Did anyone hear on the radio today about importing goods?

I'm about to buy some O rings.
From Canada.
No one in Australia has the size I require in stock.
No one in Australia is prepared to import such a small quantity.
No one in Australia has the capability of making these items.

Is it worth pointing out here one other positive aspect of cheap imports and globalisation?

It provides opportunities for people in developing and third world countries to actually improve their standard of living and wages, hopefully to the point where they are wealthy enough to actually buy stuff from us that we can make competitively.

One of the things that we actually do well at in export markets is education (foreign students coming here and spending money at our unis is an export industry), and an Australian Education is highly valued throughout Asia.

Part of it is the competitive edge the industry has in that most academics wages are less than many tradies earn in, say, the mining industry (figure that one out), and without all the extras such as vehicles, transport and accommodation costs the mining companies have to pay out on top of wages.

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Originally Posted by dullbird

where you getting that China? I bet its still cheaper even with the flight:D:wasntme:

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Yup, there I go send our debt north again:o
She only wore it once anyway:mad: - so not as though it had to last more than 8 hours!

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Originally Posted by Pinelli

Is it worth pointing out here one other positive aspect of cheap imports and globalisation?

It provides opportunities for people in developing and third world countries to actually improve their standard of living and wages, hopefully to the point where they are wealthy enough to actually buy stuff from us that we can make competitively.
....

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And you actually think that the Chinese workers locked in at Foxconn making iPhones or workers at other factories making product for World brands are actually increasing their standard of living. Wrong, those slave labourers are bolstering the profits of multinational companies and allowing their CEOs to take home millions of $ in salary. As soon as the workers start demanding and getting higher wages, the multinationals move the production to another cheaper developing country.

Somewhat of a generalisation Diana? Is there any evidence of an increase in the standard of living in China in the past 20 years?

Yes Land Rover are building some models there.. must have some dosh those Chinese people

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Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

In my working life I worked for wages, salary, salary plus commission, commission only. I worked for one man bands and the world's largest corporations. I also ran successful small businesses that never went broke, never dudded anybody, wholesale and retail used vehicles, line haul trucks, a machine shop started from scratch, and did well enough to retire early. I now run an importing business that imports and resells machine shop supplies and engineers cutting tools. It is doing nicely.

If you are constantly robbing Peter to pay Paul;, e.g. miss a lease payment because you have to make up a holiday pay, delay the PAYGO tax instalments and super contributions, go on 90 & 120 days with your suppliers, then you have a business in trouble. You can give your outgoings a severe haircut, sell more, increase margins, don't buy anything unless you can pay for it, or close down. The latter is often the kindest.

The ATO defines many businesses as "hobbies" if it can be seen that their turnover is insufficient to be a stand alone business. They have guidelines for this.

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Yep, I guess a business which at the time was turning over in excess of $3million and made good profits for 9 years out of 12 was a hobby then;)

I give up:rocket:

Just one other thing..... I never dudded anyone either. The only one who didn't get paid was me. Every creditor and every staff member got paid. Yes they had to wait, but this mongrel bastard small business operator still paid up....... every cent!

Wardy1, then you are better than a lot of businesses going bad. One Sydney AULRO member was working for a graphic design business, the owner didn't pay superannuation for over a year and put the business into bankruptcy overnight owing wages and leave to the employees, but started a new graphic design business the same day took the customers with him and left the employees skint.

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Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

Wardy1, then you are better than a lot of businesses going bad. One Sydney AULRO member was working for a graphic design business, the owner didn't pay superannuation for over a year and put the business into bankruptcy overnight owing wages and leave to the employees, but started a new graphic design business the same day took the customers with him and left the employees skint.

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Was that owner a recent victim of a drive by shooting?
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Originally Posted by wrinklearthur

Was that owner a recent victim of a drive by shooting?
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Unfortunately it wasn't in Merrylands but Nth Sydney, the best our member could have done was beam a few radio waves at him!