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Comment by mattas | Hacker News Reader

I wonder if brands will have a "tariff refund" sale. Make everything 20% off until all of the brand's tariff refund is passed on to customers. Of course, this wouldn't help the customers that already paid the tariff but it could be a good marketing ploy.

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Much more interesting would be if the tariffs were refunded equally to each person nationwide (interesting in that it very clearly then becomes an income redistribution scheme, even if on a limited basis).

Possibly a refund of about $500 per social security number. Doesn't even have to be in cash, could just directly go towards the social security fund if legislated that way.

Tons of ways to fix this quagmire in a way that's beneficial to people. But it won't happen.

And then Trump can sign the checks again....

Sarcasm aside, I agree the refunds should go back to consumers, not the importers. I don't have a source, but I have to imagine the lion's share of companies that were hit with tariffs increased their prices, and the consumer paid the bill.

Here is a source for you to use in the future:

https://libertystreeteconomics.newyorkfed.org/2026/02/who-is...

The number the New York Fed came up with is 90% was passed onto the consumer.

20% off the tariff-inflated price, so customers only pay the original price (until the tariff refund is used up, then it's back to the inflated price again).

They will do this right before raising the prices on all goods to 30% before the sale deal.

I like this idea. It's a good pr move for the business too

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