I have an expedition from TEMU. Am I screwed up with the prices?

The last days with prices have been emotional roller coaster. Not because I checked my 401 (K), but because I placed a TEMU order last week – and its fate seems to be suspended.

In anticipation of the “Liberation Day”, when the prices come into force, I placed a last TEMU order. I thought it might be my last chance to get ridiculously at low price plastic waste shipped directly from China by post (in addition, I have an upcoming child’s birthday, and I was on the market for new bubble machine toys).

I slipped into my order just under the thread – and the next day, the prices shocked the stock market. (Since then, there have been a few other shocks, like Wednesday when Donald Trump delayed most prices for 90 days, except in China.)

Temu’s affairs are not, for example, Apple, where prices could affect importation of an international manufacturing iPhone. TEMU is commanding customers directly from China, using the “minimis” exception – a long -standing gap that had enabled a value of $ 800 to the post in the United States without being subject to tasks.

Trump signed an executive decree last week ending minimis. This means that packages in the United States should be subject to duty, even if their value is less than $ 800.

His initial order meant that these TEMU type packages (those which would have previously been minimis) would now be subject to costs of $ 25 per article, or to 30% of their value. (We do not know if you should pay the highest or the highest of these two options.)

But this week, Trump tripled – now it’s $ 75 per article or 90% of the value of an order.

What do Trump’s movements mean for my TEMU order?

Yikes. This means that my $ 8 camera turns into a very bad deal.

Fortunately, all of this should come into force from May 2, And my package should happen before that. I know, I know, you cry practically relief for me.

According to the TEMU website, my order has erased customs and is on the way – with an estimated delivery window from April 10 to 17.

What does all of this mean for TEMU’s affairs – and Shein’s affairs, a Chinese company that also used the exception of minimis? Well, it doesn’t look great, I will say that.

TEMU performs a “TEMU weekend” promotion at the top of its site and its application, which it did before competing with Amazon’s first week. (It was not immediately clear if the prices were lower than certain items as part of the TEMU week.) I asked TEMU if it was an already scheduled promotion or if it was in response to the prices, and I did not receive an answer.

TEMU has already diversified its supply lines on expedition, with local warehouses in the United States which would theoretically neutralize the loss of the escape from minimis. But now, with these new heavy prices, the items sent to the warehouse from China would probably be struck by charges.

Depending on the speed with which things have changed in last week, it is difficult to guess exactly what it will mean in the long term, for a Gizmo of $ 5 of TEMU or an iphone of $ 1,000.

My advice? You have a few days left to order without worry before you get closer to this deadline on May 2. Do as your conscience the judge good.