Overseas internet shopping - 1st battle won - Retail Giants lose campaign.

seems that the greedy retail giants have had a backfire from their media campaign to force the govt to increase control on internet purchases. They want the 10% GST imposed on all purchases.

http://www.news.com.au/business/business-smarts/online-shopping-gst-loophole-divides-australian-retailers/story-e6frfm9r-1225982174690

Federal govt is playing it very cool on this topic and people like Nick Xenophon have gone into bat against the big retail giants.

Its funny but a 5% swing in the aussie dollar has put so much focus on overseas spending. No one cared when we were buying overseas when the $Aus was at 95 cents US.

For people like me in remote areas the first choice for shopping... for anything... is to check it out on the internet. Doesnt make much difference whether it is in Australia or overseas, it all takes the same amount of time to get to my door.

it's like Goliath trying to be David..

About time too! The poor hardly done by retail groups are crying foul because their profits aren't as big as last year.

Even if the retailers were to get their way with the 10% GST, I know I would still be a lot better off as some of the prices are up to 50%-60% cheaper than here, inclusive of postage.

Until there is REAL competition in the retail sector here, I know where I'll be buying my stuff.

If only my pay would go up as quick as things do, I'd be happy with that. I can't make any more money, so I have to look at ways of saving, and if buying off the internet from overseas is the way to do it, then I will continue to do so.

Keep going up AUD!

Agreed, 10% isn't going to make it a "level playing field" as the retailer are saying it will.
If the retailers prices were only 10% dearer, then I would buy the stuff here in Australia. The fact is, you can buy stuff 50%+ cheaper from legitimate business over seas.

Either the retailers here have crappy buying power, or they aren't happy making less than 100% on items.

I'm with you guys, I live in the regions and the only way to buy anything is online, local just doesn't cut. No one asked the Hardly Normals of this world to build huge luxury warehouses and then become billionaires by charging 100% profit, they want a level field? rreduce ya prices then!

annosL wrote:they want a level field? rreduce ya prices then!

They have a level playing field, they just don't like it.

Thing is I can buy say a Cannon DSLR in trhe states for $250 USD
Same camera here is $500AUD and they are screaming that the 10% is the issue?
Dont think so its us being screwed thats the issue.
Mitchell

Uber Kafer wrote:seems that the greedy retail giants have had a backfire from their media campaign to force the govt to increase control on internet purchases. They want the 10% GST imposed on all purchases.

http://www.news.com.au/business/business-smarts/online-shopping-gst-loophole-divides-australian-retailers/story-e6frfm9r-1225982174690

Federal govt is playing it very cool on this topic and people like Nick Xenophon have gone into bat against the big retail giants.

Its funny but a 5% swing in the aussie dollar has put so much focus on overseas spending. No one cared when we were buying overseas when the $Aus was at 95 cents US.

For people like me in remote areas the first choice for shopping... for anything... is to check it out on the internet. Doesnt make much difference whether it is in Australia or overseas, it all takes the same amount of time to get to my door.

10% still wouldn't make any difference with the dollar the way it is....
and the extra large Hardly Normal stores with lots of staff are just too expensive....

they are making too much profit.... $$$$$

I buy whatever I can on line...

LEE

I just bought a camera online, a camera is not something I know all that much about so I shoped around at actual shops till I found out all I could about my intended purchase then checked the web to see what I could get it for, saved about 25%, the bloke in the store didn't get the sale but did give me a lot of unpaid assistance. I feel a bit guilty about buying it online, the online shop gave me no assistance except a better price, the bloke in the store could have handed it over when I paid my $, I'm still waiting for delivery of the camera I bought online, hoping like bloody hell I'm not going to get ripped off.
I realy think the shops are on the rough end. Like I said, I feel a bit guilty about buying on line and rightfully so. 👍

i want to know how they will tell the difference between second hand goods and new stuff, i buy ALOT of second hand car parts, will they charge me GST on those? if so thats not fair! some of the stuff i buy is expensive, (hard to find stuff) also will they charge GST on shipping and handling?
there are some sellers who sell watches for 99c but shipping is $20, what do i pay GST on there?

I think you pay GST on parts from local wreckers, may be wrong though, happend once before. 😀

I am a bit with Donn about feeling guilty buying online after getting free advice from the local shop.

As a builder, the other thing that I am sure of - the local shopkeeper or his staff are far more likely to get me to do building work for them than the online store (unless it is a very local one - not usually the case), if they still have a business or a job.

I guess what comes around goes around.

Well I think most of us support local, I do when I can as it's good if you get it straight away, but VW bits are a different thing, for me anyway as nearly all come from the east or overseas, there is no big vw suppliers here in W.A. I would prefer to buy on-line from an Aussie on-line store and even pay a bit more too if only for warranty reasons BUT I have yet to find a good site(anyone know one!)
Mind you I think there is a difference between the local shop with a local person you know running it than the National and International franchises: Hardly Normals etc, I never feel guilty with buying cheaper on-line than from the franchises

I buy 95% of my stuff online.

Don't be surprised if they get their way yet.😬

Yep, sure haven't heard any fat lady singing.

As the jingle goes.

Go Harvey Go. Go take a leap!

I don't buy washing machines or computers or refridgerators
on line....

just about everything else is bought on line...

save heaps on clothes.. shoes.. dog vet supplies..
dog beds etc.. phones.. dvd players- set top boxes...

car tyres cheaper if bought off line.... bob jane..

car parts...

Lee

I do get my photos printed out at hardly normal or big w..
Lee

HaHaHa....Just heard that Gerry has bowed out of the campaign........I think he just realized how damaging it is to the wealth he is currently amassing.

I just received a package bought online, invoice shows GST @ 10%, so in this case I did pay GST though it is an Australian based online seller.

news.com website article today - Gerry Harvey surrenders - 3300 comments .....

3300. Surely thats some sort of record... Australians have really got their backs up about this issue. And no-one seems to have any sympathy for the retail giants.

Now to get my Viagra!

donn wrote:I just received a package bought online, invoice shows GST @ 10%, so in this case I did pay GST though it is an Australian based online seller.

i HAVE SEEN OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS A FEW EBAY SHOPS WHO PAID GST AS THEY WERE REGISTERED
AND THE GST WAS ADDED AFTER YOU WON IT...
and they told you all this...


I can't remember seeing any of those lately... on ebay..

I have bought goods, monitor and set top boxes etc from an online shop and the gst was included in the price...

still heaps cheaper than hardly normal...

and overseas prices are usually much much cheaper....


Lee

ancientbugger wrote:Now to get my Viagra!

DRUGS {VIAGRA?] IS MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE IN THE USA

i HAVE BEEN GETTING SPAM FROM DRUG COMPANIES IN THE USA AND BECAUSE YOU PAY THE TOP PRICE OVER THERE
NO GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES ...

VALIUM IS ABOUT $12 A BOX IN AUSTRALIA [SCRIPT]

IN THE US THEY ARE ABOUT $30-$40 +++ A BOX

ALTHOUGH THERE WAS ONE EMAIL I GOT WHERE THEY WROTE YOUR SCRIPT FOR YOU OVER THERE?????

LEE

waltermitty wrote:Thing is I can buy say a Cannon DSLR in trhe states for $250 USD
Same camera here is $500AUD and they are screaming that the 10% is the issue?
Dont think so its us being screwed thats the issue.
Mitchell

Same with my running shoes. I can get them for $80US when on special. The cheapest I have ever seen them here is $186AU. I've been buying them cheaper overseas even when the dollar was worth 80 odd cents.

Why can I buy the identical pair of shoes that travel from taiwan to USA to AU for half the price of the same shoe sent from taiwan direct to AU? Put the 10% GST on if they like but I'll still be buying online.

If Gerry Harvey stopped advertising and paying for your 24 months "interest free" for just one week he could probably buy his own country and set his very own tax policy.

I work for a small retail buisness which orders a lot of our stock from the US and we are suffering because of online ordering.We get people coming in to the store and we spend time to work out and advise the customer what they require,they try out the product and then go and buy the product on line.Problem is that if we close down who is going to repair the product if it breaks (are they going to send it back to the US).You might think "big deal"about big buisness but it is a "big deal" to small buisness.

CB CRAIG wrote:I work for a small retail buisness which orders a lot of our stock from the US and we are suffering because of online ordering.We get people coming in to the store and we spend time to work out and advise the customer what they require,they try out the product and then go and buy the product on line.Problem is that if we close down who is going to repair the product if it breaks (are they going to send it back to the US).You might think "big deal"about big buisness but it is a "big deal" to small buisness.

Hi
I can see that is a problem...
I buy Merrell shoes from the USA for under $50 on line...
$usually $150 -250 over here...

If I buy something from the USA...
I buy it as a no warranty item...
and if i receive the wrong item... ...
I still have it.... lol..

if its the wrong size... I still have it.. lol

Luckily -- Freight is still a killer with heavy items..
so We have to shop locally... or locally on line...

Lee

i HAVE SEEN OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS A FEW EBAY SHOPS WHO PAID GST AS THEY WERE REGISTERED
AND THE GST WAS ADDED AFTER YOU WON IT...
and they told you all this...


I can't remember seeing any of those lately... on ebay..




The gst was included in the buy now price though I didn't see it mentioned on the ebay advert, not that it would have made any difference as it was a buy now. Is the big problem with the shop front stores the fact that there is no GST on on line purchases or just OS on line purchases, if on line purchases in Australia don't have GST then I reckon they have a legit complaint, praps I'll do some reserch. 👍

poor OLD Billionaire Gerry Harvey.
fark they give you the shits , because every farkin week they are having a sale .😬🤪🙅🤪

ancientbugger wrote:Now to get my Viagra!

😂 Who needs Viagra? If they had an opposite to Viagra, that would be very handy 😎

ian.mezz wrote:poor OLD Billionaire Gerry Harvey.
fark they give you the shits , because every farkin week they are having a sale .😬🤪🙅🤪

Its called not having a TV. Best thing I ever did 👍

Vlad, have you seen my wife?

Where does Harvey Norman buy their shit? China,Japan etc etc
Bit hypocritical yeah? Moron

Business's charge you an arm and a leg to stay open,they have too or theyre buggered.
I havent bought much online before coz I'm impatient and want it now,so I usually buy local.
Not anymore!
When these local shops have 'Massive discount' sales,it really shows you how much theyre ripping people off.

I recently bought a Panasonic cordless drill combo for my work (tradie) for $495 for TWO guns from VEK Tools online in NSW.
Local shops here in SA and other states have the same drill combo for $720.Now who am I going to buy from?
VEK are STILL making a profit,albeit a smaller one.Good on 'em! I'll spend more with them soon.

A bit off topic but the same scenario.I do wardrobes for a living and quoted someone recently $2000 for 2 robes.Cashie job ofcourse,and I make a very decent sum outta that.
The quotes they got from the big companies and online were around $3500-4000 for EXACTLY the same product as the one I supply.

Who would you buy from?

I'll buy online from now on,especially VW bits from CIP1.The locals cant match the price,so they won't get my money

ancientbugger wrote:Vlad, have you seen my wife?

haha, now I get ya 😂

Wannavee wrote:Where does Harvey Norman buy their shit? China,Japan etc etc
Bit hypocritical yeah? Moron

Business's charge you an arm and a leg to stay open,they have too or theyre buggered.
I havent bought much online before coz I'm impatient and want it now,so I usually buy local.
Not anymore!
When these local shops have 'Massive discount' sales,it really shows you how much theyre ripping people off.

I recently bought a Panasonic cordless drill combo for my work (tradie) for $495 for TWO guns from VEK Tools online in NSW.
Local shops here in SA and other states have the same drill combo for $720.Now who am I going to buy from?
VEK are STILL making a profit,albeit a smaller one.Good on 'em! I'll spend more with them soon.

A bit off topic but the same scenario.I do wardrobes for a living and quoted someone recently $2000 for 2 robes.Cashie job ofcourse,and I make a very decent sum outta that.
The quotes they got from the big companies and online were around $3500-4000 for EXACTLY the same product as the one I supply.

Who would you buy from?

I'll buy online from now on,especially VW bits from CIP1.The locals cant match the price,so they won't get my money

So you do a cashie , you don't pay taxes
you are a cheat 😂


Buy overseas if you like but when the local guys shut down then where do you buy a fan belt or normal service items ??

Local businesses have to pay GST , import fees etc

All these Black imports are hurting our small businesses more than the large ones.

Now if everybody buys online overseas and spends less than $1000 , how much GST will our country miss out on ?

Taxes are a needed to pay for Schools , Roads , Hospitals etc
we all need and use em

The likes of Harvey Norman parallel import. They not only buy from the manufacturer or major distributor in Australia, but they'll buy from overseas via their stores in Singapore or similar and then bring them into the country that way.

Granted taxes are needed for our schools and infrastructure, but questions have to be asked what happens with the current taxes collected. $500m to Indonesia for their education system or $1m from the federal government to help flood relief in QLD. This is for another forum at another time, but get my drift?

I have a bit of a problem with who deserves our patronage, according to Wannavee he makes a good profit out of doing wardrobes for cash a lot cheaper than the other blokes doing it as a legit business, well those legit businesses employ office staff, salesmen / women, supervisors etc and they rent premises to operate out of, they then are covered by insurances and Fairtrade licences, I suspect that Wannavee employes / pays or has none of these (now hear me out here because I personaly have operated in the same way as Wannavee in the past so I'm not passing moral judgement on anyone here) all those oncosts and overheads have to be covered by someone and that someone is the end consumer, you and me. If it wasn't for things like trade licencing and mandatory insurances then there would be a lot of consumers being ripped off (well more than there are now) that's what these licences etc are here for, at least there is a line to follow for retribution or rectification of faulty workmanship / products, the system sure isn't perfect but it's better than the one we had (read that as didn't have) in years past.
Then poor OLD Billionaire Gerry Harvey cops a hiding, well there are a few of us here (I was one till my recent retirement) who run our own business, some of us have ideas of expanding into larger businesses and employing others, that's what makes any economy greater, more and larger industry, imagine where Australia would be if the people who started BHP had been happy to sit there digging a bit of ore out of the ground and selling it to someone to process. Well I imagine that Gerry started off a bit like the sole traders and small businesses around the country, then he worked his butt off and took financial risks to expand, now he's a tall poppy and we all want to knock him down. Makes me wonder?
Here endeth the rant.

One day someone will say why can't I find a job here in Australia.

Don't get me wrong... I was just online odering a whole heap of stuff from the US but, there is a point to the campaign.

a retailer has to pay duty and GST but under 1K we don't. They need to turn the lights on pay rent and staff.

Stuff the big guys... think of the little guys we are killing off you can't buy a shifter or set of shocks from Harveys BigW or coles.

😊

stuff OLD Billionaire Gerry Harvey, I guess that 99% of the stuff bought @ those big stores would be bought using credit, They give loans to people who cant afford a $3000 3d telly and don't really need one.🤪
and I bet the Retail Giants took out lots of small business on their way as it would appear they don't want to share the market.

vlad01 wrote:😂 Who needs Viagra? If they had an opposite to Viagra, that would be very handy 😎

Be careful what you wish for!🤪

vlad01 wrote:

ancientbugger wrote:Now to get my Viagra!

😂 Who needs Viagra? If they had an opposite to Viagra, that would be very handy 😎

There is an opposite, but I still love beer. 🥲

I can feel some sorrow for a small business, but if target myer and etc can have minimum 30% off sales on 26th December then it just shows they are ripping me off a minimum of 30% for the other 364 days. Die scumbags.

Mum was a dressmaker in her day. When she was doing home sewing on her own 2 machines using her own power she was getting a couple of dollars per dress. Katies etc were getting $100+ for the dress. I know that there are a lot of other costs that go into it but its still a good markup.

well those legit businesses employ office staff, salesmen / women, supervisors etc and they rent premises to operate out of, they then are covered by insurances and Fairtrade licences,

all those oncosts and overheads have to be covered by someone and that someone is the end consumer, you and me. If it wasn't for things like trade licencing and mandatory insurances then there would be a lot of consumers being ripped off (well more than there are now) that's what these licences etc are here for, at least there is a line to follow for retribution or rectification of faulty workmanship / products, the system sure isn't perfect but it's better than the one we had (read that as didn't have) in years past.

The above two points have a great deal of merit. The only thing is though, that they are not unique to Australia. UK, USA, New Zealand and much of Europe would have all of the above in some form or another.

We shouldn't just be knocking Gerry Harvey. What about Coles & Woolies when they tried shutting out Aldi? How is it that two major Australian companies can be undercut by a foreign company?

As has been talked about on this forum, we should buy from our retailers here, to keep jobs. Going back to Coles and Woolies, have a look at where quite a percentage of their canned food products come from (South Africa, Thailand, Malaysia, etc). They don't consider looking after local jobs here.

All businesses look after their bottom line to ensure investors are kept happy.

Consumers also have to look after their bottom line so they can have some money left over to invest.

It's a vicious merry-go-round.

I read an article the other day that stated that only 1% of all sales were via the internet and of that only 30% were OS orders, of that how much is stuff that cannot be bought in Aus?
I bought some stuff from OS but that was only because it wasn't available anywhere in Australia.

Gerry Harvey has just made himself look like a sook(greedy one at that)

donn wrote:

vlad01 wrote:

ancientbugger wrote:Now to get my Viagra!

😂 Who needs Viagra? If they had an opposite to Viagra, that would be very handy 😎

There is an opposite, but I still love beer. 🥲

Sorry that is not an option, I don't drink. 🤓

If i took Viagra, oh gez that would be horrible 🤪

You don't drink!! you must be real thirsty by now. 😂

amazeer wrote:I can feel some sorrow for a small business, but if target myer and etc can have minimum 30% off sales on 26th December then it just shows they are ripping me off a minimum of 30% for the other 364 days. Die scumbags.

Mum was a dressmaker in her day. When she was doing home sewing on her own 2 machines using her own power she was getting a couple of dollars per dress. Katies etc were getting $100+ for the dress. I know that there are a lot of other costs that go into it but its still a good markup.

There is a Lady in Scone who does altering for next to nothing
She's about 70 years old... and does it for shops too...

but when She's gone.... no more new zips etc....

new clothes...

LEE

PS: I started buying goods on the internet from overseas in 2002 when the items couldn't be bought here or were over Double the price in Australia... at first it was just VW parts...
but now its anything...
although prices on ebay in Australia are still way below shop prices... I see that supercheap has an online shop so I read...

LEE

68AutoBug wrote:[quote
There is a Lady in Scone who does altering for next to nothing
She's about 70 years old... and does it for shops too...

but when She's gone.... no more new zips etc....

new clothes...

LEE

PS: I started buying goods on the internet from overseas in 2002 when the items couldn't be bought here or were over Double the price in Australia... at first it was just VW parts...
but now its anything...
although prices on ebay in Australia are still way below shop prices... I see that supercheap has an online shop so I read...

LEE

No one is questioning the services or skills of people. They can't be bought online.

Lee, you mention Supercheap Auto. They're expanding their online business, because they're shutting down stores. I can name two stores that have been shut down within the last 6-12 months. Hurstville and Rockdale in Sydney. Repco shut down their last trade store in Peakhurst a few months ago also.

That sort of puts holes in the arguments that buying online in Australia will save jobs. Not true, You can buy online in Australia and still be putting retail staff out of a job. The prices don't reduce, but the profits of the companies keep rising.

These stores were a short drive from me. Now I have to drive further if I want anything, or if I have a product and price, and can get it cheaper off shore, I will.

I'm not questioning the old Lady..
as someone said their mother used to do it...

Gerry Harvey has made millions but has also employed lots of people in His franchised shops...

We still buy Fridges and Washing Machines, microwaves etc from shops as we want to see what they look like first...
and have them delivered etc...

I buy a lot of stuff from Dick Smiths ... [helping woolies]

OK on supercheap and Repco closing shops ..

Lee

donn wrote:You don't drink!! you must be real thirsty by now. 😂

I drink water and coffee though. 😁

evolution will sort it out, some shops will survive, some won't, on-line will become stronger, but the bottom line will count, doesn't really matter if you have sympathy or not with Aussie business, you save where ya can (if you a pensioner like me!) and business will cope or start a new venture, shareholders always win!