We're guessing that you are unaware that most curling equipment is made in China, but unfortunately it is, and that means that much of what we sell is now subject to a punitive 10% tariff on goods of Chinese origin.
We are just as upset about this as you are, but unfortunately find ourselves completely at the mercy of this trade war. Since we are just a reseller, we don't ourselves choose where the goods are manufactured. Those decisions are made by the brands themselves.
We wish it was possible to simply absorb these extra costs but unfortunately it is just not possible. As a result, we've been forced to apply surcharges on some of our high volume inventory which passes the cost of the tariff onto the buyer.
We've been as selective as possible and have only applied these surcharges where absolutely necessary. Items which are not made in China, or which are discontinued (and thus will not be restocked) will not include any tariff surcharges.
In one small point of good news, the $800 tariff exclusion for small shipments has been restored and this means that we will be able to resume accepting orders for left handed and double gripper shoes. These items are low volume and we typically order them one at a time as needed.
We get it. This super stinks. We are ourselves deeply disturbed by the situation. We know you have questions, so we've attempted to answer a few of them below. If you have any questions or would like to discuss your options, please drop us an email at sales@dakotacurling.supplies or a call at 800-256-0009.
FAQ
Is there anyway I can get curling equipment without paying a tariff surcharge?
Yes, make your selections from our clearance inventory. We are not passing through any tariff surcharges on discontinued merchandise that will not be replenished.
In addition, there are a few items that are made in Canada or the USA (such as End Game Brooms and Goldline Regular Grippers) and these will not be charged the tariff fee.
We are also not currently passing through any tariff charges on curling pants, safety headgear, bags, and gifts and accessories.
What tariffs rates are you passing through and how did you determine them?
We are only passing through tariff surcharges on high volume, current model year items in the categories of Shoes, Brooms, Brush Pads, Grippers, and Gloves. We've taken the average value of items in those categories and calculated roughly a 5% surcharge on them. They are:
Shoes $15.00
Brooms $8.00
Glove $2.50
Grippers and Brush Pads $1.50
I'm super mad about this and don't think this is fair.
We completely agree with you and urge you to call and write your congressional representatives and ask them to take action to end this trade war.