It is not always the retailer who sets the prices or is greedy.
It is usually the importer and wholesaler that set the prices.
90% of the time THEY are the ones over inflating the prices.
And 90% of the time they are also one and the same company.
Here is an example.
Three of the biggest importers in my old business are also wholesalers and retailers.
So their import section bring in goods.
They then sell it to their wholesale department for a profit and then they sell it to the small retailers like myself.
So two price markups before the retailer even sees the stock they purchased.
Then of course the retailer needs to make a buck pay the bills., feed the family etc.
I owned two businesses so I do know a little bit about what I' am talking about.
In my latest business (I only just shut the doors June 1, 2011) I watched the Australian dollar get stronger and stronger over the last 4 years.
But the prices from my Australian wholesalers did not go down one red cent!!!
My customers and I could, can and do buy from the US (including shipping fees) for less money than I could buy from my Australian wholesalers.
So please remember it is not always the small retailer over inflating prices or trying to be greedy...
Bill and Morag
