It is very easy to bring in a brand name skimmer or pump from Germany. More people should do it! Think of the savings you could make over the life of your aquarium keeping!
Why would anyone bring in a container load of stock?
What is the point? Everyone can get it cheaper direct by themselves, correct?
If someone brings in a container load of stock to service the hobby, what are the real costs?
1) Initial item cost
2) Multiply that by say..100 units
3) Covert total purchase amount to Australian dollars
4) Freight & handling on getting your order packed into the container & onto the boat
now the fun begins---
The boat just pulled into port & your container is almost ready for pick up,
better call the customs man
Add to the costs incurred so far....
5) Customs broker fee say 5% of your AUD order
6) Customs clearance / agency fees another 10%
7) Customs disbursement charge another 10% of order total
8) 5% duty
9) Add AQIS processing charge
10) Declaration charge
11) AQIS container charges
12) Now add another 10% GST
All good & paid up!
Now you can go & collect your goods!
So you rock up to the freight yard & now your hit with....
13) Terminal handling charges
14) Delivery order fee
15) Seacargo automation
16) Cargo management re-engineering fee
17) Destination security surcharge
18) Documentation fee
19) Destination port charge
20) Import processing surcharge
21) CISF fee
22) PCS fee
23) PFC fee
You now have your goods in hand if you pick up direct from the freight company.
That is unless you need to pay a truck driver to deliver the container to your depot.
24) Truck hire
25) Container hire while it is in your depot until it is returned.
As an importer, you now have your warehouse full of stock! Woohoo!!
You now have $500,000 worth of stock to support LFS's across the country
Joe blow can walk into a LFS & buy a skimmer now & then
So now we need to work out a total cost on each item sitting on the shelf.
This is YOUR business now. YOU have just gone through all above to get the stock on YOUR shelf.
What do YOU think is a fair markup % for wholesale sales to any LFS?
This is YOU now, this is YOUR lively hood, this is what pays YOUR bills & puts food on the table for YOUR kids.
Now don't forget! For ANY product YOU sell, you will have to pay the taxman 10% of that price!
20% ? Someone made the comment "why even bother being in business?"
List what YOU would mark up by.
Mr. LFS wants to place a $2500 order, nothing huge by LFS standards
$2500 in product
$$$ in freight getting it to the shop
Now what ever he sells, 10% of that will go to the taxman don't forget, so that $600 skimmer you just brought, 10% goes straight to the taxman.
Now you have to add your mark up again, what do YOU think is fair???
This is the guy that is always there for you, when you have a problem you will ask your LFS at some stage
The guy you send a Facebook message to at midnight & get pissed off when there is no reply because he has gone home for the day, he has finished work, just like you.
The guy you ask for advice about the bargain price chiller you got online because your LFS was to expensive when it breaks down & you need it fixed NOW.
The guy ask advice from about a coral or item you brought online or another LFS
The guy on the other side of town that you message for advice in the middle of the night but will never step foot in his store because it's to far away.
The guy who explained everything you need to start a marine tank, which you went & brought online because it was cheaper, then went back to the LFS & asked what next?
The guy who tests your water each week for months & months for FREE because you can't be bothered buying your own test kits.
The guy who spends thousands of dollars each week on stock, so you MIGHT buy something when you come in for the cheap water & free tests
The guy that always gives you a little discount when you finally get something from him
The guy that actually provides a service when you need it most
You know, that guy, the guy you say always rips you off & just wants to sell you stuff you don't need.
Come to think of it, why do we really need a LFS?
Cheaper to import it yourself, just need to stay under that $1000 mark!
As for fish & corals, Facebook, forums & home chop shops pretty much have it covered!
What can't you get from these places cheaper then your local LFS?
I'll probably piss a lot of people off with all the above, but tuff luck lol.
We all have an opinion & this is my 2cw :p