My experience with Black Hawk Japan post tariffs and de minimis exemption

[HKSpeed]

This was my first time ordering from Japan. I ordered a Spoon Sports shift knob from Black Hawk. I paid for the cheapest/slowest shipping option.

I paid $94 total. I would have paid approximately $13 less (after California sales tax) had I bought it locally and picked up 5 miles from my house.

What I paid Black Hawk

What I paid UPS

I don't understand how the $21 duty (tax/tariff) was determined.

• $21 of $39 (knob price) is 53%
• $21 of $59 (knob + shipping) is 35%

Tariff on Japanese auto parts is 15%. UPS and the US government are making money.

 

[CivR]

It's funny because I spent like $1900 4 weeks or so ago and paid zero tariff. A couple of days ago I just put in another order, and I got an email from BlackHawk stating that I will have to pay 20% tariffs to the shipping company. Obviously, this whole system is very hit and miss and not consistent at all.

 

[nashville]

thanks for this.

meanwhile you have companies *cough ICB Cough* charging tarrifs on parts theyve had in stock for YEARS

 

[coldradio1]

Yeah. UPS is absolutely pocketing a ton of cash simply because they can. They can hold your package hostage for as long as they want. It’s messed up.

 

[Superhatch]

Companies will exploit changes in market forces whenever possible, this is literally built into our economic system, and you should expect it every time. The people making the market turbulent intentionally through policy are at the root of these issues though. Something to keep in mind.

 

[Chilly613]

I bought front and rear Rigid Collars and the Honda JDM Euro Horns for the FL5 from Black Hawk Japan a couple weeks ago. Even with the custom fees/tariffs, buying through Black Hawk, it was still a little cheaper than buying the Rigid Collars from Spoon USA and then having to source a US seller for the Euro horns or even aftermarket horns.

You just have to pick and choose and weigh the costs if it’s worth the additional fees. For me, yes it was. While it was not an overwhelming amount, it was still less. I do agree that the amount for the fees doesn’t make sense.

This would've been the cost from Spoon USA for the Rigid Collars alone, I may be able to save on shipping since their shop is local to me, but even then Black Hawk would've still been cheaper.

 

[nashville]

Companies will exploit changes in market forces whenever possible, this is literally built into our economic system, and you should expect it every time. The people making the market turbulent intentionally through policy are at the root of these issues though. Something to keep in mind.

They only exploit it when it’s within their favor. In hopes the consumer doesn’t catch on.

 

[MooMoo]

From what I read is that there are extra tariffs on metals. Since knob is alum you likely got hit with those tariffs.

Same with brake pads someone paid a crazy amount of tariffs because metal has extra tariff.

Don't quote me on this but it does seem to make sense and I remember our great leader was talking about tariffs on metals.

 

[RODSCIVIC]

Tariffs are weird. My Blitz front lip was delivered aster paying $65 in tariffs. The front accessory pieces were delivered without tariffs being paid.

 

[HKSpeed]

From what I read is that there are extra tariffs on metals. Since knob is alum you likely got hit with those tariffs.

Same with brake pads someone paid a crazy amount of tariffs because metal has extra tariff.

Don't quote me on this but it does seem to make sense and I remember our great leader was talking about tariffs on metals.

I probably got hit with an additional aluminum tariff. I wonder what the tariff is for the plastic version of the Spoon knob.

 

[HKSpeed]

My experience makes me wonder if Go Tuning (official USA Spoon distributer) arbitrarily increased prices of US stock by 15% to reflect the Japan tariff. Items that were in the country before tariffs took effect. Screenshot from Spoon USA/Go Tuning's site of the same knob below:

Last year I considered buying the Spoon knob domestically. I remember it cost approximately $65. Instead I bought a similarly priced Skunk2 weight knob. The Spoon knob now costs 15% more. Same total price at Evasive, who gets the knob from Go Tuning. No aluminum tariff because the item was already in the USA?

This reminds me of what economists said about washing machine tariffs from the first Trump administration; which averaged $75 on imported washing machines. Economists wrote American washing machine producers raised prices just below imported prices; $50 for example. The end result is consumers paid more for washing machines, imported or domestic.

 

[TW00Si]

To me, companies like ICB charging tariffs on all products including what’s already in inventory is sh!tty. But I think across the board these companies are getting screwed for getting new inventory. There’s that risk, new inventory with higher price might not move as well. At the end of the day, these tariffs suck for our community.

 

[EJHonda]

Sounds like chaos at UPS: https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-i...ffected-by-delays-due-to-documentation-issues

 

[curtisawa]

This was my first time ordering from Japan. I ordered a Spoon Sports shift knob from Black Hawk. I paid for the cheapest/slowest shipping option.

I paid $94 total. I would have paid approximately $13 less (after California sales tax) had I bought it locally and picked up 5 miles from my house.

What I paid Black Hawk

What I paid UPS

I don't understand how the $21 duty (tax/tariff) was determined.

• $21 of $39 (knob price) is 53%
• $21 of $59 (knob + shipping) is 35%

Tariff on Japanese auto parts is 15%. UPS and the US government are making money.

my understanding from work is it doesn’t matter what country it’s shipped from, it’s where it’s manufactured. IE, part made in China shipped from Canada, you pay the Chinese rate.

 

[MooMoo]

Sounds like chaos at UPS: https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-i...ffected-by-delays-due-to-documentation-issues

I can only imagine. Holy shit.


I know Europe is straight up not shipping to the US. I have tried to buy a few things and sellers telling me they are not sending stuff here right now.,

What.... a.... fking... mess

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