Apparently high prices charged by some of our retailers here in Australia

[wasyoungonce (Brendan)]

Originally Posted by tlgerdes

Maybe i'm better looking than you.

Well that's not hard...even my dogs are better looking than me!.....or you missed the "at"......or ...are you coming on to me!..

[wavelandscott (Scott)]

While I am loath to add my comments to this thread and despite my better judgement I'm going to.

Having dabbled in the 'Astro business' in Australia I will simply say this, if you think that the retailers are getting rich you are mistaken. If you want to know the reason why US based firms can sell cheaper it is largely because they are buying at a better price (yes, pricing is set on a regional basis and is different country to country), they have fewer middlemen to contend with, and have a much lower cost of doing business (labour and overheads) than their Australian counterparts. I won't even go into the impact of exchange rates and GST...

The last comments I will add to this entertaining and well intentioned thread is this...many of the global manufactures of gear will have contractual arrangements that restrict their distributors (retailers) ability to sell outside of their territories.

I do not aim to be offensive but do intend to be instructive...to post boldly here (for everyone to see) that you bought product X from company Y overseas for price Z (saving a motsa of $) is an excellent way to ensure that a contractually obligated manufacturer enforces their limited and restricted distribution model to protect their "exclusive" Australian partner (while these may be morally repugnant they are perfectly legal) and ends the practice.

In other words, a few references to posts in this thread (used as specific examples) copied to a manufacture will force them to shut down the discount honey hole.

Having worked in and with limited/exclusive distribution systems most of my adult life they are nearly impossible to enforce without concrete examples...in this thread we are able to identify several concrete examples that could be used (we have names, products, locations, dates and prices)...were I an Astro retailer with an exclusive contractual agreement with suppliers I would certainly use the information in this thread to demonstrate that company Y was infringing into my exclusive area...the usual penalty for violating sales territories for the offending party is loss of discounts and if blatant enough loss of distribution rights in total.

Now the teaching part...I'm not trying to suggest that consumers should not shop around...I am saying that if you are going to buy from overseas (with all of the related pros and cons) then you should probably be careful about bragging about it...I don't think that Astronomics, OPT, Anacortes, etc. etc. will risk their manufacture discounts, incentives and/or access to sell you an eyepiece in Australia for very long

[TrevorW]

Scott whatever happened too the global economy and free trade ????

[Louwai (Bryan)]

Originally Posted by wavelandscott

While I am loath to add my comments to this thread and despite my better judgement I'm going to.

Having dabbled in the 'Astro business' in Australia I will simply say this, if you think that the retailers are getting rich you are mistaken. If you want to know the reason why US based firms can sell cheaper it is largely because they are buying at a better price (yes, pricing is set on a regional basis and is different country to country), they have fewer middlemen to contend with, and have a much lower cost of doing business (labour and overheads) than their Australian counterparts. I won't even go into the impact of exchange rates and GST...

The last comments I will add to this entertaining and well intentioned thread is this...many of the global manufactures of gear will have contractual arrangements that restrict their distributors (retailers) ability to sell outside of their territories.

I do not aim to be offensive but do intend to be instructive...to post boldly here (for everyone to see) that you bought product X from company Y overseas for price Z (saving a motsa of $) is an excellent way to ensure that a contractually obligated manufacturer enforces their limited and restricted distribution model to protect their "exclusive" Australian partner (while these may be morally repugnant they are perfectly legal) and ends the practice.

In other words, a few references to posts in this thread (used as specific examples) copied to a manufacture will force them to shut down the discount honey hole.

Having worked in and with limited/exclusive distribution systems most of my adult life they are nearly impossible to enforce without concrete examples...in this thread we are able to identify several concrete examples that could be used (we have names, products, locations, dates and prices)...were I an Astro retailer with an exclusive contractual agreement with suppliers I would certainly use the information in this thread to demonstrate that company Y was infringing into my exclusive area...the usual penalty for violating sales territories for the offending party is loss of discounts and if blatant enough loss of distribution rights in total.

Now the teaching part...I'm not trying to suggest that consumers should not shop around...I am saying that if you are going to buy from overseas (with all of the related pros and cons) then you should probably be careful about bragging about it...I don't think that Astronomics, OPT, Anacortes, etc. etc. will risk their manufacture discounts, incentives and/or access to sell you an eyepiece in Australia for very long

Scott,
It's good that someone can provide exact info from a retailer's point of view. I'm sure there are many members here who are not aware of thepoints you make.

Although, through this thread I couldn't find a post that directly referenced a US retailer with a specific brand & that retailer selling it into Australia.

+ I don't think letting others know of a good deal (either from oveseas or local) is 'bragging'. It's purly helping possibly less informed members of a better value-for-money deal.


For myself, & I'm sure MANY others here, it will be a rare thing to buy certain brand items in Australia. They are simply far too expensive.

B

[chrisp9au (Chris)]

Originally Posted by TrevorW

Scott whatever happened too the global economy and free trade ????

The global economy rules, everyone is looking for the best deal, dealers and buyers alike, here and overseas.
Traders want to get the best price they can, hence they are are labeled 'greedy'.
Buyers want to get the best price they can, hence they are labeled 'miserly'.
We all buy/trade according to what we can afford, and what backup/service we require.
And on a forum like this, all viewpoints are valid.

Cheers
Chris

[wasyoungonce (Brendan)]

To further complicate matters...there are forwarding companies in USA & Australia...like:

MyUS
Box Voyage
Price USA
USA2ME
USABox.com

The list goes on...All willing to on forward purchased goods from USA...for a fee (which is usually not too much).

Also a well known Taiwan manufacturer sell from their online site with free postage worldwide!

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by wavelandscott

While I am loath to add my comments to this thread and despite my better judgement I'm going to.

Glad you did mate. Makes perfect sense. Crystal clear

[wavelandscott (Scott)]

Originally Posted by TrevorW

Scott whatever happened too the global economy and free trade ????

It is free for businesses...most manufacturers can trade goods most anywhere in the world...on balance it works out well for consumers too!

[wavelandscott (Scott)]

Originally Posted by Louwai

Scott,
Although, through this thread I couldn't find a post that directly referenced a US retailer with a specific brand & that retailer selling it into Australia.
B

I may have confused this particular thread with one (or two) from the eyepiece forum...regardless, descretion is appropriate when contracts are invovled.

[JethroB76 (Jeff)]

On a related matter, who is the Explore Scientific dealer in Australia?

I recently enquired about the 20mm ES 100 degree EP and was told by one well known US store that they arent allowed to sell ES gear to Australia