im new to baking and just starting to learn to decorate..... and i LOVE online buying... anywhere in the world, i love getting parcels in the mail whether its from peters of kensington or ebay stuff from USA or hong kong - im doing it

i understand that local businesses need our support to survive but today i was happily clicking away from kitchenkrafts and then i compared to what it would cost me if i drove 1klm down the road to where im taking my classes.

Kitchenkraft $98 inc shipping and USD/AUD converstion
local shop $155

eg,
large baking strips are $33AUD compared to $62 from my local shop
beater blade (bought that last month) is $40 inc shipping from US versus $70 from a local supplier
a turntable from my local supplier is $62 and i bought it via ebay for $40 inc shipping

im not a cheap person that watches her pennies and im happy to pay a little bit more for customer service and for the convenience of having a local supplier but this is more than just a few pennies!

anyone else deaing with this and are you buying OS or local?

cheers

Baking Strips = 33.00 USD = 35.7363 AUD = ($35.75)

Then add on Import Tax - which ranges from 5% to 27%
Lets go 13.5% for here say......$35.75 + 13.5% = $4.82 = $40.57
Lets go 27% for here say = $35.75 + 27% = $9.65 = $45.40

Then add on GST when we buy it = 12%= $5.44 ($4.45)
$45.40 + $4.45 = $49.85

Remembering that i haven't added on Shipping and Handling
Lets say $2.00 (as they may have bought in bulk)

$49.95 + $2.00 = $51.95

So, $60.00 (that it would cost you to buy) - $51.95 = $8.05

Out of that $8.05 profit the shop owner has to calculate
Rent
Power
Wages and then at the end of each Month there is the BAS

So out of the $8.05 *profit* the shop owner is lucky to clear $1.30 as genuine profit....if that

Altho it seems like we pay too much for things in this Country - what we must rememnber is this

Australia is one of the highest taxed countries in the world and if we want to keep our economy up we must start buying from within our own country instead of propping up Over Seas economies.

Which in turn is bad for our economy.

Sure i buy from OS...... IF i cannot source it here in Australia - but i would much prefer to see my hard earnt dollars pay someones wages here than someones wages elsewhere.

We will become.................only what we spend in this country.

EXAMPLE -
We are fighting tooth and nail to sell our top grade beef to the world - but other countries are opting to buy cheaper/poorer quality beef from not so reputable countries.
Same goes for our Wheat -
Our Lamb market -
Our Wool market -
etc etc etc

We have the cleanest water in the World - and the most uncontaminated soils in the world - - But non of this seems to matter to countries who have opted to buy *cheaper* from elsewhere.

So, if i really want something that costs $60.00 AUS compared to $33.00 elsewhere, i will spend that, to keep my country afloat - especially during these economic times.

And if i do not have the $60.00 then and there to spend, i have the choice to either layby - ask the shop keeper to hold it for me - or go back when i do have the money.


The more we buy from OS the harder it is for our shop keepers to stay in business.

I guess it is just a matter of support Australia first - jjust like every other race supports their country.

Oh - and also we have to remember - we are the most isolated country in the World - so of course we pay huge $$$'s for freight.

Because a customer wants *something* for her Wedding - i have just ordered $22.00 worth of goods from the USA
The freight from the West Coast of America is to Western Australia is $48.00
Thus my total was $70.00 - (and thats normal mail - not express)




But i wouldn't want to live anywhere else in the World.


Bluehue....

I would love to buy locally, but my closest supply shop is Spotlight, one and a half hours away and they don't have many cake decorating lines. So I buy most of my supplies from an online company in Australia.

If there's anything they don't have I have a look at eBay. Some of the things I order from there are from England. But since I couldn't find them in Australia in the first place I figure I'm not doing anyone out of any business.

Loving the Pearl Dragees I got from England in the mail today, and I only ordered them LAST WEEK!

I do wish I could buy Fondant locally so I didn't have to pay for the shipping costs.

Jen80

Have you had a look at this web site?
I don't know where abouts you are in Qld - but i thought if you hadn't seen this one - it might be of some help.
http://bakingpleasures.com.au/


Here are two Cake Decorating Association contacts that you could phone and ask about other suppliers that might be closer to you.
They would surely be abble to point you in the right direction for something *hopefully* close to you.
All you can do is phone and ask.


Mermaid Beach
QLD, 4218
Ph: (07) 5535 5342

59 Kiel Mountain Rd
Woombye
QLD, 4559
Ph: (07) 5442 3407



Bluehue.

Whooooohoooo!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you Bluehue!!!

You have no idea how many times I have googled "Cake Decorating Supplies Australia" "Cake Supplies Australia" etc etc etc.....

My hubby is NOT gonna be happy with you. Hahahahaha......too bad I say!

Thanks again

Jen80,
Here is another good site - altho in Pymble - NSW - still closer than the UK - loll
http://www.littlebetsybaker.com.au/store/pc/Contact-Us-d2.htm


This is the one i order my Regalice (fondant) from over here in Perth.
http://www.champagnecakes.com.au/index.html


This one is in Sydney
http://www.cakedecoratingcentral.com/


I have never dealt with this one - but thought i would post for you to look at.
http://www.bakerysugarcraft.com.au/default.asp


This one is in Adelaide
http://www.completecakedec.com.au/


And this one is in Melbourne.
http://cakedeco.com.au/contact.asp


Hope you have fun looking and browsing at these sites.
Your DH will be thrilled that you are sooooo happy -

Glad i could help

Bluehue.

I live in a pretty small town, so do most of my shopping online. I've had pretty good success with this site that Bluehue has already posted.

http://www.completecakedec.com.au/

Bluehue, add my DH to the list of very happy husbands after posting your list!

And here is another link - in Qld - forgot to add before
This one i have used - sevice is great and delivery is very prompt.

http://www.sweetthemes.com.au/content/cms/ContactUs/61/

Bluehue

You're a lifesaver Bluhue because I have my first ever wedding cake in a couple of weeks and I SUCK at gumpaste roses. Plus with all the rain from the cyclone, the ones I have already made are all sticky. So I just might order them pre-made (ssshhhhh ) and thanks to you, I now have somewhere to order them from.

when i lived in perth i would buy locally. Had a couple of shops i would go to

http://www.sugarsmith.com.au/ in Maddington

http://www.caketinznthingz.com.au/ i loved this shop. I preferred going into a shop as because i am new at cake decorating, i could get advice and tips

Now i live in the pilbara i have to buy online. Postage kills me but i still buy from aussie shops.

i have bought from both cake decorating central and cake deco, but prefer cake decorating central. Their prices are a bit higher but their service is fantastic

Thanks for the great links BlueHue. Time to do some more shopping.... it's been a week since i bought something

Yes i know they wouldn't pay the RRP - but i didn't have a Wholesale price to begin with.
They have to charge me GST and then at the end of their Month they claim that back through BAS. - so the customer is always paying the GST add on.

I still prefer to buy from here if i have an option -
But like the Paramount Crystals - we had no option but to buy form overseas.
Just a case of *different strokes for different folks*.

Hmmm, think i will go off and find some other sites for you look look at -



Melave - yes, i have been to CankesNThinz a few times but found the service a bit .

I prefer Champagne Cakes.....web site link in a previous post.

Enjoy *letting your fingers do the walking*
Do you ever get down to Perth - and if so do you do the *mad stockup* whilst here?


Aussies - If you know of any other good sites - post them here - ok.

Bluehue.

Hi Bluehue

I have seen champagne cakes site. It looks good. Just haven't ordered from there yet

I have only just moved up here so it will be a while before i get back down to perth. But the OH workmate is FIFO so i have hit him up to get 7kg box of RTR for me

Jen80 - glad i was able to help -
I don't blame you usng pre made flowers - considering the horrendous weather you have had
So annoying when the weather turns your hard work into *sticky bits that won't dry out properly*
I had the same trouble over here with the heat and humidity.
Got to the stage where i had to turn the ducted air con off - because the added moisture along with the already high humidity was keeping everything moist.
Then i thought - if i work at night when it is a few C's cooler that helped
I keep a Vulcan column oil heater in my caking room when the cooler months come - as that doesn't add moisture to the room - and my regalice *whatever's* dry as they should.

Thank goodness for Spring - at least things behave and dry as they should - lolllllllllllll


Melave - if ever you need anything dropped at the FIFO airport let me know - I am only 25 minutes from Perth Airport - so no great drama for me to get it there and get it on *the right flight* for you.
Actually my DH drives past it every morning on the way to work.


Bluehue.

Thanks for the offer BlueHue. I appreciate it

Just found this SA cake decorating store's catalogue today so never used them before or know what their service is like but it looks like they have heaps of stuff.

A few items are a bit more expensive than usual but what i have scanned over quickly most prices arn't too bad, and their shipping rates arn't too bad either

http://carolines.com.au/docs/retail.pdf

would like it if they had photo's though but i guess there is just WAY to much stuff to do that lol

I live near Noosa,no cake dec.shops here or on the coast any more,so often go to Brisbane to
http://www.cakeornament.com.au/
except they don't have Bakels so then have to go over to the one at Margate.

Make it and bake it,shop 9,300 Oxley Av.Margate.

http://www.makeitandbakeit.com.au/[/url]

Ahh, thanks! Will have to go fo a visit, next trip to Brisbane.

Cake Bitz - located in Southport on the Gold Coast QLD has an exellent variety of decorating products avaliable www.cakebitz.com.au
ask for Genie