just a small question

[Arthur]

I have noticed one thing,
why we pay more for thir rated junky elecronic items. If you go to
Dubai, Singapore they have more latest electronic items then Asutralia
on top of it they are less expensive. Is this country a junkyard for
companies like SONY, AIWA, PANASOINC et all.
I bought a minidisc player of SONY that cost me $600. I am not sure
why so expensive. I am sure I will get a better model with less price.
What is the deal.

 

[Gregory Toomey]

It was a dark and stormy night, and Arthur managed to scribble:

I have noticed one thing,
why we pay more for thir rated junky elecronic items. If you go to
Dubai, Singapore they have more latest electronic items then Asutralia
on top of it they are less expensive. Is this country a junkyard for
companies like SONY, AIWA, PANASOINC et all.
I bought a minidisc player of SONY that cost me $600. I am not sure
why so expensive. I am sure I will get a better model with less price.
What is the deal.

Its a matter of the size of the market, and charging what the market will bare.

A decade ago I looked at importing printer sharing devices. Price from the manufacturer in South Korea: $5. Price in Harvey Norman:$70.


gtoomey
Free end-of-day stock market prices www.float.com.au/data

 

[The real Andy]

Speaking as a service technician I wish these people who either go overseas
and buy TV's - VCR's and the like, then bring them back with them, or bring
TV, VCR's with them when they move country, I wish they would <BUZZ BUZZ
BUZZ BUZZ> with themselves and their items.

Most times you can not get parts or service manuals (all thou that is not
such a issue today as we have learn to fix TV's without service manuals) and
it is a right pain in the neck.

Eric, if you hate it so much why do you keep doing it? Ever heard of a
career change?

 

[The real Andy]

Sorry I take that back, first I am sure you are not a fellow Kiwi like those
two are?

I had a run in with Neville today, so that is why I am on edge.

Nope, i'm neither.

 

[Rudolf Ladyzhenskii]

No just electronics.
Take technical books for example. I am not buying any here. It cost heaps
less (30-40% less) if you buy from Amazon.

Rudolf

 

[KLR]

No just electronics.
Take technical books for example. I am not buying any here. It cost heaps
less (30-40% less) if you buy from Amazon.

If you live in australia, - they REALLY rip you off on the freight
though

 

[Rudolf Ladyzhenskii]

If you live in australia, - they REALLY rip you off on the freight
though

Nope. 30-40% less than Australian price includes shipment!

Rudolf

 

[KoRRupT]

No just electronics.
Take technical books for example. I am not buying any here. It cost heaps
less (30-40% less) if you buy from Amazon.

Ok, this a bit OT, but *everything* is so damn expensive in OZ.

Here's another example, I've been quoted a 0.50ct, E-F colour, VS1
brilliance cut diamond with excellent fire and sparkle in USA for ~$1200US.
A similar diamond in OZ, I was quoted ~$3500AU. Ok they may not be the same
diamond, but as a ball-park price guide, they're *miles* apart.....!!!

Is it taxes? Does everything that gets imported into OZ have import duties
on them? Damn it, but a 1/3 of my pay goes towards the tax man already? A
survey once asked "Would you be willing to pay more tax for a better health
system?" Screw you OZ government! With $7.5b surplus, I ain't paying
anymore!! FRICKEN HELL!!!......

Why the heck do we pay so much for goods and services here??!!
*grrrrrrrrrrrrr*

 

[KLR]

Nope. 30-40% less than Australian price includes shipment!

Rudolf

Must have changed - I did up an order there for some books about a
year ago - and the freight was over double the actual cost for such
small items, and this made the actual price of the item much the same
or more than local bookshops

They must have changed their policies since fortunately

 

[KLR]

I have noticed one thing,
why we pay more for thir rated junky elecronic items. If you go to
Dubai, Singapore they have more latest electronic items then Asutralia
on top of it they are less expensive. Is this country a junkyard for
companies like SONY, AIWA, PANASOINC et all.
I bought a minidisc player of SONY that cost me $600. I am not sure
why so expensive. I am sure I will get a better model with less price.
What is the deal.

Funny - I have been thinking the same thing since I returned from
Russia about 2 weeks ago.

I was absolutely blown away by the range of electronic goods there -
specially the high quality Japan made consumer electronic goods (many
of which you cannot buy here) , and less (hardly any) of the cheap
crap brands that are in abundance here in recent times. The things
that I checked the price on when I got back home were approximately
20% less than what the cheaper sellers in Australia would charge.

I was later informed by my russian colleagues that if you go to some
of the suburban retailers outside the main tourist areas a further
20-30% saving was common.

Wasn't much different in the short time we spent in Singapore either.

By the way - most of the negative stereotypes we hear about Russia
back home are pretty much complete and utter bullshit of the first
order.

As far as consumer goods go - (and not just those) I hate to say it -
but generally - we have become an expensive junkyard - and a sad joke.
Unless people in this country get their heads out of their arses, get
out of their little fantasy lands and take a look at how we now
compare with many supposedly "poorer" countries - we are in for big
trouble.

 

[MC]

Is it taxes? Does everything that gets imported into OZ have import duties

on them? Damn it, but a 1/3 of my pay goes towards the tax man already? A
survey once asked "Would you be willing to pay more tax for a better health
system?" Screw you OZ government! With $7.5b surplus, I ain't paying
anymore!! FRICKEN HELL!!!......

Why the heck do we pay so much for goods and services here??!!
*grrrrrrrrrrrrr*

And taxes on top of taxes.
I recently imported a light from the USA., got hit for
customs duty and _then_ had to pay GST on that total.
grrrr too.

 

[Jim]

On 15 Oct 2003 16:24:11 -0700, [email protected] (Arthur) wrote:
As far as consumer goods go - (and not just those) I hate to say it -
but generally - we have become an expensive junkyard - and a sad joke.
Unless people in this country get their heads out of their arses, get
out of their little fantasy lands and take a look at how we now
compare with many supposedly "poorer" countries - we are in for big
trouble.

Perhaps it's tied up with market sizes freight costs and local taxation. I
suspect that we've been living way beyond our means at least since
Federation. Our relatively high living standards have partially been funded
by o/s investment and we have to pay this back. In 10 years I paid about
$110, 000 in personal income tax and received approx $5000 in taxation
refunds. And I'm hardly Robinson Crusoe. I couldn't afford to buy any decent
u beaut consumer gear from a business that was paying the same sorts of
taxation (and more) and trying to make a profit.
Maybe a quick reality check is to compare what the AUD is worth in terms of
other currencies.
Anyone wanna swap some Aussie bananas for real money ?? )

(and no I didn't vote for Keating !)

Cheers
Jim ( some people have a good car, a great house or a big boat. I have
private health insurance

 

[Alex Gibson]

No just electronics.
Take technical books for example. I am not buying any here. It cost heaps
less (30-40% less) if you buy from Amazon.

not always. Look at the uni bookshops like the coop,
on some tech books they can be cheaper than amazon.
http://www.coop-bookshop.com.au

Just depends if a couple of subjects use the book or not.

Alex