So apparently the Retail Coalition and their PR firm FD Third Person haven't learned their lesson after the first wave of their campaign to introduce a GST on imported online purchases failed. And failed spectacularly. The Retail Coalition, made up of pauper billionaires Solomon Lew, Gerry Harvey and multi millionaire Bernie Brookes have indicated that they will continue the push for more taxes.
More money will be wasted on advertising - probably millions. And it will be all for nought. There is NO way the Gillard Government will agree to increasing a tax. If there was ever a hope, it has been shot down by the mass outrage expressed by Australian consumers. Then think of all this free publicity for online retailing - which members of the Retail Coalition mostly don't do!
The Retail Coalition's "protect Australian jobs" line isn't working. People are just a little bit smarter than that. They know that the likes of Lew, Harvey and lately Brookes have been all too happy to source products from overseas. While he was with Coles Myer, Lew oversaw the near death of Australian manufacturing, particularly in the textile, clothing and footwear sector. So they were content with killing manufacturing jobs, but think retail jobs should be protected?
The idiots who make up the Retail Coalition just don't get it. Hard to believe these guys made riches through their supposed "smarts". Led by a team at FD Third Person, this group must be going all out to win an award for the most disastrous spin attempt in Australian history. I've seen some of the public's vitriol in online news comments over the last few years. But I've never seen anything as comprehensively brutal as this - not even against the banks and that my friends, is saying something.
Tens of thousands of people have gone online to express their opinion. I've read a hell of a lot of them and i can't find one - not one - in support of the Retail Coalition.
I'm not sure that this campaign will signal the end of the big retailer in Australia. But whoever is giving these tools advice should take a nice long holiday.
Here is just a small selection of comments from the Herald Sun - on one story alone today, just 796 people had given their opinion...
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Muzzy Posted at 7:49 AM Today
Gerry. I will not purchase from your store again. Selfish. If your prices and other stores were only 10% cheaper then I would believe you. Like in the music industry the Australian Prices are over the top. With reasonable prices we would not need to shop online. and then there's the convenience of having stuff delivered to our front door for around 30 % cheaper than you sell the good for. Wake up and listen to the music Gerry.
Comment 301 of 796
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Bernie of Southbank Posted at 7:49 AM Today
I paid $50 in a tourist town at the weekend for the hard cover edition of Keith Richard's biography, Life. I checked the Amazon site yesterday and could have bought it for $18.80 with no shipping fee if I bought something else to take the total over $25. Get ready for a retail revolution. The only shopkeepers to survive will be enterprising specialists who make shopping a pleasurable, rewarding experience. I can't wait.
Comment 302 of 796
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Amy Andrews of Melbourne Posted at 7:49 AM Today
Jerry Harvey and his fellow retailers have just given Australians a reason to boycott their stores and make the effort to buy online from other Australian retailers, who are often small family businesses that actually deserve our support. Not all online stores are from the US. I for one vow to reduce my spending at the supermarkets and buy from local markets and farm gates where every possible and even if it is more convenient to walk into a local department store to buy an item, I will search online and buy it, even if it costs me a few dollars more in postage to buy from an Australian online retailer.Australians send these retailers a message and stop buying from them! Hit them where it hurts and don't let them use your money to pressure the government and uninformed Australians into a lack of choice.
Comment 303 of 796
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Adapt or fade away Posted at 7:49 AM Today
But wait a minute Gerry, wasn't your wife shopping in New York? Why didn't she shop in Australia and support the economy etc - you can surely afford the prices. Oh please, you are pathetic, every time you whinge you make us consumers cringe - you bleat like a child who just can't get what he wants, how about some foot stomping to go with the tantrum? Step up to the plate, LISTEN to what Australian consumers are saying for a change, that might be a start. I buy 90% of my clothing overseas because the quality is far superior and so is the price.
Comment 304 of 796
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Mike of South Morang Posted at 7:49 AM Today
Gerry Harvey is soooooo upset because he can see his profits tumbling from disgracefully obscene to just obscene. You have no idea of the plight of the common man Gerry. I am amzed that the other do good millionaire Dick Smith hasn't bought into this debate yet. Easy to be self richoues when you are rolling in money.
Comment 305 of 796
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Watcher of Oz Posted at 7:51 AM Today
Um is there a list of behaviours that actually make us Australian as opposed to un-australian? Harvey, everyone across the world wants a little extra cash so they can get a little bit of financial elbow room and a bit less stress so why shouldn't the average aussie? After all we don't all have your bank account. I'm sure that if you can't afford to take a few first class seats overseas after all these years in your particular business then you're not a very good businessman are you? Spare me the tears we're all doing it tough.
Comment 306 of 796
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Social of Ist Posted at 7:51 AM Today
Pay more for the good of Australia. Now Theres an concept. How bout you only earn 1 Billion in profits this year instead of two billion. Or maybe sell one of your race horses Gerry. How rich do you guys wanna be, fair dinkum. I reckon I might start avoiding your store just to say pull ya head in you poor bunch of lear jet flying, horse racing billionaires....
Comment 307 of 796
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Panda with some imported bamboo Posted at 7:53 AM Today
Shopping is better online, no queue’s, no ratty kids hanging out in groups, easy to find what you want and prices are excellent. Why we want to come back to the poor customer services and prices you give us? Even if you bring in the GST tax it’s still going to be 30 to 40 percent cheaper anyway. The situation reminds me of when Napster first came onto the scene and started giving away music for free, the record companies flipped out and sued everyone. Now they have gotten with the trend and have began pushing down prices, marketed their output better and made it so people can purchase music online affordably. Look at how well The Beatles did when they got onto Itunes! No one who shops online wants to put a retail employee out of job, we all know that, but until prices and customer service can be comparable with online shopping, I know where my money is going. Call it Unaustralian (a terrible saying by the way) but this isn't just about our country anymore. It’s not called the World Wide Web for nothing kids.
Comment 308 of 796
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Chris Norman of Sweet Sherry Belt Posted at 7:53 AM Today
I'm boycotting all stores who want to make me pay more than I should.
Comment 309 of 796
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James of Bacchus marsh Posted at 7:54 AM Today
This is so easy to fix....Firstly Curb the greedy over the top fees for renting a tiny little space in the large supermarket Complex...These land lords are the reason we pay high rents to these fat cats....Of course the greedy over the top Government loves it..It's called GST...Thanks again Mrs Lee's
Comment 310 of 796
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Never shopped @ Harvey Norman of No where near a Harvey Norman Store Posted at 7:54 AM Today
So what if it cost people jobs. They can always get a more honest job and not work for a company that rip people off for profit.
Comment 311 of 796
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Rob J M of melbourne Posted at 7:54 AM Today
Wow Gerry what do you think we do with the money we save from internet purchases? We don't burn it but spend it in the australian economy creating jobs! Since when did it become "Australian" to be a billionaire on the back of overpriced foreign imports. You make me sick! Why don't you complain about how much extra money you make when the aussie dollar is high!
Comment 312 of 796
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Janine of Ascot Vale Posted at 7:54 AM Today
Are we honestly to believe that these giant retailers are worried about the future of the Australian economy-they are only worried about THEIR future profits, massive salaries, bonuses etc etc. If we average Australians can save a few $ in the short term, thats what we will do. I agree with Mal of Cranbourne-shoes on the other foot now!
Comment 313 of 796
About Just Grumpy
3 comments
Harvey wants to stop the campaign cos his feelings have been hurt. Deary me!
Gerry is finally getting his just-desserts after decades of ripping off the public to no end.
If the public backlash from this entire endeavor hasn't made him wake up to smell the coffee, I don't know what will. Move with the times buddy.
yeah, smell the coffee from my new nespresso machine which i purchased from the states for 40% less than at harvey norman including postage!!!
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