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I was quoted $900 for a Detroit auto locker locally. Got the same part from the USA for $600 plus $50 to ship and it arrived in a week.
Happens in many fields. US editions of books are significantly cheaper than UK editions of the same books, for instance.
V8 distributor caps in Australia are what? $50-$60 ???
The most I ever paid in the UK was about 6-10 pounds. :eek:
wreckers yards in Australia are just the same, UK starter or alternator, hmmm 15-20 pounds, wouldn't like to guess, usually about 80-90% of new price
I suppose you either need it NOW in which case you pay the permium or you wait and get it delivered.
nearly forgot, you should look at the cost of food in the UK verus Australia too,
UK - Approx
beans 10-20 pence a can
bread 20-30 pence a loaf
I don't suppose I need to tell you the price here.
In saying this I still love Australia and would never live in the UK again, but we do get really ripped of for most things retail.
We were surprised how cheap England was compared with Oz when we were there in Novermber (not Ireland though, it was noticeably more expensive).
For example the son and DIL bought warm coats here for $150 each before we left. Over there, the wife and I went to Primeark and bought similar coats for 35 pounds each. Son and DIL not impressed.
Don't metion ARB as they are by far the worst example of taking locals for a ride, made in Oz, shipped to the U.S.A and sold for 2/3rds the price you are asked here(even less now exchange rate has gone stupid)! They actually showed their profit margin in a sale last year that had free install on all air lockers! At least with the detroit locker's you can understand that they are made in the U.S, imported and marked up 50% but can you imagine what the yanks would say if they where sold over here for $450?
Have a look at premium clothing prices in the USA. Ridiculously cheap by Oz standards. Google search for Carhartt boots and clothing and you will see what I mean. Carhartt boots are high quality and highly respected, and sell from US $90 to $170.Quote:
Originally Posted by DiscoMick
Part of that I'm guessing is due to the massive EU Ag subsidies handed out over there.Quote:
Originally Posted by HangOver
Funny thing is six or seven years ago the cost of living situation was reversed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rick130
You could be right you know, I really think its just plain old lack of competition.
Just looking at food, we have the local deli, IGA, woolies & coles, and more or less for the big chains thats it, I think there are Aldi in easter states now but not in WA.
The UK has or had a plethora of supermarkets, ASDA, marks& spencer, TESCO, safeway, ALDI, Sainsburys, morrisons (best!), co-op, netto, Spar. it just goes on and on, these arent single shops these are national chains in most towns.
Lots of competition brings down the price.
And I sometimes think that as Australia hasnt really felt much from the credit crunch/crash they bump the prices up here to squeeze out every last cent, and dont get me started on the fuel price hike rotation thing......
Oh oh......... I'm starting o sound like a whining pomme :D
Welcome to the Duopoly :( Woolworths, Westfarmers
Has everyone forgotten one this, what ever their work or profession, some one can replace you too for a cheaper rate.
A lot of whinging going around, things too dear here in Aus. By supporting the local industries etc you are keeping jobs here.
As far as saying things are cheaper in America, where were these people when the AUD$ was in the 70c mark? Now that our dollar is stronger against the yank $ they all come out and say US is cheaper.
You got to remember, our economy is driven on disposable income, the higher or wagers the higher the price of things.
Put your self into the US worker that gets paid $8 per, does he say things are cheap in his country?
Their pricing relates to disposable income. you can't compare country against the other there are too many variables to take into account