'Make America Great Again' hats could double in price after new US tariffs: Merchandiser

[bostonangler]

The latest round of tariffs on products from China proposed by President Donald Trump could double the price of "Make America Great Again" hats inspired by his 2016 campaign slogan, according to a merchandiser who imports them.

The new tariffs announced Thursday would hit $200 billion worth of Chinese imports, especially consumer goods, including the popular hats sported by Trump supporters around the nation, according to a story first reported by the Associated Press.

David Lassoff is the manager of a California-based company that sells a range of novelty items online.

 

Incrediblegifts

"Make America Great Again" hat produced by Incrediblegifts who say the price could double with new US tariffs.more +

 

He told ABC News his company, IncredibleGifts, typically imports the red hats from China and embroiders them in the U.S. But now the company may have to complete both tasks in the U.S., which could raise prices significantly.

"We usually sell the MAGA hats for around $9 to $12. But it could go up to $20 if we had to make them in the U.S. and embroider them here," Lassoff said.

Lassoff said a few Chinese manufacturers recently notified his company that they were "nervous" about the potential impact of these tariffs and, in the future, may charge more money per order.

"There might be a limited quantity [of hats] in the future. We’re trying to make sure we have enough hats in stock now, so if things change, we’re prepared," he said.

The U.S. Trade Representative’s office did not respond to ABC News' request for comment.

While IncredibleGifts isn’t affiliated with the Trump campaign, Lassoff said the company has sold "a few 100,000 MAGA hats" since Trump announced his candidacy in June 2015.

"They’re our hottest item," he said of the classic red hats with embroidered white lettering.

Amy Lee, manager of The Hat Depot, a New Jersey-based company that also sells the unofficial MAGA hats, said the hats are a big product for her company as well.

"They’re a bestseller," she said, adding that her company sells these hats in different colors and typically receives "20 orders a day" of the red hats alone.

 

UIG via Getty Images, FILE

Donald Trump speaks during a rally aboard the Battleship USS Iowa in Los Angeles, while wearing a 'Make America Great Again' hat, Sept. 15, 2015.more +

 

But Lee said manufacturers in China haven’t yet reached out to The Hat Depot about the possible impact of these tariffs.

"We buy our hats from China for $3, and we sell them for $14," she told ABC News, adding that the Chinese factory "does everything" from manufacturing to embroidery.

Moving forward, Lassoff said his company is "thinking about" importing goods from Vietnam to avoid the proposed tariffs.

"I think they would be negative for any business selling goods from China," he said. He attributes the difficulty of manufacturing goods in the US to "taxes and regulations and safety issues" that he says makes it hard to run a business.

Lassoff said he also hopes big online retailers like Amazon and Walmart will lobby against the proposed tariffs on behalf of smaller companies that use their platforms.

"Our company is way too small to do anything," he said.

 

 

B/A

[Shabibilicious]

The new 2018 edition.....it's all the rage.  

 

 

GO RV, then BV

[bostonangler]

US auto tariffs may raise cost: A threat by the U.S. government to impose tariffs of up to 25% on imported auto parts could hit consumers in unexpected ways: higher repair costs, insurance premiums and even the theft of more cars for their parts, the industry said. President Donald Trump’s administration has launched an investigation into whether auto imports pose a national security threat and threatened to slap the tariffs on cars from the European Union and elsewhere. [Reuters]

[Shabibilicious]

Time to invest in tariff free tanning goggles and spray tanner.   

 

 

GO RV, then BV

[Indraman]

@bostonangler, the premise and title of this article is Fake News, but the concept of rising prices due to a trade war is a very real possibility. I believe if you do a little research you would find out that the authentic MAGA hats are manufactured in the USA. Only the counterfeit hats are brought in from China. So the man quoted in the article saying his hat prices could rise, must be selling counterfeit hats.

 

Indy

[bostonangler]

8 minutes ago, Indraman said:

@bostonangler, the premise and title of this article is Fake News, but the concept of rising prices due to a trade war is a very real possibility. I believe if you do a little research you would find out that the authentic MAGA hats are manufactured in the USA. Only the counterfeit hats are brought in from China. So the man quoted in the article saying his hat prices could rise, must be selling counterfeit hats.

 

Indy

 

 

Maybe so, but according to this business manager, her words.... Supporters are buying the fakes... I wonder why.

 

Amy Lee, manager of The Hat Depot, a New Jersey-based company that also sells the unofficial MAGA hats, said the hats are a big product for her company as well.

"They’re a bestseller," she said, adding that her company sells these hats in different colors and typically receives "20 orders a day" of the red hats alone.

Here's another merchant...

IncredibleGifts, typically imports the red hats from China and embroiders them in the U.S. But now the company may have to complete both tasks in the U.S., which could raise prices significantly.

"We usually sell the MAGA hats for around $9 to $12. But it could go up to $20 if we had to make them in the U.S. and embroider them here," Lassoff said.

 

People love the America, but they love cheap Chinese crap. Here is the question. Will they buy them in the same numbers when they have to pay the tariffed rate, or the ones made in America, or will they think they are too expensive?

 

B/A

 

Edited July 19, 2018 by bostonangler

[Shabibilicious]

The hat may be American Made, Trump ties though........not so much.  

 

 

 

I only bring it up over and over again because...........TRUTH.

 

GO RV, then BV

[nstoolman1]

1 hour ago, bostonangler said:

Maybe so, but according to this business manager, her words.... Supporters are buying the fakes... I wonder why.

 

 

Because they cost less. Duh. How is she a business manager and not know that? 

[bostonangler]

14 minutes ago, nstoolman1 said:

 

 

Because they cost less. Duh. How is she a business manager and not know that? 

 

But would they pay $20 instead of $10? That is what they are worried about. 

 

B/A

[nstoolman1]

They should be worried. They are making a huge profit off of knock offs. 

Now they may have to actually purchase American made hats to sell and it scares them. 

 

[nstoolman1]

1 hour ago, Shabibilicious said:

 

I only bring it up over and over again because...........TRUTH. Of hatred of the man.

 

There FIFY

 

 

[Shabibilicious]

2 minutes ago, nstoolman1 said:

 

 

No, no....actual TRUTH....right there in front of you....Made in China.

 

What does FIFY mean?

 

GO RV, then BV

 

[nstoolman1]

Fixed it for you.

 

 

[Shabibilicious]

2 minutes ago, nstoolman1 said:

Fixed it for you.

 

Ahh....I learned something new today, thanks.  However, I'm quite certain you fixed it for yourself, not me.

 

GO RV, then BV  

[bostonangler]

1 hour ago, nstoolman1 said:

They should be worried. They are making a huge profit off of knock offs. 

Now they may have to actually purchase American made hats to sell and it scares them. 

 

 

No what scares them is if they stock them and then nobody buys them...

 

B/A