Tariffs and Wargaming

[FifteensAway]

Err - certain, um, thing, I cannot discuss without inventing new bad words, in spades, so, I'll try and be good.

"Do not pass Go and enjoy the Roaring Twenties, go straight to Great Depression."  < prescience.

Recession is all but guaranteed now.  Depression is now a very real possibility - worldwide.  That may pale all other discussions.  But will it be worse than the Great Depression?  Unknown.

UAW seem happy (United Auto Workers union) but are missing a critical point: tariffs can only bring back car making jobs to the US if the US still has an auto industry.  I fear that is in jeopardy now.  Used cars are going to skyrocket in price.  Certainly, US gave away any chance of leadership in the renewable energy sector to China courtesy of The Fartsolini.  Stupid is as stupid does.  Speaking of which - I guess chocolate, already expensive, is going to get worse.  Now, while that may make my doctor happy, it really pisses me off! 

I am so thankful that I bought almost everything 'hobby' I need before I retired and stocked up with rest before the 'orange shit hit the far too powerful fan'(and oh how it stinks!).   Certainly, now, instead of giving away the excess figures in my collection, I am more likely to sell them to the beleaguered seekers.  Hey, wait, that means I am a capitalist!   . Just when you think there is no hope, I will ride to the rescue - with an auction.   

Actually, seriously, still possible I might give some stuff away.  Need to reduce my collection by maybe half - and that means around 20,000 extra 15 mm figures to flood the market over time.  If there is any market left.

In the 'former' USA.  It isn't the same anymore so I think that is proper.  And breaks my heart.

Oh, yeah, I do have one order I am waiting on - placed pre-tariff insanity - that may not ship for a bit due to time for material to 'cure' so I may get hit with a tariff charge on that stuff, from UK to USA.  Last order I plan from outside of US for what may be a long time to come. 

Best of luck to all the hobby businesses that must endure, where ever they are, courtesy -  XXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXX (self-censored).

[FramFramson]

Vance thought it was “cold”.

To focus just on history, I'll say that I'm sure old Erik the Red would be tickled to know his sales snowjob is still jobbing dimwits a thousand years later!

[HerbertTarkel]

To focus just on history, I'll say that I'm sure old Erik the Red would be tickled to know his sales snowjob is still jobbing dimwits a thousand years later!

No kidding 

[carlos marighela]

The ancient equvalent of selling the Brooklyn Bridge.

[Storm Wolf]

This whole thing is just so stupid, I am going to boil it down into a single covering word.

"FUCKTARDS!"

[Spinal Tap]

Tariffs and trade wars are going to be bad for most areas of life and for the majority of people, but so long as we can meet the basics then affecting a hobby is just that.

Sure we might not be able to afford everything we would like but we can choose not to let buying less stuff make us sad.

Beautiful miniatures and detailed terrain is wonderful, but so is imagination and creativity.

I recall seeing photos of a Philipino game group playing with limited terrain and an eclectic selection of miniatures.

Same picture also showed 8 or 9 friends grinning, laughing  eating and drinking while they played.

For my part this hobby is about an escape from the real world and I intend to keep it doing just that.

As for purchasing I think the small guys are going to struggle the most so my business will be going to them.

Hope everyone continues to have a good life outside of gaming, and continue to roll crits inside.

[Westfalia Chris]

At this point, I'm pretty sure y'all are opening these topics on Fridays just to ruin my weekends.

Could you please stay focused on concrete information e.g. the SJG announcement and walk back from letting this devolve into an expletive-riddled reenaaction of latter-day Frothers, thank you very much.

[robh]

....... letting this devolve into an expletive-riddled reenaaction of latter-day Frothers, thank you very much.

 

If anyone wants to know why all this is needed:

"China Shock" David Autor/David Dorn/Gordon Hansen
"The Persistence of the China Shock" David Dorn/Gordon Hansen
"Death By China" Peter Navarro (already recommended earlier and the easiest to read)

[SJWi]

I haven't ordered from the US for many years aa I found that (a) postage charges are prohibitive anyway (b) some US vendors had their own expensive shipping policies plus (c) you can get hit for UK Customs duty .I was sent something free of charge by a guy in the US and I still got stung for $50 UK taxes, with no right of appeal. That said I recently bought something from Canada that came in two large boxers marked "Canadian Postal Service" and they sailed through UK customs with no extra bill .

All a bit of a shame as I would love to order some Kurasan and Brigade Games products.   

[modelwarrior]

If anyone wants to know why all this is needed:

"China Shock" David Autor/David Dorn/Gordon Hansen
"The Persistence of the China Shock" David Dorn/Gordon Hansen
"Death By China" Peter Navarro (already recommended earlier and the easiest to read)

You might want to do some reading around the subject ? Peter Navarro is as damaged as JD Vance.

Might be an idea to close this thread as I think its going Pete Tong

[zemjw]

I have at least learned the difference between Brigade Games (US) and Brigade Models (UK), which should save me some confusion down the road

[Storm Wolf]

I have at least learned the difference between Brigade Games (US) and Brigade Models (UK), which should save me some confusion down the road

  it should! I also work for a company called Brigade, so imagine how I feel 

[RSDean]

As it turns out, I stockpiled a 6mm fantasy/medieval project from Baccus. Added to my existing stash, I probably don’t need to ever buy anything other than paint and brushes again. I expect that companies dependent on US sales will be in some trouble due to reduced discretionary spending. That’s assuming that the tariffs are in place for an extended period, and the administration’s messaging on that has not exactly been consistent.

[Orctrader]

Tariffs will have zero effect on my personal hobby purchases because, as others have already mentioned, international shipping rates and import duties make it prohibitively expensive already.

Here in the UK even if I want US stuff where there is a UK stockist there often seems to be a "price premium" that reflects, I assume, the import costs to the UK seller.

One exception I notice is North star selling Pulp Figures, but I think Nick casts here in the UK so only the Moulds would have the import costs, but I could be wrong.