Tariffs

[Bud]

No more letters to Santa from your kids.

[Analog Kid]

Postnord over here has gone down the drain over the last few years..
They have recently announced that they will stop delivering letters to the postboxes.. 

When I say I find that unbelievable, I'm not exaggerating.
Not doubting what you wrote, just flabbergasted at that decision.
I thought we here in the United States of Amnesia were much farther down that neoliberal, fend-for-yourself road than all you Yurpeens.
I mean, even Trump and Musk and his misbegotten "DOGE" haven't been able to pull that off here. Yet. Even though they're certainly salivating over the prospect.

When is that supposed to happen, and how likely is it to actually happen?

[kite31]

It is also happening in Australia, not through any plot but as a function of demand. AusPost has a large and profitable parcel delivery service which is quite efficient these days, and practically no letters except at christmas. The postie comes around with letters only half of days. The only letters we ever receive are pointless ones from share registries, because the data is already completed on line, and monthly summaries from the ASX.

edit: typo

[Analog Kid]

Well, what about bills? Notices from medical providers? Other small written communications?
I believe those are all considered "letters".

[themadhippy]

all our posty seems to deliver is junk mail and flyers  for the local pizza and kebab emporiums,all the important stuff like bills is done by email.

[kite31]

Zero bills. They all come on line, as do any reminders from medical, dental etc.  If it is confidential, you get a request to log in -- a request, not a link. Same with statements from the bank.

For better or worse, it appears Australia (and some others) have moved away from paper faster than the US. For example, I was quite surprised about a decade ago to find Americans used cheques/checks.  Hadn't seen one in years. They will be illegal here from 2028. About 90% of retail transactions do not use cash.

ETA: We still get letter deliveries, just less often and rarely useful.

[vk6zgo]

How does one know he got banned ?

Exactly, I haven't seen anything to say he is banned, except a few random comments.
Usually a moderator says outright that "XXXX has been banned".

[vk6zgo]

How does one know he got banned ?

When did the forum start using that emoji for "banned"?
Obviously, I missed the announcement.

[vk6zgo]

It is also happening in Australia, not through any plot but as a function of demand. AusPost has a large and profitable parcel delivery service which is quite efficient these days, and practically no letters except at christmas. The postie comes around with letters only half of days. The only letters we ever receive are pointless ones from share registries, because the data is already completed on line, and monthly summaries from the ASX.

edit: typo

Bills & notifications from Govt & private entities still arrive as mail, & postal voting is a definite thing.
OK, you can apply for a Postal Vote online, but the real thing is done using "snail mail".

[kite31]

True regarding voting, but that is not daily, weekly or monthly letter delivery.  I receive pretty much nothing from any government or private entity; all on line through myGov or from the business except for some, not all, things related to shares. I never said they are stopping, only that delivery services are typically no longer daily owing to minimal demand.

[tautech]

How does one know he got banned ?

When did the forum start using that emoji for "banned"?
Obviously, I missed the announcement.

Probably 10yrs ago.
Even when a Mod decides to put you on "timeout" for a couple days that emoji is used.

You can't log in but you can still thank posts and browse the forum.
Been there, done that and earned the Tee shirt with a warning not to be a dick again.

[krish2487]

Postnord over here has gone down the drain over the last few years..
They have recently announced that they will stop delivering letters to the postboxes.. 

When I say I find that unbelievable, I'm not exaggerating.
Not doubting what you wrote, just flabbergasted at that decision.
I thought we here in the United States of Amnesia were much farther down that neoliberal, fend-for-yourself road than all you Yurpeens.
I mean, even Trump and Musk and his misbegotten "DOGE" haven't been able to pull that off here. Yet. Even though they're certainly salivating over the prospect.

When is that supposed to happen, and how likely is it to actually happen?

https://group.postnord.com/news-media/2025/postnord-to-discontinue-handling-mail-in-denmark-in-2026--focusing-exclusively-on-parcels/

From the beginning of 2026. It is just a question of when, not if. The die has been cast already.. 

[Wallace Gasiewicz]

I apologize in advance if this has been linked already.        Here is a link that is germane to the tariff topic. Especially the de minimis.                   

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/09/07/postal-traffic-to-us-sank-80-after-trump-administration-ended-exemption-on-lowvalue-parcels

[wasyoungonce]

Australia post (and it indicated other national postal services) will resume parcel post to USA on 25th sept.   They are working with zonos….whoever they are (….an authorised US Customs and Border Protection and Universal Postal Union third-party provider), to declare classify post to US and tariffs.  The article doesn’t say who is paying tariffs but it won’t be senders. 

Obviously parcel post transfer will slow to a crawl.  I read it’s to stop illegal drugs!. From the article.  Urrrrggggh!

https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/australia-post-to-resume-delivery-to-the-us-by-september-25-after-tariffs-sparked-halt/news-story/ba52b686788d6dc4c97a85d31de24ff3

Apparently fedex et el were exempt from these tariffs …

So let’s see what transpires

[tggzzz]

Australia post (and it indicated other national postal services) will resume parcel post to USA on 25th sept.   They are working with zonos….whoever they are (….an authorised US Customs and Border Protection and Universal Postal Union third-party provider), to declare classify post to US and tariffs.  The article doesn’t say who is paying tariffs but it won’t be senders. 

It looks like it presumes a "verified account" (i.e. business) to use with Royal Mail.

The HS code classifier appears plausible at first glance - provided you only want to look up ~3 items per month before booking a sales demo.

If the senders aren't paying the tariff, does that mean the recipient will pay the tariff? If so, how and at what admin cost? Somehow I doubt that.

[PlainName]

I read it’s to stop illegal drugs!. From the article.

I'm puzzled as to how tariffs stop illegal drugs. The profits are surely enough to cover a few extra dollars per shipment, if indeed they go anywhere near a tariff collection agency.

[themadhippy]

I'm puzzled as to how tariffs stop illegal drugs

By the same logic thats sees canada as one of the largest exporters of fentanyl into the usa

[Wallace Gasiewicz]

The senders are not paying the Tariff, it is collected by the shipper, at least in this story about a vintage computer restorer.

https://www.nbcnews.com/business/rcna229375

[tszaboo]

The senders are not paying the Tariff, it is collected by the shipper, at least in this story about a vintage computer restorer.

https://www.nbcnews.com/business/rcna229375

All I'm reading is that goods were not purchased with DDP incoterms, and buyers are surprised that they have to do stuff or pay. And they are surprised that mistakes happen with shipping and customs.
Next up, Thanks to the Trump administration, dogs sometimes leave a pile of brown substance when you take them  for a walk, click here to know more.

[PlainName]

All I'm reading is that goods were not purchased with DDP incoterms, and [...]

Then you're missing that the costs to the consumer are much higher than expected. In the cited cases, high enough to prevent the sale if they'd known in the first place.

[m k]

If I buy from ebay I pay what seller want, and what ebay want for shipping.
I must also pay what ever more ebay want before the transaction goes through.
The whole thing is a bit hazy because ebay it a sole partner.

If I buy from individual entity I pay what ever I must and then at least that entity is satisfied.
Next shipping, after some days warehouse is not free, so shipping company want their money in advance.
After that the item is paid up to a destination zone.
The item is still not going any further before destination customs have what they want.
All those combined is incoterm DDP(Delivered Duty Paid) and buyer is billed in full, single bill.

Other regular possibility is incoterm DAP(Delivered At Place) or DDU(Delivered Duty Unpaid) as alternative.
In that case you get two bills, one from the seller and one from customs, more expensive stuff from ebay go that way.

[TimFox]

The purpose for de minimis exceptions to tariffs is that below some level of value it is more trouble and expense than it is worth to collect import duty on low-value parcels.
Of course, the appropriate level for this is debatable as a political and practical issue.
As I stated in my other post, I am now waiting for a $20.00 book, shipped from Ireland to the US:  I assume the duty will be on the order of $4.00, which I am willing to pay (it is under my pain level), but I have no idea what is happening with the shipment.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/us-tariffs-on-ebay-orders-from-japan/msg6032869/#msg6032869

[Marco]

The purpose for de minimis exceptions to tariffs is that below some level of value it is more trouble and expense than it is worth to collect import duty on low-value parcels.
Of course, the appropriate level for this is debatable as a political and practical issue.

With automation and prepaid duties the practical level is almost non existent. The spot checking workload does not change and the computers work almost for free.

[TimFox]

In that other thread, I will post how that worked in the real world when I find out.
You can't even get a cup of coffee for $3.00 to $4.00.

[PlainName]

The purpose for de minimis exceptions to tariffs is that below some level of value it is more trouble and expense than it is worth to collect import duty on low-value parcels.
Of course, the appropriate level for this is debatable as a political and practical issue.

With automation and prepaid duties the practical level is almost non existent. The spot checking workload does not change and the computers work almost for free.

Is it the same? With de minimis the spot check is simply whether the item is likely under the threshold, which in most cases should be fairly simple. Without de minimis the item has to be compared to its declared value, and additionally against the declared tariff category, which is not so simple.