11 minutes ago, Micro Module Police said:

What the hell??? If this applies to fishing reels, that's ridiculous.

That number applies to raw materials (bar/rod stock). Manufactured items - like fishing reels - have a different tariff...the new 15% across-the-board-rate announced recently

14 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

After a quick Google search - Aluminum, steel and copper all have a 50% tariff currently.

That’s a tariff for raw materials coming into the US. That does not factor into a reel that has an aluminum side plate for example.

EDITED: Oops - @MN Fisher beat me to it…

On 2/22/2026 at 8:56 PM, Micro Module Police said:

What the hell??? If this applies to fishing reels, that's ridiculous.

Fishing reels are itemized in the HTS so it does not apply to them.

On 2/22/2026 at 7:51 PM, Swimbaitstud said:

It’s definitely not. I have talked to dozens of guys getting the same thing. It’s the tariff fees and then all the crap they add on for “handling”, “processing”, “thumb with no lube” fees and just throw it all in. Trust me….i used to order about $1,000 a week in tackle from Japan prior to last September. Since then, I made one order and got taxed out the wazoo. If there is a way around it, I sure haven’t found it yet.

That’s true, but It’s a separate matter. The shipper (dhl for example) can charge you a processing/handling fee but that’s not the same as a tariff.

I have seen other times where people were charged the wrong tariff rate because an item was classified improperly or customs mistakenly charges the wrong rate.

And if you’ve never perused the HTS, it’s a beast. You really have to know what you’re doing as things can fall into multiple categories with (often times) different rates.

This is so complicated and annoying.

The complication and annoyance is in the brokerage fee couriers are charging.

Form CN23, which I described on the First Two pages of this thread, includes the steel- and aluminum-derivatives calculation. Add the complication of Japanese courier office and vendor with limited ability to interpret the form or even talk to the USA-side of their business. It's inherent in the Japanese nature to fill out the form with detailed integrity - the vendors doing a really good job have learned how to "dart-board" the form.

If you shopped in Japan 20 years ago, you'd understand the language barrier - google translate didn't work until just a few years ago.

I find the tariff process extremely complicated as well (probably just an age thing for me). I've found myself spending more time looking for smaller custom domestic shops to buy my bait and gear. I know this isn't possible on all items. But I've discovered I'm ok with paying more for a custom domestic solution. I haven't been displeased with any of these purchases I've made to-date.

Well, in your defense, the HTS in and of itself isn’t really meant to be read/understood by the average consumer. The exporter has to provide some of the coding required and the importer provides some. It’s a convoluted issue. Then, if you want to make it even more fun, throw in HAZMAT or explosives in there…

Ordered another Zillion from Digitaka last week. Was woken up from a phone call from Fed Ex customs this morning. The lady asked me if the package contained aluminum. Being half asleep and surprised by the phone call, I just said I don’t think so. Am I going to be charged another fee?

12 hours ago, LonnieP said:

arg

If they call back just clarify... "it contains Duralumin"

Let then figure out the made up tax on that made up material

I have just ordered a few items from 7Palms (JPN) Tackle shop (I would have used Digitaka as their process in regard to charges is more straight forward/transparent, yet the items I was looking for were out of stock on their site) -- most of the items I purchased are approximately half of what they would cost in the US (based on today's conversion of Yen to US Dollar) -- yet when the shipping/duty is factored in that drops to about 30% off per item (from what it would cost purchasing in the US, yet these are items I cannot find in the US) -- it is my understanding that there will be no additional charges, yet we shall see, I will post an update when the entire transaction is complete (ie, when I have the lures in hand)

Ok - my experience/costs with purchasing JDM tackle thru 7Palms (JPN) Tackle shop (order was placed 03/02/26, it should arrive on 03/10/26) -- The 7Palms website is VERY clunky to navigate, yet you can find some real gems on it

-Total Price for the lures - $160 USD (Yen to USDollar) -- if these lures were available in the US (based on my research) this would have been approx. $320 USD (so the initial cost to purchase from 7Palms is approx. 50% of what the cost would be purchasing thru a US shop)

-"Shipping" Cost - $52 (Yen to USDollar)-- this is a cost that was placed on the initial receipt from 7Palms (I looked to use a translation of the Japanese words that are on the receipt which seem to indicate this is a "Shipping/Processing" fee) -- so now the total price for the lures has climbed to $212 USDollars (7Palms is transparent on their receipt that they will not "Misrepresent" the items that are being shipped, ie, they will operate with integrity and not fudge the paperwork to get a lower duty/tariff rate)

-DHL then sent me a bill for $48 -- which broke down as: (I rounded these to the nearest USDollar)

-Regulatory Charge - $2 (USDollars)

-Import/Export Duties - $28 (USDollars)

-Duty Tax Processing - $18 (USDollars)

---

This brings the total cost for the lures to approx. $260 USDollars (vs. the approximate $320 it would have cost in USDollars if these lures were available and purchased in the US) or approx. a 20% savings (if my math is correct, which it often is not -- and if I purchased in/from a state that charges tax on goods this could shift the dollars a bit)

So -- what starts out looking great at a 50% savings ($160 vs. $320) dwindles fast when you add in the "Fees" -- out of those "Fees" it seems the $52 charged by 7Palms is a bit high (yet perhaps that is what DHL charges them ?) and the DHL $18 "Duty Tax Processing" seems like a money grab on their part (where the Import/Export Duties may just be what the US charges them ?)

In the end I was able to purchase lures that I cannot find in the US and also save some money (vs. US cost) -- so it was "worth it" to me, yet it very well may not be to others

A Digitaka purchase would be much more straight forward -- My hope is more JDM companies will adopt their policies/process

On 3/4/2026 at 10:08 AM, LonnieP said:

Ordered another Zillion from Digitaka last week. Was woken up from a phone call from Fed Ex customs this morning. The lady asked me if the package contained aluminum. Being half asleep and surprised by the phone call, I just said I don’t think so. Am I going to be charged another fee?

Did you get charged anything else?

It might be a few but I have been thinking of upgrading one of my reels and placing order.

31 minutes ago, FishTank said:

Did you get charged anything else?

It might be a few but I have been thinking of upgrading one of my reels and placing order.

No, they didn’t charge me any extra. It just got held up for 2 days.

I had not purchased anything since before the tariff madness kicked off. Finally broke down and placed an order for a reel with Digitaka. Post SC ruling there are still tariffs and fees in place but the split works out to 10% which is effectively like paying local sales tax. Order shipped with FedEX, never any contact from them and it was delivered today without issue.

So I managed to finally find a brand new 1016sv spool from Japan Tackle and paid a ghastly $89, oh you want it shipped too? That'll be another $33.98 ugh. Then dhl hits me up today, sure we'll deliver it, right after you pay us another $20.53 (15%), yep I paid $143.51 for a spool for my zillion. I better be able to cast over them mountains...

On 3/11/2026 at 3:06 PM, Peacedivision said:

I had not purchased anything since before the tariff madness kicked off. Finally broke down and placed an order for a reel with Digitaka. Post SC ruling there are still tariffs and fees in place but the split works out to 10% which is effectively like paying local sales tax. Order shipped with FedEX, never any contact from them and it was delivered today without issue.

I just had a similar experience ordering a 2026 JDM Zodias spinning rod from Digitaka. Delivered by DHL without any drama. Even with the 10 percent "surcharge" (I don't really feel right calling it that, it's actually a very good deal) with Digitaka, it came out to almost exactly 200 dollars, still less than buying domestically, and I can get a model not available in the US. I'm hoping no mystery charge shows up from DHL down the line, I'm not expecting it to.

Digitaka is absolutely the way to go now, although selection seems a bit limited right now. I've noticed there are some Japanese sellers on eBay now that say all importing costs are included in their price but I haven't tried any of them.

I'm building a bicycle from frame currently, ordering parts from Spain, Germany, UK, and Japan.

Every vendor I'm dealing with charges and prepays import duty up front. They've even returned to shipping airmail and USPS delivery from EU, for cost-effective shopping. The process is getting painless. The savings can be dramatic - handmade polyester-linen-casing Vittoria tires (now made in Thailand but sold under their Italian name) that are $125+ from US vendors are $56 from Spain. Even post within US vs. from Spain is only $3 difference. Buying from EU, their 17% VAT gets subtracted from your purchase - buying from Japan you're still paying their 10% VAT (Japan taxes).

I will always say taxing discretionary spending (while still saving money) seems like a very fair way to pay down budget deficit and the national debt, which is the result of true madness (40% of all money in history was created - imagined - in the past 5 years, and it became our debt that we didn't ask for). It just took awhile for vendors, shippers, and buyers to settle into the change. But every other country on the planet charges VAT, a simple reason DHL already has the experience, and is picking up more business.

Noticed Digitaka is adding a 500 yen foreign shipping fee (currently $3.19 US). Speaking of Japanese currency, what caused the yen to dollar value change today?

8 minutes ago, Gnarwhal said:

Speaking of Japanese currency, what caused the yen to dollar value change today?

Money is exchanged in markets just like any other commodity - such as corn, wheat, pigs, oil....so market bidders are what controls the exchange rate between currencies - not government. The exchange rate can change daily...even hourly.

4 hours ago, Gnarwhal said:

Noticed Digitaka is adding a 500 yen foreign shipping fee (currently $3.19 US). Speaking of Japanese currency, what caused the yen to dollar value change today?

Did exchange rate improve or get worse? Just curious since I made a good sized order from Digi a few days ago. Btw shipping was free but they are closed until 5/13 (which I didn’t notice until after I placed my order - oh well).

JPY vs. US$ hasn't changed more than 1 % in the past 2 weeks, and today is the strongest $ in that period.

When you're buing $200 reels, $3 is not a significant fee, especially when the option is paying USM retail.

On 5/1/2026 at 4:29 PM, bulldog1935 said:

JPY vs. US$ hasn't changed more than 1 % in the past 2 weeks, and today is the strongest $ in that period.

When you're buing $200 reels, $3 is not a significant fee, especially when the option is paying USM retail.

Dang. It had been sitting at 160 for quite some time. 157 is still good regardless.

It's no difference. Look at it as all of Japan is 30% off.

Japan intentionally manipulates their currency value against the dollar, because they know a stronger dollar promotes a larger export market for Japan.

Anyone else notice the price increase at digitaka? Daiwa reels have definitely gone up. I can’t remember prices of other brands, does anyone know if they’ve gone up as well?