Purchasing goods Internationally instead of supporting local business, Un-Australian?

I was recently contacted by an Australian Company and asked if I would support their business by blogging about purchasing from their company even though their foreign imported goods were up too twice what I paid for them internationally.

I said NO

Now I am all for supporting Australian companies whose products are manufactured in Australia because ALL the profits stay here, they provide jobs and help communities grow.  In fact if I can buy Australian, I do.

But.... I will NOT support retailers who import products from overseas and then sell them with a huge mark-up.  All their promises if you buy from us it will allow us to grow our business and import more products for you and become more competitive is a load of crap to be quite honest.  Australia has ALWAYS had less choice than the rest of the world in a variety of goods and services and we have ALWAYS paid more for them.

PLEASE SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE TO AUSTRALIAN BUSINESSES WHO MARK-UP THEIR IMPORTED GOODS UNREASONABLY THAT YOU WON'T BE SUPPORTING THEM.  SHOP AROUND THERE ARE ALWAYS GOOD DEALS TO BE HAD IF YOU LOOK.

I consider myself a Savvy shopper and I purchase the majority of items online from national and international websites and the one thing I noticed with the rise of the Aussie dollar was that national retailers did NOT lower their prices, department stores and superstores were STILL charging over-inflated amounts for goods.    They did NOT pass on any savings to you or I, their profit margin just got larger.

So the smart shopper starts looking at international companies online that can sell the same products cheaper and usually with a better shipping cost (I can never understand why international companies can ship to Australia cheaper and quicker than Australia Post but I'm not complaining).  Who doesn't love a good bargain, who would be insane enough to purchase something in Australia that you can pick up online for half the price?  Not me!!

All of a sudden local business notice they're not selling their marked up goods anymore and start crying foul. You may have heard this reported on the news, read about it or watched Current Affair shows where very very rich old men were bleating about losing profits.

National companies want you to support them even if it is costing you MORE.  They encourage you by saying it's un-Australian to buy overseas, keep the profits in Australia, support Aussie business.  Where do you think they are purchasing their foreign made goods from to begin with?  NOT from Australia.  Being Aussie does not mean we have to pay twice as much as the rest of the world and we shouldn't be expected too.

Be a savvy shopper.  Shop around there are many good australian businesses who are competitive and do pass on savings.  Of course by all means buy from local and online businesses if you can.  I love a good sale and have been a bargain hunter for years but if that means I find better bargains overseas at half the price I will buy internationally.  It's my hard earned money and I will spend it wisely as I see fit.

If you truly want to support Australia then STOP buy foreign goods all together and ONLY buy AUSTRALIAN.

DON"T allow these so called Aussie companies to guilt you into feeling un-Australian because you don't buy their foreign produced goods at twice the price from them.  It will not benefit you at all just their profit margin.

It is up to Australian businesses to become more competitive in a Global Market if they want my money.

Below are some links to great Aussie businesses where I do the majority of my shopping, they have the best prices, fantastic sales and competitive shipping.  I don't need to have giveaways or be tempted by discount codes that earn me points or cash to share these great companies with my readers. So you know if I say these companies are good then they are, no persuasion or payment necessary.

If you want a bargain from a great Aussie business well then you can't go wrong starting with one of these.

David Jones
Westfield
BigW
Kmart
Urban Rituelle
Catwalk
Kosmea
Ebay Australia
Cosmetics Now
Makeup Express
Fashion Addict
Priceline
Chemist Warehouse
Alanna Renee Indie Nail Polish
Glossi
Top Buy
Oz Sale
Deals Direct
ASOS Australia

If I have missed any great Aussie businesses please share a link in the comments and I will add them to the list.