Just to start this out, I'd like to say that this thread isn't about bashing the Australian Supplement retailers or anything along those lines. And I don't want it to turn into a "you don't need supplements, just eat, sleep and lift heavy s**t" thread.
I'd just like to know why buying supplements in Australia costs so much when compared to buying them overseas. The Australian dollar is continually growing stronger compared to the U.S, even projected to surpass it in the near future, however I am sure we won't see supplement prices decreasing at all. Buying supplements retail from the U.S is literally 2 to 3 times cheaper, some even being upto a quater of the price of the product when purchased from Australia. Even adding in postage an order is considerably cheaper and can be received in around in 2 to 3 days (with express post which is only a couple of dollars extra). Also note I've never had a problem with customs seizing anything I've ordered.
I like to support Australian industry but where it comes at a massive expense to myself I struggle. I can only assume it comes down to taxes. I know Aminoz on this site runs an online store so I'm hoping he or someone in the industry can provide me some insight.
It's a booming industry in Australia with stores constantly popping up, so I'd assume this would force everyone to have competitive pricing. I won't be posting up any price comparisons because that's not what this is about, but people can do their own research if they are unsure.
I haven't read through this thread because I'm on a bit of a timer at the moment, but I did see this topic so thought I'd put up a quick post.
I feel your pain - Australia has always been relatively expensive with supplements. But you should see the margins that us retailers are working at - it's pretty slim pickings.
It's all about the supply chain, and of course general supply/demand. Compare an American retailer to an Aussie:
USA: Manufacturer -> Distributor -> Retail Store
Australia: Manufacturer -> US Distributor -> AU Distributor -> Retail Store
That additional middleman incurs a lot of costs from:
1. Shipping from USA to AU
2. Their overheads, advertising, samples etc.
3. The fact that they are also a business and need to make a profit to survive
As retailers, we are unable to import the goods from the states to cut out the middleman. Apart from the fact that Aussie suppliers have exclusive rights, it's illegal to import from the states without the correct packaging and resell in Australia.
You guys as the buyers also have to pay GST, which adds another 10%.
All these additional costs add up and ultimately result in a more expensive product. But, the advantages of buying locally of course include such things as convenience, reliability, contactability, supporting the Aussie economy, easier resolution of problems etc.
I know whilst we are very competitive on price, we do aim to outdo our American counterparts by offering exceptional service. This is only possible because we are a much smaller company than the overseas giants, so we can provide that "added value".