Some hard numbers for a loaded container of model trains being slammed with the 145% tarrifs: Also the real silent killer of the economy: even if things are manufactured/assembled here, almost everyone relies on parts from a variety of different countries. Excerpts from a trains/MR interview. - ThreadSky

interurbanera.bsky.social • 18 hours ago

Some hard numbers for a loaded container of model trains being slammed with the 145% tarrifs:

Also the real silent killer of the economy: even if things are manufactured/assembled here, almost everyone relies on parts from a variety of different countries.

Excerpts from a trains/MR interview.

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bejsport.bsky.social•18 hours ago

I work in finance for a manufacturer and I don’t think people realize how even a small $30 item might have parts from multiple countries and it would be virtually impossible to move production back to the US for all the parts in it.

metalheadrailfan.bsky.social•18 hours ago

Boomers don't care about that. They just want to hear "MADE IN AMERICA!!!!!" and that be that.

tachyoneddy.bsky.social•15 hours ago

Good take on this.

fac3d.bsky.social•18 hours ago

It's not a model train, it's therapy

ironirma103.bsky.social•18 hours ago

Boomers killed the hobby because they hate women

ckape.bsky.social•18 hours ago

And if the tariffs are just to solicit bribes from companies in exchange for exemptions that's devastating for US manufacturing because there's no way you can get exemptions for all of your parts as well as all of the parts used by any domestic suppliers you have all the way up the chain.

attietiger.bsky.social•17 hours ago

This is also precisely what's gonna happen with RC Cars too. I just got into the hobby like 3 months ago and every part is gonna be WAY more expensive now since nearly every part from Servos and Brushless motors to practically all molded plastics are manufactured in either Taiwan or China.

nakkune.bsky.social•17 hours ago

No one's talking about the double whammy of doing half the production here and half in China. At this point, Soundtraxx might as well ship all their US manufacturing to China. That way at least their non-US market won't be affected.

hioo01.bsky.social•18 hours ago

Yeah, these tariffs are nuts. Hope it gets pulled back. The hobby is going to have a rough time if these stay in place.

interurbanera.bsky.social•18 hours ago

We went from a struggling hobby in the 2000s to the most intense golden age in all of model railroad history and we threw it all away for... absolutely nothing other than unrestrained hate. It's wild.

rainynight65.ah-web.org•17 hours ago

In Australia, this kind of tariff would kill off almost the entirety of domestic model train manufacturers, as they're all, bar one, basically cottage industries. None of them could stomach that kind of added cost, it would be prohibitive.

interurbanera.bsky.social•14 hours ago

That's actually what's happening here. Even the major ones have ceased importing right now and the few domestic mfgs are realizing that they still depend on PARTS from overseas, which also puts them in a gigantic pickle.

wansfordterminal.bsky.social•14 hours ago

Even if someone *wanted to* build a model railroad manufacturing plant - or *any* kind of manufacturing or electrical motor, it's going to be really difficult without magnets for the machinery.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/china-halts-exports-of-rare-earths-magnets/ar-AA1DoQ1A

interurbanera.bsky.social•14 hours ago

Precisely. Especially the ultra high quality motors that consumers expect these days.

jimgress.bsky.social•18 hours ago

Even if they get pulled back *today* the damage is already baked in. We've got shipyards full of product and months-down-the-line shipments completely halted. This is permanent damage that will make 2020 shortages look quaint by comparison. This summer is going to be badddd

hioo01.bsky.social•17 hours ago

Oh definitely, I work for an importer and it’s not looking good out there.

kronogarrett.bsky.social•17 hours ago

It’s not a question of if the shelves will be empty but when.

trainshows.net•16 hours ago

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