Wol

>>It's a big country with a small population....<<

(Standard excuse for rip-off prices)

I've just been into my irrigation supplier for a replacement Toro sprinkler head: a small tube of plastic with a few springs etc inside.

I was charged $62.70, about $40 more than I thought would be the going amount. And that is the recommended Toro price here.

I get home and check an American supplier: they quote US$19.95 as the list price and ship it for US$11.46 within the States.

Sure is the lucky country!

Margaret3

I think anyone who buys anything here without checking out the overseas price is mental, especially the clothes, I save a fortune buying clothes for my daughters at NewLook, a cheap u.k clothes shop for teens, but the cheap u.k quality for them is better than the quality of the more expensive teen shops here.

I have totally converted some of my aussie workmates to M&S, Next, NewLook, and Bookdepository

Pollyana

Its probably due to the floods (catch-all phrase that can be applied to any purchase at present no matter how tenuous it seems)

Swerv-o

Yes, I too grow tired of this standard excuse to overcharge consumers.

I ALWAYS doublecheck the cost of things online, and very often use that price as the start of the bargaining process.


S

Vash the Stampede

Yep: lucky that we can buy from somewhere else.

Wol

Again, today I had to buy a few metres of stick-on velcro: $6.95/m. The American price - same stuff and size - US$0.49c/yd (say about AU$ 0.57c/m). One tenth the price.

To all those about to leave the UK for Paradise and are complaining about "rip-off Britain" - stick the rose tinted glasses on with superglue and don't even *think* of taking them off

Alfresco

The US has 310 million people. Oz 22.5 million.

1 cent profit in the US is a lot more than 1 cent profit in Oz as they sell much more in the US.

OzExpat

There are many reasons that goods should be more expensive in Australia than the USA, but the price disparity is beyond what should be expected. Part of it is the culture in Australia that you just pay whatever it costs, I think this is changing as more and more average people are struggling to make ends meet.

paulry

After living in Aus for a couple of months and experiencing the eye watering prices here, I realise now that price-wise Britain is a fools paradise.

....Oh to go shopping in the UK!

paulry

I haven't yet seen anyone protesting (other than online) about the extortionately high prices.

Merseygirl

>>It's a big country with a small population....<<

When I came to Australia 15 years, the cost of goods and services was reasonably priced and in many cases cheaper than overseas. Australia was still a big land mass with a small population back then so the above argument does not make sense to me.
I guess the world was less of a global market back then, but even so, Australia needs to remain competitive to survive regardless of distance and population.

I think there are too many big businesses here who are trying to pull the wool over our eyes but people are getting wise to it - thank goodness.

Hino

That comment is almost too stupid for words.

Have you ever graced this fair land with your presence or is your 'information' on the subject gleaned from the pages of the California edition of the National Enquirer ?

Amazulu

I find this kind of thing - hardware, DIY stuff etc - to be very expensive in Australia. I'm installing the new Clipsal Saturn range of socket outlets and light switches in my house. Because I'm in the industry, I get them at mates rates - much less than trade price. I pay $30-odd for a twin 10A outlet, trade is about $45, full retail is $70-80. The best match that I can see in the UK works out at about $48 retail. Paint is crazy expensive here, so are things like screws, fixings etc.

Saying that, I am finding consumer electrics to be roughly the same overall. I've just bought a Sony LCD TV, and the best UK price that I can see is about 10% less than what I paid. Other stuff like computer parts are cheaper here, appliances a bit more.

eddie007

Sorry to not whinge... I'd rather be ripped off and live here than have cheap as chips in either the uk or usa...


And yes I do shop online from overseas lol

EvannTel

Why would you want a sprinkler in the floods? They should be cheap as no demand!