Quick Summary

From August, the US has abolished its $800 duty-free threshold (de minimis) — meaning all parcels from Europe are now subject to duties and state-level sales taxes. We’ve adjusted US prices by about 7–8% to cover this change.

In addition, the US government has announced a 15% tariff on most EU goods. This has not yet been applied to vinyl, but when it comes into force we will need to adjust prices further.

Why prices are rising

We’re an independent label — a small business that presses and sells limited runs of vinyl. Unlike the majors, we don’t have the margins to absorb large unexpected costs. The removal of the de minimis threshold means that every single order to the US now triggers customs charges, duties, and state taxes. On top of that, the planned 15% tariff will increase the landed cost of each record even further.

As much as we’d love to keep US prices the same, absorbing these costs ourselves would simply make the label unsustainable. Being transparent and adjusting prices upfront is the only way to keep records flowing across the Atlantic without surprise customs bills for you, and without sinking us in the process.

What we’re doing to reduce costs

We know this isn’t what anyone wants to hear. That’s why we’re constantly looking for ways to balance things out. Recently we reduced our shipping rates (EU €9.99, UK €12.99, US €20.00 flat) and we’re actively moving towards domestic US fulfilment, which will mean faster USPS delivery and no customs hassle for our American fans.

In short: we can’t control government policy, but we can do everything in our power to make sure you get the best deal possible on shipping and fulfilment.

How you can save

The easiest way to protect yourself against these increases is to join Toneplay Core. Even the basic Core Supporter tier (€20/year) gives you 15% off all orders — which cancels out the de minimis increase after just 2–3 purchases. Higher tiers offer up to 20% off plus other benefits.

What happens next

• Now: US prices increased by ~7–8% to reflect the abolition of de minimis.
• Later: If and when the 15% tariff applies to vinyl, US prices will be adjusted again.
• Always: No surprise customs bills. We handle import charges upfront (DDP).

We’ll keep you updated with clear announcements before any further changes take effect.