Amazon Prices Explode as Sellers Panic-Shift Manufacturing to Anywhere But China…

Pour one out for my wife, you guys…

As it turns out, Amazon sellers are quietly (but aggressively) raising prices across the board. From kitchen appliances to jewelry to your essential “Live Laugh Love” magnets, everything is getting jacked up. Aaaand because why, you ask? Well it’s not inflation, and it certainly isn’t the fact that Gen Z just learned what a mortgage is. Instead, it’s Donnie Politic’ big swinging tariffs on Chinese imports that has sellers scrambling like cockroaches under a kitchen light. 

(Source: Giphy) 

In short, the data is brutal. SmartScout tracked 930 products on Amazon that have seen price hikes since April 9. Bigly. Meaning, anything that remotely smells Chinese is getting hammered—and not in a good way. Additionally, about 25% of the price increases are coming from Chinese sellers themselves. Which makes sense considering they are getting clobbered with 145% import duties and still have the stones to pass it directly to you with a smile and a "thank you for your order" email.

Meanwhile, U.S.-based sellers like Zulay Kitchen are getting throat-punched. Aaron Cordovez, co-founder of Zulay, is in full survival mode, trying to move production to India and Mexico while praying inventory holds together long enough that he doesn't have to start selling blood plasma on the side. Of course, Cordovez has already jacked up prices on his kitchen strainers from $9.99 to $12.99, but that’s just the start. He’s already laid off 19% of his staff and has slashed ad spending by 85%. Because apparently, in 2025, you either raise prices or you die. That’s it. There are no other options.

(Source: CNBC) 

What’s more is that Desert Cactus, another U.S. seller, is looking at a 170% import fee on license plate frames. A piece of stamped metal that used to be taxed at 4%. Lawd have mercay. Joe Stefani, the president, says he’s trying to move production too, but just like Zulay, that’s a multi-year logistical mind f**k that isn’t going to get fixed with a Zoom call and a handshake. 

Now with that said, what’s Amazon saying about this? Well, their stance is about as reassuring as my risk of kidney stones from my Coke addiction. Basically they are sticking to their script: sellers set their own prices, and we’re still cheaper than Walmart on most stuff. However, while sellers are getting strangled, consumers are about to find out what a real supply shock feels like. You thought paying $50 for a hat at the ballpark was bad? Try paying $50 for a hat on Amazon and realizing you still have to pay for shipping unless you cough up another $12 bucks for prime. 

(Source: CBS News) 

The moral of the story of this article/borderline rant, is that Trump’s tariffs are doing exactly what tariffs are supposed to do: make it economically suicidal to import from China. Whether you think that's smart trade policy or economic self-immolation depends entirely on how much money you have tied up in Alibaba stock. 

But, but, but… make no mistake, the days of endless cheap crap from China are circling the drain (sup, Temu)---especially as sellers are bolting for Vietnam, India, and Mexico… a.k.a. Anywhere they can find someone willing to work 14-hour shifts for less than a haircut. Perhaps they should phone a friend named Tim Cook? 

(Source: Giphy) 

But alas, the reality is Amazon sellers are getting crushed and we as consumers are getting hosed in the process. Of course, only time will tell how long it will take before this all blows over… but given the fact that Chinese are denying that trade talks are even happening basically tells us we have a long way to go before everyone achieves happiness again. For now,  maybe watch extreme couponers for tips and place your bets accordingly. Until next time, friends… 

P.S. Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t know you liked getting rekt. Let’s face it, retail investors get the short end of the stick all day everyday. It’s the smart money’s world, and we are just living in it–only useful when it comes to liquidity purposes in the market. Meaning, if you’re as pissed off as I was when I found out Milli Vanilli was lip syncing the whole time, then it’s time to go from investing blind, to investing smart. Luckily for you, the key is right here as a Stocks.News premium member. Click here to see exactly how our premium members are printing while others quake in the face of today’s market chaos. 

Stocks.News holds positions in Amazon as mentioned in the article.