I went into a shop in Melbourne some months ago that sells cameras and
binoculars and other optical goods - a large, very well-known establishment
that has been around for a long time. I looked at a pair of Leica Ultravid
8x42 and was told by the salesperson, with a very straight face, that the
price was $3200. I thanked the salesperson very much and went home and
looked up the same binoculars on eBay - I found a number of companies in the
US selling them - average price was around $1500 AUSTRALIAN. I actually
ended up buying the older model (but still new) Trinovid 8x42 for about
$1000 AUSTRALIAN from one of these companies. The binoculars duly arrived
about a week later, well packaged, with the Leica worldwide warranty card.
So far all of my camera gear, all of my wife's camera gear, every pair of
binoculars I have, except one, has been bought offshore. Mostly through
sellers on eBay. I've never had a single problem - even if I did, I pay with
PayPal so I am covered against fraud. I am so annoyed by the fact that we're
ripped-off in this country that I will NEVER buy cameras or optical gear
here. It's funny, because as an Australian business owner, I'm usually
fanatical about buying Australian or at least buying from an Australian, but
I will not be deliberately ripped-off. I'm unsure if is the importers, the
wholesalers or the retailers, or all along the chain, but someone is taking
us for a ride.
Curiously computer gear is available incredibly cheaply in Australia (as
long as you stay away from the large department stores and electrical
retailers).
Anyway, my little rant for the evening.
Paul Dodd
Docklands, Melbourne
-----Original Message-----
From:
On Behalf Of David Robertsdon
Sent: Friday, 15 February 2008 6:01 PM
To: Birding-Aus
Subject: (no subject)
I had a shock yesterday. On my way back from Sulawesi I bought a pair of
Bushnell 4 x 42 binoculars at Changi for S$269 (approx A$211). In Adelaide
the same binoculars are priced at A$449!!
==========www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to:
===========
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.20.5/1279 - Release Date: 14/02/2008
6:35 PM
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.20.5/1279 - Release Date: 14/02/2008
6:35 PM
===============================
www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to:
===============================
|
