How New U.S. Tariffs Affect Your Orders

We wanted to give you a quick heads-up about some changes happening with shipments from the UK to the U.S. These aren’t changes we’ve chosen, but are instead new import tariffs that the U.S. government has put in place. We have a great customer base in the US and we'd like to keep it that way, so it’s only fair we explain what’s going on, what it means for your orders, and what we’re doing to help.

Here's a basic breakdown of the changes.

• From August 29, even smaller parcels under $800 will get hit with a 15% tariff, when before they often slipped through without extra duty.

• Some goods with steel or aluminium parts face up to 25% tariffs. We use aluminium parts in all of our instruments, however we're currently unsure as to whether that specific tariff is applied to items under $800. As soon as we can clear this up, we'll update this blog

In short, bringing our guitars into the U.S. has just got more expensive, and more complicated. 

What does this mean for your order?

1. Price changes – Ordering a Snapdragon guitar will now cost more because of these tariffs. You will not pay that charge at checkout and we’ll always try to keep prices as low and fair as possible, but the extra charges are out of our hands and will be collected by the courier before delivery

2. Possible delays – Customs checks will take longer now that paperwork and tariffs are being applied differently. This means a package might take a few extra days to clear once it lands in the U.S. The couriers will likely contact you via email to confirm payment of the the tariff before the package is cleared.
   

What we’re doing about it

We don’t want these changes to put you off ordering a Snapdragon guitar, so here’s what we’re doing on our side:

• Absorbing costs where we can – We are still covering shipping costs on all orders placed over £100, regardless of any increase in shipping fees due to the extra paperwork required.

• Working closely with our couriers – We’re making sure paperwork is correct and parcels move as smoothly as possible. We are also waiting for an update on wether we can pay the tariff fees up front, to expedite the process, much like we do with all orders placed in the EU. As soon as we can do this, we will.

• Keeping you in the loop – If we expect a delay with your order, or are contacted by the courier about customs clearance, we’ll let you know straight away.

We’re still shipping to the U.S. and we’re still committed to getting your orders to you safely. But with these new tariffs, please consider the possibility of extra time, cost and inconvenience.

We really value your support, especially during changes like this. If you’re unsure about how these rules might affect your order, just drop us a message—we’re always happy to chat and give you the clearest picture we can.

Thanks so much for supporting Snapdragon Guitars