How long before collapsing US currency makes scopes cheap for us Aussies?

overlord (Charles) · #1 27-04-2011, 11:12 PM

Can't be long now!

GeoffW1 (Geoff) · #2 27-04-2011, 11:22 PM

Hi,

I'm not so sure.

I think I'll ask Andrews for a quotable quote on it.

Cheers

EddieDog (Eddie) · #3 28-04-2011, 12:35 AM

Depends on how much old stock they have and for those that use a 'middle-man' how much % he takes. BOTW in WA now import direct as it is cheaper. Currently cheaper to buy from B&H New York though of course no support. I'll be in Melbounre in a week and will ask Bintel what they think. The markup here in Oz has been far too high on all Astro goods. Heck, it is cheaper to buy an OIII filter in NY, have it shipped here for $50, and still save heaps!
Eddie

mozzie (Peter) · #4 28-04-2011, 06:43 AM

they are getting cheaper...try the prices from 18 months ago and there down quit a lot....

gregbradley · #5 28-04-2011, 07:30 AM

Its hard to tell what happens with currencies. If our interest rates go up again our dollar could possibly climb even further. The US is not likely to raise their interest rates for some time still and are still printing money which will make their dollar weaker. They don't call it printing money - they call it buying back bonds or quantitative easing - but that's what it is exactly- printing money - literally. They finish their current round of printing money in June. I don't know if they plan to print more to boost their economy after that. Perhaps not as their economy is starting to show signs of recovery.

So we may be near a peak here in the Aussie dollar. So if you wait for it to go to $1.20 or something you may miss the high point which is in the very near future.

I doubt you would lose virtually anything by buying now whilst the dollar is $1.08 and even if it went up a bit more you still locked in an excellent perhaps not to be seen again for a long time rate.

Just my opinion.

Greg

casstony · #6 28-04-2011, 08:23 AM

The world economy is very sick and is supported by government spending/borrowing rather than intrinsic demand. When you borrow to the eyeballs you pull forward demand - were now seeing the necessarily reduced economic activity as people try pay off debt which in turn raises unemployment and causes falling asset prices. The future looks volatile at best and our dollar could plummet at any time - a lot depends on political decisions and when governments lose control of the ponzi economy - they could keep it going for a lot longer yet.

overlord (Charles) · #7 28-04-2011, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EddieDog

Depends on how much old stock they have and for those that use a 'middle-man' how much % he takes. BOTW in WA now import direct as it is cheaper. Currently cheaper to buy from B&H New York though of course no support. I'll be in Melbounre in a week and will ask Bintel what they think. The markup here in Oz has been far too high on all Astro goods. Heck, it is cheaper to buy an OIII filter in NY, have it shipped here for $50, and still save heaps!
Eddie

Maybe some peope here will kindly buy their old stock.

i'm tired of waiting for the 14" Schmidt to come down in price. Those things are kinda pricy!

overlord (Charles) · #8 28-04-2011, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregbradley

Its hard to tell what happens with currencies. If our interest rates go up again our dollar could possibly climb even further. The US is not likely to raise their interest rates for some time still and are still printing money which will make their dollar weaker. They don't call it printing money - they call it buying back bonds or quantitative easing - but that's what it is exactly- printing money - literally. They finish their current round of printing money in June. I don't know if they plan to print more to boost their economy after that. Perhaps not as their economy is starting to show signs of recovery.

So we may be near a peak here in the Aussie dollar. So if you wait for it to go to $1.20 or something you may miss the high point which is in the very near future.

I doubt you would lose virtually anything by buying now whilst the dollar is $1.08 and even if it went up a bit more you still locked in an excellent perhaps not to be seen again for a long time rate.

Just my opinion.

Greg

Yeah I guess so. I bought my Dobby in 2003 when Mars was getting big. Price was not a consideration for such a spectacular event!

erick (Eric) · #9 28-04-2011, 10:42 AM

Is it getting towards time to buy a big mirror from a US mirror maker and put it in the cupboard for some years until it's time to build a big scope around it?

Stu Ward · #10 28-04-2011, 10:47 AM

The thing with currency is, not all suppliers pass on the benefits.
We buy things from China in $US. The Aussie dollar strengthens against $US, so what do the Chinese do ? Increase their $US price.

erick (Eric) · #11 28-04-2011, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stu Ward

The thing with currency is, not all suppliers pass on the benefits.
We buy things from China in $US. The Aussie dollar strengthens against $US, so what do the Chinese do ? Increase their $US price.

Yes, shocking behaviour. You know, I paid almost AUD6 for some CCTV lenses (postage free) from China the other week!

(They have arrived and work just fine.)

Liz · #12 28-04-2011, 12:03 PM

Midday report - Aus $ = 109.11 US, another record broken!!

Cloudyagain (Neale) · #13 28-04-2011, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregbradley

Its hard to tell what happens with currencies. If our interest rates go up again our dollar could possibly climb even further. The US is not likely to raise their interest rates for some time still and are still printing money which will make their dollar weaker. They don't call it printing money - they call it buying back bonds or quantitative easing - but that's what it is exactly- printing money - literally. They finish their current round of printing money in June. I don't know if they plan to print more to boost their economy after that. Perhaps not as their economy is starting to show signs of recovery.

So we may be near a peak here in the Aussie dollar. So if you wait for it to go to $1.20 or something you may miss the high point which is in the very near future.

I doubt you would lose virtually anything by buying now whilst the dollar is $1.08 and even if it went up a bit more you still locked in an excellent perhaps not to be seen again for a long time rate.
Just my opinion.

Greg

I agree Greg, I am going to the US in August and I bought my US dollars a few weeks ago at about AUS$1.02. I thought at the time that you couldn't complain about that given the long term history of exchange rates. Currency speculation is just that, don't be too greedy and get what you want now while the going is good.

Also just my opinion.

Neale.

hotspur (Chris) · #14 29-04-2011, 11:13 AM

I would'nt wait too long,If I was going to buy something from U.S,I'd do it now,yes-we hear reports it may make 1.20-1.30 U.S Dollars.But at its current rate,It sure beats the heck out of buying something from U.S when our dollar
is only .87 cents.U.S-which many of us here have had to chew.

I just paid for some sports gear last night which was 178.25 U.S and only 165.00 AUS.Which included USPS postage. So was rather amazed

when I saw the rate was buying $1.09 U.S.

Good luck

steve000 (Steve) · #15 29-04-2011, 12:36 PM

Its very hard to judge.. our government has the habit of artficially deflating our $1

This happened last time we were almost $1 for $1 they dropped it to about 70c.

something to keep the US buying from us or similar

Logieberra (Logan) · #16 29-04-2011, 02:13 PM

I was in the US for five years following high school... 1999 to 2004, and the rate was approx. US$0.50 to Aud$1.00 painful

Glad that I grabbed my G11 last month

Logie.

Stu Ward · #17 29-04-2011, 02:36 PM

So where can you buy scope from in the US that ship to Aus ?

Davi5678 (Dave) · #18 29-04-2011, 11:24 PM

http://www.optcorp.com/default.aspx
I accept no responsibility for you going broke.

EddieDog (Eddie) · #19 30-04-2011, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stu Ward

So where can you buy scope from in the US that ship to Aus ?

Try B&H.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/browse...8/N/4294541872

Last Dec whilst in New York I bought a 6SE for $US799, had it shipped here all for less than $AU1000. They are one of the cheapest you will find. Huge store, huge buying power, fabulous service and organisation.

Eddie

overlord (Charles) · #20 30-04-2011, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EddieDog

Try B&H.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/browse...8/N/4294541872

Last Dec whilst in New York I bought a 6SE for $US799, had it shipped here all for less than $AU1000. They are one of the cheapest you will find. Huge store, huge buying power, fabulous service and organisation.

Eddie

Mate they are not cheap.