A Rant- Buying OS

[Ron Dunn]

I'm in absolute agreement with Big Shed. With the exception of a couple of small retailers - like Northwood, and the guy who sells Incra stuff - I just don't trust the local suppliers any more.

I'm sick of exactly the situation he describes - order something, then wait MONTHS for it to arrive, and pay more than if you'd ordered it from the US in the first place.

Companies like Mik, Carbatec, etc., have only themselves to blame when woodworkers buy off-shore.

[autogenous]

Same teeth from the Austrailian branch of the same company cost AU$50.00 each

This is not necessarily the Australian retailer. This can be the global company dictating what the price is in Australia.
You may well find that something is cheaper overseas. Anything over I think $800 will be taxed by customs. You also have to declare it in your tax return.

When you purchase overseas there will be a buffer conversion rate (lower than on the TV news) and conversion costs on your credit card.

Theres shipping costs also which people do miss when they do their calculations.

Many companies here are owned by overseas companies any rate.

Sure, some things are cheaper.
Be sure your not chopping your own toes off though.

[rodm]

The figure customs use is $1,000 Aus after conversion and it includes the cost of shipping.

As an Individual taxpayer I am not aware of any requirment to declare overseas purchases in your tax return. If you are buying for a business I would imagine you declare it to claim it as a deduction.

I agree you should consider the total cost when contemplating an overseas purchase.

[autogenous]

Yep your right:

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=5549

Its $800 when you come of a plane into OZ I think?

[Zarguld]

Well I personally feel that if the item from overseas is the same quality or better than than the same product here then 99.9% of us that know how to will buy the overseas item lets face it. even if it does hurt us in the long run to buy the more expensive option would hurt our pockets now for my self I have a wife and seven children so I need EVERY CENT that I can save. and I do think that most other Australian families feel the same way.Plus I export items myself so in fact I bring more money into the country than I send out.Anyway that is my two cents worth,and now I amt ired and ready for bed good night all.

[bitingmidge]

I once was a strict local shopper at all costs.

I believed that by keeping the local store open, they'd be there when I needed a part on Saturday morning.

Well generally they aren't, and if they are, the part isn't in stock and if it is I can get five of them for the same money somewhere else. It's a ridiculous state of affairs, when I can buy Australian (or New Zealand) made tools from Canada and ship them here for less money than buying locally, but I can.

I never count the additional cost of the 250k round trip for me in that equation either.

I quite regularly make photo books. Around 120 pages costs $40 Aus delivered to my door, the last one was 280 pages and cost nearly $80. I had a price to produce it locally at nearly $300.00. The company I use is US based, the printing is done in the Netherlands, on the same model printer the Australian company uses, although I am aware of one company that actually outsources the work offshore. Why would I shop local?

There's something seriously wrong with our economy, or our expectations.

P

[TommyC]

Here is an often overlooked upside to the local economy with the popularity of on-line shopping...the business of moving freight is booming. This includes couriers, warehouse workers, logistics workers, warehouse builders, and so on.

[Metal Head]

Will Australia ever develop it's own manufacturing base? I doubt it. India, as an example, in one generation has turned themselves from being reliant on import to now being the second biggest exporter, China being number 1.

I doubt it given past history. Given our own small population (thus economy) is one of the main reasons. The above mentioned countries have the largest populations (as well as poorest) on this planet which must be saying something?

[wheelinround]

Australians are known worldwide for being the most tight fisted people on the planet.
Cruzi you'll upset the Scots with that comment

Besides they spend constantly on useless Politicans who let it happen, hand out billions to companies to take their business OS supporting them all the way.

Buy Australian, if you can't buy Australian, then buy from a Australian Supplier.

So Blundstone was Aussie is now made in Asia as is Triton do you consider them still to be Aussie suppliers gee even the flamin UG-Boot name was sold off.

Saving yourself a few $ is costing us a lot more.

Keeps the local Postal service in work and couriers.

In buying Australian "What is Australian"???

We have engineers going OS to design & build stuff we need here Scientists doing the same, Governments local state & federal who due to Political BS of who's side are you on who's pocket are you in and how much is in it for me attitude it never happens or takes so long to happen it costs millions more.

Teachers, government employee's, Yuppies working & traveling the world saying how beaut Australia is but dont venture out their own neighbourhood.


Local shopping a joke who owns the shop thats leased who imports the parts to make the product.??

Ok lets turn this around

Name Aussie makes brands suppliers of good manufactured in AU all Aussie owned designed etc. So we can make the choice going off a sticker is useless you can print them up from images off the net.

Power tools I can't think of any
Motor Vehicles NONE Ford & Holden are OS owned

I know there is a tool box manufacturer in Geelong makes/designs great tool boxes but puts many brand names on them but are built in Asia.

[Zarguld]

Wheelin I could not have said it better my self because most of the larger companies in Aust. are overseas owned so you are right what is Aussie owned hell if you want to get politcal about it most Australians are from overseas and I am sure many of them send money oveseas just to give to their families so lets just start doing a lot of exporting to even it out....

[Big Shed]

Holden might be OS owned, but at least it provides a lot of work for Aussies, they also export a lot of their product, not only assembled cars but also lots of engines.

If you buy a Vectra or an Astra it might be made in Germany or Belgium, but it is powered by an engine made in Port Melbourne.

Ownership of the company is not the complete story, Blundstone is Australian owned, but all manufacturing has moved off shore, Hills hardly makes anything locally anymore, in fact they have sold off their main site in Adelaide.

I will buy a product made in Australia before I will buy an imported product, but it is getting increasingly difficult to determine what "Made in Australia" stands for. Just look in your local supermarket and see the number of products that have "Made in Australia from local and imported products". I followed up on this statement once, a well known jam brand. Turns out only the jar was made in Australia, the jam came from Denmark!

[wheelinround]

Holden might be OS owned, but at least it provides a lot of work for Aussies, they also export a lot of their product, not only assembled cars but also lots of engines.

If you buy a Vectra or an Astra it might be made in Germany or Belgium, but it is powered by an engine made in Port Melbourne.
Ownership of the company is not the complete story, Blundstone is Australian owned, but all manufacturing has moved off shore, Hills hardly makes anything locally anymore, in fact they have sold off their main site in Adelaide.

I will buy a product made in Australia before I will buy an imported product, but it is getting increasingly difficult to determine what "Made in Australia" stands for. Just look in your local supermarket and see the number of products that have "Made in Australia from local and imported products". I followed up on this statement once, a well known jam brand. Turns out only the jar was made in Australia, the jam came from Denmark!

That would make Blundstone not Australian made then

Even the Humble AKUBRA I had heard at one stage is now owned by OS.

[Gingermick]

I'm in absolute agreement with Big Shed. With the exception of a couple of small retailers - like Northwood, .

What about ubeaut?

[Sawdust Maker]

Veritas Medium Shoulder plane (I'd like one!)

from Lee Valley US$ 174 add say generous $50 express postage gives US$ 224 conversion plus bank conversion rate will get you up to about AU$250
Australian price $319, plus the half to 3 quarter hour drive to pick it up, and come home (another 1/2 to 3/4 hour drive)

why should I pay the extra $69.00 to shop locally? for that I could pick up a wixey and still be in front

[Sawdust Maker]

Bvgger, should have bought a HNT