Geoff, it is very expensive to purchase equipment from overseas from a dealer in Australia.
It took me a long time to get my head around why this is so.
We all know that freight, customs, GST, etc; play a big role, but how many of us also look at the other side of the coin ?
If you want to buy an imported machine from an Australian supplier, bear in mind that this supplier/importer also has costs that most of us are unaware of to any great degree.
For instance, the same way the automobile industry has Australian Design rules and standards that are very strict and must be adhered to, so does a lot of the imported equipment that we buy.
The importer must pay for this certification or he cannot sell it.
The Australian supplier also warrants the equipment we buy, so our arze is covered there.
Then there is the old age fact of supply and demand.
Our demand for equipment pales into the distance when we compare it to the demand in America.
Some have circumvented some of the above buy buying direct from a U.S. supplier, however, they do this at the risk of no warranty or little back-up.
IF, they do get pulled over by whoever can check their equipment, and it does not comply, who pays ?
Sure, the Yanks may get their gear cheap, but look at how much they charge per square foot, compared to us, and then also look at how many are out cleaning windows and such when they cannot clean carpets due to extremes in weather.
Some don't turn a wheel for 3 months.
But if you still think we are hard done by, have a look on any Pommie web site and see how much equipment costs them to buy from the 'states.
A familiar catch cry is to buy Aussie made, but we all know how well our machines stack up compared to the big boys from over there.
At least if we do support our suppliers, some money is staying in Australia and keeping Australians employed in local jobs.
I'm sure Gary Bethel and others can explain this a lot better than me, as well as including a lot of missed information that I have either forgotten or am unaware of.
One thing I do know is that if you purchase some machines etc; from overseas, or a person/company, that is not an authorised agent, don't go crying to the agent, when something goes wrong, or you want something that cannot be supplied from where you bought it, as the agent is not compelled to do anything for you at all.
Remember, Let The Buyer Beware.
Ooroo,
Shorty.
PS ::: Did I mention advertising ?? The Yanks also have several magazines and forums where they can advertise anything they want to flog.
The distance between towns/cities etc; in Australia is vast with small numbers of carpet cleaners in between.
To advertise to these cleaners can be a very costly exercise that the importer also must bear.
I've seen the light, and changed my wicked ways.
www.get.shorty.com.au
