Let's see if we can keep this thread on topic.
Well, the policy makers have come up with a new word to describe the world's reaction to these tariffs - panican.
I'm going to turn that around. I've seen a better word to describe the policy makers themselves - moronican. Apparently, tonight, a 104% tariff will go into effect on China, because they dared to respond to the tariffs. Apparently, the world is supposed to just bend over and accept them.
Never mind the effect that this particular tariff is going to have on prices in the U.S. I've seen estimates of electronics such as iphones doubling or tripling in price.
And never mind the wiping out of retirement funds. Or savings in general. After all, what do the millionaires and billionaires in power care? Half of millions or billions is still quite a lot.
Sometimes I think the plans were drawn up on a napkin with sharpie and crayon while these guys were having lunch at their local Endangered Species Restaurant.
I predict, unless cooler heads prevail, there will be huge fallout everywhere, and in our particular instance, the Part 15 world. Virtually everything is made in China, even if it is assembled elsewhere. I already think transmitter prices are ridiculous, but given the small number sold, I can understand where they are today. In the future, if they go to multiple thousands of dollars, forget it.
And that's not taking into consideration the cost of station addons, such as monitors, compressors, processors, etc.
Only the big guys (and there really are no big guys, at least in our world), will be able to survive.
Well, the Procaster and the Decade is Canadian and even though Gerry(procaster) has the boards made in China there is no Candian tariffs on China so his costs shouldn't change. It's if he ships to the USA is where tariffs will raise the price. And thinking you can get one from a USA dealer, the dealer like Progressive Concepts gets then from Procaster so import duties will up the price.
But there's a grey area....does the tariff on China apply to a USA company that is in the USA but has a product made in China and then shipped back? As is the situation with most electronics.... computers, TVs, smartphones, appliances, even clothing....do you think Levis Jeans are made in the USA! Take a look at the labels on everything you are wearing.
Yup, make America great again, cause a depression, make things unaffordable, loose retirement savings, I guess America was great in the crash of 1929 that lasted through the 1930s and tariffs from what I read was a part of that, And that affected the whole world. But the rest of the world will not just lay down and take it. What did you think would happen?
It's been suggested that we...if you are in the USA, get the transmitter, processor, computer, now if you need it while current production runs are in stock.
How one man has the power to (a word I can't use here) up the world is beyond me.
The tariffs apply to any goods from China entering the U.S. That means everything that is manufactured in China, regardless of how it got there.
The White House is crowing that America will be rich again, but guess who pays the tariff - businesses who import goods, whether it be electronics or food. And guess who reimburses the businesses - the American consumer. They're a massive tax hike, regardless of how you spin them.
But what do you say to someone who just today stated that climate change is a good thing because it'll create more waterfront property.
Seems to me tariffs will have little if any effect on our hobby. Maybe it will result in the Procaster costing a little more to get across the border - but is that really so devastating?, will it really hurt their sales? How many have they sold in the last few years? How many has Rangemaster? Talking Houses (most of which come used from ebay). . How much bearing do you really believe tariffs are going to have on the part 15 broadcast hobby? I say none. I dont believe it's a valid concern.
When you talk about Part 15 transmitters they used to cost multiples of what they cost now and that's when it was a lot more popular than it is now.
@artisan-radio Yes it's a TAX. Already hitting some things in my area. Coffee, most of that usually from South American countries. But went up about $5 bucks a can.
I think covid did more damage to prices today than tarriffs ever will. All that money the government gave to citizens.. Myself I never received any of those $2,000 checks they gave away.. I didnt apply for them because I hadn't filed taxes in years and didn't think I would have been eligible.. how wrong I was... I know people who hadnt filed taxes in 10 years and still received $2,000 covid checks twice!
Anyway, all that crazy cash giveaway to millions of Americans is why groceries and such is so much more than it was a few years ago, and it's not going back down.
Tarriff concerns? meh.. it's a temporary thing that will last a couple years at most. - just a passing thing as far as I suspect.
@richpowers I disagree with you on that statement. Coffee and other items didn't increase by 50 % during covid. Maybe 5 -10% at most.
@wefr However much it was, the government made businesses shut down and gave all citizens money from nowhere to get them by.. and now we are paying for it.
@richpowers I disagree with you on that statement. Coffee and other items didn't increase by 50 % during covid. Maybe 5 -10% at most.
Not during covid, but now as a result of the business shutdowns and funneling cash to all individual citizens to compensate so many for basically not being not allowed work.. the whole thing was surreal to me and made things very difficult to survive for awhile... Now, from my view all groceries have gone up tremendously. Even a 16oz bottle of Coke is over $3... crazy. It's almost gotten to the point that it's cheaper to eat out every day than it is to go to the grocery store.
@wefr by the way, I never said anything about coffee going up 50%.. not sure where you got that..
I think covid did more damage to prices today than tarriffs ever will. All that money the government gave to citizens.. Myself I never received any of those $2,000 checks they gave away.. I didnt apply for them because I hadn't filed taxes in years and didn't think I would have been eligible.. how wrong I was... I know people who hadnt filed taxes in 10 years and still received $2,000 covid checks twice!
Anyway, all that crazy cash giveaway to millions of Americans is why groceries and such is so much more than it was a few years ago, and it's not going back down.
Tarriff concerns? meh.. it's a temporary thing that will last a couple years at most. - just a passing thing as far as I suspect.
Yes you did, and it can be taken that way. From the first sentence of the first paragragh. And pretty much the rest of your reply to my response, is hogwash.
@wefr Maybe.. I don't know, but I know survival was difficult for me during covid, and when those restrictions had eased up and I was began getting paychecks again the cost of groceries has increased noticeably for a week to week living.. and it's even higher now.
That much I know, and I do see the present economy issues as a result of the covid mess. Trump isn't helping it with his rash decisions, but I don't think he is the core cause of it.
@richpowers I think the covid affects had all but gone. I do know now for fact it's nothing to do with covid. It didn't start until after Jan 21 and tariff man. And that's all from me on this.