What are some particularly egregious examples 'kiwi tax' or companies creaming the NZ market vs international prices?

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#2639714 21-Jan-2021 16:14

afe66: If I worked in USA I would earn more than twice what I earn here and I would be taxes less.

You need to also factor in the cost of health insurance and unemployment insurance and road tolls and any other things that are provided in NZ via taxation.

Mind you, I was astounded that some States (e.g. Florida) don't have income tax. Instead, they make their money from property and sales taxes. But you would still get stung for Federal income tax and I'm sure your city or county would also tax you in some way.

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#2639730 21-Jan-2021 16:33

frankv:

Mind you, I was astounded that some States (e.g. Florida) don't have income tax. Instead, they make their money from property and sales taxes. But you would still get stung for Federal income tax and I'm sure your city or county would also tax you in some way.

Also the low tax states provide fewer services to their citizens

This is from Cato, a libertarian, low tax, small government, lobby group

"New York spent $69 billion on K-12 schools in 2017 compared to Florida’s $28 billion. Yet the states have about the same number of kids enrolled—2.7 million in New York and 2.8 million in Florida.

New York spent $71 billion on public welfare compared to Florida’s $28 billion."

https://www.cato.org/blog/new-york-government-twice-size-floridas

geekIT

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#2640003 22-Jan-2021 09:59

Seems to me a good opportunity for a purchasers' co-op. Take local orders for, say, US goods and buy the smallest container load. No profit, of course.

EDIT: On further thought, it'd be necessary to arrange for someone in the US to do the purchasing. But it could be reciprocal. Like, he could take US orders for a bulk order of say, Whittakers chocolate 😋

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neb

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#2640080 22-Jan-2021 12:20

geekIT:
Seems to me a good opportunity for a purchasers' co-op. Take local orders for, say, US goods and buy the smallest container load. No profit, of course.

And then you need to advertise to buyers and get them on board and take down payments and sort out orders and order it and deal with customs clearance and repackage and mail out and chase down people who haven't paid the remainder and deal with lost packages or moved recipients, and suddenly you're running a full-blown mail order business alongside your existing job.

BlinkyBill

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#2640096 22-Jan-2021 12:47

Geektastic:

Can anyone give a good reason why shoes should have a random 10% duty? We have no significant NZ shoemaking industry and almost every pair of shoes in NZ is imported.

Me - Skellerup has a large manufacturing facility in Christchurch, Gordons in Auckland, McKinley’s in Dunedin, Paraflex, Bobux, Kumpfs, Minnie Cooper all manufacture in NZ.

Geektastic - That is a pretty small industry, producing specific kinds of footwear that not everyone will be buying by any means - and none of it is particularly stellar by world standards, either.

Kumfs no longer exist though. Sold the IP to the Australians and closed the stores.

I suspect most people actually want to buy Nike, Rockport, Addidas, Merrell, Hoka, Timberland, RM Williams, Loake, Hunter etc and have to pay a random 10% tax to do so.

Maybe we’re doing it just because the UK does it then. Although, the UK’s is 8%.

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#2640097 22-Jan-2021 12:47

@Lias I was going to build and N gauge layout as a keep me busy hobby until I saw the prices. I think buying NZ Rail would be less expensive 😀

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#2640098 22-Jan-2021 12:48

frankv:

afe66: If I worked in USA I would earn more than twice what I earn here and I would be taxes less.

You need to also factor in the cost of health insurance and unemployment insurance and road tolls and any other things that are provided in NZ via taxation.

Mind you, I was astounded that some States (e.g. Florida) don't have income tax. Instead, they make their money from property and sales taxes. But you would still get stung for Federal income tax and I'm sure your city or county would also tax you in some way.

No paid leave, no paid sick leave, no paid parental leave...

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Geektastic

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#2640099 22-Jan-2021 12:48

BlinkyBill:

Geektastic:

Can anyone give a good reason why shoes should have a random 10% duty? We have no significant NZ shoemaking industry and almost every pair of shoes in NZ is imported.

Me - Skellerup has a large manufacturing facility in Christchurch, Gordons in Auckland, McKinley’s in Dunedin, Paraflex, Bobux, Kumpfs, Minnie Cooper all manufacture in NZ.

Geektastic - That is a pretty small industry, producing specific kinds of footwear that not everyone will be buying by any means - and none of it is particularly stellar by world standards, either.

Kumfs no longer exist though. Sold the IP to the Australians and closed the stores.

I suspect most people actually want to buy Nike, Rockport, Addidas, Merrell, Hoka, Timberland, RM Williams, Loake, Hunter etc and have to pay a random 10% tax to do so.

Maybe we’re doing it just because the UK does it then. Although, the UK’s is 8%.

That would be an odd reason.

Geektastic

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#2640101 22-Jan-2021 12:50

frankv:

afe66: If I worked in USA I would earn more than twice what I earn here and I would be taxes less.

You need to also factor in the cost of health insurance and unemployment insurance and road tolls and any other things that are provided in NZ via taxation.

Mind you, I was astounded that some States (e.g. Florida) don't have income tax. Instead, they make their money from property and sales taxes. But you would still get stung for Federal income tax and I'm sure your city or county would also tax you in some way.

We PAY for the road toll in NZ?!

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#2640104 22-Jan-2021 12:53

A while ago now (obvs!) I bought some Canon image stabilised binoculars in Australia for the equivalent of around NZ$1100.

Same thing in NZ was $2,400...!

PsychoSmiley

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#2640159 22-Jan-2021 15:18

My recent (not really recent) one was from MightyApe. Bought a new release PS4 game (TLOU2 I think) from the .au site of Mighty Ape for $77 post conversion + bank fees. Same game from the .nz site was $90 odd. Both games game from the same NZ warehouse.

geekIT

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#2640209 22-Jan-2021 17:41

neb:
geekIT:

Seems to me a good opportunity for a purchasers' co-op. Take local orders for, say, US goods and buy the smallest container load. No profit, of course.

And then you need to advertise to buyers and get them on board and take down payments and sort out orders and order it and deal with customs clearance and repackage and mail out and chase down people who haven't paid the remainder and deal with lost packages or moved recipients, and suddenly you're running a full-blown mail order business alongside your existing job.

Actually, I was thinking it's the sort of operation some retiree or couple might enjoy.

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#2640280 22-Jan-2021 20:49

Geektastic:
A while ago now (obvs!) I bought some Canon image stabilised binoculars in Australia for the equivalent of around NZ$1100.

Same thing in NZ was $2,400...!

I'm guessing that's a (in AU frequently on) sale price vs never ever on sale price. Usually the retail price is similar for these things the difference being its never on sale here

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#2640377 23-Jan-2021 00:11

Speaking of volumes, a couple of years ago, I found a pair of squash shoes I liked. It's very hard for me to find comfortable supportive shoes being totally flat footed and having a couple of other complicated issues, so I called the store back to be told they had sold out. Called every squash shoe place in the country couldn't find any. Finally called Asics and spoke to them and he confirmed in my size that shoe was sold out, and the next allocation was 7 months away. I asked why and he said that Asics sells so few shoes in Australiasia they get only a infinitely small allocation each year. I asked why and he said that across the whole range of Asics court shoes sold in Australasia each year, we sell less than one decent-sized chain in a single state, in a holiday weekend.

Re Allbirds, I totally love their wool runner, such a stupidly comfortable and nice looking shoe, but zero ankle support and still 2 years later, only sold in whole sizes. I'd happily pay $160 if they solved either or both of those issues.

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#2640442 23-Jan-2021 08:56

MikeB4:
@Lias I was going to build and N gauge layout as a keep me busy hobby until I saw the prices. I think buying NZ Rail would be less expensive 😀

I have a small HO layout as a keep busy hobby. I was fortunate my wife visited the USA few years ago so I was able to buy a couple of locos and DCC controller and have her bring them back.($600US)
I also occasionally order from Walthers etc for additional rolling stock but haven't done so for a couple of years.
Scenery products in NZ are generally on par price wise with USA pricing by the time the exchange rate is taken into account.
Many buildings etc are scratch built. Just takes longer.

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