Hi everyone,

We were encouraged to see the news of a temporary reduction of China tariffs to 30% for 90 days, while the U.S. and China continue negotiations. While this is a big drop from the most recent tariff rate of 145%, the 30% tariff is still higher than the 20% we were working hard to address back in March. This tariff action is currently written to increase the China tariff to 54% after 90 days. We hope the continued negotiations will solidify China tariffs below the 30%, however at this time it remains unpredictable. These tariffs unfortunately continue to create disruption for the toy industry, for small companies, and most of all, for our customers.

The China tariff reduction will take effect Wednesday, 5/14/25, however there are many details we still need to understand. We are working with our vendors and the supply chain to understand how this will impact costs and delivery timing, both in the near and mid-term. We are excited to report that shipments are beginning to move again although the actual timing will become more clear over the next week or so. As we learn more specifics, we will share those with you.  

Thank you again for your business, and for all your support.

Q: What are tariffs and how do they affect the toy business?

A: Tariffs are a tax on imported products. For 25 years, BigBadToyStore has operated as a family-owned business under a 0% tariff rate. In the last few months, tariffs were imposed on products imported from nearly every country. These tariff rates have been changing rapidly. Initially set at 10%, they have risen multiple times up to 145% for Chinese goods.  Vietnam is also currently subject to a 10% tariff.  These two countries manufacture 90% of the goods that we sell. Tariffs for both China and Vietnam are in a temporary status and therefore subject to change as negotiations continue.

Foreign governments do NOT pay these tariffs. The US based companies who import these goods are directly responsible for paying the tariffs. Some or all of these costs are then passed on to retailers.  Ultimately, the US based consumer pays for the tariffs through higher product prices.

Q: How will these tariffs affect product prices?

A: The tariffs apply to all products imported from affected countries. This includes virtually all new and open pre-orders. Products already in our inventory prior to the tariff (“in-stock”) are not affected, although any additional product we bring into our in-stock inventory could be.

Unfortunately, the magnitude of these tariffs are forcing us to increase retail prices on affected products. For new and open pre-orders, we expect prices to increase between 15% and 40%. We are working hard to minimize these increases through negotiation with vendors and optimizing our import processes.

Q: How will the tariffs affect pre-order release dates?

A: Due to the high tariff level and uncertainty around how long these tariffs will remain, many vendors have been delaying production and/or shipments of pre-ordered items, including BBTS. With the temporary decrease in tariff, we are working quickly to get products moving again through efforts with our vendors and shippers. We recognize the impact that delays cause, and it is our goal to get items to our collectors as quickly as possible. This is a fluid situation, and we will do our best to communicate timing updates as we have them.

Q: Can I cancel my pre-order if I don’t want to pay the additional tariff?

A: Yes, customers have the option to cancel pre-orders if you choose not to proceed with the tariff surcharge. Customers will be notified of the final price including tariff surcharge before their payment is processed and will have the opportunity to cancel their order at that time. Customer Service will be happy to assist with refunding any deposits already paid upon request.

Q: If I have already paid for an item in my Pile of Loot, will I be charged an additional tariff?

A: No, we will never add an additional tariff surcharge to an item you have already paid for. When shipping items from the Pile of Loot, the standard shipping and sales tax (if applicable) will be collected at the time a shipment is created.  

Q: Can items be held in the Pile of Loot for longer than 90 days in case the tariffs change again?

A: While we try to remain as accommodating as possible for our customers, we are unable to hold items in the Pile of Loot for longer than 90 days. We appreciate your understanding as we continue to receive new products daily and have limited space available in our warehouse.

Q: Will there be any additional tariff surcharges on in-stock items?

A: No. In-stock products will not have an additional tariff surcharge added to the price listed. In some cases, where there was a tariff surcharge on the item, it will be included in the price listed.

Q: What happens if tariffs are reduced or removed in the future?

A: If tariffs decrease or are eliminated, we will reduce or remove the tariff surcharges on impacted orders accordingly.

Our pledge to you is that we will be fair, and we will share the pain of this. Thank you for the trust and loyalty that you have placed in BBTS with your collecting passion.