Tariff battles challenge US game retailer
Rising Tariffs Are Heating Up Prices for Tabletop Gamers
In the mid‑state of Maryland, a miniature battlefield sits on a table between Dash Krempel and his friend. Their hobby is a war game, but the cost of the pieces has surged now that the United States has imposed new trade tariffs.
How Inflation and Tariffs Are Inflating Hobby Costs
- UK‑made miniatures that sold for $60 three years ago now cost $94.50.
- Prices have risen by an average of 5 % to 20 % across a fifth of a shop’s 7,000 titles released last year.
- For Boyd Stephenson, the owner of Game Kastle College Park, the up‑cents are a stealthy reality that follows every tariff change.
Stepping Off the Racks and Renting Tables
Instead of buying more pieces, Krempel now rents tables from the store that host in‑store gaming sessions. The rent keeps the hobby affordable for those who can’t bear the price hikes.
How Import‑Heavy the Store Is
Stephenson says almost everything in his shop arrives from overseas. The global supply chain now has to navigate a labyrinth of tariffs:
- European Union and India face a 30 % tariff coming August 1.
- China, a manufacturing hub for games, is temporarily spared but will be hit by 30 % tariffs if the truce ends on August 12.
- Some producers absorb the cost, others pass it through wholesale, and a few split the burden.
Unexpected Fluctuations and Supply‑Chain Uncertainty
The unpredictable tariff schedule makes it hard for suppliers to set stable prices. Jonathan Gold, vice‑president of supply chain policy at the National Retail Federation, notes that merchants have 15 days to pay the tariff bill once an item enters the country. When rates change abruptly, many businesses lack the liquidity to clear the debt.
Legal Challenges and the Long Road Ahead
Small retailers feel the damage most acutely. The Game Manufacturers Association has filed lawsuits against the blanket tariffs, noting that nearly 80 % of tabletop titles sold in the U.S. are manufactured abroad. The legal road is steep, and the uncertainty gnaws at retailers who hope to stock inventory ahead of the holiday season.
What Boyd Says About the Cost of Manufacturing
Stephenson points out that U.S. manufacturers simply lack the capacity to duplicate the fine craftsmanship that China and Spain offer. He says:
“We have to pay higher prices for modelling paint whenever tariffs rise on the EU, especially when they break the peace with China.”
Despite the difficulties, he is juggling employee wages, utilities, and rent while trying to keep his showroom open and its prices survive the tariff tide.
