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OMG - Price Disparity!

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

I am in total shock here!!

I was quoted $220 for a pair of running shoes, from the local Althlete's Foot. I certainly can't afford that for running shoes, looked everywhere in Aus, and the price was the same...

BUT, I have just found the EXACT same shoes on Nordies for $70!! I cannot believe that we are expected to pay over 3 times the price for the same shoe! Now I also understand why some of you said you would never pay more than $100 for a pair of running shoes...

Even if I bought nothing else at all, and add in the $50-60 shipping fee, they are still WAY cheaper than I can possibly source them here.

Anyway, I just needed to have a little rant, and I think this has me convinced that shopping in the US, especially when our dollar is so good, really is far better value for money than shopping locally. Of course then I feel guilty for not supporting local businesses, but that's a WHOLE other issue LOL

15 years ago

General

13 replies

Latest reply was from nicole470

Megan

Active Member

Athlete's Foot are the most expensive place to buy shoes IMO.

Rebel often has them on sale as does Insport which might bring them more in line with Nordies + shipping price but it's true- the US gets things SO much cheaper than we do.

Premium denim is another good example- Paige jeans here $330, online from the US $140. Thank goodness for the internet!

15 years ago

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

WOW - I'd never priced premium denim here - and I doubt I will either LOL It's crazy isn't it!

Now if only I had enough stores nearby where I could try things on before ordering I think I'd be a very happy camper LOL!!

15 years ago

Louise

Veteran

Sorry I had to laugh at the store name, here in the UK athlete's foot is a fungal foot infection!!!!! x

15 years ago

nicole470

Active Member

Have you tried Ebay? I always look on ebay first as so many suppliers now sell direct through it.....just a suggestion.

15 years ago

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

LOL Louise - we call that fungal condition Athlete's Foot too - I always giggle when I see the store!!! Pity its the only athletic footwear shop in my town though as I totally agree it is overpriced and very unfortunately named!

I did check ebay and the absolute cheapest I could get these shoes in Aus using ebay and checking all the aussie footwear retailers was $170 - so still WAY out of my price range! Of course, it didn't even occur to me to check overseas stores because I'm so wary of the international shipping LOL

So even at $70 + $60 shipping they wouldn't cost more than $130!!

15 years ago

Marigold

Active Member

Crazy, I avoid shopping in B&M stores, and if I like something 'live', I always check prices online and always found a cheaper source. You might have to pay customs fees (I'm not sure, but it still way below retail!). LOL, I think my days of just 'going shopping' at the mall are over, I always find better things online...

15 years ago

Veteran

Wow!! I had no idea about the exorbitant prices that you have to pay!

Jeez, seems like it would be better to hunt for a travel deal to get you to California and then try on and shop for your dominant season. I'm sure there are some YLF gals who would love to host a room for you and take you shopping. : )

15 years ago

Sparky

Veteran

Oh wow! I just read through your meet-up post and now this, which really drives home your point that your shopping opportunities where you live are quite limited.

If someone from the US ships to you instead of the store, does that help drop the shipping cost?

15 years ago

MNsara

Veteran

Oh that's crazy! If you know exactly what you want, find a great deal and want me to be a go-between, feel free to PM me. The only thing that 'I'd worry about there is if you needed return shipping. . .

15 years ago

Anonymous

WOW, that is unbelievable. Just dropping by to say that if anyone ever needs me to help out as an intermediary, feel free to PM me as well. I'm in NYC so I could potentially even pick up the goods at store. I have every store you can think of within blocks of my office. I'm in midtown.
I do this quite a lot for my friends overseas, it would not be a problem at all. I enjoy shopping!

15 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Craziness!!!

15 years ago

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

Aww you girls are so incredible to offer to help us out!!! Now rest assured I'm noting who you are LOL

But, I was thinking about this today as I paid $60 for a pair of leather school shoes for Miss Em... I wonder if there is a really good reason why we are expected to pay more, and are our incomes equally as high in comparison so it all ends up roughly even?

I might have to do some googling - I'm really curious about this now LOL

15 years ago

nicole470

Active Member

No customs charges in Oz on packages unless the item is worth $1000 or more. I quite often go on to the US Ebay to get stuff and I ask them to send it to me sea mail. It costs far less and takes about 10 days to get here, which is about as long as it takes to send it airmail.

As for Australian prices, because we have such a small population (19 million as opposed to 250 million) its purely based on volume of sales. Bigger orders get bigger discounts. And as many of the bigger stores in the US can deal directly with the manufacturers in China, as do our big box stores - they can import directly into their myriad of stores and avoid the middle man - the wholesaler who add their cut as well.

But I suppose it all has to do with the US dollar as well, when the Aussie dollar is pretty much on par with the US dollar its great to go shopping overseas, but I do recall the Aus $ being only worth .50cUS and .33pUK so we are doing all right at the moment. If the retailer bought the stock when the OZ dollar wasn't as strong then of course we are the ones who cop it as consumers. Unfortunately Australia is just one of the more expensive places to live in the world. Bummer really, when you read all the fab finds that other forum members get for so little!

15 years ago

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