Should I make my big electronics purchase now?

[pete6032]

I was hoping for a sale over the next month on tablets but I'm assuming electronics prices will just go up due to tariffs. Thoughts?

 

[BoomerD]

Unfortunately, there's absolutely no way to know what will happen with the tariffs.

 

[lxskllr]

I don't see prices going anywhere but up. If my plans were as soon as next couple months, I'd buy today.

 

[Charmonium]

If we have a fully fledged recession, there should be a lot of sales.

 

[Paperdoc]

On tariffs there is no question. Trump has imposed tariffs on EVERYTHING not made in the USA, and that certainly includes almost all electronic devices. Most of those are from countries with pretty high tariff rates imposed, so ALL such items will see BIG price increases. The only exception in the SHORT TERM may be items that are already in stock in a local store, AND that store does not decide to raise the prices NOW on old stock. Never forget: tariffs are a TAX (called something else to hide the truth) paid entirely by the end-use buyer, and NOT by the maker or foreign country or local store.

 

[Brainonska511]

I purchased a new laptop from Micro Center yesterday because I only see prices going up thanks to the Orange Menace. And basically not going to be buying anything that I might consider "nice to have" (eg, not necessary) to help ride out the coming shit storm.

If we have a fully fledged recession, there should be a lot of sales.

Places can only mark stuff down so much. Tariffs will hit every item as they come into the country. This is going to disrupt supply chains for those that can't afford the tariffs, and for those that can, they're going to be forced to mark up their stuff. This is going to be like COVID without the deadly virus running around.

 

[lxskllr]

I would also expect the secondary market to increase in price. When people get priced out of the new market, the used and distressed markets will probably get upward pressure.

I don't really know any of this dumb shit. I'm just trying to logic my way through it, but logic fails with irrational idiots(where's the toiletpaper and beans?!). It's been severely pissing me off though. I'm neither patient nor tolerant in the best of times, and none of this has been helping at all.

 

[Thump553]

If you NEED the tablet, get it now. Ditto re other ESSENTIALS. Otherwise cash will be king, even if all we have is a stock market crash (as opposed to a full blown economic recession/depression) in the near future. How solid is your job-how solid is anyone's with the lunatics in charge? If inflation really starts to take off I'll change my course on holding as much cash/cash equivalents as possible

 

[pmv]

Have the same dilemma - gonna need a new PC before WIn10 goes out of support. More complicated as I'm not in the US. I presume some components will be from the US, but maybe built with sub-components from countries outside the US, so will go up in price due to tariffs, even if the UK doesn't retaliate with tariffs on US goods.

But then again, maybe some parts come directly from Asia, and those might go _down_ in price as stuff gets redirected from US markets to places that haven't just stabbed themselves in the face? (Or at least, have only exiled themselves from the EU, not from the entire global system of trade).

Really can't work it out.

 

[jpiniero]

Have the same dilemma - gonna need a new PC before WIn10 goes out of support. More complicated as I'm not in the US. I presume some components will be from the US, but maybe built with sub-components from countries outside the US, so will go up in price due to tariffs, even if the UK doesn't retaliate with tariffs on US goods.

Intel's processors are the only thing you would have to worry about. Pretty much everything else is made or assembled in Asia.

 

[bbhaag]

Which tariffs are you concerned about? Personally I've only heard about the threat of tariffs but have yet to see one implemented.

I always just buy what I want when I need it despite economic uncertainties.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Which tariffs are you concerned about? Personally I've only heard about the threat of tariffs but have yet to see one implemented.

I always just buy what I want when I need it despite economic uncertainties.

-Generally a good rule.

Timing the market regardless can be a fool's errand (unless there is some blatantly obvious cyclical trend), if you need something and you can afford it (not just buy it) then do it and don't look back.

 

[MrSquished]

Which tariffs are you concerned about? Personally I've only heard about the threat of tariffs but have yet to see one implemented.

I always just buy what I want when I need it despite economic uncertainties.

What tariffs are even worth worth worrying about? There's been no implemented tariffs just threats!

I have to ask. Where do you get your news from?

 

[Paperdoc]

It is Apr 7 now. The 10% tariff rates on most countries already went into effect on Apr 5. The much higher rates on about 60 countries Trump considers "worst offenders" (including most Pacific rim countries) will take effect on Apr 9. I suggest there is NO time for "wait and see".

Several above are voicing the policy, "not going to be buying anything that I might consider "nice to have" (eg, not necessary) to help ride out the coming shit storm". And as another poster notes, the effect WILL impact secondary markets (i.e., used stuff for resale). BOTH of these are important effects that will help to drive all prices of everything up. Even things Made in America will be impacted, both by the cost of imported components and by the costs for energy (oil, gas and electricity). That reduces buying on a wide scale, a STRONG factor in all economic activity in the USA leading to a real depression.

 

[dullard]

What tariffs are even worth worth worrying about? There's been no implemented tariffs just threats!

I have to ask. Where do you get your news from?

The 10% tariffs are now being collected. That started April 5th. The remaining tariffs have not yet started, but will within the week (unless something changes again).

This is plain fact that is easily confirmed. The source of news only matters if you are so biased that you ignore the truth. But, since you asked, I usually use Reuters which is not US-based and has no skin in the US politics game. https://www.reuters.com/markets/us-...ariff-smashing-global-trade-norms-2025-04-05/

U.S. customs agents began collecting President Donald Trump's unilateral 10% tariff on all imports from many countries on Saturday, with higher levies on goods from 57 larger trading partners due to start next week.

If you want a biased source, here is Fox: https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy...ariffs-imports-from-many-countries-now-effect

Australia, Britain, Colombia, Argentina, Egypt and Saudi Arabia were among the countries first slapped with the 10% tariff. There appears to be no grace period for cargoes on the water at midnight on Saturday, according to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection bulletin to shippers.

Now there are threatened tariffs in addition to that. 34% more next week and 50% more just announced today.

https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/stock-market-trump-tariffs-trade-war-04-07-25/card/trump-threatens-higher-tariffs-on-china-in-new-social-media-post-FBdyJkNi4IjF8qmBtx59

President Trump said he plans to add an additional 50% tariff on China starting Wednesday if the country doesn’t withdraw its retaliatory tariff increase on the U.S. China, the second-largest economy behind the U.S., said last week it would hit all U.S. goods with an additional 34% tariff starting Thursday.

Now 10% might not be worthy of being worried about. But, since most tablets are from China adding 34% and then another 50% might make quite a difference in people's budgets.

 

[MrSquished]

The 10% tariffs are now being collected. That started April 5th. The remaining tariffs have not yet started, but will within the week.

This is plain fact that is easily confirmed. The source of news only matters if you are so biased that you ignore the truth. But, since you asked, I usually use Reuters which is not US-based and has no skin in the US politics game. https://www.reuters.com/markets/us-...ariff-smashing-global-trade-norms-2025-04-05/

Ummm yes the 10% tariffs in place are actually tariffs in place, he said there weren't any, so thanks for proving my point. Also, actually the 25% tariffs on Canada have been in effect for about a month. also the automotive tariffs all took effect already. and some others. do you have any other misinformation to report?

and my point was also the tariff wars, whatever is implemented quite yet or not, are strongly affecting the markets. You do know there have been layoffs (automotive industry) https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/03/business/tariff-related-layoffs-hit-five-us-auto-plants/index.html

the markets are in turmoil. Canadian boycotts are having a measurable effect on various industries here. And as far as electronics goes, that is already affecting the markets too - Nintendo called off their US pre-orders. Suppliers, exporters, producers, of any electronics overseas, are now in a position of having zero idea wtf is going on due to the tariffs in place, threatened, and the overall haphazard way this whole thing is being done. this is affecting all consumer markets. but yet you are defending a point that was dismissing all of this.

@bbhaag's statement was wrong, and also was dismissive of basically any effect these tariffs were having, also completely wrong. That was my point.

 

[dullard]

Ummm yes the 10% tariffs in place are actually tariffs in place, he said there weren't any, so thanks for proving my point. Also, actually the 25% tariffs on Canada have been in effect for about a month.

That was the fastest turnaround that I've seen on these forums. Just this morning you said there were none.

There's been no implemented tariffs just threats!

 

[MrSquished]

That was the fastest turnaround that I've seen on these forums. Just this morning you said there were none.

I never said there were none. You are misreading the posts. I was being sarcastic quoting bbhaag misconstruing reality. I thought that was fairly obvious by the overall wording of my post.

 

[dullard]

I never said there were none. You are misreading the posts.

Please help me read this correctly:

There's been no implemented tariffs just threats!

 

[MrSquished]

Please help me read this correctly:

You have to post my whole post, not just snip that part out. I think this is very clear I was being sarcastic when you read the part in bold

What tariffs are even worth worth worrying about? There's been no implemented tariffs just threats!

I have to ask. Where do you get your news from?

 

[nakedfrog]

Please help me read this correctly:

He was very, very clearly referencing bhaag's claim that no tariffs had been implemented yet.
I suppose he could have put quotations marks around it to make it more clear, but it was abundantly clear to me.

Oh: perhaps you have bhaag on ignore, and couldn't see that post?

 

[manly]

Obvious sarcasm is obvious.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

I would buy now if I were OP. I've been holding off adding storage to my server, and prices have already gone up on used hdds. I don't need more storage so I can hold off, but really should've bought some a month or so ago.

 

[allisolm]

I was hoping for a sale over the next month on tablets but I'm assuming electronics prices will just go up due to tariffs. Thoughts?

Don't know what you're looking for in a tablet but Amazon has iPad 10th Generation 10.9-inch for $150 off. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0BJLCX2Q2/?th=1

 

[manly]

Don't know what you're looking for in a tablet but Amazon has iPad 10th Generation 10.9-inch for $150 off. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0BJLCX2Q2/?th=1

If you don't need extra storage, I think the newer gen is overall a better deal.

https://www.amazon.com/New-Apple-iPad-11-inch-Display/dp/B0DZ7871B8

You get a better SoC with 6GB of RAM. Ironically that's not enough RAM for Apple Intelligence, which you don't want anyway. Not a particularly special price, but $20 less than from Apple directly.

If OP has a "local" Micro Center, they actually have some solid Apple prices (i.e. $315) in-store only. And with a little luck, you can price match with your local Best Buy if Micro Center isn't convenient enough.

On a related note, Apple rushed over five planeloads worth of iPhones a week ago to beat the new tariffs. But unless something changes, that means many imported products will get price hikes in the weeks ahead.

Apple Rushes Shipments From India To Dodge Tariffs - Slashdot

Apple rushed five planeloads of iPhones from India to the U.S. in just three days to beat new tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, Times of India reported Monday, citing sources. The urgent shipments during the final week of March aimed to avoid the 10% reciprocal tariff that took effect...

apple.slashdot.org