Author Topic: Anti-Imports? - Trackabout?  (Read 18218 times)

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Offline Snow

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Re: Anti-Imports? - Trackabout?
« Reply #50 on: February 10, 2012, 08:52:08 PM »
Really, thanks for your input.  You are kicking goals with your posts.  Wish there was an eye rolling emoticon... Keep digging.
You'll find them by clicking on the [more] link under the cheesy and grin emoticon.

 ::)



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crackacoldie

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Re: Anti-Imports? - Trackabout?
« Reply #51 on: February 10, 2012, 08:58:04 PM »
I really don't give a stuff where people get their gear, so long as we can all enjoy a  :cheers:  or 10 around a fire in the greatest backyard on earth.

just my 2c.

 :cheers: Cracka

Offline qlddsl

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Re: Anti-Imports? - Trackabout?
« Reply #52 on: February 10, 2012, 08:59:18 PM »
^^^ x 2
if i dont need 4wd, i ain't going!!!

Offline Kit_e_kat9

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Re: Anti-Imports? - Trackabout?
« Reply #53 on: February 12, 2012, 07:15:06 PM »
I have a dream.....

A dream that all camper trailers should be free, free to live in harmony. Chinese, Australian, South African and dare I say Kiwi. Hard floor, soft floor, those weird looking pod ones and pseudo caravans. Come on, put your awnings around each other and join couplings and sing in the ways of our forefathers when out in the Australian country.

Free at last, free at last. Thank God almighty we are free at last.

Now where did I leave my beer?


Thanks to Paul for being one of "we" campers who just don't give a flying fig where your camper trailer came from as long as you are happy and camping.

How many products are 100% Australian Owned, 100% Made and 100% Retailed by Australians, using 100% Austrailan products actually 100% made here in Australia these days?    Click HERE or HERE to find some at least that fit into the 'Owned & Made' category (but only if they have filled in the paperwork and been passed). 

I suggest you support someone local by buying off them Aussie products where able.  If it's not 100% Australian, then perhaps the salesman was, and I'm sure you were happy to help support them.

Kit_e
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Offline rodsswag

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Re: Anti-Imports? - Trackabout?
« Reply #54 on: February 12, 2012, 07:57:26 PM »
I have a dream.....

A dream that all camper trailers should be free, free to live in harmony. Chinese, Australian, South African and dare I say Kiwi. Hard floor, soft floor, those weird looking pod ones and pseudo caravans. Come on, put your awnings around each other and join couplings and sing in the ways of our forefathers when out in the Australian country.

Free at last, free at last. Thank God almighty we are free at last.

Now where did I leave my beer?

Thats it.
Group hug for all
 :cheers:

Rod.....
Swag
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Offline baldheadedgit

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Re: Anti-Imports? - Trackabout?
« Reply #55 on: February 12, 2012, 08:43:49 PM »
Thanks to Paul for being one of "we" campers who just don't give a flying fig where your camper trailer came from as long as you are happy and camping.

How many products are 100% Australian Owned, 100% Made and 100% Retailed by Australians, using 100% Austrailan products actually 100% made here in Australia these days?    Click HERE or HERE to find some at least that fit into the 'Owned & Made' category (but only if they have filled in the paperwork and been passed). 

I suggest you support someone local by buying off them Aussie products where able.  If it's not 100% Australian, then perhaps the salesman was, and I'm sure you were happy to help support them.

Kit_e
Typed on a Japanese computer using a connection owned by a company in Singapore ... but both sold to me by Australians.
I like your style  Kit_E :D :cup:

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Offline Wunderlust

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Re: Anti-Imports? - Trackabout?
« Reply #56 on: February 12, 2012, 09:01:21 PM »
90% of cars are imported, same with food.

Tvs and white goods are imported. Mos machinery is imported, iPad, iPhones etc are made in china.

I work with imported goods and ok sometimes the quality is not so good, it is getting better and the Chinese are learning. Once they understand, I know things will change!
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Offline Mumof3

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Re: Anti-Imports? - Trackabout?
« Reply #57 on: February 12, 2012, 09:40:05 PM »
Almost everything is imported these days. Pretty hard to avoid. I was reading in the paper the other day, that even Mexico can't compete against China.

Offline JethroT

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Re: Anti-Imports? - Trackabout?
« Reply #58 on: February 12, 2012, 10:43:11 PM »
We bought a chinese tent on an aussie trailer and, not knowing that it was inferior, had a great time in it. 

After some time on this forum we bought a great aussie made product when finances permitted.

However I would never look down on anyone with an import, as long as they're having a good time.

Regards
Regards, Geoff and Michele

Offline Camping Grant

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Re: Anti-Imports? - Trackabout?
« Reply #59 on: February 12, 2012, 10:54:54 PM »
How many of you buy Coca-Cola, Heinz, Golden Circle, eat McDonalds, KFC, Hungry Jacks, buy Toyota cars, Mitsubishi, Nissan...where do you think the profits from these businesses go, it most certainly doesn't wholly stay within Australia. How many of you fly Qantas, it's not wholly Australian owned, check out their annual report and see who some of the 20 largest shareholders are.  What matters is that they all employ Australians.

The point is, does it matter, no. Do you get what you paid for, yes. However, sometimes the cheapy product is just as good, and sometimes it's better. I prefer Woolworths branded tomato sauce over the heinz version for instance.

My CT was made overseas, is it the best quality, probably not. But does it allow me to get my family outdoors and camping, the answer is hell yes. AND that is all that matters. It is a means to an ends. I looked at Trackabout's products, but my budget just wouldn't stretch that far. I emailed JT about prices etc, and was thinking of upgrading in a few years. My CT was a trailer and tent, put together by Aussie's, will be maintained by Aussies, is insured with a firm that uses Aussies, and I go camping in places that also employ Aussies. If I only had the choice of buying Aussie made, then I wouldn't own a CT, and all those other people I have mentioned wouldn't have my business and that could affect them.

We talk about supporting Australian made, what about supporting locally made. How many people in NSW for instance own a Trackabout when there are perfectly good CT manufacturers in your state, such as Redback Campers, Complete Campsite etc. My point being, we all have our own reasons for our purchase decisions. Let's not knock people for one reason or another. We're all here to chat camping, and CTs, who really cares where your product comes from?

Cheers
Grant

Offline schmik

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Re: Anti-Imports? - Trackabout?
« Reply #60 on: February 13, 2012, 06:05:50 AM »
As they say "the truth is somewhere in the middle".

If we buy too many chinese CTs then we will kill off all the local manufacturers. No one wants this.

But to sell more the local manufacturers need to innovate AND get more productive.  Too many australian campers cost more new than people can afford to spend on cars.

mike

Offline Big Nath

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Re: Anti-Imports? - Trackabout?
« Reply #61 on: February 13, 2012, 07:44:31 AM »
This thread realy concerns me, as do most in the import Vs Aus Made camper chats.

As an import owner, in know they have their flaws. As im sure 90% of the Aus made campers. Humans are involved so there will always be something to fix/play with.

I hate reading through these threads and it turns into a personal attack, which Always seems to happen and whole mines better than yours...

Its hard to see a fellow forum member facing some hard times, unfortunatly with cheap labor/imports its hard for Aus manufacturing to match.

We need to think before we enguage our mouths sometimes.....

kiwipete i was going to make a referance about your comment re   

BTW I hope all you people that have not yet purchased your Camper trailer or all those that have a Chinese Camper wake up to yourselves save a little more,  Buy Aussie CT's and believe us you will not regret it...     

with a name like kiwipete, are you imported??  ;D

Cheers

 
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Offline JethroT

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Re: Anti-Imports? - Trackabout?
« Reply #62 on: February 13, 2012, 08:27:29 AM »
We like to buy Australian made when we can, however we had just as much fun in our $3,000 Chinese Job as we do in our $30,000 Aussie made camper.  In fact we had a few more quality issues with the import than the new one, generally minor things like leaks and loose or bent screws. 

OK, so maybe SWMBO enjoys the posh new camper more than I do.  As long as I can sit around the fire and have a drink I'm happy and I don't feel the need to look down on someone with an import.

Enjoy

Regards
Regards, Geoff and Michele

crackacoldie

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Re: Anti-Imports? - Trackabout?
« Reply #63 on: February 13, 2012, 08:33:51 AM »
OK, so maybe SWMBO enjoys the posh new camper more than I do.  As long as I can sit around the fire and have a drink I'm happy and I don't feel the need to look down on someone with an import.

Here Here!!!

Offline bobnrob

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Re: Anti-Imports? - Trackabout?
« Reply #64 on: February 13, 2012, 09:28:26 AM »
And of course, lets not forget them aussie companies that save money by taking production off-shore!
It's okay for them to save production costs, pay less taxes & any other benefits they get through going off-shore. Then they have the audacity to winge & bleat about aussie's buying overseas!
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Offline ozynorts

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Re: Anti-Imports? - Trackabout?
« Reply #65 on: February 13, 2012, 07:22:43 PM »
Hi Pete

Understand what you are saying though I really doubt anyone gives a rats what you are using to camp with.

What I dont get is why we are happy to pay good $$ for inferior products.  (me included so not pointing the finger)

We live in one of the wealthiest countries in the world but seem so obsessed with consuming.  Hang on, better get me soap box........  we seem to have been conditioned to buy crap.  Something our fathers would probably shake their heads at.  Like the $2 shops and the shiploads and crap at b*nnings.

Buy it, use it, throw it away.  Even the argument that some use saying if they didnt buy that cheap chinese camper they couldnt afford a ct is rubbish.   There are fantastic second hand units that are the same price only built to last.  Maybe everyone wants new for some reason.  I dont get it. 

I think we will all lose in the end when crap is all we can get here.
Hey Dazzler the line about people buying chinese because they couldnt afford anything is true for some people. late last yr we were looking to buy our first camper. spent alot of time emailing both JT and lifestyle about one of their trailers. we were relying on the bank and refinancing our house. the bank turned us down so the only option open to us was ebay on the ccard. we didnt have the funds to extend any further so we bought chinese. we are happy with our trailer, would we prefer a trackie, yes, but that option wasnt available to us.
we all have our reasons but at the end of the day we buy what we can afford and we get out there.
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Offline schmik

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Re: Anti-Imports? - Trackabout?
« Reply #66 on: February 13, 2012, 07:48:26 PM »
There is big change in society in the last few years towards consumerism. Lots of people want new shiny bling bling stuff.  I can see the appeal of it all but often it's not money well spent. I bought a cheap axe/splitter. The handle shattered after 1 week. I bought a cheap replacement handle. Hahahaha... it snapped on it's first use. And that was with my wife swinging it. I then bought a friskars axe/splitter. It's good as new after 5 seasons of use.

Your reliance on a piece of gear also depends: the DVD players in the car are chinese. If they break on a long remote drive, "tough luck kids". I bought a GME UHF. If i break down somewhere remote I WILL want it to work perfectly.

FFIW, i bought a 2nd had Aussie camper with aussie canvas.

mike

Offline lockyer

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Re: Anti-Imports? - Trackabout?
« Reply #67 on: February 15, 2012, 09:52:50 AM »
It is so easy for us all to over look the big picture......................we blame imports for local business folding or doing it tough and we jump up and down saying buy aussie etc etc but before "that import" arrived here it was another country's export, so before we cry No more imports !! Why don't we push for no more EXPORTS and that includes us, no more wool exports from NSW or Vic and no more wheat and sheep from WA and SA to the middle east, someone is going to have to go up to the top of QLD and the NT and tell all those cattle producers time to find a new job...maybe we would be able to employ a few of them cattle farmers to drive around all the major mine sites and break the bad news to the companies and their workers..and who wants to head over to Tassie and let them know they can stop cutting down tress for wood chip...


It is now a global economy......... :D

Offline schmik

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Re: Anti-Imports? - Trackabout?
« Reply #68 on: February 15, 2012, 10:45:56 AM »
It is now a global economy......... :D

Sure is... except I can't get a loan from an overseas bank at they lovely less that 2% interest rates.  I can't buy from certain overseas companies because their distribution agreements prevent them from shipping overseas.  I can't import my own chinese nanny or cleaner or cook and pay her in peanuts.  I can't import cars from OS without the government making it nearly impossible (or expensive). I'm sure there are 100 other things I can't do.

So. Is it really a global economy?

Offline NewcastleKnight

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Re: Anti-Imports? - Trackabout?
« Reply #69 on: February 15, 2012, 10:56:31 AM »
So. Is it really a global economy?

No one said it was fair, or level playing field global economy.... :D ;D

Offline Snow

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Re: Anti-Imports? - Trackabout?
« Reply #70 on: February 15, 2012, 11:04:05 AM »
I see that this thread is adding nothing other than to provide a soapbox to belt current world economic climate with no constructiveconclusion or value.

What people buy and where they source product from is a personal choice beyond anyone elses opinion or influence.

This thread is now locked.
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