Thread: ARB prices in the US?

Originally Posted by Greylandy

I don't doubt where the company was started (the sales blurb on the ARB website is not something to hang your hat on), it is who the current and major shareholders are today. The way I understand it was that a majority share of ARB was bought over by an American company who identified a market and the opportunity to manufacture in the US. The "profile" of ARB, being Australian and one the toughest testing grounds in the world gave the products credibility in the US, hence they didn't didn't change it. They were also the driving force behind taking the products to the so called 80 countries they distribute to today.

... as I prev stated cba owns 15%, other local investment companies also

NOT LISTED on NYSE, AMEX or TSX ... NOT an american company .......just a typical repco (rip every poor c*#t off) type company ... get even - buy shares in it

It's a silly world but goverment incentives often allow Australian made goods to be sold cheaper oversees than here.

A mate of mine knows a business in Brisbane who import plumbing supplies from Asia and then exports the same goods back overseas. He says the containers arrive at one end of the building, goods go on the shelf, then the same stuff goes out another door in containers for shipping to Asia.

Another mate of mine works for one of the oil refineries. They loaded a ship with ULP bound for USA and the next day a ship load of ULP arrived from USA for unloading.

Yep, silly world. Maybe ARB do similar.

Originally Posted by DirtyDawg

Jeff Supply only airlockers are pretty cheap but you need some cool tools and a lot of expertise to fit them properly
there are guys on this forum that will cough up to how easy they are to install but when you watch those AR B guys do it and check everything at every stage its worth getting them to do it.

Oh, I had no intention of fitting them myself - when I finally decide what I want, Dave will be doing them either at ARB Central or Britpart. I was just interested in how what I thought was an Aus made product was cheaper in the US!!

The comments from a couple of others about ARB US doing local manufacturing probably goes some way to explaining it though.

In comparing retail prices between here and the US, you need to keep a few facts in mind.

1. Australian law requires GST to be included in the quoted price - US law does not require sales tax to be included, and there are likely to be state and city sales taxes to be added, varying from nothing to around 10% or even higher.

2. The retail markup on this sort of product is very high in Australia compared to the US. This is to cover the costs associated with a smaller market, much more costly labour laws, including costs of worker's comp which are a lot higher here, and much higher costs of compliance with an ever increasing maze of red tape from all levels of government.

John

My brother works for ARB USA in Seattle, Head office is in Melbourne and it is an Australian company. As for pricing they have there pricing fixed on our exchange rate being at something low like 70c in the dollar, at the moment the dollar is higher so it is cheaper to buy from the US. ARB are absorbing the rise in the $ to stay competitive in the US market. And also tax makes it appear cheaper like John has pointed out above.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

In comparing retail prices between here and the US, you need to keep a few facts in mind.

1. Australian law requires GST to be included in the quoted price - US law does not require sales tax to be included, and there are likely to be state and city sales taxes to be added, varying from nothing to around 10% or even higher.
government.

John

I'd taken (1) into account - and US tax law makes it very easy to never pay sales tax on high priced items - you just order from a retail outlet that is out of state. Interstate shipping via UPS ground is also very cheap if you're not in a rush, and would be far less than the 8-10% savings on sales tax.

I suspect your second point is the one having far more of an impact.

Originally Posted by Greylandy

I don't doubt where the company was started (the sales blurb on the ARB website is not something to hang your hat on), it is who the current and major shareholders are today. The way I understand it was that a majority share of ARB was bought over by an American company who identified a market and the opportunity to manufacture in the US. The "profile" of ARB, being Australian and one the toughest testing grounds in the world gave the products credibility in the US, hence they didn't change it. They were also the driving force behind taking the products to the so called 80 countries they distribute to today.

i hold a fairly senior position in ARB and i guarantee you the BLURB thats coming out your mouth is nothing to hang your hat on either
it is a Australian company with the majorityof its shares are held by Australian companies.