If you’ve been watching the news—or your 401(k)—you probably have a sense that strange things are afoot. We’re in the middle of a trade war, and tariffs on our products have surged dramatically in recent months.

We’re making adjustments in response. For professional editors and colorists who rely on accurate lighting—and for home theater enthusiasts who care about image fidelity—we’re doing everything we can to stay in the game without compromising what matters.

The cost of importing into the U.S. has become very high, even before factoring in manufacturing, freight, or basic overhead. We’re still absorbing as much of the impact as we can, but the playing field has shifted—and we’re shifting with it.

While we’re absorbing a significant portion of this cost, we’ve still had to raise U.S. retail prices by 30% for many of our key products. Even with this increase, the new pricing doesn’t fully cover what we’re facing. By narrowing our margins, reducing labor hours, and shifting focus to international markets that aren’t affected by these tariffs, we’ve kept price hikes smaller than they otherwise would’ve been. 

Some products—like MAESTRO, DIT lamps, desk lamps, and our light bulbs—remain at their original prices due to existing stock due to large minimum orders. Spears & Munsil has gone up slightly due to increased tariffs from the EU and China.

LX1, meanwhile, remains available at its pre-tariff pricing while supplies last. We're also exploring U.S.-based modifications if this tariff environment becomes permanent. One idea on the table: a modified LX1 using the same LED chips as the MediaLight Mk2, but with lower LED density and fewer accessories—a more affordable MediaLight that still meets our higher specs, but made with lower cost in mind. 

We hope to eventually return to our original pricing structure. But with trade policy shifting by the week, forecasting has become nearly impossible.

If you choose to buy now while tariffs are at their peak, we want to be transparent: we can’t retroactively lower prices if things improve. (So far, they haven’t.)

That said, we’re offering a merchandise credit—up to $50 per order and $200 per customer—if tariffs return to 2024 levels within six months of your purchase, and a pro-rated credit if the rate is reduced to something higher than the previous 25%. 

For example, if you paid $30 more due to tariffs, you’ll be able to request a $30 credit toward a future order, with no minimum purchase required.

It’s one way we can protect our customers while doing what we need to survive this storm ourselves.

This pricing situation currently affects only U.S. customers. International pricing through our dealer network remains unchanged for now, though we’re making minor adjustments due to a weakening U.S. dollar—a ripple effect of chaotic policy. We may begin transacting in other currencies where needed.

We’re also preparing to offer direct shipping from China via China Post for lower cost orders (we wouldn't send 10 desk lamps by China Post). These shipments won’t include prepaid duties like our usual DDP shipments; duties will be paid by the recipient. While not ideal for U.S. customers (especially where USPS is involved), this may be a more affordable option for buyers in countries without local dealers.

In the meantime, logistics continue to be difficult. We’ve paused bulk imports into the U.S. and are instead shipping weekly in smaller batches. This helps avoid massive upfront tariff costs—particularly when there’s always a chance they could be reduced or reversed without notice.

Some people have asked: why not just manufacture in the U.S.? We’d love to—but the truth is, there are no factories in the States capable of producing the kind of LED we use. Even if we tried, domestic production still depends on imported parts, carries longer lead times, and costs 4–5x more.

None of the displays our products are designed for are made in the U.S. either. The last domestic TV factory shut down in 2005. Until the big players come back and rebuild that supply chain, smaller companies like ours don’t have a path forward on that front.

If this drags out for a few months, we’ll find a way through. If it goes longer, we’ll keep adapting. We’re not panicked, but we are realistic.

For now, we’re still here. Still shipping. Still committed to the professionals and enthusiasts who care about getting things right. And we’re going to keep adjusting and pushing forward.

We’ll keep the lights dialed in, the surround dim, and the quality exactly where it needs to be.

And no—I’m not picking up my suit from the dry cleaner just yet.😎

Keep creating, and keep shining.

Jason Rosenfeld
President
Scenic Labs | MediaLight