Our Garbage Big Box Stores

[Burnsy]

Do you think anyone in Kmart Australia would even know what a morse taper is?
Kmart.com

Yeah it is probably Chinese garbage but at least it is useful Chinese garbage not like the stuff our big names stock!!

[BobL]

From the Wikipedia entry for Kmart

Kmart also exists in Australia and New Zealand (see Kmart Australia), although it now has no relation to the American stores except in name, after U.S. equity in the Australian business was purchased in the late 1970s.

[skot]

Our KMart stores wouldn't stock these.....neither would the Big Green Shed

[Evanism]

It's unreal the difference between what is available elsewhere and here.

Masters may be "modelled" upon one of its US part-owners offerings, but the difference is absolutely galactic. Bunnings is worse.

The absolute lack of quality is stunning. The prices are worse.

Obviously the Australian public is only interested in the low end of the market. What I don't understand is why the demand for quality is so low.

A scan of the US equivalent sites show an amazing array of options that are simply not present here.... The options on MDF and ply are incredible.

[A Duke]

Hi,
I am quite amused, our local KMart (Aus) used to stock hardware and I wanted some fasteners and thought I would get them there and save a 3 block walk, and discovered that section had disappeared, so I asked at the check out and got told "Bunnings is doing such a good job we don't need sell hardware any more." The answer came so pat , it must be the West Farmers official answer.
Regards

[Burnsy]

Hi,
I am quite amused, our local KMart (Aus) used to stock hardware and I wanted some fasteners and thought I would get them there and save a 3 block walk, and discovered that section had disappeared, so I asked at the check out and got told "Bunnings is doing such a good job we don't need sell hardware any more." The answer came so pat , it must be the West Farmers official answer.
Regards

Yep, hardware, guns, amunition and decent brand clothes, now it is just multi coloured chinese petrochemical products and confectionary (some of which also fits into the previous category).

[skot]

Reason for the gap in quality & price from USA to here is purely the population difference...we just don't have the numbers to warrant the sellers having better ranges.
In USA , just a small percentage of the population making a purchase is still big by our standards. They have 10x our population.

[BobL]

Reason for the gap in quality & price from USA to here is purely the population difference...we just don't have the numbers to warrant the sellers having better ranges.
In USA , just a small percentage of the population making a purchase is still big by our standards. They have 10x our population.

They have nearly 14X our population and even more significantly nearly 21X more people living in non-urban areas and like AUS these people tend to be greater DIYers than urban folks

[skot]

Bobl, You are right about the non-urban population being more hands on.....I envy the choices that are in USA.

Last year, I tried for many months trying to get my drum sander drive belt to track properly. I went to Australia's Distributor for Jet and after trying 3 different belts ...each time going back to them and telling them that the belt still tracked incorrectly, I was ready to throw my hands up and give in. I did some searching and was informed that a poly belt worked for other woodworkers. I again contacted the Australian distributor to inquire about the poly belt only to be told that they couldn't help.

More searching took me to a Woodwork Machinery Store in Mesa, Arizona. Mesa is the 3rd largest town in that state...not the LARGEST or 2nd Largest. They were able to supply & ship a poly belt to fit my 22/44 and it arrived about 6 days later direct to my door. They have more choice of products & services.