Tracking toy tariffs

Goldbug said:

Trump downplays economic woes as partisan spin, saying, 'Costs are way down'

President Donald Trump continued to insist the economy is strong and even insisted polls showing Americans are feeling economic pain are "fake."

abcnews.go.com

Click to expand...

In the end the Party would announce that two and two made five, and you would have to believe it. It was inevitable that they should make that claim sooner or later: the logic of their position demanded it. Not merely the validity of experience, but the very existence of external reality, was tacitly denied by their philosophy. The heresy of heresies was common sense. And what was terrifying was not that they would kill you for thinking otherwise, but that they might be right. For, after all, how do we know that two and two make four? Or that the force of gravity works? Or that the past is unchangeable? If both the past and the external world exist only in the mind, and if the mind itself is controllable—what then?

Email from Nin-Nin-Game:

New Budget Shipping Method to the USA is available : Nin-Nin Smart DDP (Delivered Duty Paid).
Cheaper than DHL / Fedex!
Average of 10-15 days to the US
All duties & customs are already included - No surprise fees at delivery!

(You can now select Nin-Nin Smart DDP for all new orders at checkout)

ーーーーー

We believe Smart DDP is the best and smartest way to shop from the USA right now.
On average 30 to 40% cheaper than DHL/Fedex shipping.
With cost savings at every step, you won't find a better deal on the market!

Click to expand...

I already had a cart full of six Revoltech, Figuarts, and Mafex items from them I've been hesitant to ship for a month or two so I figured I'd try their new shipping option. The shipping price went from 27,927 yen to 28,727 yen using the new method.

well that means he has to admit tariffs are the problem

Goldbug said:

well that means he has to admit tariffs are the problem

Click to expand...

But he won't.

apparently he is going to tariff pasta from Italy

then there is this

Haha I’m sure Trump is one of those guys who pronounces it “It’ly”.

hahaha

Hey, you know, if you're right about that, Scott, I will be the first to admit it.

But much like those 8k DOGE checks and the 2k Tariff Reimbursement checks...I'm not counting on it.

Speaking of, wife and I went to the grocery today to shop for things to load up the local food pantry for those in need. We do that the 1st and 15th of every month.

I actually took the time today to pay attention to prices. $5.39 for a regular sized box of freaking cereal. $3.59 for a small jar of peanut butter. $2.50 for generic cup o' noodles. We spent 100 bucks for little things here and there--not even for ourselves.

I have never done this in the past, but I told my wife we need to start keeping the receipts for tax purposes to write off charitable contributions. It felt dirty to even suggest it. Like it lessened why we do it. But we can't go broke helping others, ya know?

But yeah, grocery prices are down. Gaslighting fuckers.

RicksNerdLife said:

to prices. $5.39 for a regular sized box of freaking cereal. $3.59 for a small jar of peanut butter. $2.50 for generic cup o' noodles. We spent 100 bucks for little things here and there--not even for ourselves.

Click to expand...

My favourite handwaves whenever prices are brought up around me is, "Just go to this other store that isn't convenient to you, it's cheaper" (it's not), "Just go to Costco instead," "Just don't buy it, why are you buying that if you're tight on money".

It's like no one wants to accept that a thing has changed, and certainly that it's untenable. Usually the people noting that cereal is a bad value aren't even complaining, it's just an observation, and yet someone has to knee jerk the shame buck.

RicksNerdLife said:

Speaking of, wife and I went to the grocery today to shop for things to load up the local food pantry for those in need. We do that the 1st and 15th of every month.

Click to expand...

Good on you.

You may want to check with your local food pantry to see if they prefer food or cash donations. Mine prefers cash because they get better deals on food than we do at the grocery store. They're also better able to gauge what they need than I am.

TheSameIdiot said:

Good on you.

You may want to check with your local food pantry to see if they prefer food or cash donations. Mine prefers cash because they get better deals on food than we do at the grocery store. They're also better able to gauge what they need than I am.

Click to expand...

Sound advice. We donate to animal shelters/rescues and that's how we do it. It's so hard to know what they actually need, and sometimes it's actually stuff I never would consider ("we need catnip - which seems like a waste of resources until you realize it calms the animals down and helps them acclimate to each other without panicking"). Great idea. That's why you do the thing and I just write a check.

Ha! I guess I'm not the only one to make the connection to Santa Claus is Coming to Town villain

Goldbug said:

https://wgntv.com/news/tariffs-cause-shortage-on-holiday-decor/

Video Consumers brace for more expensive holiday season

From the food aisles to the clothing racks, shoppers can expect to pay more on certain items.

abcnews.go.com

New analysis shows more US consumers are falling behind on their utility bills

A new analysis of consumer data shows that more people in the United States are falling behind on their utility bills

abcnews.go.com

Ha! I guess I'm not the only one to make the connection to Santa Claus is Coming to Town villain

Click to expand...

During their first debate in 2020, there was a meme that had Trump as Heat Miser, and Biden as Snow Miser. I about fell out of my chair laughing....very appropriate.