Long time reader, first time poster..
I'd just like to point out a few things.. The Gerry Harvey(s) in this instance are all for wanting us Australians to pay for GST etc, but in reality what they're really whinging about is having to pay rent, super, public liability, company tax etc all masked under the guise of 'fair tax for all'... I've never heard him whinge for one moment before the leadup to christmas 2010 about this, when more and more people were buying online and the dollar was at parity with the US. I didn't hear him cry when Australian farmers ditched their crops into landfill because of cheaper imports, nor have I ever heard of him crying when Australian manufacturering went offshore to maximise his profits. 5 years ago, ordering online was the domain of young tech savvy users who were willing to take a chance on internet shopping russian roulette... Now we see a larger section of people, mums & dads, buying online and saving a bundle.
I think the real issue however, is Australian importers and distributors. I've been told from someone who runs a rather large online camera store that if i was to buy a particular canon lens, that his buy price from canon is more expensive than what i can buy the same lens from an online store in the US. How can retailers honestly compete when distributors are charging so much more. I used to work in a gaming and media role, working with distributors on reviewing products. From time to time, i'd get to see wholesale pricelists of cds/dvds/games. New release dvds were sold at a wholesale level for $15-$19, with a RRP of $35-$40.. Or AAA gaming titles.. they'd be sold for $65-$70 at a wholesaler level, with RRP $99.95 - $119.95 RRP. Even when the dollar was at 50 US cents, to now parity, the cost of these goods has not changed. Distributors are pocketing the difference.
I suppose its easier to attack customers and brand them as scum for not paying tax, when the real issue is higher up the chain. One can only hope that the ball is rolling and it snowballs into an avalache..
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Long time reader, first time poster.. I'd just like to point out a few things.. The Gerry Harvey(s) in this instance are all for wanting us Australians to pay for GST etc, but in reality what they're really whinging about is having to pay rent, super, public liability, company tax etc all masked under the guise of 'fair tax for all'... I've never heard him whinge for one moment before the leadup to christmas 2010 about this, when more and more people were buying online and the dollar was at parity with the US. I didn't hear him cry when Australian farmers ditched their crops into landfill because of cheaper imports, nor have I ever heard of him crying when Australian manufacturering went offshore to maximise his profits. 5 years ago, ordering online was the domain of young tech savvy users who were willing to take a chance on internet shopping russian roulette... Now we see a larger section of people, mums & dads, buying online and saving a bundle. I think the real issue however, is Australian importers and distributors. I've been told from someone who runs a rather large online camera store that if i was to buy a particular canon lens, that his buy price from canon is more expensive than what i can buy the same lens from an online store in the US. How can retailers honestly compete when distributors are charging so much more. I used to work in a gaming and media role, working with distributors on reviewing products. From time to time, i'd get to see wholesale pricelists of cds/dvds/games. New release dvds were sold at a wholesale level for $15-$19, with a RRP of $35-$40.. Or AAA gaming titles.. they'd be sold for $65-$70 at a wholesaler level, with RRP $99.95 - $119.95 RRP. Even when the dollar was at 50 US cents, to now parity, the cost of these goods has not changed. Distributors are pocketing the difference. I suppose its easier to attack customers and brand them as scum for not paying tax, when the real issue is higher up the chain. One can only hope that the ball is rolling and it snowballs into an avalache..