Triumphrat

welshrob · 11-20-2012, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deluxe

welshrob in Canada we are paying high retail prices. Some of that is due to the commodity and the industry classifications it which they exist. Taxes, tariffs, brokerage fees exist but the markup at the retail level has many questioning why prices are high.

Not sure if that answers your question,..

Yes and no, I suppose. We pay high retail prices, here. Much higher than Canada, I can assure you. Everything from a gallon of gas to, an air filter for my bike to a pair of jeans, costs more here. But I get it. My country is a long way away and has a small population. It, like most countries needs money to run and every time I put my hand in my pocket I need to cough up a little, for the roads, hospitals, health service (yes we have free healthcare here) or whatever.

The people that sell things here, are not multi millionaires, most of them are struggling small businesses. They are not looking to rip everyone off by charging way more than you can buy things online for! They are small business owners, they want to have the same living standards as me, they have kids that need food and clothing and they have medicare and housing to pay for and they also pay TAX, which means THEY PUT SOMETHING BACK.

We are short changing our own economies and our own cultures. We are bankrupting our own countries so that we can save $50 on a pair of bar end mirrors or a tail tidy and as I have said, we are buying ourselves a ticket to the third world, where our children will live with the consequences.

LoVel · 11-20-2012, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deluxe

I would expect most people do anyways

I would expect you exagerate a wee bit and if you don't I feel sorry for you.

You don't donate anything to charity, give at your church, never handed a bum a quarter, never helped someone in need, etc,?

jfmcclure · 11-20-2012, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by welshrob

With comments like that you have obviously never run a business and have no concept of running one. Businesses (not online businesses) don`t exist to provide bargains for cheapskates, they have wages, tax, rent, power, insurance, running capital, shrinkage etc etc etc. The try and support my local business. It`s a big picture thing. I`m not completely innocent, I DO buy a lot of stuff from ebay, if the difference is $200 it`s a no brainer but if the difference is $50 then I`ll support my local business, because they employ locals who use MY business.

We are so obsessed with saving money on our mindless consumerism that we are buying ourselves a ticket back into the third world and nobody can see it.

"It will never happen." How many times I have heard those words from people that seem to think that the USA and Europe will remain at the top of the tree forever, because... well they just will, OK?

That is what the Romans thought. Their empire was much bigger and more powerful but it all went went pear shaped. The biggest single factor cited in the decline of the Roman Empire was the "Loss of Civic Virtue." Think about it.

Sorry. Rant Over.

Very thoughtful summary I agree.

deluxe · 11-20-2012, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoVel

You don't donate anything to charity, give at your church, never handed a bum a quarter, never helped someone in need, etc,?

I don't see what this has to do with anything I have said. I was speaking about how and where I spend my money, what I spend it on and my gripe about high retail costs which I feel at times are a rip off. No idea how you got to where you are at unless you didn't read what I wrote or seriously misread what I was saying.

triumpt120rv · 11-20-2012, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by welshrob

We are short changing our own economies and our own cultures. We are bankrupting our own countries so that we can save $50 on a pair of bar end mirrors or a tail tidy and as I have said, we are buying ourselves a ticket to the third world, where our children will live with the consequences.

Unless you're over, say 90, I have a feeling you'll be "living with the consequences" as well.

DUG · 11-21-2012, 01:25 AM

Hi
I'm with you Rob, I don't have much, sept four grand kids, which I cry for on a regular basis, every time I watch telly and see another company close down and move overseas.
I was fortunate to grow up in the old OZ, when you could walk off the job with your carry-all, and have a new, better job in the morning.
To be honest, I'm not sure where we are going to end up, but I think our time in the sun is nearly over, next year when Mongolia comes on line, with coal, tin and what ever,
then we are going to have some deep thinking to do.
Bottom line is I try to buy "made in oz", but most people think thats just being a sucker!
PS..I not long ago tryed to buy an oz made leather jacket to replace my long suffering Stag, no hope even they are made OS, and they make leather products for our GOV, just count all the jackets the police force have, thats alot of $ going to Pakistan!
OPPS, getting heated....
DUG

M.G.Vig · 11-24-2012, 07:00 PM

Thankfully, due to Lewis Leathers, Altberg boots and Davida helmets, all my riding gear is UK made. How long this situation will prevail is anyone's guess. Most folks won't, or can't, pay the premium price required for home produced goods. Sad, but a sign of the times.

LEE · 11-24-2012, 08:06 PM

Evidently even the NRA does not even buy American.....I got a free knife with my membership and it was made in China. Of all the organizations I would think they would buy American.

triumpt120rv · 11-24-2012, 11:46 PM

These guys from Taiwan make so many parts for bikes they may as well have badges with their name made. "Emgo Bonneville"

PopPop · 11-25-2012, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LEE

Evidently even the NRA does not even buy American.....I got a free knife with my membership and it was made in China. Of all the organizations I would think they would buy American.

Lee, if NRA distributed American made knives (Case for example) with their memberships they would have to double the one year membership to cover their costs. Would you have joined for that price and for that reason? Just asking.