Guest siamsusie Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 AUSTRALIAN retailers must explain why they charge huge mark-ups on products that cost half as much from overseas internet companies, consumer group Choice says. And global companies with a presence in Australia prevent local customers taking advantage of cheaper prices offered on their overseas websites, it says. It comes after a study yesterday found retailers were marking up products by as much as 142 per cent unbeknownst to shoppers, with clothing and shoes the most expensive of the lot. In its submission to the Productivity Commission's retail inquiry, Choice says the strong Australian dollar should enable local retailers to pass on savings to their customers. It has found that the same pair of Nike running shoes costs $240 at a major Australian sports retailer while consumers can buy the same shoes for $134 from an online store based in the US. Choice says the top 12 music albums cost 73 per cent more if purchased from the Australia iTunes store instead of the US iTunes store. But Australians are barred from using US iTunes. The popular video game Portal 2 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 costs 91 per cent more from a major Australian online retailer than from a website based in Asia. "There are too many examples, from white goods to motorcycles and TVs to video games, where we pay more," Choice campaigns director Christopher Zinn said in a statement. "It's up to those in the supply chain here in Australia to justify why this is the case. "Importers and retailers should not cry foul if consumers chase better prices, wherever they may be.... Last December, big retailers such as Harvey Norman, Borders, Target and David Jones waged a campaign against the $1000 GST-free threshold for retail products purchased overseas. They labelled it unfair and argued it would cost jobs. The National Retail Association representing 3700 small shops followed suit. The debate urged the Federal Government to announce a Productivity Commission inquiry into the future of Australia's retail industry. Choice said overseas retailers offered better prices, better service and a much larger range of products. Eliminating the GST-free threshold would do nothing to dissuade Australian customers from continuing to enjoy big savings from buying online. Choice also attacked global retailers with a presence in Australia for preventing the use of Australian credit cards on their overseas sites. "We are challenging global corporations to drop the artificial technological barriers used to block competitive prices online, such as those affecting software and music downloads," Mr Zinn said. "There is no reason why Australians should pay more than consumers in comparable countries for digitally delivered items like software." The Productivity Commission has been asked to report on the current structure, performance and efficiency of the retail sector and the broader issues contributing to the increase in online purchasing by Australian consumers. May 27th 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest37336 Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Bloody hell Susie, if true and I have little doubt it is this is ridiculous. How on earth can they get away with it. I thought the UK was meant to be 'Rip Off Britain', but this takes the biscuit. Something has to be done fairly sharpish to stem this legal 'racketeering', which is all it is, except that it comes under the banner of 'Consumerism' and the like.:mad: Trouble is the lobby in most countries for openness and fairness in all matters relating to business is often silenced by those that profit from the 'scams' and I just don't mean the retailers themselves.:no: Cheers Tony.:wink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janine the party queen Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Most of our shopping is done online. I think one of the biggest areas of expense here in Oz for us is sports wear and trainers.Hubbies trainers last about 6/8 weeks.He goes through rugby shorts at a rate of knots as well.There is NO WAY will I pay the prices they ask here. The sooner retailers wake up and start making their goods more competative the better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest siamsusie Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 I was listening to this guy on the radio yesterday, I dont think he would have made too many friends.. and for our overseas members ChOICE is the Australian consumer magazine... very similar to "Which Magazine" http://www.choice.com.au/default.aspx?gclid=co2-kjkikakcfvcbpaodhxqgkw I have to say we are on line purchasers for most things. I am happy to pay the local butcher/organic growers, local growers, we need to keep these people in our towns/villages, but I think the whole retail market has to look at themselves otherwise they will be emigrating to Asia:biggrin: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janine the party queen Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Susie did you read the report on Australians moving to.China to make mega bucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest siamsusie Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Susie did you read the report on Australians moving to Japan to make mega bucks. :huh:No, that would be nice if you give us the link please Janine:wubclub: xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janine the party queen Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 :laugh:Ha,ha you know how crap I am at links !!!!!!!!!! www.news.com.au. It's under business..The new Billionaire jobs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest siamsusie Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 No you have done it:tongue::biggrin:. It is China that will be importing Australian labour eh? That makes very interesting reading! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest siamsusie Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 I love this article Janine.. http://www.news.com.au/business/mcdonalds-cant-attract-teenage-burger-flippers-due-to-high-paying-mining-jobs/story-e6frfm1i-1226064963032 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SunshineSmile Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Very interesting articles guys.. we too have been astounded by the hike-up on sports wear and in particular trainers, my man also goes through pairs at lightening speed. We also have started to shop on-line. Before we came we were told that Target was akin to Pennys in Ireland (called Primark in the UK) so we would be right for getting basics. NOT so, I was surprised at the mostly poor quality and hefty price tags. Irish prices are similar to many things here (and Ireland is definately rip of) and I do miss Pennys... although I do love Big W :biggrin: Do the (often empty) stores here not see that people are voting with their feet and purchasing more on-line? Most of the girls I work with buy their stuff on-line. Just my tuppence worth :wink: Steph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest siamsusie Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 We buy much of our out door gear particularly ski wear from LL Bean in the states. Great products, amazing service and a life times guarantee in many instances. http://www.llbean.com/?qs=3032994_pmd_googleca Edited to add that Free Shipping is for the uS and Canada only, but I find their rates very acceptable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exile Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 its by no means an explanation but Australia has much higher overheads too. The minimum wage is quite higher here than in the USA - at least this is one of the excuses they often come out with. The automobile industry has its share of rip off merchants, Audi and BMW being two notable ones. As long as people keep paying though, it will continue. But there is always a flip side: Its much cheaper to buy Honda or Subaru here than it is in the UK. Digital distribution price disparity is very annoying. Steam (games) has regional pricing for its product and its not uncommon to see US price $40, AU price $75 for the identical product being downloaded. That's wrong. Australian book publishers protectionism is comical. The effects of it are now being seen: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/lunacy-of-protectionism-writ-large/story-e6frg6zo-1226008423635 Another issue worth mentioning is the general apathetic attitude of a lot of Australians. Its all too easy to sit back and have a whinge but ultimately the 'She'll be right' mentality takes over and accepts it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest siamsusie Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Steph, is the word call "piling" when everything bobbles?:cute:.. anything from Manchester (Linen) to clothing seems to pile (sp) so quickly! Hence I do find our European materials more superior. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SunshineSmile Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Steph, is the word call "piling" when everything bobbles?:cute:.. anything from Manchester (Linen) to clothing seems to pile (sp) so quickly! Hence I do find our European materials more superior. Yes Susie I do believe the word is "piling" But we all use the term "bobbly" :laugh: As in "oh no this top has gone all bobbly in the wash!" etc lol Im afraid I agree that in general the quality here is poor, and it pains me to say so. We set out when we came here to buy as much Australian as we can but its turning out to be very expensive and irritating when it all goes bobbly in the wash:arghh: So, Im voting with my feet and on-line shopping it is. I would like to add to balance this out that I have found the food and local produce here to be outstanding.. we do not buy imported food, we read all the labels and buy Australian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest L0nging4H0me Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Rip off Australia as most people know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest siamsusie Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Yes Susie I do believe the word is "piling" But we all use the term "bobbly" :laugh:As in "oh no this top has gone all bobbly in the wash!" etc lol Im afraid I agree that in general the quality here is poor, and it pains me to say so. We set out when we came here to buy as much Australian as we can but its turning out to be very expensive and irritating when it all goes bobbly in the wash:arghh: So, Im voting with my feet and on-line shopping it is. I would like to add to balance this out that I have found the food and local produce here to be outstanding.. we do not buy imported food, we read all the labels and buy Australian. Yes Steph I know where you are coming from! and "bobbly" it will be then lol x I agree the food is outstanding here, we dont buy any imported foods apart from Dutch Shallots :laugh::biggrin: which I buy 2 at a time because they are platinum prices lol... and of course my Asian specialities.... apart from fish which has to be Australian. Susie x:notworthy: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest siamsusie Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Rip off Australia as most people know Welcome to Poms In Oz, I do hope you will enjoy our forum. Yes I realise that for many consumer items were are being considerably overcharged, but for me Australia has many other benefits also:biggrin:. Susie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SunshineSmile Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Yes Steph I know where you are coming from! and "bobbly" it will be then lol x I agree the food is outstanding here, we dont buy any imported foods apart from Dutch Shallots :laugh::biggrin: which I buy 2 at a time because they are platinum prices lol... and of course my Asian specialities.... apart from fish which has to be Australian. Susie x:notworthy: Yes, we have been blown away by the quality of fish and meat here (in comparison, its terrible in Ireland and very expensive). So, Im staying, even if it means I have to buy some stuff on-line :wink: Think some people dont like it here because things like shopping are so very different to Europe. Anyways, do you pickle your shallots??? Yummy! Steph x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest siamsusie Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Well Steph, I am not a lover of shopping per se. I hate supermarket shopping with a passion, just to call in and see my local Butcher/ Veggie growers who knows us by name etc makes all the difference.. We fish on the Tamar for Flathead /Ling/ Snapper and over your way amazing Tuna! We filled the freezer with Hobartian tuna caught by Mr S.:tongue:.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SunshineSmile Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Well Steph, I am not a lover of shopping per se. I hate supermarket shopping with a passion, just to call in and see my local Butcher/ Veggie growers who knows us by name etc makes all the difference.. We fish on the Tamar for Flathead /Ling/ Snapper and over your way amazing Tuna! We filled the freezer with Hobartian tuna caught by Mr S.:tongue:.. Ooooo yummy!!! Yes, its lovely that there is a traditional style of food shopping here, we really are very fortunate.......... To be honest, (im going to be slaughtered for this I know it) I feel Australia has a more traditional and natural way of living, Australians seem to be less pre-occupied with labels and fancy clothes. Think as Europeans we can be over-consumered (is there such a word? lol) and label-pretencious (sorry thats spelt wrong I know) and Im guilty of having lived my earlier adult life that way. Less concerned with that stuff now, so I guess the fact that we dont have competitive high street prices doesnt bother me :nah: Steph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewebweazel Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 To be honest, (im going to be slaughtered for this I know it) I feel Australia has a more traditional and natural way of living, Australians seem to be less pre-occupied with labels and fancy clothes. Think as Europeans we can be over-consumered (is there such a word? lol) and label-pretencious (sorry thats spelt wrong I know) and Im guilty of having lived my earlier adult life that way. Less concerned with that stuff now, so I guess the fact that we dont have competitive high street prices doesnt bother me :nah: Steph I really hope that you are right, I am so sick and tired of the commercialism here in the UK. For instance why is it necessary to change your Mobile every 18 months? It doesn't seem like any thing is now days built for the long run It is unbelievable the amount that we waste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SunshineSmile Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 I really hope that you are right, I am so sick and tired of the commercialism here in the UK. For instance why is it necessary to change your Mobile every 18 months? It doesn't seem like any thing is now days built for the long run It is unbelievable the amount that we waste. Well I can only speak from my experience, and certainly in Tassie they have much more value on things and dont live the "disposable" lifestyle that you describe. Its extremely refreshing and quite liberating I can tell you :jiggy: Its certainly easier here to turn your back on the pressure to "keep up with the Jones's" Hope you find what your looking for here (not just streets of bloody mobile phone shops, I mean why oh why do we need so many in Europe???! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackboots Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 we went to a large shopping center yesterday anad i couldn't believe how empty it was .. i know its the begginning of the week ..it was dead ! I find stuff really expensive here in Wa .. but then other things quite normal .. Books are my axe to grind .. and household stuff like Paint , blinds , curtains etc ...clothes are expensive and cheaply made ( why as they are all made in the same place .. and we are nearer to Taiwan than the UK ... lol) on the whole i agree with the last post its not so in your face here about fashion etc you can just live life and shop online .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SunshineSmile Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 we went to a large shopping center yesterday anad i couldn't believe how empty it was .. i know its the begginning of the week ..it was dead ! I find stuff really expensive here in Wa .. but then other things quite normal .. Books are my axe to grind .. and household stuff like Paint , blinds , curtains etc ...clothes are expensive and cheaply made ( why as they are all made in the same place .. and we are nearer to Taiwan than the UK ... lol) on the whole i agree with the last post its not so in your face here about fashion etc you can just live life and shop online .. YES.. books, funny money here :goofy: Have you looked at www.bookdepository.co.uk ??? Free shipping! Steph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackboots Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Yes thanks and i bought a Kindle ..shame really as all the expensive prices on stuff keeps us out of the shops ...which means jobs go .. .. what do you do ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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