10-04-2025
‘Pre-tariff pricing': Local pool industry adjusts to tariffs
CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB) — As the global trade war plays out, some local businesses are warning consumers of 'pre-tariff pricing,' saying prices could potentially increase in the future.
People are starting to prepare for pool season, as it's just months away. WIVB News 4 stopped by Gary Pools and Leisure in Cheektowaga to see what the potential impacts of tariffs could be.
When President Donald Trump initially announced a 25 percent tariff on Canada, which would've affected prices at Gary Pools because many of their pools come from Canada, the business stocked up.
The tariff was then scaled down to goods that are not covered under a free trade agreement, and most goods from Canada are not subject to the tariff. Todd Schupbach, the president of Gary Pools, said they are seeing more customers getting ahead of lower prices.
'There will be a little bit of a lag until all of the dust settles and the details are worked out,' Schupbach said. 'Most of our customers are purchasing product that is in stock already on a pre-tariff basis because they have certainty as to what the cost will be and the availability will be, so right now it's kind of a rush to get the existing stuff that's in the pipeline.'
Schupbach said it's tough to know what the financial impact will be on pools because pool packages have multiple vendors. He added that they're not passing the cost on to the consumer right now, but they have received letters from distributors with price increases and those costs could be passed on to consumers.
The last time Gary Pools dealt with tariffs was in 2020 on Chinese products during Trump's first term when patio furniture prices increased.
'It made it closer to American-made stuff, so I've seen a shift to more of my American-made products in the patio furniture category selling and less of the Chinese-made products selling,' Schupbach said.
Schupbach said products that are made in the U.S., such as swimming pool chemicals, gas grills, smokers and pool tables, will not see price increases.
Jeff Preval is an award-winning anchor and reporter who joined the News 4 team in December 2021. See more of his work here.
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