No more tire rack to OZ?

Originally Posted by trive2

$200m of foreign money that will soon turn into foreign money owning valuable local land. Very short sighted advantage there.


And if the parts over here didn't cost TEN times as much as the parts over there, I would spend my money here. If I couldn't get FOUR tyres, including exorbitant shipping charges, for the price of two, I would spend my money here.
Some of us don't have the luxury of throwing ridiculous amounts of money at the local economy just because it's the local economy.

Totally agree with you there. This is why if I recall correctly (and forgive me if I'm wrong, I only attended half of one of my economics lectures...) our economy is made up by something like 70% services and this number is ever increasing.

At the end of the day if we are importing products at a similar cost to the local retailers and can't buy an Australian made equivalent then the $1,000 is going overseas regardless. Whether it's from myself or the retailer it makes no difference to the economy. The only difference is that I am not supporting someone who simply imports items, whacks a profit on and resells. One could argue that this person would be forced out of a job and that taxes would have to cover some sort of income for him but still, I don't feel I should be paying over 100% mark up just to support someone... Call me selfish but it's more that I simply can't afford to throw money away like that.

My point here is that unless we make a competing product locally then the money is never truly staying in our economy. In a perfect world where we can't make a competing product we would import in mass (get a discount) and sell for the same price or slightly more than the cost to import privately.

USA seem to need the money more than Aus at the present time - I base that off my observation in the local paper this morning where there was an add from a BMW dealer offering 0% on a 60mth term and 60mths free maintenance to match on all series....

GDP deals with finished goods sold dosnt it??

So wheels made in japan but sold by a retailer in AUS will increase GDP..

Originally Posted by Nath

USA seem to need the money more than Aus at the present time - I base that off my observation in the local paper this morning where there was an add from a BMW dealer offering 0% on a 60mth term and 60mths free maintenance to match on all series....

Exl. M series?

By the sounds of things, none of you have businesses. All the pricing is set by the international companies themselves and they definitely do vary market by market. For example, BMW Australia purchases the vehicles from BMW Gmbh who most likely sells them at a much higher price than other markets and take into consideration the exchange rate as well. And don't think they would value the cars at the current rate either. Then the mark-up, that's up to BMW Australia.

Now BMW Australia might have to cover a lot more costs than let's say, BMW America. Think wages, costs of electricity, super funds, transport, insurance, land tax, PAYG tax, GST repayments, council rates, company tax. If BMW Australia couldn't make decent profit on each car they sell, then it wouldn't operate as a business. Have a look at America's tax system and wages..

Who's to blame? Well I would blame the government personally, but also every Australian is used to a very high living standard which comes at a cost.

Basically there is a lot more involved than us being ripped off. I mean, if it was that bad, then you wouldn't be seeing high end cars around now would you?

Originally Posted by DeclanM3

In terms of our economy?

Here's the way I look at it. I get paid X dollars. I then spend said money on products and services. If I can get a product overseas for $1,000 that someone wants to charge 10-20% more for over here I'll probably just buy it locally (there are of course other factors like convenience, service, delivery times etc. which come into account). If I can get an Australian made equivalent with the same quality, features etc. I'll maybe go up to 30% over the O/S version.

If I have my heart set on a product that must be imported (say PSS's) then I often don't see the benefit of purchasing locally. If the local shop owner can get the product for say $800 then they shouldn't be so fkn greedy on their mark up, i'd buy from them, they'd make some money and less money would leave our country. If they can get it for a similar price to me I may as well buy from O/S as my remaining money will be spent locally on other products or services.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that there is money leaving our shores for these tyres regardless and if it's a similar amount if I buy myself compared to how much the shop owner can import them for I believe I'm better off saving my money and spending it on Australian goods or services and therefore promoting Australian industries as oppose to some dude who imports sh!t and then whacks a margin onto it...

I'm no economist though so if I'm wrong please enlighten me..

Your wrong!!!

BobZ

Originally Posted by trive2

And if the parts over here didn't cost TEN times as much as the parts over there, I would spend my money here. If I couldn't get FOUR tyres, including exorbitant shipping charges, for the price of two, I would spend my money here.
Some of us don't have the luxury of throwing ridiculous amounts of money at the local economy just because it's the local economy.

Do you understand that you are not throwing ridicules amounts of money at the economy, you are throwing ridicules amounts of money at your future and the future of other other people that are either in a job or are looking for a job.

BobZ

Originally Posted by M3_DU

By the sounds of things, none of you have businesses. All the pricing is set by the international companies themselves and they definitely do vary market by market. For example, BMW Australia purchases the vehicles from BMW Gmbh who most likely sells them at a much higher price than other markets and take into consideration the exchange rate as well. And don't think they would value the cars at the current rate either. Then the mark-up, that's up to BMW Australia.

Now BMW Australia might have to cover a lot more costs than let's say, BMW America. Think wages, costs of electricity, super funds, transport, insurance, land tax, PAYG tax, GST repayments, council rates, company tax. If BMW Australia couldn't make decent profit on each car they sell, then it wouldn't operate as a business. Have a look at America's tax system and wages..

Who's to blame? Well I would blame the government personally, but also every Australian is used to a very high living standard which comes at a cost.

Basically there is a lot more involved than us being ripped off. I mean, if it was that bad, then you wouldn't be seeing high end cars around now would you?

I do agree with most of the comments you made, but why bash the gov. what have they done, how have they contributed to the price disparities?

BobZ

Originally Posted by bobz

Do you understand that you are not throwing ridicules amounts of money at the economy, you are throwing ridicules amounts of money at your future and the future of other other people that are either in a job or are looking for a job.

BobZ

Your concept is faulty. If these industries are surviving on patriotism alone then there is something wrong.

If they can't remain even SLIGHTLY competitive there's not much that can be done...

Besides which, are you telling me that because I should keep my money in Australia, I should go and buy a 5yr old Corolla and be forced to drive that because I can't afford local prices to maintain my BMW properly?

Originally Posted by trive2

Your concept is faulty. If these industries are surviving on patriotism alone then there is something wrong.

If they can't remain even SLIGHTLY competitive there's not much that can be done...

Besides which, are you telling me that because I should keep my money in Australia, I should go and buy a 5yr old Corolla and be forced to drive that because I can't afford local prices to maintain my BMW properly?

Actually, my concept is not faulty, globalization is faulty as a concept, as seen already in the US and parts of EU.

And yes if you can't afford to buy spare parts then maybe yes you should drive a Corolla.....

BobZ

Fair point, globalization is faulty as a concept.


And aren't I glad that I'm not hopelessly, pointlessly and blindly patriotic with my bank balance. I inject enough income into the economy, as we all do. You could even say any money that's not going to the BMW dealership goes into Dan Murphy's and supports the workers there!

In saying that, I do totally understand where you're coming from.

Ordered Michelin PSS last week Thursday delivered today.

Hi Guys,

I've had a number of PMs regarding who I dealt with and if I could supply my order number, details, etc. In the interest of protecting that employee in case they made a mistake shipping to Australia - I will not release these details. I hope you can understand. My suggestion is that you try again because things could of changed and they may well be shipping to Australia as before.

BUMP!

just a friendly heads up our friends @ tirerack are back on board sending all brands down under

just ordered and paid for 4 x Michelin Pilot Super Sports

Originally Posted by Nath

BUMP!

just a friendly heads up our friends @ tirerack are back on board sending all brands down under

just ordered and paid for 4 x Michelin Pilot Super Sports

BIG thanks for letting us all know

Nice!

Received FedEx tracking number and further email confirming shipment

Originally Posted by Nath

Received FedEx tracking number and further email confirming shipment

You will like them tyres. They are awesome.

Got mine from tire rack too...

Originally Posted by Nath

BUMP!

just a friendly heads up our friends @ tirerack are back on board sending all brands down under

just ordered and paid for 4 x Michelin Pilot Super Sports

Nice. How much extra fees did you end up paying (gst, import, customs, stamp duty, paper clip duty, random made-up fee etc)?

I'd like a set of PSSs, but maybe buying them 2 at a time is cheaper?

Originally Posted by ppmz

Nice. How much extra fees did you end up paying (gst, import, customs, stamp duty, paper clip duty, random made-up fee etc)?

I'd like a set of PSSs, but maybe buying them 2 at a time is cheaper?

Yes I'd like to know that too. All up, how much can you save compared to buying local?