Retail catalogs change every season and span many chapters of the tariff schedule. SenseAhead classifies each product and shows its landed cost before the buy is placed.
The product types that come up most often in this industry.
| 3924 | Plastic tableware and household articles |
|---|---|
| 4202 | Trunks, handbags and cases |
| 6109 | T-shirts and vests, knitted |
| 6203 | Men's suits and trousers, not knitted |
| 6404 | Footwear with textile uppers |
| 9403 | Other furniture |
| 9503 | Toys |
| 8516 | Household electric heating appliances, such as hair dryers |
Consumer products are priced against a retail point, so duty comes straight out of margin unless it was planned for. With thousands of SKUs and new ranges every season, landed cost has to be known at the buying stage, not after the goods arrive.
Sourcing moves often. Shifting a category from one country to another can change duty substantially, and the decision is usually made on unit price. Landed cost by origin shows whether the move really saves money.
Consumer goods are classified by what they are made of and how they are made. Apparel depends on whether the fabric is knitted or woven, on fiber content and often on whether a garment is for men or women. Footwear depends on the material of the upper and the outer sole. Bags and cases depend on the outer surface material. Small changes in a product specification can move it to a different line and rate.
Sets put up for retail sale, such as a gift set or a kit, are classified under GRI 3(b) by the component that gives the set its essential character. Products that combine functions, such as furniture with built-in lighting, need the same care.
Seasonal ranges make this a recurring task. The same style in a new material is a new classification question, and last season’s decisions are only reusable if the reasoning behind them was recorded.
Enter a product description or part number and SenseAhead suggests the HTS code with the reasoning behind it, following a structured 4-step methodology with a full reasoning trail. Every classification, edit and export is logged with a timestamp and user identity, so a season’s decisions can be reviewed and reused. For a carry-over style, the recorded reasoning shows at a glance whether anything that drove the code has changed.
Side-by-side scenario comparison shows duty and landed cost by origin before the buy is placed, and Duty Forecast projects duty forward monthly, quarterly or yearly for open-to-buy and budget planning. Reporting & Analytics breaks duty spend down by country of origin, supplier and product category.
Apparel is split between Chapter 61 for knitted or crocheted garments and Chapter 62 for garments that are not knitted, then by garment type, fiber content and often by whether it is for men or women. The fabric construction is the first question to answer.
Goods put up in sets for retail sale are classified under GRI 3(b) by the component that gives the set its essential character, rather than by classifying each item separately.
Common chapters include 39 for plastic articles, 42 for bags and cases, 61 and 62 for apparel, 64 for footwear, 85 for small electrical appliances, 94 for furniture and lighting and 95 for toys and sports equipment.
Consumer goods are classified by material and construction, so changing a fabric blend, a sole material or the outer surface of a bag can move a product to a different subheading with a different rate. Checking the classification whenever a specification changes avoids surprises at entry.
Yes. SenseAhead classifies across all 96 chapters of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule, suggesting a code with its reasoning for each product, and keeps every classification on record for review.
Request a demo to classify your bill of materials and see where tariff cost sits.
