Jazajia
Well-known member
You are correct, however, it is difficult to configure automated shipping calculators to do that, specially with platforms such as Wix, which A LOT of us "new" retailers are using.
Gemini May 2025 Releases
- Thread starter swagninja84
- Start date
You are correct, however, it is difficult to configure automated shipping calculators to do that, specially with platforms such as Wix, which A LOT of us "new" retailers are using.
It'll be really interesting to see how long it is before something long lasting is negotiated. Having said that the margin on these 400 scale models is so low that even a tariff of 25% is pretty hard to sustain - let alone whatever it is the tariffs are at currently.
Just impossible to do business in an environment of such uncertainty.
Pre-ordering models when you have no idea when they'll be shipped is a bit odd, but no different to JC Wings future releases I guess
Just impossible to do business in an environment of such uncertainty.
Pre-ordering models when you have no idea when they'll be shipped is a bit odd, but no different to JC Wings future releases I guess
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squatchys_diecast_hangar
Active member
Everything that Gemini sells or distributes from North America is funneled through Las Vegas, so the entirety of North America is on pause right now, to include Canada
squatchys_diecast_hangar
Active member
We have no control over the Wix site and how it’s processed. It’s calculated on the current postal rates, we don’t set them, it’s all done through Wix and the current rates. So we suggest buying all your models at once to avoid a second shipment. My team processes very quickly, so once a label is made, it’s completed. $19 for four models sounds about right, we also ship from the west coast, so if you are east then it’s also more. We aren’t offering any discounts currently as we are weathering this trade war and keeping a weary eye out. We are already more than reasonable on all of our models, and running a brick and mortar store with employees also adds to our expenses. We are trying to keep staff on board as well if this drags out, which seems it will, for an unexplained amount of time. We also haven’t raised our prices beyond what has been passed onto us, which other retailers have gone ahead and done already, and then some.
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I was going to wait to order the Midwest anyway.
pedrominiaturas
Member
True. To be honest, people trust too much on the politicians. The worst for me is when they see successful businessman (I am not sure the orange man can be considered one) applying for office and they instantly think they will handle government in the correct way and worst, people believe they will be rich as these politicians. Rich people dont care about middle class and poor people. They never did and they never will.
pedrominiaturas
Member
Guys, meanwhile this madness doesnt come to an end, I highly suggest the collectors to order models from you favorite retailer that are also in stock at the Gemini website. There are some models still in stock there that are very interesting. I order a lot of stock models there to my clients and I just had a surge in demand, since those models already are in the US.
MIAv8Diecast
Well-known member
How reliable is it to pre-order models? I have wanted to pre-order some of next month's NG's but I'm unsure that we will see them in the states any time soon.. Seems like a lot of retailers are trying to operate as everything is normal but I don't see any of them paying 145% duties on imports causing all pre-orders to be held up in port or turned away.
pedrominiaturas
Member
In some cases, models are imported by a third party and resold to stores in US. The distributors have ceased imports until this madness comes to an end. Dont expect products to be arriving in the US until Trump backs down.
To be honest, some duty will be applied in the future, at least 20% in my opinion.
Stores that import directly from China may have their own arrangements to avoid these duties anyway, but is more reliable to call the store and ask their plans.
MIAv8Diecast
Well-known member
I'm reluctant to pay money on pre-orders with no idea when they may arrive if ever and or turned away due to a retailer not being able to stomach the cost of the imports...
swagninja84
Well-known member
Then choose one that doesn't charge until it ships?
MIAv8Diecast
Well-known member
I don't know of any retailers that do this...
Mikeymag
Well-known member
eztoys doesn't charge for pre-orders, until it ships.
squatchys_diecast_hangar
Active member
All US retailers are in a holding pattern for new releases currently. We are placing them with the manufacturers, and they are holding until the trade war is lifted. But I will tell you that I’m sure many of those retailers that choose to hold out and not cease operations, are making very minimal orders with them. Why? Because when and if it does finally resolve, they could have pretty large invoices for essentially old stock at that point. Most of the online US retailers don’t have the same business plan as we do, as a brick and mortar business. We can hang into that extra stock as it fills the shelves. But even at that, our orders will be small with each new releases currently that passes.
MIAv8Diecast
Well-known member
Very informative... I appreciate the insight as this has been quite confusing from the consumer side of the hobby.
Jazajia
Well-known member
Really?
Not in my experience.
But even if they did, it makes no difference. Say Kam lists a model for $40. Someone pre-orders. Kam does not charge for the pre-order right away. When the model finally arrives, the tariffs have pushed the cost of the order up to, say, $50. Kam will charge then, but will likely charge more than originally agreed on, or cancel the pre-order, or lose money.
Alphaless
Well-known member
I had an email exchange with Waffle Collectibles last week with a similar matter on my mind. Masha informed me that the price you pay on a preorder is a "locked-in price", and will not be subject to any additional surcharges later on. I chose to preorder a pair of the new NGs from them, but in hindsight, this was probably not the best idea. I shall see if this holds to be true.
MIAv8Diecast
Well-known member
It’s tricky because some of these models are really sought after and better than what the competition offers… but nobody knows what’s going to happen so you either role the dice and pre-order and or miss out / loose your money.
squatchys_diecast_hangar
Active member
I highly advise not doing any pre-orders at all during this time. They can say anything they want, but they can simply just refund your money for the original price and then list it for what it actually cost them. Not to mention that money could be literally tied up for years. Keep in mind that the retailer attrition rate in the US is going to be very high with the lack of any releases, for in my opinion, and just my opinion, the rest of the year. We don’t do pre-orders for a reason, it can get super messy.
