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Wyze pays $255k of tariffs on $167k of floodlights

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Re: Wyze pays $255k of tariffs on $167k of floodlights

#121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So you want a worse floodlight at a higher price because of government protection?

If it employs an American and helps recreate our middle class... Yes I do. First they came for the floodlight maker's job. Next they will come for yours.

There is no unemployment problem. Producing floodlight is not high paying job. If things become more expensive, more people will fall out of the middle class because they will no longer be able to afford what they previously could.

Re: Wyze pays $255k of tariffs on $167k of floodlights

#122
post #101

Similarly HYTE, mostly known for their PC cases, gives a remarkably detailed insight, both into their cost structure and how they are impacted by tariffs, in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1W_mSOS1Qts&t=1394s They also address the question of moving their production to the US.

Was super interesting. I of course feel for them as a small business. They took risk and did the numbers and are trying to bring something great to their customers. One angle I didn’t see covered in response… dropping the quality on the product. If America just isn’t there yet on manufacturing, and people still only want to pay $139 for a computer case… surely someone in America can sell the customer a box of some so…

Because computer cases necessarily have a bunch of moderate-precision spacing for mounting hardware that are almost always stamped directly into the aluminum chassis. If the mounting isn't right, it ceases to be useful as a computer case.

Re: Wyze pays $255k of tariffs on $167k of floodlights

#124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think there's enough manufacturing capacity in Seattle to absorb this. There are plenty of CMs here but they're small and midsized, not the big boys. And they're not in the habit of running mostly empty.

And they’re not the sort of places where you get boards for consumer electronics made. They’re doing microwave/high frequency boards for companies like Boeing.

They'll absolutely do consumer product assembly. It's short-run versus mass-production that's the real problem, most of them just aren't set up for high volume.

Board fab though, not so much. I don't think we have a PCB fab left in the area after losing Prototron. I'd be more sad about that, except that I don't think I ever had a single order with Prototron that actually went smoothly and came back correctly.

Re: Wyze pays $255k of tariffs on $167k of floodlights

#125
Video is a must watch.

Who needs enemies - when a country is made unhealthy (due to all the new regressive HHS directives), manufacturing anything is costly, importing is unfeasible due to tariffs, misinformation, deporting anyone without due process and on and on?

Re: Wyze pays $255k of tariffs on $167k of floodlights

#126
post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple is shifting its production to India, but in reality, the phones are just assembled in India. All the components are made in China, shipped to India, where they are put together. China still captures 90% of the value

I don't know the latest, but as of like 6-8 mo ago. India hasn't been able to produce much (anything?), despite having millions of dollars of Chinese equipment ready to be put into use.

https://www.patentlyapple.com/2024/04/apple-now-makes-14-of-...

You are incorrect.

> Apple Inc has assembled $14 billion worth of iPhones in India in fiscal 2024, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday.

Re: Wyze pays $255k of tariffs on $167k of floodlights

#127

Could someone explain to an idiot like me what the benefit of this is to the americans?

Nobody seems to talk about tariffs used as a negotiating tactic.

There are unfair trade practices other countries have imposed against the united states, and raising tariffs starts negotiations.

That said, don't know how unfair other countries were per-country, and how negotiating has benefited from the tariffs.

Re: Wyze pays $255k of tariffs on $167k of floodlights

#128

I'm guessing a ton of new companies will pop up overnight in India, Taiwan, Vietnam, S Korea that simply purchase components from China and resell them to the US. Not exactly helping anyone.

Aliexpress has been routing packages through Africa and other places to dodge tariffs

Re: Wyze pays $255k of tariffs on $167k of floodlights

#129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If it employs an American and helps recreate our middle class... Yes I do. First they came for the floodlight maker's job. Next they will come for yours.

There is no unemployment problem. Producing floodlight is not high paying job. If things become more expensive, more people will fall out of the middle class because they will no longer be able to afford what they previously could.

There is an enormous problem with sub-employment. Scores of Americans "employed" in activities such as Uber/Lyft driving, food delivery and quasi-prostitution (OnlyFans and adjacent).

Floodlight making would be a huge step up for Americans leaving small towns for terrible jobs in big cities.

Check the problem with drug addiction in small and medium cities.

Re: Wyze pays $255k of tariffs on $167k of floodlights

#130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I thought a majority of Chinese businesses are state owned. Their neighbors understand the stakes though and have demonstrated eagerness to have low US tariff rates. I assume their customs agencies will be on the lookout for this relabeling strategy. It's going to occur, as it already does occur, for all kinds of reasons, but it's not going to be as simple as you make it out to be. There is a limited capacity to perf…

> I thought a majority of Chinese businesses are state owned. Where'd you get that? The state has a significant (though usually less than controlling) ownership stake in about 1.5% of Chinese businesses, and at least _some_ ownership in about 2%. "The state owns some of this" is, of course, not equivalent to "the state meaningfully controls this". But in any case for this sort of activity you'd probably just establis…

I have never been to China, but you sound informed on the topic - maybe you can weight in on that.

I've heard from various YouTube channels covering news about China, it's social issues and shenanigans that all companies above a certain size are required to have someone on staff that's essentially part of the government. These channels are however mostly run by people speaking very good English, so clearly made for the western market.

But Googling that information seems to confirm it, too. I.e.

> Since 2018, domestically-listed companies are required to establish a party entity.

I cannot speak with confidence on the topic, but from an uninformed spectators perspective, it does sound like timewizards argument was correct?

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