Furniture, mattresses and bicycles are among the hundreds of products from China targeted by US tariffs (TASOS KATOPODIS)

Washington (AFP) – Are you looking for big, big savings? How about a “pre-tariff sale” — the latest gimmick US stores have deployed to sell anything from carpet to furniture to bicycles.

Caught in the crossfire of President Donald Trump’s trade wars that imposed steep tariffs on thousands of products, many US businesses rushed to import material and goods before the tariffs and now have a glut in inventory.

Flooring America in Grand Rapids, Michigan — a state that helped elected Trump — sent out a flyer touting the “Pre-Tariff SALE!”

“We buy Big to pass on the savings!”

Carpet, flooring, furniture, mattresses, and thousands of other products are the targets of 10 percent punitive tariffs that took effect in late September. But the rate is set to more than double to 25 percent on January 1.

A Flooring America employee contacted by AFP did not want to be identified or quoted but confirmed the store was offering a 10 percent discount on goods stocked before the new duties took effect.

But he said most customers did not seem to care about the special offer.

Meanwhile, chain of furniture stores in New England is running a television commercial warning consumers that prices will be going up starting in 2019 due to the tariffs and encouraging to buy before the hike.

Eliot Tatelman, CEO of Jordan’s Furniture — “The official furniture store of the Boston Red Sox,” according to their telephone message — said he took no position on whether the tariffs were good or bad.

“I’m just saying that if it happens, it’s going to cost more money, so buy now,” the ponytailed face of the company told the Business Journal in a report on Tuesday.

The company which is known for its many charitable causes, and stores that feature IMAX theaters, ice cream and a ropes course, has received some blowback for the advertisement.

“Did Jordan’s furniture just use politics to drive up their sales in the short term?” Twitter user Henry David said.

But the store denies it is getting involved in politics.

“Thank you all for your recent tweets. We appreciate the feedback on our recent commercial about tariffs. Our intentions are not political,” the store tweeted. “We are simply stating that all furniture prices, domestic or overseas might soon go up should a tariff be imposed. Thanks for understanding!”

Twitter user Rob Burgundy in San Francisco said multiple furniture stores were offering a 25 percent discount.

Online bicycle seller Wiggle is advertising no duties or tariffs on orders under $800.

Disclaimer: This story has not been edited by Siliconeer and is published from a syndicated feed. Siliconeer does not assume any liability for the above story. Validity of the above story is for 7 Days from original date of publishing. Content copyright AFP.