Crypto Handheld Buyers Slammed with Unexpected Import Charges
Crypto enthusiasts purchasing handheld devices just got hit with a nasty surprise at customs.
Hidden Fees Exposed
Import charges suddenly slapped on hardware wallets and mining devices caught buyers completely off guard. These weren't small fees either—some reports show duties adding up to 30% on top of already premium prices.
Regulatory Ambush
Customs agencies worldwide seem to have coordinated this move without warning. No grace period, no announcements—just outright additional costs dumped on consumers who thought they'd already paid in full.
Hardware manufacturers scramble to adjust pricing while buyers face the classic 'government wants its cut' reality. Because nothing says financial innovation like surprise taxes on technology that's already bleeding edge.
Another reminder that while crypto moves at light speed, bureaucracy always finds a way to install toll booths.
Flat price, thin margins leave Mysten unable to absorb Fees
The firm produced 10,000 units for early adopters at a single global sticker price of $599 in more than 100 countries, a figure it says sits close to the per-unit build cost. With such thin margin, the company emailed buyers on Thursday to say it can’t cover the surprise import charges for everyone.
“At this small scale, it is not possible to absorb tariffs and duties which differ for every country,” the email read. “It’s important to note: Mysten Labs does not receive any portion of duty fees or taxes. These are set by local and international governments and apply to all cross-border purchases. Given the unpredictable macroeconomic climate, we could not forecast how these fees might change during shipping.”
DHL notified this week that more than $138 in duty was due before delivery in Illinois. The parcel originated in Hong Kong.
Goods from Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China, are currently hit with a 20% tariff when entering the United States. A prior de minimis rule let items under $800 avoid those charges, but TRUMP ended that relief in April via executive order.
Posts on social media and in the official sui Discord show similar requests for some buyers, while others report far higher totals for one unit, some said DHL sought about $348.
A Mysten representative confirmed the wide range of assessments and told customers facing “excessive” bills to email support. The message also suggested residents of certain U.S. states appear to be seeing higher amounts than others.
“No customer should be charged duties equal to half their purchase price,” Mysten Labs wrote to buyers.
More units delayed until late August
When asked how it WOULD assist customers with larger charges, the company did not offer specifics.
“While federal duties are harmonized across the U.S., some additional state taxes can apply, as well as courier fees for administering the charge and managing payments,” the representative said. “At this time, we are unsure of the differences in duties and shipping fees between different regions of the U.S., though we are actively working to determine what these are.”
With those questions unresolved, Mysten says it has paused further SuiPlay0X1 shipments. So far, 2,000 devices have been delivered; the next tranche of 3,000 is on hold. The company expects to restart deliveries by the end of August.
The situation has also sparked jokes and memes. One X user said they “love seeing innovation on Sui” with the “new Tariff-Drop model.” But many customers say the surprise costs are frustrating.
“If the outstanding duties of $138.11 stand, how do I get a refund?” one buyer asked in Discord. “I won’t want this product if the fees are this high—especially since I would feel purposely misled by the SuiPlay team about the total cost.”
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