Tariffs FAQ

As of 5/22/25:

Key Takeaways

  • Order now to lock in current pricing and availability
  • New Shipments are on the way from China
  • Price increases are slowly happening
  • Pre-Orders are suspended to avoid surprise price increases

When will you get additional stock?

We have a large restock order from ZWO on the way that should arrive Tuesday May 27th.

About 80% of our products come from China. The reduced China tariff (still 30%, plus the earlier now silent 15%, for a total of 45%) has opened up some shipping, but with additional cost increases beyond the 20% baseline tariff added in March, and the earlier 15% added in prior years. These products have already seen two price increases. It remains to be seen what will happen after the 90 day window ends.

There is no operating margin on products from Taiwan, Canada, etc with 10% - 25% tariffs. (There are also import duties and fees that add about another 6% onto those tariff costs. The 10% tariff is really 16%.) These suppliers have not raised MAP prices, and we can't just raise the price on our own without customers demanding we match other vendors where stock is broadly available. There is no point in ordering these products. We got burned with the 25% tariff when it first hit Canadian imports, and had to sell those products for cost. The continued unpredictability of trade policy and tariffs is making us hold back on ordering most things or taking any risks with new vendors.

Will prices widely increase?

We expect so, though the exact timing and scale are still uncertain. With suppliers facing their own challenges and market instability changing daily, pricing is likely to shift as companies respond to rapidly evolving costs and risks. We’ll continue to be as fair and transparent as possible, and we’re committed to keeping you informed every step of the way.

Small businesses like MHA survive on cashflow. We don't have the money to order 12 months worth of stock, and definitely don't have the money to pay more for regular stock without raising prices. Our operating margins are already as low as 10%-15% on our most popular items. That 10-15% has to cover all of our operating expenses like employee pay, rent, utilities, credit card fees, shipping costs, toilet paper, etc. It is not possible to keep the business operating with the additional tariff costs without commensurate price increases.

Can I still place a pre-order? 

For now, we’ve paused pre-orders. The reason is simple: we don’t want to make promises we can’t keep.

With prices changing so quickly, there’s a strong chance we won’t be able to honor the pricing on new pre-orders. If you already have a pre-order with us, don’t worry—we’ll reach out directly if any changes occur before it ships. You’re also welcome to cancel at any time if you prefer.