My Temu Order Arrived — With No Further Charges. Will You Be so Fortunate?

Positive, the nationwide hardship of value will increase tied to tariffs is simply getting began. However my private journey of stressing a couple of latest Temu order? Phew, that is carried out! Our nation can breathe a sigh of reduction.

To catch you up on my harrowing private drama: The evening earlier than “Liberation Day,” I positioned a farewell order from Temu, the e-commerce market that ships orders (largely) immediately from China.

Except for enacting tariffs, Donald Trump has additionally mentioned he would finish the de minimis loophole that has allowed Temu, Shein, and others to ship orders with values below $800 immediately from China to clients within the US with out paying responsibility charges. That loophole has been the underpinning of Temu and Shein’s astonishingly low costs on clothes and knickknacks.

The small print about closing the de minimis rule have been a bit of unclear at occasions — not in contrast to the back-and-forth with Trump’s tariffs. Initially, it was unclear when the yanking of the de minimis exception would go into impact, and I nervous that when my order arrived, I would get slapped with a hefty $75 price.

Now it appears that evidently the de minimis loophole closes on Might 2, which implies that just a few final shipments — together with my very own — have been in a position to sneak in below the wire.

I obtained three bubble machine/bubble wand gadgets.

Temu and Shein have each put up statements on their web sites addressing clients to warn them that value will increase will hit quickly.

What’s sort of odd is that each websites, that are owned by totally different dad or mum firms, have the identical message, worded precisely the identical — solely the corporate identify on the finish is totally different. (Temu and Shein didn’t instantly reply to a query about how they ended up with the identical assertion.) The statements say:

Expensive Clients,

Thanks on your continued assist. Since we started serving U.S. customers, our objective has been easy: to supply nice product at inexpensive costs whereas creating optimistic impression within the communities we serve.

As a consequence of latest adjustments in international commerce guidelines and tariffs, our working bills have gone up. To maintain providing the merchandise you’re keen on with out compromising on high quality, we will likely be making value adjustment beginning April 25, 2025.

Till April 25, costs will keep the identical, so you’ll be able to store now at at this time’s charges. We have stocked up and stand prepared to ensure your orders arrive easily throughout this time.

We’re doing the whole lot we are able to to maintain costs low and reduce the impression on you. Our group is working additional onerous to enhance effectivity and keep true to our mission: to supply nice product at inexpensive costs for everybody.

Thanks once more for being a part of the [TEMU/SHEIN] household.

With gratitude,
The [TEMU/SHEIN] Group

So, there we’ve got it. I made out simply fantastic. And should you order within the subsequent few days, you is likely to be fantastic, too. After that, properly, you are screwed — both larger costs or an enormous responsibility tax invoice, and even each!

Will I get pleasure from my bubble machine figuring out it might be the final candy, candy duty-free cargo of bargain-basement plastic junk? Sure, sure I’ll. However will I be ok with pulling off this last-minute near-heist? No, no I will not. I do not be ok with any of this.