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Photographic Gear Prices in USA after Trump's Tariffs

Davide DB
Davide DB
in General Chat

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Everybody is likely to pay more wherever you are because for any international business, this becomes a "challenging economic environment" when you might lose a big portion of customers in a region while not getting more in others. It's clear that to maintain benefits you'll certainly have to increase prices at least a little everywhere or to find other ways to reduce costs of manufacturing.

In Europe, Brexit has been for me a good example of a lose/lose situation. I used to order for my job parts from big companies in the UK because they were made there. After the Brexit, it was a hassle and costly because of customs to get those. Some manufacturers among others opened some warehouse in mainland Europe. Others just didn't have the resource for and I now rarely order from them.

Now the prices for those parts for those companies that have now offices in both side of the Channel are about 200% what they used to be before Brexit was effective. Aside from the rising costs since Covid and Ukraine, those companies had to buy/rent warehouse, deal themselves with customs or make assembly lines in Europe. It costs money in all cases and it has to be absorbed by the customers at the end of the line.

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    • 2 weeks later...
    On 4/15/2025 at 4:47 AM, TimG said:

    What's the betting that we are going to see raises worldwide as manufacturers and distributors make use of the excuse of US tariffs?

    Or am I being too cynical??

    Too cynical? Nope, I’m just as cynical and agree!

    In the US we had “Fuel Surcharges” when gas prices went high, but they mysteriously never came off once fuel prices returned to previous levels, or even lower. I fear companies, especially one highly rated brand of housings, will literally price themselves out of business. (Profit per item vs total units sold)

    On a business level, the current tariff rumors/impacts have uncovered how vulnerable some of these global companies are with only a single manufacturing/distribution strategy. I have been part of companies that had a similar limitation and saw the result.

    In short, I have put off some accessory purchases, specifically from the referenced housing brand as it’s not a need, and just a want. The “want” has now fallen below my bank account’s interest in saying “yes.” I guess we will see who’s left and what changes beyond price increases they opt to make, if any, to remain a viable option.

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    Nauticam prices went up last week. I was ready to buy an MFO-1 for $474 but it was $550 when I bought it this morning (~14% up.) And supplies might be limited as factories move outside of China, if they can. I wouldn't delay if you're thinking about buying something in the US.

    2 hours ago, jlaity said:

    Nauticam prices went up last week. I was ready to buy an MFO-1 for $474 but it was $550 when I bought it this morning (~14% up.) And supplies might be limited as factories move outside of China, if they can. I wouldn't delay if you're thinking about buying something in the US.

    US$ has devalued by about 14% against the Euro and GBP since early February so a rise of this level is not unexpected then you will have duties on top

    8 hours ago, jlaity said:

    Nauticam prices went up last week. I was ready to buy an MFO-1 for $474 but it was $550 when I bought it this morning (~14% up.) And supplies might be limited as factories move outside of China, if they can. I wouldn't delay if you're thinking about buying something in the US.

    Why would a Chinese company like Nauticam move factories outside China? Is the US market so big that it makes sense?

    7 hours ago, jlaity said:

    Nauticam is in Florida I think but yeah I expected worse.

    Nauticam USA might be in Florida, but the parent company is in Hong Kong.

    The MFO in Australia is advertised at $US382 converted using the current AUD-USD exchange rate (before GST) so it is getting hit pretty hard on import duties a 44% premium on the AU price if I'm not mistaken and assuming $550 is the price before any local sales taxes.

    The duty would be charged on the wholesale import value before distributor and retailer markups, even so it looks like the full announced 125% has not been passed on as yet but I have no idea what the markup on UW photo equipment by the wholesaler and retailers is. A lot of items like footwear and clothing have really substantial markups.

    If for example the MFO came in at a retail price of $382 and assume a 100% markup the import landed price is $191 plus 125% would give a landed price of 427.75 with the tariff imposed. Then assume the wholesale and retail margins stay constant the final price is $427 plus 191 = $ 620 So a price ending up at $550 is not out of the ball park assuming the wholesale/retail margins take a bit of a hit. I'm guessing wholesale and retail margins are reasonably high as they have to pay a lot of things out that margin including warranty, staff wages, handling costs to get it out of customs, warehouse costs etc. and it's not like they sell 1000's of these widgets a year.

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    Europe is not getting better neither. MFO was 425 EUR on Nauticam website, at least in December 2024. Now it shows as 524 EUR. So a lovely 20%+ hike. Off we go to a flying start.

    Meanwhile 3rd party shops all have it at 449 EUR.

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    28 minutes ago, Davide DB said:

    I see no reason to increase prices everywhere but we are too cynical ☹️

    I see one reason... the MFO is a good product. The review are excelent --> thez can buy it at a higher price. (and win more)

    14 hours ago, Davide DB said:

    I see no reason to increase prices everywhere but we are too cynical ☹️

    Cynical? I think you mean we’ve learned from bitter experience.

    The US sneezes and the rest of the world gets flu. Manufacturers will hike up the prices worldwide because they don’t want to hit the US market too hard; and because they can.

    All the world needs: COVID, Ukraine, Gaza and now tariffs.

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    At our Montreal factory, we design, manufacture, and assemble all our products.

     

    Presently, our products enter the United States without incurring any tariffs, and we sincerely hope that this situation will persist in the future. However, we are encountering counter tariffs on the aluminum we source from a local supplier, as a significant portion of this aluminum originates from the United States.  

     

    Despite these counter tariffs, for the time being, there will be no price increases to our products.

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    On 4/29/2025 at 3:44 PM, Davide DB said:

    I see no reason to increase prices everywhere but we are too cynical ☹️

    Jumping in a bit late, but there often can be justifiable reasons to increase prices everywhere. A few of them:

    - a projected decline in total sales volume may require higher prices as the fixed costs are getting amortized over a smaller number of items

    - some of the consequential costs incurred by tariffs (warehousing, supply chain changes, etc) are a corporate level and cannot be allocated just to the units going to the US

    - a desire to maintain consistent pricing - or some semblance thereof - across the board globally

    That is not to say “we will use this as an excuse to jack prices” doesnt happen.

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    Well I was looking for another AOI RC strobe. Used to be $400 now $825 (Backscatter) and a backup housing, used to be $1000 now, $2249. Sad

    Bill

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    16 hours ago, bvanant said:

    Well I was looking for another AOI RC strobe. Used to be $400 now $825 (Backscatter) and a backup housing, used to be $1000 now, $2249. Sad

    Bill

    Yeah, I just noticed their housing for my Sony a7iv and of course it's up to $2899 from $1400. Looks like I will stick with my EM-10 for a while longer.

    Edited by cashmorephoto

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    I wonder whether under-invoicing will start to become common now for the US, atleast for personal shipments - and whether US CBP is going to care enough about that to investigate more thoroughly.

    Backscatter sent an email to customers about tariffs last night. Looks like an additional 30% increase may be coming for Nauticam:

    TARIFFS HIT HOME IN THE US

    Unfortunately for our US customers underwater photography equipment has been impacted by tariffs. Equipment originating in China has been hit with the largest tariffs ranging from 145% to 170%. We've been working with our international suppliers, but significant price increases are coming soon.

    Save Now Before New Inventory Arrives With Higher Tariffs
    We have limited inventory at original price levels, and if nothing changes, prices will increase significantly within the next 30 days as we bring in replacement inventory.

    Here's examples of US prices now and our educated guess on the near future.

    International Customers - Contact Us For Special Pricing!
    Backscatter ships international orders from our overseas warehouses, saving you the added US tariff costs on MOST BRANDS. Contact us for special pricing and shipping arrangements.

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