Tariff Talk

[rhansen]

Hi,
My acoustic strings of choice are EB Aluminum Bronze. I love 'em. My internet source has been out of them for a couple of weeks, and when I compared the price on Amazon they are about $11.00 higher. I am wondering if the coming Tariffs are affecting the availability to my regular supplier (which may affect his decision not to sell them any more) and the price difference. Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Rick

 

[DrKev]

Hi Rick,

EB makes the strings in the US but tariffs will eventually affect the price to EB for any raw materials that come from overseas (whether directly to EB or to companies that supply EB). Obviously some price increases cannot be swallowed whole by any business for ever and and a price increase will eventually reach the consumer. However, right now the price for Aluminum Bronze strings on the Ernie Ball website, Sweetwater, the Ernie Ball Amazon store, Guitar Center, Zzounds, and AMS websites, are all the same at $11.99 per pack. A further $11 above that appears to be something your supplier has done unilaterally?

Your best bet is to call the supplier and ask what's going on. It may be a simple error on their part. If not, you need have a decision to make about how much you are willing to pay for your strings. Feel free to call Ernie Ball Customer Service and ask them too. They may be able to give some insight into the future of Aluminum Bronze strings.

Rick, if you get any information worth sharing, please start a private conversation with me and I'll add your info to the thread.

---

Ernie Ball have a long-standing rule that politics is not to discussed on their official company forum and that has not changed. Clearly, the very nature of the internet and the toxicity of the politics means any discussion of tariffs will go rapidly downhill. As my primary role as moderator is to maintain forum decorum, and anytime in the past when I've said "let's give people a chance to show how well they can behave" it *always* backfired, I will lock this thread to further replies.

Thank you all for understanding.