Thread: Are we in a recession or do I just think we are?

You have a very valid points Ean but regarding your comment " Some say bring back the local manufacturing industries, sure, but who is going to work in them for the cost of labour that will need to be paid to make them competitive with the rest of the world, personally I dont beleive that this country can, based on current workplace rules and conditions" i would suggewst to stop exporting raw materials and have some value added to them.

The globalization is the killer not only to the Australian manufacturer but also the the American and the one from Europe.

I guess that one way out is some kind of agreement between the most important exporters of raw materials to start exporting value added goods.
If we keep going like this China will be reach at our expense until the working class there weak up like the one in Japan during the 50/60's and after the one in South Corea asking for better conditions and better pay.
We cannot aford to wait for it and we need politicians with guts to start introducing some protection to our resources, not only to minerals but also to the primary industry and fishery.
The Australian people are not prepared to bring down their standars of living to subsidise China or India and they are correct.
Just my opinion.

In my industry, environmental red tape and over the top WH&S requirements are a big factor in why things are slowly grinding to a halt. Its exacerbated and encouraged by the mining industry which can (for the moment) afford to carry this lead in the saddlebags, which we've allowed to go way beyond what is necessary.

In some ways we're still the 'lucky' country but in many others we're also the 'stupid' country. Some days I think the 'stupid' factor is starting to outweigh the 'lucky' factor. We still have opportunities to ' value add' and create or maintain/grow the industries which generate real wealth, but it will require some visionary and courageous leadership for anything meaningful to happen.

I hear what people are saying and I think there are a multitude of factors affecting different industries and I know a lot of people have a less secure job than I do.

Its just that I had a promotion with a bit of extra money, but I do not have any extra money. We have not changed the way we spend, we have not bought more expensive brands, but we do not seem to have any more cash.

I stop and think every time I reach for my wallet.

I have stopped looking in shops to see if there is something I need.

My credit card bill is 90% food.

I should be better off but I'm not, and it has made me nervous.

Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

I am hearing what a lot of you are saying about Australian business and supply prices etc but regularly notice a lot of you here bragging about how you bought such and such overseas for cheaper price. Often calls for group buys on foreign purchases because its too dear here.

Do you perpetrators ever really give a local vendor the opportunity to compete on price on single or group purchases. I'm sure all advertisers associated with this forum would do almost any deal to keep your business local.
so buy overseas but dont ask for first aid when you have shot yourself in the foot.
as the song says "Wake up.....Australia needs a ****en good shake up!

If only they would return my calls/e-mails I would buy local. I had a phone call today from a large well-known australian tyre retailer chain, responding to an online request made to them over 3 weeks ago. I have yet to hear from 2 others.

The tyres were fitted by a local independent last week after I ordered them online from the USA. I saved money, but I also saved time - the retail chain that did respond couldn't get the tyres I wanted for another month! The local independent didn't mind, he couldn't get the brand I wanted at all as the importer/distributor won't deal with independents, and he made his money fitting and balancing the tyres, and he'll maybe sell the old ones, probably still had 50% tread, just that I change tyres every 5 years - spare and all.

I dont know.

The pollies all say that they want to protect Australian manufacturing and jobs, yeah right, in the next breath they say that manufacturing is in a transition period. Thats true. What is happening is that our manufacturers
are closing factories, laying off staff and moving the factory offshore.
They save and make more money, the shareholders are happy and allow the ceo's to pay themselves huge wages and bonus's. They are allowed
to do this without any penalty ?? Is their product then sold to the consumer at a cheaper price ?. No. In these cases they are generally not competing with other imported products so wages and costs dont really come into it.
A few examples of companies moved offshore.
Bluntstone.
Bonds.
Heinz.
More recently Mortein and Dettol.
What do I do ? I dont buy their products, ever.
At the supermarket, I search for Australian made or packed and will only buy these products.
With clothing I buy Williams, because its local and top quality.
If I need underwear and stuff that williams dont make, I will buy from an
overseas non Australian company, so there.
I dont shop from coles or woolworths, I think they are very bad for Australian business. I dont support monopolies. I also dont buy fuel from oil companies that are involved with these two companies.

My small protest doesn't amount to much because I dont need to spend a lot, being on my own.
But if everyone that could, did it my way, I think australian companies would take notice.
What do you do ?

Cheers.

Robert.

It is easy to blame the politicians but at the end of the day if they bring any kind of law or protection that it is good to Australia but bad for the people rear pocket every body start complaining.
It is hard to please people when greed come first and the country second.

I think a big part of it is also just a shift in consumer spending habits.

For me, I didn't pay the credit card off in time and I hated not having spare cash / play money - it was all going on interest. I wonder if a lot of those 4 yr interest free period jobbies have come to an end and people are realising that the interest is crippling.

Originally Posted by olbod

What do you do ?

Cheers.

Robert.

It became a bit of a habit while I was paying down that interest - we didn't have play money so we were still going out but we don't drink as much, we have friends over for dinner or a barbie rather than meeting at a restaurant, we camp closer to home because the disco's fuel habit is astronomical so we aren't buying at bakeries/cafes along the way. Electricity is much more. Ditto phone bills - but that's probably work expenses. We've put in a water tank and I'm saving for solar. I'm putting more on the mortgage and super than ever before because it got me thinking about paying bills in retirement - I'm 30 years old.

The vegie patch in much more extensive in its selection, what I can't grow (mainly due to lack of water/good soil) I buy from the local farmers markets and the meat comes from local farmers but we are eating less of it. Yoghurt and cheese from Australian made and owned companies. Milk from the co-op. Bread from the bakery. Brew our own beer and ginger beer - not like thats a chore

When I do shop at Woolies I use the Ausbuy Guide - quite easy to buy Australian options if you know what to look for. But it is not always possible, especially processed food and bigger items.

But local businesses, at least here in Coffs, can shoot themselves in the foot for lack of customers. This is not a lone example, just the most recent. Last week I was after a new motorbike helmet. Did my research, knew which one I wanted but needed to try it on. I knew I could buy that helmet online, with free delivery & a good return policy for $250 but retail was $320.
There are 4 local shops that stock helmets. 2 said they would not get it in. One said they would get it in only if I agreed to buy it - even if it was the wrong size.
One said they didn't have it but it would be here in 2 days & they offered to order 2 sizes just in case one didn't fit right. Sold, $320. But 3 of the 4 shops have just missed out on that sale. And the subsequent sales because I will not go back to them when I need new boots or googles or whatever it is I next buy.

Meg

Originally Posted by olbod

I dont know.

The pollies all say that they want to protect Australian manufacturing and jobs, yeah right, in the next breath they say that manufacturing is in a transition period. Thats true. What is happening is that our manufacturers
are closing factories, laying off staff and moving the factory offshore.
They save and make more money, the shareholders are happy and allow the ceo's to pay themselves huge wages and bonus's. They are allowed
to do this without any penalty ?? Is their product then sold to the consumer at a cheaper price ?. No. In these cases they are generally not competing with other imported products so wages and costs dont really come into it.
A few examples of companies moved offshore.
Bluntstone.
Bonds.
Heinz.
More recently Mortein and Dettol.
What do I do ? I dont buy their products, ever.
At the supermarket, I search for Australian made or packed and will only buy these products.
With clothing I buy Williams, because its local and top quality.
If I need underwear and stuff that williams dont make, I will buy from an
overseas non Australian company, so there.
I dont shop from coles or woolworths, I think they are very bad for Australian business. I dont support monopolies. I also dont buy fuel from oil companies that are involved with these two companies.

My small protest doesn't amount to much because I dont need to spend a lot, being on my own.
But if everyone that could, did it my way, I think australian companies would take notice.
What do you do ?

Cheers.

Robert.

I think you'll find Heinz was never an aussie company.