US Tariff Strikes Again: Now Even Your Fandom Purchases From Afar Comes With Baggage

The US tariff isn’t just hurting American fans—it’s setting a trend. Countries like Canada, Japan, and the U.K. may soon follow, making global fandom a lot more expensive.

us tariff pac-man is evilIntro:
How US Tariff Changes Are Hurting Fandoms

Collectors of imported goods are being forced to swallow a bitter pill. While scrolling social media late one night, I saw a post: “Had someone cancel a $1,000 order on eBay today due to a ‘tariff tax.’ Is that a thing now?” (image posted below). Curious, I checked the responses and did further research. From Cbc.ca, an executive order from the White House now requires all shipments under $800 to be taxed, effectively killing the de minimis exemption that once allowed low-value imports duty-free. What seems like a simple policy shift could become one of the biggest shakeups fandom collectors have faced in years.

As bad as this is for U.S. buyers, the ripple effects could be worse. If Canada adopts a matching policy, then incoming shipments from the U.S. could be hit too. Thankfully, in-store purchases remain unaffected—but for online shoppers, it feels like being stomped by Godzilla.

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[Victoria, BC] Quick Takes on Victoria’s Ultimate Hobby and Toy Fair Return!

[Victoria, BC] Quick Takes at Victoria's Ultimate Hobby & Toy Fair

Day one at Victoria’s Ultimate Hobby and Toy Fair shows this city was certainly anxious for its return. I saw a small lineup at the door when I arrived around 10:30am. I’m sure everyone wanted to find something cool to take home. I saw happy youths with nerf guns and adults with other nifty goods leaving as I was waiting to get inside.

I had only two goals in mind: see if I can pick up any LEGO Ninjago product (the selection was super slim) and if I can find that one elusive comic book to finish my Marvel’s ROM (Sorry, IDW) collection. I wondered if I could nail the Doctor Fate Series Three and Four. Mail order makes it too easy, but the thrill of the hunt is what makes attending shows like this fun. And quite often, I end up buying something else instead….

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