How U.S. Tariffs Are Impacting Humble Bazooka—and What That Means for You

Running Humble Bazooka has always been a labor of love. I’m a one-person operation, passionate about designing and building quality retro gaming accessories for a community that appreciates great craftsmanship and nostalgia.

Because I value transparency, I want to talk openly about how the increased U.S. tariffs on goods imported from China will affect Humble Bazooka and ultimately consumers. To put it bluntly, these tariffs are creating cost increases that may eventually require me to raise prices on some products just to keep Humble Bazooka sustainable.

How the May 2nd U.S. Tariffs on China Are Affecting Us

The United States government has imposed several rounds of tariffs on goods imported from China, which includes many of the components and raw materials we use to create Humble Bazooka products. These tariffs are essentially additional taxes—currently at an insane 145%—placed on specific categories of imported goods.

We rely on a variety of parts such as PCBs, cables, connectors, ICs, and other electronic components that are either manufactured in China or routed through Chinese suppliers. These components are essential to what we build. Because of the tariffs, the cost to bring these parts into the U.S. has increased significantly.

As a small business owner, I don’t have the same leverage or buying power as large corporations to absorb these costs. Unfortunately, this means that our production costs have gone way up, and in turn, we may need to raise prices on some of our products to stay sustainable.

Why Tariffs Are a Tax on U.S. Consumers

There’s a common misconception that tariffs are paid by the exporting country (in this case, China). In reality, tariffs are paid by the U.S. companies that import goods from abroad—and those costs almost always trickle down to the consumer.

Let’s break it down:

• When a 145% tariff is placed on an imported product, U.S. businesses are required to pay that tax when the goods arrive at U.S. customs.
• This added cost goes directly to the U.S. government—not to China.
• Businesses like mine must then decide: absorb the cost (which isn’t always financially viable for small operations), or pass part of that cost on to customers.

So, in effect, tariffs function as a hidden tax on American businesses and consumers, raising the prices you pay at checkout for everything from electronics to everyday goods. In our case, this could impact the pricing of our retro gaming hardware and accessories that many of you love.

What I’m Doing to Adapt

I’m actively working to soften the blow in every way I can:

• Exploring alternative suppliers and sourcing options.
• Streamlining my processes to reduce waste and inefficiencies.
• Only raising prices when absolutely necessary—and never without explanation.

Please know that any increase you might see isn’t about chasing profit—it’s about staying afloat in a landscape where costs have risen sharply and unpredictably.

Thank You for Supporting Humble Bazooka

I wouldn’t be able to keep this going without you. Your support—whether it’s through a purchase, sharing via social media, or just being part of this community—means everything to me.

Thanks for being here and for understanding why I need to be upfront about these changes.

— Dave