First of all, thank you to all that have contributed. I hope many others will join in. Yes, we are part of a global economy, and all retailers have to accept it. The number of people choosing to buy offshore is going to increase, and internet retailers worldwide are gearing up for it. I think we should encourage it as much as possible. Many sites sell products that are not available in Australia. The Australian market is small, and it is expensive to do business here. I am not asking retailers to justify their prices, everyone is entitled to make a living. If I do not see value in an item for sale, I will seek it elsewhere. Why?? Because I can.... Anyone saying that I must buy local to help save Australian jobs is full of it. That shipped sailed a long time ago when the majority of manufacturing went offshore. Food production, on the other hand is something that should be encouraged locally, as much as possible. I support small business as much as possible, but I do get peeved at seeing many items (not just coffee related) a lot cheaper overseas. I know of many people that now do collective buys to reduce freight costs. Items like grinders are a classic example of goods being imported. Is the risk worth the saving? In some cases it certainly is. As to espresso machines, I think the risk is worthwhile if the item is over $4k here, or something specially made for a niche market. But that is my opinion only. For the Australian market, I believe the only difference between EU and AUS is the plug. If I am wrong, then I am happy to be corrected. I do not believe they change the spec of the machine just for the Australian market. I remember many years ago when Jura machines were being heavily promoted at home shows. The retailer admitted that they had to change the plug themselves in order to sell here. They were EU spec. Laptops, cameras and phones are all sold everywhere and designed for travel. They have universal power adapters that accommodate a variety of voltages. Warranties should be worldwide, and I believe (hope) that this will happen soon. There are Australian camera retailers who actively compete against overseas pricing, working on volume and add-ons to make profit. By offering advice, excellent service and matching price (or trying to); they have succeeded in retaining sales. Retail is an ever changing beast. Internet forums are a valuable research tool. My daughter just bought herself a laptop. Research was done, and she narrowed her choice to a particular unit. An internet forum discussed it in detail, and prices were openly talked about. At Xmas, DSE had it for 25% off, but had sold out. She went to Domayne and got it when they had 20% off everything. Moral is, she knew what she wanted, and got it when the price was right. I did point out to her that certain products are always on sale at certain times of the year, and astute shoppers are well aware of this. Few pay full RRP any more, and to be honest the suggested RRP is only a guide. The majority of people today are careful with their spending, and do a lot of research on the internet before buying. Providing helpful comments and options should be encouraged. So, please contribute in any way. Apologies for the late night rant ( I am waiting for teenage guests to depart).
