If anyone is considering buying a new mid-grade or lower pro-grade kit, now’s the time to do it. The new tariff increase on China imported goods will go into effect on products leaving port on June 1st. Even so, many distributors that stock China products tend to take price increases as soon as possible...even on items in existing stock that may not have been subjected to the higher tariff rate. Stock must be replaced, so when the future replacement comes at a higher price, the added cost must be recouped. When manufacturers take a price increase on a specific date, distribution raises the retail price on that product on said date...regardless of what they originally paid.

A side effect may also be an increase in price for domestic products. If the retail price of a China kit goes from $1000 to $1250, there’s a good chance the $2000 USA kit will increase to $2500.