The Unlucky Country

[Bob Eustace]

Having just devoured every inch of footage from AWF 2012 and been green with envy I just received the schedule for Australias top woodworking expo.

http://www.impressiveexhibitions.com.au/images/pdf/ctl-melbourne081012.pdf

What a disaster CNC wise as there is absolutely nothing. Yes there will probably be a Shark doing nothing under a perspex case and the odd 3D printer.

So Shopbot, could you possibly have a little holiday in Oz next year (tax deductible!) and do a few demos out here and perhaps educate the masses? Your machines work perfectly on our screwy voltages - our supply is 251 yet the Bot thrives on it (steroids!). I'm sure lots of us out here would help you for free, such is our love for the product.

Bob

[Simops]

Hey Bob,
Nice idea but I think Shopbot will see our market as too far, too costly. The population of the US is roughly 200mil our population roughly 20mil about a tenth in size....a tenth the size of the US market. Although our economy is in much better shape then the US one our cost of living is now one of the most expensive in the world with a huge amount of personal tightening up occurring.

We do make some good CNC machines here but they are around 50K or more and aimed at industry otherwise it is home builds and the Chineese imports like the Shark. Therefore there may indeed be a market for quality small business and home business machines like Shopbot here but whether they get the turnover of sales to make it viable to come 10,000 miles to here is another thing???

You going to the Woodworking show?

[myxpykalix]

I think what is the "killer" down there is the cost to get things into the country there. I sent a $3,000 legacy ornamental mill to Australia and even when we claimed the value at under $900.00 the shipping, duties and all the fees added up to around $1500.00 adding almost 50% to the purchase value. To me that is absolutely rediculous, when just the UPS shipping was around $750. It was fee after fee after fee. :eek:

[Simops]

Yep you are correct Jack......we are an island 10,000 miles from manufacturing Hubs in Europe and USA. Sending anything here that is larger than a shoe box is expensive. This country is notorious for its hidden taxes, charges and fees. The government here knows we are captive audience with little manufacturing industry to talk about and so it makes sure that it gets it's pound of flesh from us!!!
As I said all ads to our high cost of living here....

Cheers

[dlcw]

Michael - the USA is approaching 300 million of which, by latest estimates, ~10 million are illegal aliens.

[Bob Eustace]

Don we will catch up to you soon as we are getting 200 illegals by boat every day and we are running out of islands to store them on. Sadly these people are paying smugglers ($10,000 or more) to bring them in under false pretences.

Jack our freight costs are largely caused by unions. For instance at present they are fighting automated loading which would have brought our prices right down. However our Australia Post has set up receiving depots in the States with Amazon being one of the first adopters. Just got some Titebond glue for under $9 freight for two one litre bottles. AP really will knock the socks off Fedex and UPS as they are super rip offs - nothing comes in under $90 just for say a stick of mitre track.

Bob

[Shane]

What really annoys me about Australia Post is the $9 security fee for sending anything over 500g to America.

I can't see Australia Post beating their competitors like UPS and DHL on freight charges. AP like to follow the market with pricing.

All the big freight companies want over $400 just to send 25kg to Europe from Australia.

Shane.

[Bob Eustace]

Shane I'm talking about going from USA to Oz. it really is a fantastic initiative by Australia Post as their sales were falling through the floor letter wise. I only mentioned it because as you probably already know, our range and quality of cutters in Oz leaves a lot to be desired.

Bob

[myxpykalix]

Don we will catch up to you soon as we are getting 200 illegals by boat every day

Bob,
Wasn't Australia originally set up as a penal colony? I thought that was the reason you were sent there, wasn't it?:D