Originally Posted by BadgeIsBack

And Creatures's funny butcher, candlestick maker comment.

You know me - I am a not a supermarket tragic.

Frankly, if Tesco or Sainsbury arrived on these shores I would use them in a fit of curiosity. I would only continue to use them - in this order - if they were alot cheaper, (min 30pc) , closer, or carried a few things I found that piqued my interest. Distance has proved to be a big factor for us, not price or choice. Distance because I don't like driving along suburban roads and through lights when there is only 1 set between home, an 80k road and our current, brand new, (recently opened) Woolworths.

Until that time, I really couldn't give a monkies. I'm also, too busy - and fortunately, in economic terms, highly elastic when it comes to grocery shopping. But some groceries are expensive when compared to other markets, like the US, for example.

Originally Posted by Vash the Stampede

That's not market resistance, that's just a competitor's advertising campaign!

Market resistance = resistance from consumers, not snide remarks from competitors. Specsavers has been enormously successful in Australia.

Originally Posted by Crystaltipps

I am just a lay consumer and am probably ignorant of the larger economic issues involved but it does seem a shame and to the detriment of its retail culture that this country is not open to foreign brands.

Originally Posted by Vash the Stampede

It is open to foreign brands.

It's their choice if they want to come here or not. Nothing's stopping them.

Originally Posted by Wol

Oh, come on. We could have bananas that taste far better than the QLD ones and cost less, and apples from NZ that are streets ahead of Oz ones, but for the protectionism masquerading as quarantine regulations. Not the same as supermarket competition I grant, but the attitude is similar.

Originally Posted by Crystaltipps

That's what I meant. I have noticed a definite resistance to non-Australian products - not from the consumers but from the media and possibly the government too ?

This isn't an attitude I've encountered in other expat destinations.

Originally Posted by Crystaltipps

That's what I meant. I have noticed a definite resistance to non-Australian products - not from the consumers but from the media and possibly the government too ?

This isn't an attitude I've encountered in other expat destinations.

Originally Posted by bcworld

I remember when Ibuprofen finally became available in Australia. You had Herron Blue, who didn't have anything good to say about their product - the whole marketing strategy was simply don't buy Nurofen - it's all foreign and nasty.

Originally Posted by moneypenny20

But that's just a marketing strategy.

Originally Posted by bcworld

Of course it is...but it's clearly one they think would have some sway with the general public. They could've concocted some nonsense about nano-particles or micro-chromosomes and retinol pro B - accompanied by some sciency graphics.

I think they would've been better off with the latter tbh. A lot of people talk the talk when it comes to buying Aussie made, I know plenty...but the same folk go out of their way to go to Crazys or the Reject Shop to buy a tube of Colgate imported from the Phillipines with an English language sticker on it to save a buck!

Originally Posted by kporte

That's you isn't it??

Originally Posted by bcworld

Originally Posted by Amazulu

Yet thousands of foreign owned products are available to buy, how does that fit in with your statement?

Originally Posted by Crystaltipps

I think there are relatively few foreign-owned products on sale here compared to other countries I've lived in.

It's not a huge deal and I can easily live with it (there's always online shopping from Europe or the US!)

Just a surprising (and slightly disappointing) observation from a newbie.