U.S Humminbirds now Geo-Fenced

[Fitzy]

the increased cost is associated with things like GST, C Tick Approval, testing to Australian standards, tariffs, import duties, the need to pay for wages & parts for local technicians/service agents. etc etc etc

Buying via overseas avoids all of these costs. But there is a cost.........to local jobs. taxes/duties etc paid within Australia stay in Australia.

I've seen one insurance company refuse to pay out on a non Australian approved piece of electronics recently. Like in the floods, if they think there's a way out, they'll take it.

[gros21]

fitzy really how much can it cost for c tick approval and GST is 10% how can u justify over $1000 difference in price on a 898 cx humminbird. if approval cost so much wouldn't every electronic item cost $1000 more in australia. Also it seems like prices are 40%-50% more thna they are here reguardless if its a $500 or $5000 unit.

It should be impossible for a bloke to a single unit and still save $1000

also there are only 2 version of the 898 teh c (US model) and the cx

i asked to see if a local store could even come close to hube-gps price for an imternational version.

[Fitzy]

G'Day Gros. You picked the bits you wanted to from my post but neglected the rest.

GST?...wel there $250 in one hit gone from schools, roads & jobs in one sale. That's a quarter of your justification gone.
Import duties?
Different readouts & unimaps?
Warranty period?
Upgraded transducers on some oz models from us models?
Local service?
C Tick approval cost? Go do some homework on it.........

The associated costs do add up.

I'm not trying to argue, rather explain that it's not just a money grab by sombody, there are reason behind alot of things.

If we take the buying OS logic to it's ultimate end, many retailers in Oz may well be doomed, along with the jobs, wages, rent payed and associated benefits to the oz ecconomy that this sector brings.

I don't buy anything from OS period, preferring to buy firstly Oz made & if not made in Oz I buy it from a local agent. I'm content to keep as much as my hard earned local & support Aussie business. The benefits are multi layered. However that's my choice & conscience is clear; no justification required on my behalf, in fact I'm damn proud to support locals. Each to their own however, if you don't like supporting Aussie business don't....... It's not rocket surgery.

Thanks for the comments.

Fitz..

[gros21]

Sure im not saying c tick does not cost, if c tick was the main price difference then every fishfinder would cost $1000 extra.

I went to see how flexable the local store was on price but got no ware

[murf]

the only reason I didn't buy my birds from US is the metric thing, I buy where the best value for dollar is these days

I built my previous pole house from 100% Australian products including indigenous non rain-forest sustainable harvest woods from 100% Australian owned companies, now that was a challenge and a great expense. that was when I was working and could afford it, now i am on a pension and every cent counts (every cent)

I managed to wait for a special somewhere then used my local fishing tackle store in Australia to better it as is their policy (they were not happy but ) so it worked out value for money for me. Don't worry about my local man as he has got thousands off me over the last 25 years

sorry local retailers but it is a global market these days and my PC does a lot of searching in a short time, keep up or miss out sadly is the way it is now

cheers Murf