'Bye!' Budget stores post new tariff prices — and get immediate backlash
The cheap online retailers AliExpress, Shein and Temu officially raised prices this week, citing President Donald Trump's tariffs on China. Currently, the tariff on Chinese imports is 145%.
The Verge reported Friday that Chinese imports are impacting consumers for products like electronics, cars and clothing.
Shein and Temu warned shoppers last week that the increases were coming on April 25th. The report claimed Shein had just modest increases; however, not all of the items had an increase.
"A pair of kid's fleece pants that were $8.29 on April 17th are now $10.19, The Verge wrote. "A women’s plus-size dress that was $22.39 is now $27.51. A pair of pants that were $13.99 have gone up to $17.09. Shein’s inventory and prices change daily so it’s impossible to pinpoint why an item has changed in price, but Shein shoppers have noticed their shopping carts and wish lists getting more expensive."
Bright Data told The Verge that Shein's price hikes were "modest" when compared to prices in late 2024.
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Shein also provided a note for shoppers letting them know, “Tariffs are included in the price you pay." The pop-up also promises, "You’ll never have to pay extra at delivery." There are additional taxes set to begin May 2nd, it also said. Those costs aren't included yet in the amount.
"Beginning then, packages valued under $800 that previously entered the US duty-free will be subject to new taxes of either a $100 flat rate or 120 percent of the value of the package," The Verge said.
It’s not clear if this round of Shein price increases accounts for the tariffs that will be placed on low-value packages beginning in May, and Shein didn’t immediately respond to The Verge’s questions.
In a Shein subreddit, shoppers were asking questions about "hidden" or additional costs. Others were frank that they were no longer shopping on the site.
“Bye Shein time to buy somewhere else,” The Verge cited one Reddit user with a screen capture of three items totaling $74.
Shoppers on Temu were also reporting price jumps, the report said, citing other Reddit users.
AliExpress took a different approach, prominently displaying the Trump tariffs on its website. The site offers a diverse range of products, including clothing and large items like tiny homes. Some of those listings now have “import charges and other taxes” below an item.