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Tariff BS costing us money.

I bought a new car battery this week. I bought the same exact battery back in December. The new battery this week was $74 more than the one I bought just a few months ago. When I asked the guy at the parts store why the price went up so much he told me it was because of the tariffs. When I pointed out that the battery had a 1/25 sticker on it, well before tariffs were implemented he had nothing to say other than the computer tells the price. Do you think corporate America is taking advantage of the tariff issue?
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What does a 1/25 sticker mean? But yes, when foreign products become more expensive, of course national producers are going to match the price increase, especially for products people won't stop buying. Consumers won't switch to something cheaper because that no longer exists, so why not make some extra profit? Economists predicted that blanket tariffs would make everything more expensive btw, both imported and locally produced, well before the elections.
Sevendays · M
@NerdyPotato do you mean to keep the rich white men in power?
@Sevendays yep, being rich isn't an advantage if everyone else is too. The goal of capitalism is to create distance between the "successful" and the rest, and keeping it that way. That's why it not only includes mechanism to make the rich richer, but also to make the poor poorer.
@Sevendays
it is but record profits when so many are struggling irks me

Oh it can get even worse, how about record profits when so many are struggling, AND tax dollars are subsidizing the company money to (in theory) keep their prices low, while they're making those records profits.

Welcome to the US gas/oil business.


Normally you only subsidize companies that are struggling or new areas that you want to grow (like in theory they tried with electric cars).

But, the US taxes are subsidizing both US has/oil that are making record profits too.

Also, I believe the US college and universities as well, now not all of them are making great profits, but a lot of the most famous ones are making records profits and the US government is helping to subsidize their customers, er, I mean their students.

So not only are they making record profits while charging more, but they're also getting tax dollars to help while doing it, so the American tax paying citizens are paying twice.
Absolutely, corporate take advantage in all ways that they can get away with it.

And to them, you might not be buying that battery, but the replacement for them to restock that battery, which they don't know if there will or won't be tariffs, so they had it on just in case so it comes out of your pocket and not there.

So if there are tariffs, they break even.

If there isn't tariffs, then they make a bigger profit margin.

Either way, they don't lose.
Anyone who can capitalize this mess, will. The company I work for raised prices and is about to sell out because of conflicts in getting supplies. Meanwhile I don't see them building factories in the US to make these supplies.

I keep waiting for these changes to make sense and help people like we are being told is the point... But I think we're just screwed.
Sevendays · M
@MarbleMarvel agreed
@MarbleMarvel it would take years to move production to the USA, and markets don't like uncertainty so lowering and reinstating the tariffs weekly doesn't help either.
@NerdyPotato it's all lies and games
TheShanachie · 61-69, M
I know Corporate USA is taking advantage of the tariffs. Tariffs will increase inflation and cause smaller companies to go under, thus clearing the way for larger corporations to monopolize the market with less competition.
Teslin · M
I am sure there are some shady people out there that will definitely be taking advantage. The good news is, tariffs are down from 145% to 30%. So hopefully short lived. But, you never know what the orange guy will do next.
FreddieUK · 70-79, M
@Teslin 'hopefully' carries a great deal of weight in this sentence.
nudistsueaz · 61-69, F
I doubt that's any tariff. You really need to look at the next 12 months. It's a long game, not a snapshot.
nudistsueaz · 61-69, F
@carpediem think positive
carpediem · 61-69, M
@nudistsueaz I am a positive person but not in the same way as I have seen others be positive. Example....typical leftist positivity "I am POSITIVE the world will end and democracy destroyed forever under Trump". Of course, they've been wrong about everything LOL
nudistsueaz · 61-69, F
@carpediem They certainly have been wrong. We are so glad someone stopped the invasion.
SumKindaMunster · 51-55, M
Yes absolutely.
Heartlander · 80-89, M
Yes.

It could also mean that the they bought millions of batteries in anticipation of the tariff and they fear the prices will collapse leaving them stuck with a million batteries that they will have to sell at a loss to get rid of.
MasterLee · 56-60, M
Most of these tariffs will end up being temporary. Plus it will take months to effect prices. If this even happened, which I am skeptical, the clerk had no clue.
Teslin · M
@nudistsueaz I didn't realize paying higher prices is funny ?
Sevendays · M
@MasterLee you’re skeptical? Haha, that’s hilarious
Sevendays · M
@MasterLee I think your skepticism stems from your thought that I am anti-tariff, which I’m not. I am, however, against corporations taking advantage of consumers especially when the product was made in the USA with materials sourced on the USA.
WormMan · 56-60, M
butterflybaby75 · 46-50, F
Where was the battery made? unless it was made fully without chinese or other imported materials you won't escape the impact of tariffs on costs of goods and services.
butterflybaby75 · 46-50, F
@Sevendays Did you challenge the supplier then? What did they say? Why did you not go somewhere else?
Sevendays · M
@butterflybaby75 I did question him but then he switched his answer to saying he just charges what comes up on the computer. I needed the battery then.
butterflybaby75 · 46-50, F
@Sevendays Ok. guess most shop people won't be in a position to query pricing policies.
ron122 · 41-45, M
A car battery should last more than 5 months. You need to get your cars electrical system checked.
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Baremine · 70-79, C
@Sevendays what did I my make up. There are several battery plants in the USA.
Sevendays · M
@Baremine they mine lead in the USA
Like2play · M
I think the price reflects the replacement battery cost.
Sevendays · M
@Like2play can you explain what you just said?
Fukfacewillie · 56-60, M
No, they aren't. This is what America voted for. Everyone knew what tariffs would do. Companies can't afford to pay the tariffs otherwise.
Sevendays · M
@Fukfacewillie the product was made in America, there should be no price increase with the excuse of the increase being the tariff
graphite · 61-69, M
If Democrats succeed with banning gasoline-powered cars, you'll be paying $5,000 to $20,000 for your EV battery. .
nudistsueaz · 61-69, F
@graphite Exactly
JackHoff · 46-50, M
Hopefully not for the same car.
Sevendays · M
@JackHoff no. I added a second battery.
swirlie · 31-35
Looking at your profile, I see that you are an American living in the USA.

The only way that you would be paying a 'real' tariff on that battery is if your battery was made in Canada for example, not the USA which would mean your battery was imported to the USA from Canada. If that were the case, it would be the US government that would impose the tariff on that Canadian battery, not Canada which would then be passed on to you, the American consumer.

If your battery was actually Made in the USA however, there would be no tariff on that battery if it was sold domestically, which of course is anywhere in the USA!
hunkalove · 70-79, M
Corporate America is all about greed. Of course they take advantage.
FreddieUK · 70-79, M
Why would corporate America be less greedy than corporate anywhere else?
@Sevendays but are the resources mined in the USA as well? If those are imported, the manufacturer still has to pay tariffs.
Sevendays · M
@NerdyPotato I’ll look that up.
Heartlander · 80-89, M
@Sevendays Interesting ... products made in the US will see elbow room for a price increase if their foreign competition raises their prices :)

In a previous life I spent a few years working back room for a fairly large electronics distributor and retailer, also for a few years for an IBM value added dealer. I think I'm starting t see familiar patterns with this tariff thing :)
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