[stephenb (Stephen)]

I'm glad the topic of the GST / import tax has been mentioned. Any item imported into Australia worth over $1000 attracts by law, 10% import tax.

This can get missed in this arguement.

And this very arguement, which seems to have evolved from the initial post is repeated with monotonous regularity. For those who have raised this argument this time around, I'm not having a go at you, but it is a regular topic. And let's face it, this argument is often pointed at BinTel, although many may not want to use thier name in the context of the arguement.

My opinion is that Australian dealers (of any manufacturer) are not making a "killing".

Sure, I don't like some of the prices I have paid for gear in the past, but boy, have I been able to justify the initial cost, when weeks or months later, the product develops a fault, and the local shopfront dealer has gone over and above their already high level of customer service to fix or replace the product. I wouldn't have got that from with (a) buying over the internet from an Australian dealer with no shopfront, or (b) buying from overseas - both would had incured shipping costs to have the items returned.

One point I'd like to make is that, from my understanding, Meade and Celestron do not reimburse the local dealers for any labour costs they spend on warranty repairs. So if they have to factor this into the inital cost of the product, I personally have no problem with it. I have been in the service industry where this used to occur.

In the end the comsumer decides and I guess the market will filter out the dealers who "make a killing", but in the end the dealers I have used and trusted over my 25 years in the hobby, are still in business, if only just. I really cannot see why all the fuss. Shop around and get the best deal for yourself. If your happy, that's all that matters, isn't it?