Australia/New Zealand Strong Aussie dollar may have a price for downunder RFFers.

[Keith]

With our currency reaching parity against the greenback Aussie on line shopperes have been having a field day ... to the point where retail groups in this country are now putting pressure on the government to put a halt to the flow of goods coming into this country from overseas suppliers. We currently have a cut off point of $1000.00 AUD before a ten percent GST comes into play ... any goods we buy from out of the country below that value come in without any extra taxes.

For myself and a lot of other Oz shooters it's been a bonus because film here is extrordinarily expensive ... try ten dollars for a roll of Tr-X! If the powers that be decide to mess with what we have at the moment it could make being a downunder film shooter a little different and possibly a little less attractive.

I'd be interested to hear what other Oz RFFers think about this and what the implications may be.


http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/11/24/3074729.htm?section=business

 

[Gregowitz]

Yeah, it's a been a fruitful few weeks, but we've been here before... other countries will stop diluting their currencies (or Aus will follow suit) before too long, so imo, it wont last. The tax on imports will be very expensive and difficult to enforce i would imagine... sounds more like populist rhetoric from the government (for a change!) than actual direction.

Enjoy it while it lasts... I paid $13 for my last roll of Ektar, so i'm taking advantage while i can!

 

[ChrisN]

Even with 10% Goods & Services Tax (GST) added, buying from overseas would be attractive against the prices that local retailers charge. Markups are high at both the wholesale (Australian importers) and retail stages.

The killer would be the "handling and brokerage charges" that are likely to also be added by the carrier. When I bought my Canon P years ago, from Adorama, they shipped by UPS. Even though the sale price of the camera was only $350, UPS deliberately ensured that full GST and customs charges were applied, and they added their handling, storage and brokerage charges on top, which cost me an additional $150. If the camera had been sent by post, none of that would have been added.

 

[Keith]

I heard Gerry Harvey (Harvey Norman) being interviewed today and he's one of the main proponents trying to push the government into action over this. Electrical goods retailers like him are taking a real hit at the moment with items in the $500.00 to $1000.00 bracket being sourced from overseas at a level not seen before apparently. I can see his point of view because he wants to protect his business but I think the government would be reluctant to implement changes based on the current surge.

If our currency is so damned strong why are these importers charging us so much for items that can be bought for a lot less from overseas suppliers. If film was a dollar or so dearer per roll here than it was in the US you'd tend to get it locally but when it's twice or three times the price it's a little hard to swallow!

 

[thegman]

As someone who plans to move to Australia soon, the price/availability of film is a bit of a concern, but I guess I can bulk order from Japan easy enough.

 

[ChrisN]

As someone who plans to move to Australia soon, the price/availability of film is a bit of a concern, but I guess I can bulk order from Japan easy enough.

Yep, that's what we do, often from Freestyle or B&H.

 

[will-i_am]

yeah prices here for film are so ridiculous, would really hate to see that limit come down from a thousand.

 

[john_s]

... to the point where retail groups in this country are now putting pressure on the government to put a halt to the flow of goods coming into this country from overseas suppliers.............

The shopkeepers are enjoying the same reduction in local cost prices for imported goods (and isn't everything photographic imported), so surely they could pass the savings on in the form of lower local retail prices.

 

[Leigh Youdale]

Well, if you're really worried, buy up big now. It is nearly Christmas, after all. Anyway, I'm not sure that a Federal Labor Government with a marginal grip on power is going to be too responsive to Gerry. He's always the first to complain but he manages to post big profits every year. I think it's just part of his strategy and as he also operates in NZ and Singapore he knows a bit about global sourcing too.

 

[Keith]

Well, if you're really worried, buy up big now. It is nearly Christmas, after all. Anyway, I'm not sure that a Federal Labor Government with a marginal grip on power is going to be too responsive to Gerry. He's always the first to complain but he manages to post big profits every year. I think it's just part of his strategy and as he also operates in NZ and Singapore he knows a bit about global sourcing too.

LOL ... you're right, Gerry is a bit of a whinger and as you say he seems to post big profits year after year!

 

[Spyro]

I order everything that can be posted from o/s, everything not just photography gear. I dont condone greed (retailer/wholesaler/importer I dont care) and certainly dont reward it with my wallet.

Does anyone know what was the point of setting the $1,000 threshold in the first place? Was it to ease the workload of customs or to keep the local merchants from getting too greedy?

 

[thrice]

I used to work in a camera store, and although the markup can be significant, it often isn't - especially on core items like the camera. I place blame primarily at the feet of wholesale distributors.

Everything I don't need help with (most things) I will buy wherever is cheapest, at the moment (and usually) that is the USA.

 

[tj01]

AUD 10 for Tri-X ! I can buy 3 for that price.

 

[ampguy]

There is a Sony NEX deal for amazon.au customers if you're looking for one of these.