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Takket

(21,564 posts)
Sat Aug 31, 2019, 06:49 PM Aug 2019

Consumers have the right to know exactly what they pay in tariffs

There should be a law that retailers should have to clearly display in the price of items you buy how much of the cost if due to a tariff placed on that items.

I.E. if you buy a normally $1000 subject to a 20% tariff, the listed price should read: $1000 iphone + $200 tariff = $1200 "your price".

We should all be able to directly see what we are paying due to tariffs. As it stands right now when you go into a store the price is just the price and you have no idea if you are paying extra for tariffs.

12 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Consumers have the right to know exactly what they pay in tariffs (Original Post) Takket Aug 2019 OP
"Should" is an iffy word. But I agree wholeheartedly! dchill Aug 2019 #1
Sounds like a Rebl2 Aug 2019 #2
So you are okay with mandating another rule for a business to follow? Sherman A1 Aug 2019 #3
yes Takket Aug 2019 #9
I was a small Hobby Store Retailer for almost 2 decades Sherman A1 Sep 2019 #11
Was looking for some 7.50/20 bias tires for 46 chevy restoration. aka-chmeee Aug 2019 #4
Why should retailers do that? Blue_true Aug 2019 #5
no it doesn't........ Takket Aug 2019 #8
Most consumers have no idea of how tariffs work. Blue_true Aug 2019 #10
Yes it in fact does Sherman A1 Sep 2019 #12
Where does the money collected for tariffs end up? LastLiberal in PalmSprings Aug 2019 #6
Good idea! nt Sogo Aug 2019 #7

Sherman A1

(38,958 posts)
3. So you are okay with mandating another rule for a business to follow?
Sat Aug 31, 2019, 08:52 PM
Aug 2019

The Retailer may not know the tariff amount as they are given a cost by the supplier be that a wholesaler or a manufacturer.

Takket

(21,564 posts)
9. yes
Sat Aug 31, 2019, 11:20 PM
Aug 2019

i have no problem with placing an extra burden on retailers so he public can see directly what drumpf is doing to them. and if the cost of printing extra shelf tags and tracking down markups from wholesalers is too much of a burden for them, they are welcome to lobby Washington to repeal the tariffs and/or endorse democrats that will do it for them. Nothing is stopping the wholesalers from listing the tariff costs on their invoices to retailers either.

Sherman A1

(38,958 posts)
11. I was a small Hobby Store Retailer for almost 2 decades
Sun Sep 1, 2019, 05:37 AM
Sep 2019

Working on very thin margins and net profits when we could manage those at all.

I was only given the cost of the product I bought. I was never given the breakdown of materials, production, distribution, transportation, taxes, tariffs, administrative, warehousing or alike on any item I received from anywhere.

Just how or where was I supposed to get that information?

Assuming that I could get a breakout of costs which isn't necessarily a safe bet, You are then adding to my business costs by forcing me to make signs for various products which costs me both time and labor. That is another thing I guess I will have to add to the list above of cost of goods sold in your version of how this should be handled? Takket's Required Tariff Sign Making Costs?

Simple Answers to problems are very few and very far between. Those that are unwisely implemented generally have many unseen and unintended consequences that affect people in unplanned ways.

aka-chmeee

(1,132 posts)
4. Was looking for some 7.50/20 bias tires for 46 chevy restoration.
Sat Aug 31, 2019, 09:17 PM
Aug 2019

A few months back 4 delivered was $550. (Didn't buy then...didn't need them yet.) Same dealer, same manufacturer now $781 for 4(on sale for Labor Day) Single tire price went from $138 to $216. Think I'll wait as long as I can.

Blue_true

(31,261 posts)
5. Why should retailers do that?
Sat Aug 31, 2019, 09:18 PM
Aug 2019

Also, your suggestion takes focus off the pinhead that has blown things up and shifts it to retailers.

Takket

(21,564 posts)
8. no it doesn't........
Sat Aug 31, 2019, 11:17 PM
Aug 2019

the entire point of displaying the tariff cost is so that consumers know it is the government, not the retailer, that is jacking the price up. No different than displaying the sales tax on your receipt.

Blue_true

(31,261 posts)
10. Most consumers have no idea of how tariffs work.
Sat Aug 31, 2019, 11:40 PM
Aug 2019

Even reporters seem confused. Why do you think Trump has gotten away with the lie that China is paying tariffs?

Most people only see that Widget Y, which cost $225 two weeks ago now costs $275, they don't delve into why.

I am not saying that your idea is bad, my guess is progressive retailers will likely explain to people why they are paying more, but that number will be few. In a largescale production or retail situation there are so many factors to worry about that explaining price increases to customers fall at the bottom of that list and only will be done if a customer inquires about why the price increased.

6. Where does the money collected for tariffs end up?
Sat Aug 31, 2019, 09:28 PM
Aug 2019

I know it will ultimately end up in Trump's pockets , but truthfully, what's the path the money takes as it moves through government agencies? Is it headed into the nation's general account, where our taxes go? Or is there a special account dedicated to tariffs, and what is it used for? Who determines this?

More and more people are talking about how tariffs are taxes on the consumer, but I haven't heard anything about where the tariff money goes.

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