For years, overseas e-commerce platforms such as Temu and Shein benefited from the U.S. de minimis exemption, which allowed many packages valued at $800 or less to enter the country without regular import duties.

That changed in two stages. Duty-free treatment ended for qualifying shipments from China and Hong Kong on May 2, 2025. The United States later suspended duty-free de minimis treatment for low-value shipments from all countries effective August 29, 2025.

For local party stores, discount stores, Mexican candy stores, and independent retailers, this change may narrow part of the pricing gap with direct-from-overseas sellers.

At Sonice Party, we recently compared selected party supplies listed on Temu and Shein with similar products available from local stores. In several of our spot checks, the marketplace price was equal to or higher than the local retail price—even before considering delivery time and the convenience of immediate pickup.

One of their biggest advantages was the U.S. de minimis rule. Under this rule, packages valued at $800 or less could generally enter the United States without paying regular import duties. This allowed overseas sellers to ship individual orders directly from China to American consumers at extremely low prices.

Policy update for 2026: The United States first ended duty-free de minimis treatment for low-value packages from China and Hong Kong on May 2, 2025. On August 29, 2025, the exemption was suspended for qualifying low-value shipments from all countries. The suspension remains in effect in 2026.

That changed on May 2, 2025, when the United States ended de minimis duty-free treatment for low-value packages coming from China and Hong Kong.

This policy change is beginning to reshape the retail market—and it may create an important opportunity for local party stores.

Why Temu and Shein Prices Are Changing

Before the policy change, a seller could ship a small package directly from China to a U.S. customer without paying many of the costs normally paid by American importers and wholesalers.

In fiscal year 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection processed more than 1.36 billion de minimis shipments. By December 2025, CBP reported collecting approximately $1 billion following the phaseout of the exemption.

Local businesses, however, still had to pay for:

• Import duties
• Ocean or air freight
• Customs clearance
• Warehousing
• U.S. labor
• Local delivery
• Rent and other operating expenses

This created an uneven competitive environment.

After the de minimis exemption was removed, overseas sellers began facing higher import costs, more complicated customs requirements and additional logistics expenses.

Many ecommerce sellers have responded by increasing prices, reducing low-margin products or moving inventory into U.S. warehouses.

Some Party Supplies Are Now More Expensive on Temu and Shein

I recently made a video about this change and compared several party supply products sold online.

What I found was surprising.

Some party supply products listed on Temu or Shein were no longer cheaper than similar products available from local physical stores. In certain cases, the online price was actually higher.

This is an important change.

For years, many consumers automatically assumed that Temu or Shein would always offer the lowest price. That is no longer necessarily true.

When customers include shipping costs, minimum purchase requirements, longer delivery times and possible import-related charges, buying from an overseas ecommerce platform may not provide the same savings it once did.

Local Party Stores Have Important Advantages

Party supplies are different from many other retail products because customers often need them immediately.

A customer may need balloons, tableware, decorations or a backdrop for a birthday party, baby shower, quinceañera or family celebration happening that same week—or even the next day.

Local party stores can offer benefits that overseas platforms cannot easily match:

Immediate Availability

Customers can purchase products and take them home the same day. They do not need to wait for international shipping or worry about a package arriving after the event. Helium-filled balloons are naturally local purchases, while bulky piñatas and last-minute candy orders often favor nearby stores because customers can inspect the products and take them home immediately.

Customers Can See the Real Product

Online photos do not always show the true color, quality, size or material of a product. In a local store, customers can inspect the item before buying it.

Easier Color and Theme Matching

Customers can compare balloons, tableware, banners, backdrops and other decorations in person to create a complete party theme.

No Surprise Import or Handling Charges

The customer sees the final retail price without unexpected import-related costs appearing during checkout.

Easier Returns and Exchanges

If a customer buys the wrong color or quantity, a local store can usually provide faster and more convenient assistance.

Personal Service

Store employees can help customers calculate balloon quantities, choose matching products and create a complete party package.

A New Opportunity for Independent Retailers

The end of the de minimis exemption does not mean that Temu and Shein will disappear. These companies still have large supplier networks, strong technology platforms and major marketing budgets.

However, the competitive environment is changing.

Overseas ecommerce platforms increasingly need to operate more like traditional importers. They may need to pay duties, bring products into U.S. warehouses, hold inventory and pay domestic fulfillment costs.

This reduces part of the cost advantage they previously enjoyed.

For independent party stores, discount stores and Mexican candy stores that also sell party supplies, this is an opportunity to remind customers of the value of shopping locally.

Retailers should focus on:

• Keeping popular products in stock
• Offering complete coordinated themes
• Providing fast local service
• Displaying products clearly
• Promoting competitive prices
• Highlighting same-day availability
• Carrying products designed for local communities

Latino Party Supplies Offer an Even Stronger Opportunity

Local retailers can also compete by offering products that are relevant to their communities.

Themes such as:

• Quinceañera
• Mi Bautizo
• Cielito Lindo
• Mexican Fiesta
• Papel Picado
• Baby Shower
• First Communion
• Día de los Muertos
• Virgen de Guadalupe

often require more than one inexpensive item. Customers want coordinated colors, culturally appropriate designs and complete decoration solutions.

A knowledgeable local store can provide a much better shopping experience than an overseas marketplace selling individual, unrelated products.

How Sonice Party Supports Independent Retailers

Sonice Party is a U.S.-based wholesale party supply distributor serving independent party stores, discount stores, event planners and other retailers.

We help our customers compete by providing:

• Thousands of party supply products
• U.S. warehouse inventory
• Low minimum order quantities
• Fast restocking
• Popular seasonal and everyday themes
• A strong selection of Latino party supplies
• Products that can be combined into complete party collections

Our goal is to help local retailers offer the right products, at the right price, when their customers need them.

The Market Is Changing

For years, the growth of low-value duty-free packages placed major pressure on American retailers.

Now the market is beginning to shift.

When some Temu and Shein prices are equal to—or higher than—local store prices, customers have a strong reason to shop locally. They can receive the product immediately, inspect the quality and get personal service without waiting for overseas delivery.

This may be one of the best opportunities in years for independent party stores to win back customers and grow their businesses.

Watch our video to see examples of party supply products that we found selling at higher prices on Temu or Shein.

Watch this video for more details, https://fb.watch/HRrmItw6R5/

About the author: Gary Lin is the founder of Sonice Party Inc., a Los Angeles–based wholesale party supply distributor. He has more than ten years of experience working with independent party stores, discount stores, Mexican candy stores, and event businesses across the United States.

For wholesale party supplies and information about opening a Sonice Party wholesale account, visit www.soniceparty.com.