Trump’s Tariffs and My Canadian Wind Chimes

About 90% of my orders go from Canada to the USA, so naturally, I’ve been keeping a close eye on the evolving tariff situation south of the border.

The important thing to know is this: as it currently stands, there is no change at all for my wind chimes entering the USA: American customers should not experience any additional fees. This is thanks to the De Minimis rule, which allows up to $800 USD worth of goods to cross the border duty-free.

In addition, because my wind chimes are entirely made in Canada (using Canadian materials), they fall under the CUSMA trade agreement (negotiated by Donald J. Trump along with Mexico and Canada). This agreement also ensures that no tariffs should apply to my products.

That’s the good news.

The slightly less comforting news is that Mr. Trump is well known for shifting policies quickly. So while everything is stable for now, there’s no telling what the future may bring. Hopefully, my many American customers will be able to continue ordering and enjoying my work without any unpleasant surprises at the border.

To be safe, it might be wise to order sooner rather than later.

You can browse over 145 unique, beautiful, completely handcrafted Canadian wind chimes at Coast Chimes.

Customer Satisfaction: Coast Chimes

Beaver Gnawed Driftwood and Copper
Wind Chime
At Its Gorgeous New Home

I love, love, love when my customers send me pictures of my work installed in their homes and gardens. Even better, sometimes I get to hear some of their story, and what attracted them to my work.

Last year I found a small piece of driftwood that had been chewed on both ends by a beaver-- so cool! I'd never seen anything like that. It was perfect for my small set of handmade antique brass chimes. That set sold quickly.

A little bit later, I found the big piece of double chewed driftwood pictured above, perfect for my large copper chimes. It's like some beaver was working for me!

This large set really grabbed the eye of someone with a most beautiful house; a house that they have put a ton of hard work into (as you can see a little bit of from the picture). They clearly have exceptional taste, and they knew my natural beaver driftwood and copper wind chime would fit perfectly. How right they were!

It feels really good to make someone very happy-- that is a HUGE part of my job satisfaction. I do get quite a few very enthusiastic emails after people receive their orders, and each time my day is notably brightened. So it works both ways: my work make someone feel great, and that makes me feel great. Win win.

Be sure to visit my website to see all the different wind chimes and suncatchers: Coast Chimes

Copper Wind Chimes, Coast Chimes

A Coast Chimes Copper Wind Chime
Hanging at a customer's home in Ohio

It is always such a pleasure hearing from my customers, especially when they are so excited to have just hung up their new wind chimes. All the better when they send along a picture of the wind chime at its new home. Happy customers is really what it is all about.

I also like to hear from customers from the past. I have been making wind chimes for almost 25 years, and sometimes I do hear from those early customers. These chimes last! Using the finest materials, and designing for durability, makes all the difference.

Visit Coast Chimes to see all the different styles of wind chimes and suncatchers.

Wind Chimes Happy Customers

Click on the image to see it larger

Large freestanding double wind chime with two sets of copper chimes, and a heavy natural beach stone base. Intertwined copper supports.

One of the very nicest things about selling through the Net is direct contact with customers. If you sell through a retail store, you rarely get that. What is particularly nice is being able to hear what the customer wants (for the wind chime pictured above, the customer wanted blue and very light blue glass instead of the glass as pictured), and even better hearing praise from a happy customer. I work very, very hard to make the best works I can, and it is wonderful when emails come in brimming with enthusiasm and happiness. I have recently received many delightful thank you emails.

Here is what the customer who just received the above large wind chime wrote:

Dear Tim:

I am writing to you to let you know that the double free-standing windchime sculpture is magnificant, to say the least. As an artist as well as art collector myself, I can only praise your aesthetic usage of line, curve and negative space. This piece evokes a timeless quality that does not assign itself slavishly to this artform or that artform, etc., etc.

The sea glass inserts are lovely shades of seafoam and midnight blue, both prominent colors for Middle Atlantic East Coast sea glass. The chimes themselves, attuned to abstract spectral tones, are calming, refreshing and sonorous in an almost unearthly way. This is the most unique sculpture as well as the most unique windchime set that I have ever owned.

I shall continue to follow your work and look forward to the time when I shall obtain more pieces from you.

Yours truly,

(name withheld for privacy)