Saxophones How will Tariffs affect Sax Prices?

[Pete Thomas]

Shipping for services, such as refacing, may be more trouble than it is worth.

That's always been tricky either way. If you send a mouthpiece from USA to France or England if they trate it like a normal pacakge it will attract duty and VAT at the border unless you do the paperwork for a temprary import licenec (e.g. what you'd do for repairs). The other way round if you send something from Engalnd or EU to US for reface or repair you pay VAT/Duty when it comes back unless the paperworks is sorted.

 

[ghostler]

And now.... Packages under US$800 no longer exempt from tariffs, so many foreign postal services suspending some post into the US

This is quite sad really. 20 years ago, I was buying motorcycle parts from Netherlands. They had a very nice heavy duty chromed package rack for the back of my 1987 Suzuki LS650 Savage motorcycle, which no one in the US made a similar part. It was very reasonably priced and then shipping costs were also reasonable. In US, it had been mostly a neglected motorcycle versus other parts of the world.

I was also ordering parts for my 1971 Honda CB100 from Europe, now forget which country, maybe Netherlands, who purchased all the left over NOS (new but old stock) factory parts for nearly all vintage motorcycles.

Shipping then was reasonable and many parts I ordered were under the minimus cap. I was also purchasing parts for these older motorcycles from Asia, plus hobby parts for model aeroplanes.

Since other countries have now placed an embargo on US and currently we make almost absolutely nothing, (nearly all manufacturing jobs were exported overseas), the tariffs make no apparent sense.

 

[Jimmymack]

I wonder if this will affect reeds sold by American retailers on prices in the UK, I’m thinking particularly of BSS but similar things apply to other manufacturers. Their reeds are made in France, exported to the US and will presumably attract tariffs. They then re-export to the rest of the world so I’m expecting that prices will rise here.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Their reeds are made in France, exported to the US

I'm sure there will be a knock on. But it makes little sense to buy reeds made in France form the US anyway, just by French reeds from France. Smaller carbon footprint.

 

[Jimmymack]

If they increase in price I may well but they are my preferred reed. It would make more sense to send them from France but I imagine it still works out cheaper to fly them around the globe. For the moment anyway. I can’t really get too concerned about the carbon footprint of a box of reeds.

 

[ghostler]

What I have noticed is the steep climb in reed prices. For example, a couple years ago, 5 years ago, I was buying an orange box of Rico tenor or bari reeds for around $44 per 25. Now, Sweetwater is selling the same box for $88. The box of 10 are now $42.

 

[Jimmymack]

Reed prices, like anything else really, keep going up and I sometimes think that the boutique reeds, such as I use, are only encouraging the others to increase their prices. Then again maybe costs are just going up. Regarding tariffs I'm just wondering if there will be a knock on effect from the US actions that's going to end up costing me more when I'm just an innocent bystander. I just bought a new box just in case, but it always gets you in the end.

 

[ESJohn]

Amazon's Jean Paul AS400 price is unchanged from my last report. They do note 15 available with "more on the way". We'll see what happens then. My Maxwell House decaf coffee is still $23.99. We don't grow coffee beans in Ohio, so the tariffs must be affecting it. Of course, we don't grow saxophones, either. Go figure.

 

[ghostler]

Just received word today from Cox International of Canada, who sells miniature model aircraft engines, parts and accessories.

Cox International - The world's largest Cox engine and parts supplier > Cox International

The world's largest Cox engine and parts supplier - Over 300 Cox items in stock - Next day shipping – Satisfaction guaranteed!

coxengines.ca

He's warning us of the now effective 35% tariff cost on all his shipments to US buyers regardless (de minimus now revoked). Cox will denote the value of the goods on the Customs Form and US buyers will pay this surcharge at their local US Post (or other shipper like UPS).

Message posted on

Cox Engine Forum

The official forum for 24/7 Cox Engines and Model Discussion! Control line, radio control, free flight. Collecting and using Cox engines and models.

www.coxengineforum.com

 

[Jimmymack]

Why does he say 'Please note that these duties are the responsibility of the shipper and will in no way affect you..'? I know why he says 'so just keep buying'.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Why does he say 'Please note that these duties are the responsibility of the shipper and will in no way affect you..'?

Possibly they have an arrangement to pay the duties themselves. Normally it is the importer as you know. However I believe it has always been possible for the shipper (ie the exporter) to do this either through the carrier or maybe direct with cusotoms.

For example ebay now has a global shipping program which I beleiive does someting similar. In that case neither the seller nor the buyer have to be bothered about duties as it's included in the price the buyer pays ebay, and then excluded from the payment to the seller.

In this case case it looks a bit odd because if it doesn't affect the buyer, there's a sort of implication that prices don't reflect this 35% - could Cox have such a high markup that they can swallow 35%? I can imagine a mark up of 50% - 60% being realistic, and to take such a large chunk from that Ie reduction of wholesale price) wouldn't seem viable.

 

[mrblackbat]

I'm sure there will be a knock on. But it makes little sense to buy reeds made in France form the US anyway, just by French reeds from France. Smaller carbon footprint.

Except that the BSS silver reed cut is the one that works best for me….

 

[rhysonsax]

Except that the BSS silver reed cut is the one that works best for me….

I also really like the BSS reeds, as well as some others made by Rigotti. Do you buy yours from the UK (e.g Headwind), the US (Boston Sax Shop) or France (Rigotti direct, or maybe they aren't allowed to sell them currently) ?

Rhys

 

[Woodpad]

Sweetwater now lowered the Jupiter bari price for three days, still more expensive than Thomann.

7-31-2025 JBS 1000 Jupiter bariton prices in $ (1.1453 exchange rate Reuters)

Thomann nl $4.253
Sweetwater us $6.579

8-10-2025 JBS 1000 Jupiter bariton prices in $ (1.1639 exchange rate Reuters)

Thomann nl $4.304
Sweetwater us $6.579

8-17-2025 JBS 1000 Jupiter bariton prices in $ (1.1702 exchange rate Reuters)

Thomann nl $4.327
Sweetwater us $6.579

8-17-2025 JBS 1000 Jupiter bariton prices in $ (1.1700 exchange rate Reuters)

Thomann nl $4.327
Sweetwater us $4.999

 

[Alphorn]

Not to start a political discussion but for the record.
Today the news reported a decision of a federal court that most of the tariffs are not covered by the law applied to introduce them. The respective law does not explicitely mention tariffs or taxes to fight a national crisis. The judge in the verdict concludes the measures introduced are basically illegal. The tariffs for the moment will stay until October14, to allow an appeal with the Supreme Court.

 

[Jimmymack]

I also really like the BSS reeds, as well as some others made by Rigotti. Do you buy yours from the UK (e.g Headwind), the US (Boston Sax Shop) or France (Rigotti direct, or maybe they aren't allowed to sell them currently) ?

Rhys

I get mine from Headwind who are the only UK supplier. As far as I know Rigotti only sell their own brand reeds. I would make sense for them to supply direct to Europe but that probably involves extra work they don't want and would have extra cost.

 

[mrblackbat]

I also really like the BSS reeds, as well as some others made by Rigotti. Do you buy yours from the UK (e.g Headwind), the US (Boston Sax Shop) or France (Rigotti direct, or maybe they aren't allowed to sell them currently) ?

Rhys

Headwind

 

[Ivan]

I've just looked at a set of tamper-proof bicycle wheel skewers made hg a German company

They're not shipping direct to UK anyway due to Brexit, so orders have to be made from UK suppliers

But they have also now stopped shipping to US due tariffs

 

[rhysonsax]

I get mine from Headwind who are the only UK supplier. As far as I know Rigotti only sell their own brand reeds. I would make sense for them to supply direct to Europe but that probably involves extra work they don't want and would have extra cost.

I just checked the Rigotti site that I have bought from previously, both before and since Brexit. As well as their own reeds they are selling Roberto's Wind (didn't they used to be called Queens ?) and now also Boston Sax Shop, both Black and Silver and "Blue Label" which is new to me and described as: "Featuring a thinner tip and filed cut, our Blue Label reeds offer legendary consistency, a quick response and full body perfect for classical playing or those seeking a supremely dark, lush tone."

Sounds interesting, although the Blue Label isn't offered yet in baritone.

Rhys

 

[Jimmymack]

I’d forgotten they have a different sales site. They’re about the same price, maybe a bit more with p&p and only seem to do boxes of 5, at least for tenor.