Update on Tariffs & Pricing – 4/11/25
Last February, we announced a necessary price increase due to a 10% tariff on Chinese imports. Since then, tariffs have escalated dramatically—rising by an additional 135%. While we remain cautiously optimistic that these tariffs may eventually be rolled back, they have significantly affected our cost structure and will require further price adjustments to maintain long-term sustainability.
These developments will have wide-reaching effects across the binocular industry, as the vast majority of optics products are manufactured in China. At Oberwerk, we’re working closely with our exclusive manufacturing partners to navigate this challenge while protecting the quality and performance our customers expect. Thanks to this long-standing relationship, we believe we’re better positioned than most to limit the extent of price increases—but future developments remain uncertain.
Unless there is a change in tariff policy, new pricing will go into effect if/when new inventory is received. Should tariffs be lifted, we are committed to returning to our previous pricing as soon as possible.
To avoid being locked into higher costs, we have paused shipments from China and suspended pre-orders for out-of-stock items. This will help us avoid bringing in inventory at more than double the usual landed cost, especially given the possibility that tariffs could be reduced or eliminated in the near future.
These are challenging circumstances, but our mission remains the same: to deliver the highest-quality binoculars at the best possible value. We appreciate your understanding and support, and we’ll continue to share updates as the situation evolves.
Note: This change does not apply to our TR-3 tripods or PM-2 Parallelogram mounts, which are proudly built in Dayton, Ohio. Prices for these U.S.-made products will remain the same.
If there’s an in-stock item you’ve had your eye on, we encourage you to place your order before we run out of stock.
In Australia we have often wished that Oberwerk binoculars were available here. Cloudy nights is full of such discussions., Perhaps you might consider allowing your Chinese production line to ship directly to Australia and other countries as these transaction would not be impacted by a US tariff.
Hi Michael,
Thank you for your interest in Oberwerk and for sharing your feedback—it’s great to hear there’s such strong enthusiasm for our binoculars in Australia! We’ve certainly noticed the international demand and the discussions on forums like Cloudy Nights, and we truly appreciate the support from the astronomy community abroad.
Part of what makes an Oberwerk binocular an Oberwerk is the hands-on care we provide—every unit is collimated and quality-checked in our QA Center here in Dayton, Ohio before receiving a serial number. While we could technically ship directly from our assembly plant in Kunming, China, doing so would raise important logistical and service considerations—especially since we stand behind every product with warranty support and after-sales service.
Given the ongoing tariff situation, we have begun exploring international dealer partnerships that can uphold the same strict quality standards Oberwerk is known for. I can’t comment on specifics just yet, but rest assured—we’ll keep our customers updated as we move forward.