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Australians making sausage out of handlebar and spoke tariffs
Here's the 1906 Australian parliament making sausage out of handlebar
and spoke tariff-laws, with the honorable members trying hard not to call each other liars: http://books.google.com/books?id=nEM...K4fgswPrqbCjCQ or http://tinyurl.com/34z3zr My favorite line is "Manufacturing in this case means fastening together a few imported tubes," which should posted in large print at every local bike shop for the edification of the customers. If you keep reading, they start to sound like an RBT thread. Just before the bicycle tariff debate comes this priceless exchange: "I desire to know what 'shooks' are. We ought to know what they are before we are asked to impose a duty on them. Whatever they are, I am satisfied that the import is decreasing." "I do not know what 'shooks" are, any more than does the honorable member." Then debate begins over a proposed tariff on bicycle parts (as opposed to complete bicycles) of 20% for British parts and 30% for others, meaning American. The local bike shops probably hated the idea of a parts-tariff, since they wanted to import parts cheaply and put together bikes. The debate indicates that all the wooden rims, the best spokes with rolled threads, and the popular brakes were all being imported from the U.S., not from Britain. *** "It is ridiculous to say that 10 per cent on these articles will amount to 9s. 2d." *** "I am assured that all the parts to which I have refered are patented." "Some of them are not." *** "Has the honorable member ever known a wood rim to be made in Australia?" "Does the honorable member, as a protectionist, say that wood rims cannot be made in Australia?" *** "I do not intend to say a word." *** "Another protectionist gone wrong!" *** "Cheap and nasty!" *** "The duck roller brake is an American patent. A number of cyclists will not use any other kind of brake, because they know that a grip brake is apt to stop the machine too suddenly. When it is applied to the front wheel it is likely to throw the rider over the machine." [Yes, they're talking about 1906 safety bicycles.] *** The attempt to reduce or eliminate the tariff on bicycle parts failed, 24 to 6. Cheers, Carl Fogel |
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#2
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Australians making sausage out of handlebar and spoke tariffs
On Nov 6, 1:51 pm, wrote:
Here's the 1906 Australian parliament making sausage out of handlebar and spoke tariff-laws, with the honorable members trying hard not to call each other liars: http://books.google.com/books?id=nEM...4950&dq=%22man... orhttp://tinyurl.com/34z3zr My favorite line is "Manufacturing in this case means fastening together a few imported tubes," which should posted in large print at every local bike shop for the edification of the customers. If you keep reading, they start to sound like an RBT thread. Just before the bicycle tariff debate comes this priceless exchange: "I desire to know what 'shooks' are. We ought to know what they are before we are asked to impose a duty on them. Whatever they are, I am satisfied that the import is decreasing." "I do not know what 'shooks" are, any more than does the honorable member." Then debate begins over a proposed tariff on bicycle parts (as opposed to complete bicycles) of 20% for British parts and 30% for others, meaning American. The local bike shops probably hated the idea of a parts-tariff, since they wanted to import parts cheaply and put together bikes. The debate indicates that all the wooden rims, the best spokes with rolled threads, and the popular brakes were all being imported from the U.S., not from Britain. *** "It is ridiculous to say that 10 per cent on these articles will amount to 9s. 2d." *** "I am assured that all the parts to which I have refered are patented." "Some of them are not." *** "Has the honorable member ever known a wood rim to be made in Australia?" "Does the honorable member, as a protectionist, say that wood rims cannot be made in Australia?" *** "I do not intend to say a word." *** "Another protectionist gone wrong!" *** "Cheap and nasty!" *** "The duck roller brake is an American patent. A number of cyclists will not use any other kind of brake, because they know that a grip brake is apt to stop the machine too suddenly. When it is applied to the front wheel it is likely to throw the rider over the machine." [Yes, they're talking about 1906 safety bicycles.] *** The attempt to reduce or eliminate the tariff on bicycle parts failed, 24 to 6. Cheers, Carl Fogel Fascinating - and even more interesting is that you read such arcane stuff, Carl! Hehehe. You (and I) will be pleased to know we (Oz) is rather more globalised now. The duty on whole bikes is nil, and on bike parts is 5% (go figure) (then a goods and services tax of 10% is added, regardless of origin). I might add there is virtually nil parts manufacturing here, but a few custom frame builders remain. Also interesting is that in spite of the removal of tariffs, prices have stayed high. Most Aussie cyclists 'in the know' buy their equipment and clothing online from the UK or US (and Europe and Asia to a lesser extent). We can land almost everything here for under 2/3 the local price, even after paying extortionate US freight rates. Donga |
#3
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Australians making sausage out of handlebar and spoke tariffs
On Nov 6, 5:23 pm, Donga wrote:
On Nov 6, 1:51 pm, wrote: Here's the 1906 Australian parliament making sausage out of handlebar and spoke tariff-laws, with the honorable members trying hard not to call each other liars: http://books.google.com/books?id=nEM...4950&dq=%22man... orhttp://tinyurl.com/34z3zr My favorite line is "Manufacturing in this case means fastening together a few imported tubes," which should posted in large print at every local bike shop for the edification of the customers. If you keep reading, they start to sound like an RBT thread. Just before the bicycle tariff debate comes this priceless exchange: "I desire to know what 'shooks' are. We ought to know what they are before we are asked to impose a duty on them. Whatever they are, I am satisfied that the import is decreasing." "I do not know what 'shooks" are, any more than does the honorable member." Then debate begins over a proposed tariff on bicycle parts (as opposed to complete bicycles) of 20% for British parts and 30% for others, meaning American. The local bike shops probably hated the idea of a parts-tariff, since they wanted to import parts cheaply and put together bikes. The debate indicates that all the wooden rims, the best spokes with rolled threads, and the popular brakes were all being imported from the U.S., not from Britain. *** "It is ridiculous to say that 10 per cent on these articles will amount to 9s. 2d." *** "I am assured that all the parts to which I have refered are patented." "Some of them are not." *** "Has the honorable member ever known a wood rim to be made in Australia?" "Does the honorable member, as a protectionist, say that wood rims cannot be made in Australia?" *** "I do not intend to say a word." *** "Another protectionist gone wrong!" *** "Cheap and nasty!" *** "The duck roller brake is an American patent. A number of cyclists will not use any other kind of brake, because they know that a grip brake is apt to stop the machine too suddenly. When it is applied to the front wheel it is likely to throw the rider over the machine." [Yes, they're talking about 1906 safety bicycles.] *** The attempt to reduce or eliminate the tariff on bicycle parts failed, 24 to 6. Cheers, Carl Fogel Fascinating - and even more interesting is that you read such arcane stuff, Carl! Hehehe. You (and I) will be pleased to know we (Oz) is rather more globalised now. The duty on whole bikes is nil, and on bike parts is 5% (go figure) (then a goods and services tax of 10% is added, regardless of origin). I might add there is virtually nil parts manufacturing here, but a few custom frame builders remain. Also interesting is that in spite of the removal of tariffs, prices have stayed high. Most Aussie cyclists 'in the know' buy their equipment and clothing online from the UK or US (and Europe and Asia to a lesser extent). We can land almost everything here for under 2/3 the local price, even after paying extortionate US freight rates. Donga Oh I should mention that packages under AUD 1000 (moving near parity with the greenback, har har) usually go under the Customs radar and hence miss over 15% of duty and tax. |
#4
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Australians making sausage out of handlebar and spoke tariffs
Donga wrote:
I might add there is virtually nil parts manufacturing here, but a few custom frame builders remain. http://www.velocitywheels.com/ being "the exception which proves the rule". John |
#5
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Australians making sausage out of handlebar and spoke tariffs
On Nov 7, 12:02 am, John Henderson wrote:
Donga wrote: I might add there is virtually nil parts manufacturing here, but a few custom frame builders remain. http://www.velocitywheels.com/being "the exception which proves the rule". John Yes, and the very fine AYUP lights are made here too. But on Velocity - here's a weird one. I can buy some Aeroheads online from the US for USD 42 (or so) each, but the same rims in the place of manufacture cost USD 101. Somehow they've been made here and crossed the world, to go out under half price. I feel like a bit of a dick importing them, given the factory is 10 miles away. Not to mention the spokes that are 50c in the US are USD 1.21 here (DT Revs), and they've had to travel from Switzerland to both countries. It's not tax that's the difference, and LBSs universally claim to be doing it hard. Cartel importing? What is going on with our market?? Who's the winner? Donga |
#6
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Australians making sausage out of handlebar and spoke tariffs
On Nov 7, 12:02 am, John Henderson wrote:
Donga wrote: I might add there is virtually nil parts manufacturing here, but a few custom frame builders remain. http://www.velocitywheels.com/being "the exception which proves the rule". John Yes, and the very fine AYUP lights are made here too. But on Velocity - here's a weird one. I can buy some Aeroheads online from the US for USD 42 (or so) each, but the same rims in the place of manufacture cost USD 101. Somehow they've been made here and crossed the world, to go out under half price. I feel like a bit of a dick importing them, given the factory is 10 miles away. Not to mention the spokes that are 50c in the US are USD 1.21 here (DT Revs), and they've had to travel from Switzerland to both countries. It's not tax that's the difference, and LBSs universally claim to be doing it hard. Cartel importing? What is going on with our market?? Who's the winner? Donga |
#7
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Australians making sausage out of handlebar and spoke tariffs
On 7 Nov 2007 01:50:42 -0800, Donga
wrote: Yes, and the very fine AYUP lights are made here too. But on Velocity - here's a weird one. I can buy some Aeroheads online from the US for USD 42 (or so) each, but the same rims in the place of manufacture cost USD 101. Somehow they've been made here and crossed the world, to go out under half price. I feel like a bit of a dick importing them, given the factory is 10 miles away. Not to mention the spokes that are 50c in the US are USD 1.21 here (DT Revs), and they've had to travel from Switzerland to both countries. It's not tax that's the difference, and LBSs universally claim to be doing it hard. Cartel importing? No cartels, just monopoly distribution. A consequence of being a small market? |
#8
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Australians making sausage out of handlebar and spoke tariffs
Aeek wrote:
On 7 Nov 2007 01:50:42 -0800, Donga wrote: Yes, and the very fine AYUP lights are made here too. But on Velocity - here's a weird one. I can buy some Aeroheads online from the US for USD 42 (or so) each, but the same rims in the place of manufacture cost USD 101. Somehow they've been made here and crossed the world, to go out under half price. I feel like a bit of a dick importing them, given the factory is 10 miles away. Not to mention the spokes that are 50c in the US are USD 1.21 here (DT Revs), and they've had to travel from Switzerland to both countries. It's not tax that's the difference, and LBSs universally claim to be doing it hard. Cartel importing? No cartels, just monopoly distribution. A consequence of being a small market? That's the same lie that Shimano pedals. If I can import Shimano stuff from America for less than it retails here (in Australia,) you'd think the local retailers could too. |
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