If you are in the USA then you may be aware that the USA has imposed tariffs on ALL imports to the USA and as of 29th August 2025 the 'de minimis exemption' (a threshold which allowed for lower cost imports to not have tariffs applied) ends.

This means that ALL imports to the USA will have tariffs applied on them based on the origin of the goods (and not where the seller or sender is) and for items arriving internationally by post the minimum to be charged is $80 which rises to $200 if, for example, if I were to include a pack of needles in a kit (there may also be a handling and processing fee, this isn't clear yet).

Because of this, within the next week (by end of day Monday 18th August) I will be stopping sending all physical orders to the USA until the situation changes, a minimum again applies, or I have confirmation from the buyer before I send anything that they are happy paying any tariffs etc.

I'll be asking for this as sadly otherwise what happens is when buyers are send a tariff/ import etc bill and choose to not pay it the item comes back to me (or more often than not is lost for all time) and then I have to send a refund but I am out what I have paid in postage, packaging, PayPal fees etc and as a sole trader running a small business I sadly cannot afford this.

So, if there has ever been any crystal sets or kits, signed-books etc you have wanted to order from me then please do so before next Monday (18th August 2025) to make sure I can send everything out in time to try to ensure you don't get hit with these extra charges (which, to be clear, are paid by the importer/ buyer and NOT the seller/ sender).

For any kits where this is a discount for extra purchases I will be resending those codes out to anyone who has previously purchased so do keep an eye out in your inbox for those emails if appropriate.

There is also a big concern about huge backlogs of items entering the USA until the infrastructure in in place to deal with every parcel now needing this processing and with backlogs always comes items being lost which I also cannot afford.

Please know that I am thoroughly saddened by this as I truly appreciate every customer who has ever supported me, no matter where you are, but I don't want you to unknowingly be charged a huge extra amount on top of your purchases and I can't afford to lose money if anyone choses to not pay the fees they owe.
To be clear I am NOT stopping selling to the USA and at any time if you are ok with paying the charges then my items will always be available to purchase.

Also I recommend that if there is anything physical you have ever wanted to buy from any other small businesses, bead shops, designers etc outside of the USA then please do ASAP as many of them will be soon ceasing sending ANY physical items to the USA