Sure, the national hardship of price increases tied to tariffs is only getting started. But my personal journey of stressing about a recent Temu order? Phew, that’s done! Our nation can breathe a sigh of relief.
To catch you up on my harrowing personal drama: The night before “Liberation Day,” I placed a farewell order from Temu, the e-commerce marketplace that ships orders (mostly) directly from China.
Aside from enacting tariffs, Donald Trump has also said he would end the de minimis loophole that has allowed Temu, Shein, and others to ship orders with values under $800 directly from China to customers in the US without paying duty fees. That loophole has been the underpinning of Temu and Shein’s astonishingly low prices on clothing and knickknacks.
The details about closing the de minimis rule have been a little unclear at times — not unlike the back-and-forth with Trump’s tariffs. Initially, it was unclear when the yanking of the de minimis exception would go into effect, and I worried that when my order arrived, I might get slapped with a hefty $75 fee.
Now it seems that the de minimis loophole closes on May 2, which means that a few last shipments — including my own — have been able to sneak in under the wire.
I got three bubble machine/bubble wand items.
Temu and Shein have both put up statements on their websites addressing customers to warn them that price increases will hit soon.
What’s kind of odd is that both sites, which are owned by different parent companies, have the same message, worded exactly the same — only the company name at the end is different. (Temu and Shein did not immediately reply to a question about how they ended up with the same statement.) The statements say:
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Dear Customers, Thank you for your continued support. Since we began serving U.S. shoppers, our goal has been simple: to offer great product at affordable prices while creating positive impact in the communities we serve. Due to recent changes in global trade rules and tariffs, our operating expenses have gone up. To keep offering the products you love without compromising on quality, we will be making price adjustment starting April 25, 2025. Until April 25, prices will stay the same, so you can shop now at today’s rates. We’ve stocked up and stand ready to make sure your orders arrive smoothly during this time. We’re doing everything we can to keep prices low and minimize the impact on you. Our team is working extra hard to improve efficiency and stay true to our mission: to offer great product at affordable prices for everyone. Thank you again for being part of the [TEMU/SHEIN] family. With gratitude,
The [TEMU/SHEIN] Team
So, there we have it. I made out just fine. And if you order in the next few days, you might be fine, too. After that, well, you’re screwed — either higher prices or a big duty tax bill, or even both!
Will I enjoy my bubble machine knowing it may be the last sweet, sweet duty-free shipment of bargain-basement plastic junk? Yes, yes I will. But will I feel good about pulling off this last-minute near-heist? No, no I won’t. I don’t feel good about any of this.
