Valraven: The Chronicles of Blood and Iron

Valraven: The Chronicles of Blood and Iron

by The World Anvil Publishing

user avatar image for The World Anvil Publishing
The World Anvil Publishing
CREATOR
2 months ago

Project Update: #36 - Shipping Valraven to the US - Tariffs update

Hello Mercenaries, 
If you reside in the US and ordered Valraven, please read this update.

For backers in all other regions, YOU CAN SKIP THE PARAGRAPHS BELOW (or read them, I can't stop you). Please note that we are still awaiting the dice. We have arranged for expedited air delivery (at four times the standard shipping cost) to avoid the additional 60-day delay via sea. They are in the hands of UPS but for now the tracking is blank. We now expect them to arrive in early January, and if there are no further delays we remain on schedule to begin fulfillment in January.

(🇺🇸 US Only) The dreaded tariffs

The time has finally come to finalize how we will get your rewards to you. We delayed this decision as long as possible, hoping for a favorable development regarding import tariffs, but the news remains discouraging. The current tariffs are still in place, and even if the Supreme Court were to intervene, effective changes likely wouldn't take hold until next summer.
After consulting with our fulfillment hubs, it became clear we only have two options:

  • The "Fast" Route: We send packages individually to backers. However, in this scenario, tariffs are calculated based on the Sales Price of the item. This would result in an average cost of roughly $53 per package (plus fees)—an amount that would irreparably damage our business and which we are uncomfortable passing on to you. Normally we would have chosen this route, because it’s fast and prior to tariffs those import fees would have been 0. 
  • The "Hub" Route: We ship a pallet of goods to a US hub first. In this scenario, we pay import tariffs based on the Production Cost, then pay the hub to distribute the rewards. While this introduces a delay (sea freight plus hub processing), it drastically lowers the average tariff per package to approximately $5–$6, depending on what a specific backer has ordered.

Between the two, the second option is the only sensible choice. It protects the project’s financial viability and keeps costs reasonable for you.


How was the ~$6 amount calculated? 

The $6 fee is an estimated average. In practice, most backers will pay slightly less, while some may pay more, depending on the number and type of items in your specific order.
Reliable information is currently difficult to secure; regulations are in constant flux, and even specialized trade resources do not always account for every exemption or special case. We also have reports from fellow creators of a certain randomness on how these tariffs are inflicted upon upcoming packages. However, based on our latest data, we are applying the following rates:

  • Paper Components: Subject to a 15% tax on production cost.
  • Dice/Plastic Components: Subject to a 40% tax on production cost.


A Note on Stability 

Please be aware that the situation remains fluid. We are doing everything in our power to ensure this fee remains final; however, since the inauguration, we have not observed four consecutive weeks of consistent regulatory stability. Things can still change, and if they do, we will update you.


What This Means for You

Unfortunately, there is no way to entirely avoid these tariffs. This approach means it will take longer to receive your rewards, and we do need a small contribution from you to cover the mandatory government charges.

  • Surcharge: All US backers will see a new line item on their survey labeled "Tariffs." On average, this will be around $6 (depending on your order size). Fo you it could be $0.80 or $13, but on average it will be $6. Your card will be charged for this amount after the goods have passed customs (we will warn you beforehand). Please note this is a compulsory charge required to fulfill your reward. After the recent weight changes, some of you had a little credit that will be used to offset this cost, if possible.
  • Timeline: Fulfillment will likely be delayed by approximately 2 months. This accounts for the 30-day sea voyage, followed by customs clearance, unloading, and final packing at the hub.
  • Our Contribution: We are absorbing all other associated costs (freight, hub fees, etc.) to keep your share as low as possible.

We understand this is frustrating news—we don’t want to charge extra, you probably don’t love having to pay extra—but we are committed to seeing this through. We exhausted every possible avenue to avoid this, but ultimately, we must share this specific cost to ensure Valraven reaches the US tables. 

Reminders


– Tommaso
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