ICEINSPACE
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Moon Phase
CURRENT MOON
Waning Gibbous 94.3%
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11-09-2018, 07:33 PM
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PI cult member
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 2,874
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Can anyone explain the price discrepancy please?
Amazon US (USD $199, about AUD $279:
https://www.amazon.com/Berlebach-B50...lebach+B500682
Amazon Australia:
https://www.amazon.com.au/Berlebach-...lebach+B500682
yeah...you read right, Amazon Australia wants AUD $567.78 for the very same item (non inclusive of shipping)...
this is absolutely outrageous...
So, where are the powers that be, protecting Australian consumers from this price gouging/raping I wonder...
yeah, this is a political comment. Big deal. When our Australian government starts adequately protecting Australian consumers, instead of letting local retailers and distributors screw us over, I'll be quiet. Until then...
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11-09-2018, 07:42 PM
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Novichok test rabbit
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Somewhere in the cosmos...
Posts: 10,389
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$567.78 + $230.00 Delivery
Only 5 left in stock. Sold by Outback Oasis
 Nice postage 
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11-09-2018, 08:09 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: perth
Posts: 599
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What a rip off! This should be on Current Affair.
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11-09-2018, 08:19 PM
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Novichok test rabbit
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Somewhere in the cosmos...
Posts: 10,389
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I suspect at that price, they only ever had 5 in stock.
For $797, I could make one out of Exhibition Grade Turkish walnut with 24K gold inlay scroll work and a Louis Vuitton leather seat.
I just keep buying on Ali Express and ignoring all the BS.
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11-09-2018, 08:19 PM
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...
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,588
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There’s really only one solution, move to USA......
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11-09-2018, 08:25 PM
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Novichok test rabbit
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Somewhere in the cosmos...
Posts: 10,389
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kunama
There’s really only one solution, move to USA......
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Or invest in a table saw, router, and ply wood, plus a modicum of woodworking skill.
Seriously, these are easy enough to make...I reckon $40 max with Bunnings bits. Or out of pallet wood and a cushion for nada except maybe an hour in time.
Personally, I use an Ikea stool. Cost me $5.
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11-09-2018, 08:27 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: May 2014
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 494
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I think I saw something similar in the Ikea catalogue. Self assembly though. On a more serious note, the price difference is probably because they are banking on 5 people being stupid enough to buy it - the technical term is Marginal Revenue analysis.
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11-09-2018, 08:35 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Kilmore, Australia
Posts: 3,364
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I think the price difference is because they have successfully managed to re establish a half effective geo fence around Australia by making it too much trouble for most to ship here, so now they are free to gouge us in peace again.
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11-09-2018, 08:55 PM
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PI cult member
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 2,874
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LewisM
$567.78 + $230.00 Delivery
Only 5 left in stock. Sold by Outback Oasis
Nice postage |
Yup. This is not the only thing overpriced on Amazon Australia, vs Amazon US...there was another astro item that I was drooling over a few weeks ago that was similar in price gouging...
Quote:
Originally Posted by bobson
What a rip off! This should be on Current Affair.
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Agreed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LewisM
I suspect at that price, they only ever had 5 in stock.
For $797, I could make one out of Exhibition Grade Turkish walnut with 24K gold inlay scroll work and a Louis Vuitton leather seat.
I just keep buying on Ali Express and ignoring all the BS.
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Yup! My take exactly.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kunama
There’s really only one solution, move to USA......
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Really Matt? Really? Or perhaps the government should step in and punish retailers/distributors that price gouge like this? That's a far more reasonable process than saying "if you don't like it, bugger off from Australia". But hey, that seems to be the typical Aussie comeback...
believe me, if I qualified for German/Australian citizenship (missed out by 3 years *sigh*) i'd be outta here...
But, your answer, Matt, with all due respect, is simply a cop out.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LewisM
Or invest in a table saw, router, and ply wood, plus a modicum of woodworking skill.
Seriously, these are easy enough to make...I reckon $40 max with Bunnings bits. Or out of pallet wood and a cushion for nada except maybe an hour in time.
Personally, I use an Ikea stool. Cost me $5.
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Which Ikea stool Lewis? I'd be wanting this for my 6" Saxon dob...I have a very bad back, so would need this to help support my back, and reduce bending over, as well as steady my head/eye for observing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rrussell1962
I think I saw something similar in the Ikea catalogue. Self assembly though. On a more serious note, the price difference is probably because they are banking on 5 people being stupid enough to buy it - the technical term is Marginal Revenue analysis.
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Can you remember what item/link please?
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_bluester
I think the price difference is because they have successfully managed to re establish a half effective geo fence around Australia by making it too much trouble for most to ship here, so now they are free to gouge us in peace again.
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Yup. I realise shipping isn't cheap, I'm not complaining about that. I'm cranky at the inflated price for the actual item. With that said, AUD $240 for shipping is probably a rip off too.
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11-09-2018, 08:57 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Mackay
Posts: 1,690
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They probably don't have any in stock and will get you the one from the us hence the shipping price.
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11-09-2018, 09:14 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Kilmore, Australia
Posts: 3,364
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dpastern
Yup. I realise shipping isn't cheap, I'm not complaining about that. I'm cranky at the inflated price for the actual item. With that said, AUD $240 for shipping is probably a rip off too.
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Not quite the point I mean. Shipping IS cheap, but in the recent past many retailers I have used overseas have started jacking up shipping to prohibitive values seemingly as a means to stifle the trade while still looking like they will ship here. I used to get a lot of car parts from the US as the Australia tax on some parts sold here was a thousand percent and more! My suspicion has always been that the local arm bleated to head office about the American dealers cutting their grass and shipping parts here at a fraction of the local price and the US dealers got leaned on by Japan to put a stop to it.
By gouging I meant the inflated local price. Even if you said it would cost $100USD to ship (Pigs... er... ear) it would still land here more than $100AUD cheaper than the price on the Aus site at 70 cents in the dollar exchange rate, And that is without the rip off shipping. Competition free price gouging at it's finest, Jerry Harvey would be proud of them.
I just paid around double that shipping price for getting a 700kg mower from Sydney to Melbourne and I thought seriously about just hooking up the trailer and going for a drive to get it myself.
Last edited by The_bluester; 12-09-2018 at 10:11 AM.
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11-09-2018, 10:01 PM
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PI cult member
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 2,874
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The_bluester
Not quite the point I mean. Shipping IS cheap, but in the recent past many retailers I have used overseas have started jacking up shipping to prohibitive values seemingly as a means to stifle the trade while still looking like they will ship here. I used to get a lot of car parts from the US as the Australia tax on some parts here a thousand percent and more! My suspicion has always been that the local arm bleated to head office about the American dealers cutting their grass and shipping parts here at a fraction of the local price and the US dealers got leaned on by Japan to put a stop to it.
By gouging I meant the inflated local price. Even if you said it would cost $100USD to ship (Pigs... er... ear) it would still land here more than $100AUD cheaper than the price on the Aus site at 70 cents in the dollar exchange rate, And that is without the rip off shipping. Competition free price gouging at it's finest, Jerry Harvey would be proud of them.
I just paid around double that shipping price for getting a 700kg mower from Sydney to Melbourne and I thought seriously about just hooking up the trailer and going for a drive to get it myself.
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ahhh my bad! Yes, I have no doubt that your suspicions are indeed right. Isn't that market collusion then? and illegal under Australian trading laws 
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11-09-2018, 10:43 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Melbourne,Australia
Posts: 1,439
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I have heard of this sort of price discrepancy before on Amazon and I have 2 possible, all be it un-researched and potentially un-fiscally educated suggestions.
1) Amazon Australia is a company based in Australia separate from (although owned by ) it's big brother in the US. Similar to Holden and General motors. The Australian based company has to operate fiscally independent from its parent company. Company tax rates in Australia are 6 - 7 % higher, wages are higher and real estate costs more and as such the company's overheads are higher. Add to that the sheer magnitude of the serviceable market that Amazon US supplies to reducing the required margin on each item ( 25million v's 250million+overseas )
2) It is highly likely that Amazon US is based in the Canary Islands or similar and as such when you buy from them, the sale is made in a TAX free country and then the order is shipped from the US or China Etc. This makes their operating costs significantly lower allowing them to undercut other businesses ( including Amazon Australia ). As far as I am aware, this practice is illegal under Australian Law.
Feel free to slap me if you think I'm talking crap........
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12-09-2018, 12:16 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 1,699
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Easy fixed, don't shop Amazon. 
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12-09-2018, 02:32 AM
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Bust Duster
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 4,846
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Place a wanted ad here in the classifieds and you’ll probably jag one cheaper than Amazon US  might not be Berlbach brand, but functionally...
PS - not sure of price, but Alex makes them http://gondwanatelescopes.com/
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12-09-2018, 06:30 AM
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Novichok test rabbit
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Somewhere in the cosmos...
Posts: 10,389
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Exfso
Easy fixed, don't shop Amazon. |
I keep bashing the non-existant like button 
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12-09-2018, 06:54 AM
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amateur
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Mt Waverley, VIC
Posts: 7,101
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LewisM
Or invest in a table saw, router, and ply wood, plus a modicum of woodworking skill.
Seriously, these are easy enough to make...I reckon $40 max with Bunnings bits. Or out of pallet wood and a cushion for nada except maybe an hour in time.
.......
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12-09-2018, 08:01 AM
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ze frogginator
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Sydney
Posts: 22,079
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I get occasionally bluray from Amazon and thought I'd save loads in shipping on the .com.au but it appears the price is jacked up so much locally that it would still be cheaper to order from the US.
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12-09-2018, 08:27 AM
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Colour is over-rated
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Newcastle, Australia
Posts: 2,414
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Exfso
Easy fixed, don't shop Amazon. |
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12-09-2018, 09:10 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Perth WA
Posts: 4,374
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 The powers that be ? don't care because the more the price we pay the more the GST they gouge ! .
Just like petrol , power , water , food etc , etc , its all a big RIP OFF !! .
Brian.
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