Hi Stephen,
I think its best to keep my reply brief so as not to offend but the bias in your reply against your fellow consumers in favour of the local retailers is very troubling. You say "this perceived crime against the consumer". Why are we just imagining it (consider A Celestron SkyScout in US $US178, in Australia $AUD500). And then apparently its really all our fault because as you say its “Apathy, I guess? Perhaps the average consumer just couldn't be buggered? I know I couldn't be”. And then you berate us for even bringing up the subject. I can certainly understand that you have had this discussion so often that it tires you. But why discourage us from trying to do something. It seems to me that even if we just talk about it, its bound to get back to all the players and maybe translate into a fairer deal for your fellow hobbyists.
Quote:
Originally Posted by glenluceskies
Hi Claude, as has been pointed out in many threads over the years here on IIS, a large part of the problem is the markup on the authorised importers of the product, not necessarily the local retail telescope shop. The only way ythe consumer will truely understand what is really going on with Australian prices if an Importer and retailer opening their books to the consumer to explain the breakdown or the prices. I'm sure everyone here would be interested in that, but that's not going to happen. And again, as I tried to point out, this argument has been going on ad nausuem for years and nothing, nothing has ever changed. Nothing. Zero. Zilch. Why not? considering there is this perceived crime against the consumer? Apathy, I guess? Perhaps the average consumer just couldn't be buggered? I know I couldn't be.
Again, as I said, this is a tired ol' argument but I look forward to it popping up in, ooooh, about 4 weeks.
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