Not intended to be SPAM

[rrich]

Over the years I have noticed that it is difficult for you to purchase some of the simplest bits of hardware used in woodworking projects.

I sent an E-Mail to Rockler customer service suggesting that they find a franchisee willing to open a small store in Australia that is also willing to do mail order too. I got a response that it was a good idea and was being passed along to the appropriate department. Of course I don't expect to hear anything else from Rockler concerning a franchise.

If you want to or know someone that is interested, I would suggest starting with an E-Mail to Rockler customer service. If you have or are willing to open a Brick and Mortar facility, Rockler may be interested.

BTW - There are MANY companies her in the US that are only interested in selling server space. Their pitch is for you to set up a store on their servers and sell products. The products are drop shipped from the original source manufacturer. From what I've observed, it is doubtful that such an endeavour would almost be profitable here in the US and just plain impossible internationally.

Disclaimer - Although I worked for Rockler for 6 months, I have no financial interest in this endeavour. It is just that I see so many where can I buy requests. My first thought is I could just run over to Rockler or Woodcraft and buy. . . . My intent is to provide my many friends in OZ with a resource.

[poundy]

good idea - but I think Carbatec beat you to that ? https://www.carbatec.com.au/search?ProductSearch=rockler

[Chris Parks]

It never hurts to ask as the arrangement if there is one between Rockler and CT might be as little as a customer buying at wholesale.

[rrich]

I just did a search for 46902 (The CT rk-46902) and the cost here is $11.99.

In a container, Shipping $2 maybe? Currency conversion at 30% $16.59 or total $18.59. I don't know how much GST is, but $26Au seems to be outrageous to me.

[Lappa]

That’s CT for you!

[crowie]

I had an email from rockler this morning advertising clearance specials
The email advert was showing US$9.99 but when I went to the webpage,
wow, it said you are in Australia and converted the price to Aussie dollars; A$26.90.
Yep great clearance price special?? Plus shipping, no free shipping to Australia.

[Chris Parks]

There we have a big gotcha pointed out by Crowie. Let's say I have the exclusive rights to Rockler in Oz, it really isn't exclusive because the internet has its ways to ensure that doesn't happen. I import at a wholesale price and then put a retail mark up on it for Australian sale taking into account all the overheads that I incurred in the process. Then the US retailer does what they always do and reduces the price by some hugely stupid amount and I am left with a choice, reduce it but not be able to recoup my back end costs or live with people trying to buy it in the US. This whole scenario used to drive me mad when it happened and I could never understand the rationale of sales at all as it is self defeating in the end.

[rob streeper]

Capitalist imperative, unfortunately there's only going to be a few winners, if that.

[damian]

There are a bunch of things in the USA which aren't available here. Even if the USA retailer is willing to sell to you shipping gets either prohibitively expensive or impossible.

Example I want to buy an 8' length of traveler track from lewmar or barton for my catamaran. No one in aus or overseas wants to know. The only quote I got for shipping was as I recall $1500US for a $200 track.

Then assuming you can get someone to ship it for you you hit the docks. I just this month brought in $1200 in fiberglass supplies. Made and shipped for $1209, cost me $970 to get the stuff from the ship to my car. About $129 in GST the rest was BS shipping charges.

If you can bring in big lots you can minimise that rubbish but really the system is stacked against us. If someone wanted to be the agent in aus for rockler or others they would need to sell enough volume to amortize those costs. Carbatec and Timbecon are trying to do just that by reselling a range of US and other brands. So I guess the question is do any of you think you'd do better ?

[poundy]

If you can bring in big lots you can minimise that rubbish but really the system is stacked against us. If someone wanted to be the agent in aus for rockler or others they would need to sell enough volume to amortize those costs. Carbatec and Timbecon are trying to do just that by reselling a range of US and other brands. So I guess the question is do any of you think you'd do better ?
No.
Margins have to exist for companies to continue to be there when you want/need.
Nobody goes to invest money with a bank or business expecting to get zero return (unless you're an angel investor or giving to a charity). Everyone needs a return, or they take their money elsewhere.
I'm happy to pay someone for their effort - but if I think they're having a lend of me (wanting too big a return, or not doing the right thing with the return and gouging) then I'll look elsewhere. I'll always want a bargain if I can get one, don't ge3t me wrong, but I accept that people will need to feed their families and pets, and sometimes you need to pony up the cash to make sure there is still a shop left where you can handle the merchandise and go back and complain when it doesn't work...

[woodPixel]

If you want to ship things in that are big and bulky, but light, ShopAndShip cant be beaten: https://www.shopandship.com

They charge PURELY on weight.

e.g. 30kg is $215. I chose 30kg purely arbitrarily. Lewmar Sz 3 Drilled Track 2.0m | APS (http://www.apsltd.com/sz-3-drilled-track-2-0m.html) for example is probably 5kg? This would be $72 not including any discounts from using their FLEX program....

[damian]

If you want to ship things in that are big and bulky, but light, ShopAndShip cant be beaten: https://www.shopandship.com

They charge PURELY on weight.

e.g. 30kg is $215. I chose 30kg purely arbitrarily. Lewmar Sz 3 Drilled Track 2.0m | APS (http://www.apsltd.com/sz-3-drilled-track-2-0m.html) for example is probably 5kg? This would be $72 not including any discounts from using their FLEX program....


Thank you for that, I will look into it.

Incidentally the chinese stuff I brought in even with the ripoff shipping company charges most of it was still 40% what you'd pay cheapest quotes in aus. Some stuff blew out though and was close to australian prices..