US Shoppers Scramble for Big-Ticket Buys Ahead of New Trump Tariffs

As the clock ticks down on sweeping new tariffs announced by former President Donald Trump, American consumers are racing to lock in purchases before prices jump—especially on big-ticket items like electronics and vehicles.

John Gutierrez, a photographer in Austin, Texas, had been eyeing a high-performance laptop for months. He needed something faster, with more storage, for his growing workload. But it wasn’t until Trump’s announcement of a 32% tariff on imports from Taiwan that Gutierrez finally pulled the trigger.

That same day, he placed a $2,400 order for the Taiwanese-made machine from a New York retailer.

“I thought I’d bite the bullet, buy it now, and that way I’ll have the latest tech without the tariff headaches,” Gutierrez said.

He’s not alone.

Across the country in Arlington, Virginia, Rob Blackwell and his wife were facing their own decision: replace their aging electric vehicle before tariffs impacted the cost—or risk paying more later. Their son needed a reliable ride for trips to college, and their daughter was about to start driving.

Blackwell had been tracking tariff news closely and had his eye on the new General Motors Optiq—an American brand, but manufactured in Mexico. That’s a potential target for new supply chain-related tariffs.

The couple moved fast, locking in a lease before the tariffs took effect.

“Suddenly it flips from a buyer’s market to a seller’s market very quickly,” Blackwell said. “It was just a simple rational decision. If this is what the government’s going to do, I need to get my act together.”

On the West Coast, Lee Wochner, CEO of a Burbank-based marketing firm, was also feeling the pressure. He wanted a more polished vehicle for client meetings but had kept pushing it off—until the tariff news hit.

That Thursday, he called his car broker with an urgent message:

“Ed, I need a car pronto and it’s got to happen by Sunday.”

By the weekend, Wochner had a brand-new Audi Q3 in his driveway. Acting quickly paid off—he estimates he saved about $4,300 by signing before the tariffs took effect.

“Some dealerships were already tearing up existing deals and trying to renegotiate, fearing they wouldn’t get enough new inventory at prices people could afford,” he noted.

Wochner believes this is just the beginning.

“If you need a new car and can still get a pre-tariff deal—go get it,” he warned. “Because who knows what next Wednesday might be like.”

Economists are warning that these tariffs could push up prices on a wide range of products—not just cars and laptops. Everyday goods from affected countries may see a significant price hike, which could slow down U.S. consumer spending and put pressure on the economy.

So for consumers still on the fence about a major purchase? The window might be closing fast.