A $1,170 Tariff Shock: The True Cost of Ordering Furniture From Mexico

Dave Yeske found a table online; it was a well-crafted, antique-style piece listed for $1,980. The table was made in Mexico and shipped disassembled, so it looked like a straightforward order. However, when the UPS driver arrived at his San Francisco home, an unexpected $1,170 invoice was taped to the boxes, labeled as a “U.S. Customs and Border Protection fee.” The driver said he’d delivered plenty of packages with similar charges, but for Yeske, this was news.

When Trade Rules Become Household Problems

Tariffs are easy to forget when they’re baked into retail prices. They’re the invisible part of the markup, math that most people don’t see. But when the fee shows up like a ransom note at your door, reality hits faster.

In this case, the U.S. government considered the buyer the “importer of record.” UPS handled the customs paperwork and passed the charge straight to the customer. It's pretty legal stuff, and it’s not rare.

Thanks to trade policies that didn’t simmer down after 2020, tariffs on imports are now affecting everyday purchases. Yeske’s table simply crossed a border during the wrong administration.

The refreshed and re-expanded Trump-era rules on imports mean furniture, metals, shoes, and household items now face fees as high as 50%, depending on origin and category. As of August 1, copper goods jumped to that rate. Mexico got a 90-day breather on new hikes, but that didn’t erase the past ones.

Border Fees Are Catching People Off Guard

Buying furniture online used to be easy. Sites promised international shipping and said little about duties. Some sellers even handled fees on their end. But as trade rules tighten and courier services crack down, the margin for error is shrinking. If a product gets flagged at customs because of its size, material, or origin, the buyer often ends up with the bill.

The de minimis exemption once shielded Americans from duties on goods valued under $800. That protection disappears this month and results in a growing wave of surprise charges on everyday imports. A side table from Mexico is suddenly taxed, and if a seller isn’t using Delivered Duties Paid (DDP), the cost falls on the customer.

In Yeske’s case, the $1,980 table triggered a $1,170 tariff because it was delivered in two separate boxes, with each incurring its own customs charge. UPS acted as both broker and shipper, calculated the duty, cleared the packages through customs, and asked for payment.

This isn’t just happening with Mexico, either. Recent tariff updates now place Canada, Brazil, Switzerland, and much of Europe under new rates ranging from 15% to 50%. Vietnam, which many companies pivoted to as a workaround during earlier trade conflicts, is now facing higher duties too.

These changes are hitting small buyers hard, especially those importing one-time goods like furniture, art, or household items from platforms that don’t clearly flag international charges. Yale’s Budget Lab estimates tariffs will cost the average U.S. household $2,400 this year.

The Confusion Is Half the Issue

Plenty of Americans don’t know how international shipping works. That’s not necessarily anyone's fault. It used to be as straightforward as buying something and waiting for it to be delivered. You didn't have to know how the suppliers and distributors conducted business. But now buyers have to decipher if the product ships from a warehouse in Florida or a factory in Guadalajara.

Retailers aren’t always upfront, either. The fine print on a checkout page might say “International Shipping,” but it won’t mention that you’re also the one who files a customs claim. This has created a perfect storm for scammers, too.

Fake customs emails are on the rise. Fraudulent payment requests mimic UPS or FedEx notices, asking people to pay “clearance fees” through third-party links. Yeske warned buyers to verify using Form 7501, the real customs receipt issued during legitimate imports. If a charge appears with no formal documentation, it could be bait.

UPS, FedEx, and other carriers aren’t hiding it. They explain that when retailers don’t pay, the end customer is liable. But most buyers never think they’re the “importer of record.” They expect checkout totals to mean something. For now, that assumption is too generous.

And That Table? Still Worth It?

One week, it’s copper, the next, semiconductors, and then wine. The administration’s tiered approach means every trade partner is ranked and reranked. Mexico was granted a temporary extension on its existing rate while talks continue, but the other tariffs aren’t going away. And more industries are getting looped in. Even Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway reported a 5.1% dip in consumer product revenue.

As of August, low-value exemptions (under $800) are also ending. Every eBay haul, Etsy find, or niche home good sent directly from abroad could now trigger a bill at the door.

Was the table beautiful? Most likely. Yes, it probably tied the room together perfectly. But with more than half the original listing price in additional shipping costs, you may be better off contacting a local carpenter. Tariffs are reshaping what it means to “buy global.”