the sitting administration and with added costs the goods coming out of the US will increase, making the brands obsolete. It’s not a bad thing though, all regions need to build their local scenes stronger. 

Buy local, support local and fuck MAGA.

[roba]

i've been skating locally made decks for the last year and a half and i've been occassionally missing bbs. this article has made it easier for me not to.

shout out rapid skateshop

I really don’t see how the markets outside of the US will continue to support Amerikan brands in all this. There is no trust on the sitting administration and with added costs the goods coming out of the US will increase, making the brands obsolete. It’s not a bad thing though, all regions need to build their local scenes stronger. 

Buy local, support local and fuck MAGA.

does anybody here have actual knowledge in tax/tariff laws? i'm not trying to be ironic or anything if it comes across that way, i'm just wondering how's all that gonna go here in europe and pretty much everywhere else outside of the states. so if say a dlx is manufacturing boards in china, if they (as an american company that pays taxes in the US) ship boards from china straight to europe, without them going through the USA - will a shipment like this get hit with the tariffs? would they have to start another company over there to avoid all the US bullshit?

[JohnOakley]

I really don’t see how the markets outside of the US will continue to support Amerikan brands in all this. There is no trust on the sitting administration and with added costs the goods coming out of the US will increase, making the brands obsolete. It’s not a bad thing though, all regions need to build their local scenes stronger. 

Buy local, support local and fuck MAGA.

Outside of America you won't find many skate shops and businesses who are still super stoked on working with your favourite US brands due to the prices, that by the way have been going up steadily over the last few years already, forget life after the new tariffs. Outside of the US most of your "top tier" brands like Hockey, DLX, etc are already so much more expensive than the euro brands that they're just not selling very well any more.

Obvs to say but most of this talk about rising skate prices in the US is old news to the rest of the world. Those recent pieces by QS and Jenkem mostly only dealt with US companies. Ask a skate shop in France what they think of selling FA or AH right now.

[Mbrimson88]

does anybody here have actual knowledge in tax/tariff laws? i'm not trying to be ironic or anything if it comes across that way, i'm just wondering how's all that gonna go here in europe and pretty much everywhere else outside of the states. so if say a dlx is manufacturing boards in china, if they (as an american company that pays taxes in the US) ship boards from china straight to europe, without them going through the USA - will a shipment like this get hit with the tariffs? would they have to start another company over there to avoid all the US bullshit?

My understanding is that there is only a tariff on goods coming into the USA from other countries.

Anything that comes straight from China to AU or EU or anywhere else doesn't have any other associated costs, so is tariff free, in that sense, as well as skipping the middle distribution point at DLX in SF, which I guess is why they set up that line of production to streamline things.

Seems like it is a viable solution anyway - boards get here sooner and board prices are kept down, or at least lower than the comparable BBS boards when looking at wholesale prices.

[rawbertson.]

sounds like it's about time to give those Control boards another go...

[Mbrimson88]

I mean he did answer the questions asked. Everyone is going to be opinionated but if you run a business that doesn't source from China then how else would it need to be worded?

It's like asking a vegan if meat prices go up will that affect their spending at a grocery store...

Ok, ok. Thanks, I see your point. Hard to isolate anything nowadays with all the insanity. The line of literal truth and opinion is quite blurry nowadays. Open to hearing everyone's thoughts

I think both HLC and BBS are almost in the same position, regardless of how they might come across.  Generator the same for that matter, as they get everything from BBS as well.

Bottom line is anyone who has anything that is included in the current deal with made in USA (or very close to it) might not be as worried as others who are going to feel the sting of importing product from elsewhere, especially China if this goes on for much longer and even more so if everything they distribute comes from China too.

Living in Australia, I am just looking in from the outside with all of this, very much open mouthed with my nose pressed up against the glass, so really I can't say a single thing, but I don't believe for a minute that it will not have a flow on effect for us here as well, in terms of prices and other things.