Australian consumers may be using their credit cards to pay more for electronics and other technological devices than their counterparts in the U.S. According to the Australian, electronics are significantly cheaper in the states. Retailers acknowledge that Australians are paying considerably more for new technology than consumers in other countries but they say that it is not their fault. They claim that overseas suppliers are charging them more than other countries and calling on suppliers to lower their costs.
"You have to ask what's the retailer paying his supplier for his goods in relation to what the retailer in the US pays his supplier," said Australian Retailers Association (ARA) executive director Russell Zimmerman.
The ARA insists that individual shops are not responsible for the major difference in prices and points out that Australian firms are often faced with a range of extra expenses including higher import fees and staff wages.
ABC News reported that research from consumer lobbying group, Choice showed a "massive uptick" in the number of Aussies using the internet to find credit card bargains and warned stores they risked falling behind if they do not slash prices.
The Australian Productivity Commission is currently overseeing a review into the future of the retail industry and is believed to have received more than 100 submissions on how the sector can be turned around.
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