I manufacture and import agricultural equipment from China. I can tell you with certainty that freight to Aus is significantly more expensive than frieghting the same products and load to the US, to the tune of double at present.
If I use my equipment as an example.
You could possibly buy it from the factory, and cheaper than I can sell it to you. But do you know where to go? Do you know what you're buying? Have you spent months working with the engineers remotely and in their freezing cold factory going over every component and specification? Are you going to include a wide range of spare parts with your import, just in case something goes wrong?
Yes, if you buy equipment from me, and you should
, you will pay more than if you bought it off the internet. This is because I must warrant the equipment, with no real warranty or rebate provided to me if your item does fail. This is not uncommon, where the Australian retailer has to wear any warranty cost.
I must pay myself and one FTE deisel mechanic/fitter/auto electrician, plus contribute to the administration, rent, utilities, insurance etc that come with running a real business that you as a consumer can rely upon. This is as opposed to an internet trader who hold minimal stock, little or no parts and operates out of their garage. Good luck getting service and support from them, but don't worry, you saved a hundred bucks on an implement or a grand or two on a tractor.
Not to mention shipping charges, duty and clearance which add at least 25% to my purchase price before it's even hit my premises. And the cost of funding the products from time of order to time of sale, which can be months.
All of this has to be funded by the margin I put onto my purchase price from the factory.
