[Newbie_spearo]

I may be able to offer some insight as to why the aussie retailers might be getting there backs up. You see our pain in the arse government seems to think that it's ok for them to have stupid taxes on everything and anything, for example import tax. Now I'm not saying they shouldn't have a tax but what drives me up the wall is that 60 Minutes and A Current Affair will bitch and moan about people not buying australian owned this and australian made that or even worse buying from overseas. They seem to think that joe blow is the problem and the reason why the small business over here can't make a buck, when in actual fact its' the government screwing us all over because they need to tax everything and anything they can possibly get there grubby little mits on. To buy a Beuchat 5mm 2 piece camo wetsuit over here from a shop you will spend anywhere from $550-$700 depending on how much they want to rip you off, but even the retailer and the wholesaler gets ripped the way the government tax. I refuse to buy alot of my gear from shops over here because I simply can't afford it, and why the hell shouldn't I be able to shop around for the best price even if it means I'll need to shop offshore. Now I love the beuchat gear and think it's really top notch. But why should I spend 2 weeks pay to buy the stuff over here when Jim who never approached me and was refferred to me by another deeperblue member from the states I believe can sell me the same wetsuit and have it shipped to my door for almost half the price. I realise that it's not really the retailers fault but come on guys, surely you'd rather sell 100 wetsuits with 20%mark up than only 20 wetsuits with a 100% mark up? turn over over mark up that's how I was always taught to tun a business buy some one very wise and successfull. Jim if I can't buy my beuchat gear from you I'd rather settle for something a little lower quality wise but know that I'm still getting good service a the right price than shop somewhere else. It's Beuchats loss and I guess mine to in a way.
Any way enough of my rambling.
Oh P.S. Our goverment has almost a 100% tax on petrol. Why not have a flat 40c a litre tax and allow us to live a little more comfortably. They are not really gonna lose out if the price of oil increases, they're only gonna screw us more!

Newbie over and out!