Businesses are getting refunds from Trump's tariffs. Will customers get any?
Summary
This episode examines the fallout from the Supreme Court ruling that Trump’s tariffs were illegal, focusing on whether consumers will receive refunds. NPR’s Stephen Basaha follows Sarah Alonzo, who paid extra for a wheelchair due to tariffs, as she waits for UPS to return her money. While shipping companies are obligated to refund explicit fees, retailers often baked costs into prices, making consumer refunds difficult or impossible.
Topics discussed
Intro: Trump's Pacific fishing policy and show premise
Tariff refunds: A customer's wait for her wheelchair money
Shipping companies vs. retailers on returning tariff costs
Why retailers keep refunds and the 'baked in' cost problem
Conclusion: One refund coming, many unlikely
Outro: Request for ratings and reviews
Sponsor: Henry Ford Health
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Promo: Fresh Air interview with Jason Segel
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