Green Tea Vendor Topic

[Balthazar]

We can only speculate, especially since TdJ themselves arent pointing to financial reasons (operating at a loss, etc) for their change. If TdJ is dependent on imported goods/services for their operations, or e.g. have personal costs "back home" in France (or elsewhere) that are accrued in EUR (not unlikely), then they are vulnerable to a week Yen. You'd expect such businesses to charge in a more stable currency. And more generally, if they're operating at a loss you'd expect them to rise prices

I don't think the issue here is "are TdJ's prices too high" but rather the whole exchange rate trick where you effectively have two different menus on the table and the answer to the arbitrary question "where are you located?" determines what prices you are charged.

Personally, I think some of their teas are worth the conversion trick hike. Proper communication of the change could probably have resolved some of the discontent it has created.

[Baisao]

I don't think the issue here is "are TdJ's prices too high" but rather the whole exchange rate trick where you effectively have two different menus on the table and the answer to the arbitrary question "where are you located?" determines what prices you are charged.

Personally, I think some of their teas are worth the conversion trick hike. Proper communication of the change could probably have resolved some of the discontent it has created.

The actual owner is Japanese and Florent works for him. This is very obviously a racist “gaijin tax”.

[Randy the Intern]

The actual owner is Japanese and Florent works for him. This is very obviously a racist “gaijin tax”.

Obviously Florent is the owners white slave. Poor thing probably gets beat with a stick if he doesn’t price gouge his own people. This must be why he can’t tell us what the real reason was.

[aet]

the guy who has done all work for this JP biz being visible to west , probably now is getting paid only those % differnce between JPY and other currencies.
That's the only theory I can come up with. So if you feel the prices in USD still fair, please support.

[teatray]

the guy who has done all work for this JP biz being visible to west , probably now is getting paid only those % differnce between JPY and other currencies.
That's the only theory I can come up with. So if you feel the prices in USD still fair, please support.

As a competitor, it would obviously be in bad taste for you to comment negatively, but baseless speculation (as you clearly have no idea what is going on with the business) and such prejudiced support elicit counterarguments and we could end up dragging TdJ through more mud than necessary. It's a business, they made a business decision. Some people are going to stop using them, others will shop less or not even notice. It's ugly, the previous situation (USD/EUR-paying customers being egregiously overcharged) wasn't great either; the way they now hide behind "technical limitations" is ridiculous, but that's about it. They do have some good tea worth trying for anyone exploring sencha. Nevertheless, it's good if people are informed and know this history.

There are sure details we don't know. I looked up public information about the company via the company number and it's actually a roofing supplies seller (compare to TdJ's about page). The fact they operate this way probably means it was difficult to run a business initially (lack of capital and/or possibly hostile policies towards small foreign-owned companies). In any case, the tea part of that business started online, the shop came later, and there is no Japanese shop owner in the background that got Western exposure through Florent. They share what they want to share about their history on their site. The rest will remain hidden as it's not a public company.

[aet]

my mistake. I appologize for getting involved into this topic with theories. Correct , as a vendor ( although I do not see our selves as a compettior of YDJ , we do not sell JP tea ) I shouldn't express any opinioins about other vendors as this is not ethical. I saw people being puzzled about this JPY-USD issue and felt like to explain withou meaning any harm , yet got slowly dragged into the point where I just gave a raw answer what I think it is ( because my hints didn't work ) . That was wrong move and again, please accpet my appology for that. Also admin , please feel free to delete my coments related to this topic.

[buullon]

I don't think the issue here is "are TdJ's prices too high" but rather the whole exchange rate trick where you effectively have two different menus on the table and the answer to the arbitrary question "where are you located?" determines what prices you are charged.

Personally, I think some of their teas are worth the conversion trick hike. Proper communication of the change could probably have resolved some of the discontent it has created.

The actual owner is Japanese and Florent works for him. This is very obviously a racist “gaijin tax”.

A quick google search, and you'll find out they're all French. Or at least did their study in France.

Anyway, it does feel a lot like the English menu of some restaurant being more expensive than the Japanese menu

[GaoShan]

I discovered Seven Cups last year and really enjoyed their green teas. In fact, their First Pluck Bi Luo Chun was one of my top five teas of 2024. However, with what's going on in the States right now, I'm not sure I want to order Mingqian teas from them this year and risk getting hit with tariffs. Any good alternatives to their First Pluck Bi Luo Chun and Ming Qian and Yu Qian Anji Bai Cha? BLC is relatively easy to find, though I have no idea about the quality. Anji Bai Cha seems to be a lot harder.

[Sweetestdew]

I discovered Seven Cups last year and really enjoyed their green teas. In fact, their First Pluck Bi Luo Chun was one of my top five teas of 2024. However, with what's going on in the States right now, I'm not sure I want to order Mingqian teas from them this year and risk getting hit with tariffs. Any good alternatives to their First Pluck Bi Luo Chun and Ming Qian and Yu Qian Anji Bai Cha? BLC is relatively easy to find, though I have no idea about the quality. Anji Bai Cha seems to be a lot harder.

As a vendor I think the can be avoided if you buy from companies who send directly from China as they will be sending in the under $800 limit. (unless you are buying a ton of tea). I have been regularly sending from China with no tariffs

[GaoShan]

I discovered Seven Cups last year and really enjoyed their green teas. In fact, their First Pluck Bi Luo Chun was one of my top five teas of 2024. However, with what's going on in the States right now, I'm not sure I want to order Mingqian teas from them this year and risk getting hit with tariffs. Any good alternatives to their First Pluck Bi Luo Chun and Ming Qian and Yu Qian Anji Bai Cha? BLC is relatively easy to find, though I have no idea about the quality. Anji Bai Cha seems to be a lot harder.

As a vendor I think the can be avoided if you buy from companies who send directly from China as they will be sending in the under $800 limit. (unless you are buying a ton of tea). I have been regularly sending from China with no tariffs

To my knowledge, Canada has imposed a 25% tariff on everything coming from the U.S., where Seven Cups is based, so any tea coming from other countries, including China, shouldn't be taxed. Basically, I'm looking for a non-U.S. company with good BLC and Anji Bai Cha.

Does anyone know if the de minimis exemption for orders under $800 still applies to American products imported into Canada? This is very confusing.

[Sweetestdew]

[/quote]

To my knowledge, Canada has imposed a 25% tariff on everything coming from the U.S., where Seven Cups is based, so any tea coming from other countries, including China, shouldn't be taxed. Basically, I'm looking for a non-U.S. company with good BLC and Anji Bai Cha.

Does anyone know if the de minimis exemption for orders under $800 still applies to American products imported into Canada? This is very confusing.
[/quote]

I tried searching it and couldnt find anything. There is the 800 minimis from canada to American so I assume Canada will do the same.

As for BLC

One River Tea
and (please excuse the self promotion) Sweetest Dew both offer widely enjoyed BLC.

not sure about Anji

[GaoShan]

I tried searching it and couldnt find anything. There is the 800 minimis from canada to American so I assume Canada will do the same.

As for BLC

One River Tea
and (please excuse the self promotion) Sweetest Dew both offer widely enjoyed BLC.

not sure about Anji

It's hard to understand what will be taxed, especially since the situation keeps changing. It might be worth asking Seven Cups for their take.

Thanks for the BLC recommendations. Is your BLC Mingqian? I know TXS and Hojo also have BLC, though I'm not sure how early it's picked. None of these vendors carry Anji.

[faj]

Does anyone know if the de minimis exemption for orders under $800 still applies to American products imported into Canada? This is very confusing.

I am not sure there ever was such an exemption as a formal rule, but some years ago small parcels shipped to Canada through USPS were typically not assessed. Nowadays, everything is hit with taxes, and Canada Post adds a fee for good measure on top of the taxes, because the government has to be compensated for the expense of collecting taxes for themselves. For some reason, they have not yet thought of charging fees for charging fees for collecting taxes.

[Sweetestdew]

[/quote]


Thanks for the BLC recommendations. Is your BLC Mingqian? I know TXS and Hojo also have BLC, though I'm not sure how early it's picked. None of these vendors carry Anji.
[/quote]

Yea, so I actually seperate the pickings by the day. So you can choose exactly what day you want and even compare them

[.m.]

For some reason, they have not yet thought of charging fees for charging fees for collecting taxes.

At least with Canada Post it is somehow predictable, unlike UPS which happily slaps a random $100 extortion fee on a selected package just because why not