Boots & Sabers

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Owen

Everything but tech support.
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2146, 20 Aug 18

Tariffs Cometh

Earlier this year, I was in the market for a new bicycle. An acquaintance and avid cyclist recommended bikesdirect.com to me. After doing some investigating, I ended up buying a new bike on the site. Although the site is spartan, the selection, prices, and customer service were excellent. I was very happy with the experience and really enjoyed my new bike.

Today, I got this email from them:

bikesdirecttariffs

Here are the notes from the email:

1) Today Several Bicycle Industry Experts Testified in Washington On the Increased Tariff on Complete Bicycles, Bicycle Parts and Accessories

2) 94% of Bicycles Sold in USA are from China, 97% of Kids Bikes are from China (most Bikesdirect Models are Not made in China)

3) Added 25% Tariff on Almost ALL eBikes Goes Into Effect August 23 Thursday. Many eBike Brands Are Increasing Prices Thursday (Example – one popular model going from $3500 MSRP to $5,000 MSRP)

4) Most Bicycle Distributors Are Not Running End of Year Discounts Due to Upcoming Increased Cost of 2019’s.

5) Alternative Factories in Other Countries Currently Booked To Near Capacity (Likely Bicycle Shortages Last Quarter of 2018)

6) NO BICYCLE COMPANY makes enough money to absorb a 25% increase in Cost. (However, Bikesdirect will always price bicycles below anyone in the industry)

7) Bikesdirect Will Strive to Hold Current Sale Prices Until The Bleeding Becomes Too Much To Bear

Tariffs are damaging our economy and costing Americans. If you won’t oppose tariffs because they are poor economic policy, think of the kids! They are all going to get even fatter without affordable bikes.

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2146, 20 August 2018

10 Comments

  1. Kevin Scheunemann

    Fat kids argument against tariffs, I like that argument!

  2. MjM

    Kids need a $5,000 bike?   The optimum word: eBikes.   Typical retailer using scare tactics and, apparently, ebike manufacturers bemoaning a 25% tariff while raising prices 42%.

     

  3. jjf

    Weird, I don’t see any names in this post.  Who proposed the tariffs, and what was the thought process used?

  4. dad29

    Doom, I tell you.  DOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!

    Who knows?  Maybe the Schwinn plant in Jefferson, WI., will begin hiring daddies and mommies at competitive wages so they can buy bikes for their own chilluns.

    US workers, US wages, US kiddies, US taxes paid!!!

    Nah.  That’s a losing proposition.  Oh, well.

  5. jjf

    “Who knows?”  Wow, such relativism.

    What’s next, no concern for the costs of universal health care?

  6. MjM

    US workers, US wages, US kiddies, US taxes paid!!!

    You betcha!  Contrast and compare:

    “Trump tariffs won’t bring back steel mills” – Baltimore Sun, March 2, 2018

    “US Steel CEO:  We’re reopening an idled plant and bringing back 500 jobs due to Trump Tariffs” – CNBC, March 7, 2018

     

  7. MjM

    Daddio sez: US workers, US wages, US kiddies, US taxes paid!!!

     

    You betcha!  Contrast and compare:

     

    Trump tariffs won’t bring back steel mills” – Baltimore Sun, March 2, 2018 *

     

    US Steel CEO:  We’re reopening an idled plant and bringing back 500 jobs due to Trump Tariffs” – CNBC, March 7, 2018 **

    800 jobs actually,  as USS is reopening a second blast furnace in Oct.

     

    * http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/editorial/bs-ed-0305-trump-steel-20180302-story.html)

    **https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/07/us-steel-reopening-plant-and-bringing-back-jobs-ceo-on-trump-tariffs.html

     

     

  8. dad29

    Yup.  Who knows??

  9. dad29

    USS is also going to slam $750 million or so into the Gary Works.

  10. MjM

    But… but… $5000 bikes are too expensive!   How will we ever survive?

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