TARIFFS AND THE SKATE INDUSTRY

[BALARGUE]

@roba
there are already and there will be new distribution routes to avoid tariffs

[nah-nah-nah]

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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?

[close]

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.

There’s ways for US companies to get a large part of the import tariff back when/if they re-export the product again, but that’s way above skate company knowledge so you won’t see that happening.

Generally US brands base their international pricing on US domestic pricing before giving distributors a discount. With this model the pricing will increase globally due to Trump. Brands who already drop ship to say Europe needs enough knowledge to set up an entity in the EU to get cost of goods down. Again way above skate brand knowledge so there’s only a few brands doing this on the hard goods side while apparel and footwear have been doing it for decades.

[Francis Xavier]

HLC is for sure MAGA
BBS...maybe, maybe not

[BALARGUE]

HLC is for sure MAGA lucky Trump got elected
BBS...maybe, maybe not

They made a ballsy move chosing to manufacture in the US though.
I don't know their views but at least they didn't wrote on paper Trump propaganda like Mr Burns.

[CossRooper]

Personally I think it's sick HLC have made moves to try and manufacture in Texas.

Obviously the tariffs are absolute no-logic, Ill advised, crazy person horseshit, but offshoring to China where there are fewer labor regulations and lower workers standards to cut costs is wack too. Especially if the business model is to ship Canadian maple from north america ACROSS THE OCEAN, have them pressed and printed in China, and ship the wood back to North America to be distributed. That is just incredibly wasteful and ridiculous on paper.

Basically what I'm saying is I'd pay more, way more, like $100, for a USA manufactured deck.

Chat, is it possible to be anti Trump but also pro US manufacturing?

Ten or so years ago, the coolest thing ever was Scumco, who bought boards pressed at Pennswood and hand-screened them in PA. I know they eventually moved to different manufacturing, but isn't having boards made like that still a cool possibility?

[layzieyez]

I’m interested to see how much smuggling will occur from the northern border into the United States.

How well patrolled is the northern border? Is it just the matter of setting up trebuchet to hurl products over fences?

[steve]

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HLC is for sure MAGA lucky Trump got elected
BBS...maybe, maybe not

[close]

They made a ballsy move chosing to manufacture in the US though.
I don't know their views but at least they didn't wrote on paper Trump propaganda like Mr Burns.

As an American, i read “made in the USA” or whatever HLC reiterated at least 2x in that piece, as a dog whistle at this point. Businesses and manufacturers head to Texas for its politics, low tax rates, and absence of strong labor laws/protections.

@CossRooper

You hit an important point regarding everything behind the origins of offshoring and “free” trade agreements that went down in the 90s.

[GreenLineAcid]

The orange doofus just said “the US doesn’t need anything Canada has”. So I guess that’s it for the Canadian hard rock maple. Going to get pricey fast.

[fulfillthedream]

Personally I think it's sick HLC have made moves to try and manufacture in Texas.

Obviously the tariffs are absolute no-logic, Ill advised, crazy person horseshit, but offshoring to China where there are fewer labor regulations and lower workers standards to cut costs is wack too. Especially if the business model is to ship Canadian maple from north america ACROSS THE OCEAN, have them pressed and printed in China, and ship the wood back to North America to be distributed. That is just incredibly wasteful and ridiculous on paper.

Basically what I'm saying is I'd pay more, way more, like $100, for a USA manufactured deck.

Chat, is it possible to be anti Trump but also pro US manufacturing?

Ten or so years ago, the coolest thing ever was Scumco, who bought boards pressed at Pennswood and hand-screened them in PA. I know they eventually moved to different manufacturing, but isn't having boards made like that still a cool possibility?

i think this is an old myth - i know china isnt the best but I lived there for a decade and soo many factory jobs are being outsourced to cheaper places due to the middle class in China expanding and the rise of AI/bots in factories.

[Mongo Lloyd]

The orange doofus just said “the US doesn’t need anything Canada has”. So I guess that’s it for the Canadian hard rock maple. Going to get pricey fast.

Yeah, American farmers definitely don’t need Canadian potash.

[TwisT]

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Personally I think it's sick HLC have made moves to try and manufacture in Texas.

Obviously the tariffs are absolute no-logic, Ill advised, crazy person horseshit, but offshoring to China where there are fewer labor regulations and lower workers standards to cut costs is wack too. Especially if the business model is to ship Canadian maple from north america ACROSS THE OCEAN, have them pressed and printed in China, and ship the wood back to North America to be distributed. That is just incredibly wasteful and ridiculous on paper.

Basically what I'm saying is I'd pay more, way more, like $100, for a USA manufactured deck.

Chat, is it possible to be anti Trump but also pro US manufacturing?

Ten or so years ago, the coolest thing ever was Scumco, who bought boards pressed at Pennswood and hand-screened them in PA. I know they eventually moved to different manufacturing, but isn't having boards made like that still a cool possibility?

[close]

i think this is an old myth - i know china isnt the best but I lived there for a decade and soo many factory jobs are being outsourced to cheaper places due to the middle class in China expanding and the rise of AI/bots in factories.

It varies, based mostly on rather or not the owner/management are scumbags.

[Jort250]

Canadian Pals, what can we expect boards from Deluxe/FA/Baker/whatever to run for going forwards? Up from 120 to 150 a board?

[Osage]

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The orange doofus just said “the US doesn’t need anything Canada has”. So I guess that’s it for the Canadian hard rock maple. Going to get pricey fast.

[close]

Yeah, American farmers definitely don’t need Canadian potash.

   Well, on the plus side, the Chinese no longer want our soy beans. By far the biggest thing we export to them.

[Mongo Lloyd]

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The orange doofus just said “the US doesn’t need anything Canada has”. So I guess that’s it for the Canadian hard rock maple. Going to get pricey fast.

[close]

Yeah, American farmers definitely don’t need Canadian potash.

[close]

   Well, on the plus side, the Chinese no longer want our soy beans. By far the biggest thing we export to them.

So much winning!

[Sizzla]

Yow, I nah here fi tell ya dat deh cow fat and dem sheep fluffy, nah nah but mi deh yah hold mi tongue fi too long bout politics weh gwaan inna di space.

From mi livity and how I trod, I tinks it clear seh I a free-minded rasta mon. Jah teach I tolerance, upliftment, an’ fi show love to all bredda and sista.

Mi nah follow di strict Bobo Ashanti doctrine weh come wid di hatred and homophobia and misogyny. Mi seh big nah tah dem, dat cyan nah work fi I.

Man haffi deal wid love, overstanding, not oppression.

In accordance wi dese principles, Jah guide I unto skateboarding—fi wha mi give tanks and praise fi everyday.

But now di orange-clad Babylon bwoy dem and him wicked policies a mash up i&i big ting, threaten dey longevity ah dey skateshops.

So mi cya stay silent nah mo. Blaze fyah pon Trump an dem bwoy weh stand wid dem oppressive ways! Sizzla seh i&i mus overcommand wicked and dey would catch at a straw if deh wa tah drown.

[globe fusion]

Canadian Pals, what can we expect boards from Deluxe/FA/Baker/whatever to run for going forwards? Up from 120 to 150 a board?

baker is already 130 lol so who knows, prob 150
FA was 145 but new ones seem to be 125

[alien porkchop]

Yow, I nah here fi tell ya dat deh cow fat and dem sheep fluffy, nah nah but mi deh yah hold mi tongue fi too long bout politics weh gwaan inna di space.

From mi livity and how I trod, I tinks it clear seh I a free-minded rasta mon. Jah teach I tolerance, upliftment, an’ fi show love to all bredda and sista.

Mi nah follow di strict Bobo Ashanti doctrine weh come wid di hatred and homophobia and misogyny. Mi seh big nah tah dem, dat cyan nah work fi I.

Man haffi deal wid love, overstanding, not oppression.

In accordance wi dese principles, Jah guide I unto skateboarding—fi wha mi give tanks and praise fi everyday.

But now di orange-clad Babylon bwoy dem and him wicked policies a mash up i&i big ting, threaten dey longevity ah dey skateshops.

So mi cya stay silent nah mo. Blaze fyah pon Trump an dem bwoy weh stand wid dem oppressive ways! Sizzla seh i&i mus overcommand wicked and dey would catch at a straw if deh wa tah drown.

you bring levity to a heavy world mr. Sizzla.

[TwisT]

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Canadian Pals, what can we expect boards from Deluxe/FA/Baker/whatever to run for going forwards? Up from 120 to 150 a board?

[close]

baker is already 130 lol so who knows, prob 150
FA was 145 but new ones seem to be 125

If a canada first head, wanted to avoid US brands in their setup, what would they ride?

[BALARGUE]

Studio is a great one to support

[yungtaco]

Canadian Pals, what can we expect boards from Deluxe/FA/Baker/whatever to run for going forwards? Up from 120 to 150 a board?

Can’t speak to Baker but I heard DLX can get shipped from Mexico to Supra dist in Vancouver to avoid tariffs. Right now most DLX decks are 105-140 depending on things like wheel wells, slicks, special shapes ect. and spits are 70-80. I work in skateboarding and people already complain about costs so the thought of it going up more is just sad. We use control for shop decks and price them at 60 right now they have some new shapes that are actually decent but still nothing like skating a fresh eagle.


If the dumbfucks tariff war continues I would think all Canadian distros will stop buying warehoused in the USA product and get it shipped directly from the source. Especially with China goods. Vancouver has a huge port that gets tons of containers from China so Centre dist for example should be able to import in there Indys/NHS stuff relatively problem free

[globe fusion]

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Canadian Pals, what can we expect boards from Deluxe/FA/Baker/whatever to run for going forwards? Up from 120 to 150 a board?

[close]

baker is already 130 lol so who knows, prob 150
FA was 145 but new ones seem to be 125

[close]

If a canada first head, wanted to avoid US brands in their setup, what would they ride?

studio/jenny or shop decks
studio decks are made in canada

classic griptape

don't think there's a good sub for wheels

rx bearings i guess lol

[GumOnMyGrip]

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Canadian Pals, what can we expect boards from Deluxe/FA/Baker/whatever to run for going forwards? Up from 120 to 150 a board?

[close]

baker is already 130 lol so who knows, prob 150
FA was 145 but new ones seem to be 125

[close]

If a canada first head, wanted to avoid US brands in their setup, what would they ride?

[close]

studio/jenny or shop decks
studio decks are made in canada

classic griptape

don't think there's a good sub for wheels

rx bearings i guess lol

Pylon
Skull Skates

[Kfresh]

L'Etat & Atlantic Aire are a few other Canadian board brands. Not sure about any trucks/wheels though.

[Jort250]

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Canadian Pals, what can we expect boards from Deluxe/FA/Baker/whatever to run for going forwards? Up from 120 to 150 a board?

[close]

Can’t speak to Baker but I heard DLX can get shipped from Mexico to Supra dist in Vancouver to avoid tariffs. Right now most DLX decks are 105-140 depending on things like wheel wells, slicks, special shapes ect. and spits are 70-80. I work in skateboarding and people already complain about costs so the thought of it going up more is just sad. We use control for shop decks and price them at 60 right now they have some new shapes that are actually decent but still nothing like skating a fresh eagle.


If the dumbfucks tariff war continues I would think all Canadian distros will stop buying warehoused in the USA product and get it shipped directly from the source. Especially with China goods. Vancouver has a huge port that gets tons of containers from China so Centre dist for example should be able to import in there Indys/NHS stuff relatively problem free

Cheers. Control boards are sick IMO, I had a few Chance boards back in the day and always had good experiences. I remember they were nice and crispy and easy to flip. If your shop is in Western Canada, I might be down to order a board. 

With an okay job and an eye for discounts, I don’t mind paying a bit more but I don’t envy board breakers or groms on tighter budgets.

[Sloppy Krooks]

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Canadian Pals, what can we expect boards from Deluxe/FA/Baker/whatever to run for going forwards? Up from 120 to 150 a board?

[close]

baker is already 130 lol so who knows, prob 150
FA was 145 but new ones seem to be 125

[close]

If a canada first head, wanted to avoid US brands in their setup, what would they ride?

Folk skateboards is a small press and shaper in Salmo, BC that makes boards for places like Skull Skates and does custom stuff

https://kingskateboard.com/blogs/features/35-years-of-shaping-skateboards-interview-with-shaper-andy-dobson-folk-skateboards

[Ghost Face]

I was sent this yesterday

If anyone can confirm that Skate1 has upped prices I'd be hugely grateful.

[TheLurper]

How long have Polar boards cost 73 dollars? I bought 2 for 80 dollars a year ago. They were on sale, but I don't think they were 45% off at the time. Were they?

I suppose it is time to buy wheels, bearings, bushings, an extra set of bearings, and maybe an extra set of trucks.

[neonbrown]

How long have Polar boards cost 73 dollars? I bought 2 for 80 dollars a year ago. They were on sale, but I don't think they were 45% off at the time. Were they?

I suppose it is time to buy wheels, bearings, bushings, an extra set of bearings, and maybe an extra set of trucks.

IMO the smart thing to do is to look for the good sales and stock up as a hedge. I personally took advantage of a Polar sale back in February to buy 4 decks with grip for $150, which at the rate I'm skating lately should last me until 2045.

[Osage]

I was sent this yesterday

If anyone can confirm that Skate1 has upped prices I'd be hugely grateful.

   I had a few things in my cart at 303, including a set of Reds. I just went to checkout and a couple days ago they were $19.95 and today they are $24.95. I just quickly looked around and a number of places seem to have raised their prices on Chinese Bones over the past couple days. Some places still have them between $17.95-$20.00 but I bet that changes quickly.

[TwisT]

I was looking at ML bearings this week when I saw first that price increase post on IG. Great bearings BTW. They were $10.50 from Skate One on Amazon. They are now $16.98. They are $17.95 on the skateone website. MiniLogo bearings for maybe a decade, have been $10 at bigger shops and 12-14 for smaller skate shops.