Yabby, don't you believe it. As our patent had expired, Burnings were having a very similar item, [read copy] made in a factory near the one we used in Taiwan. They sold it for $42.50 in their shops. The larger an organisation becomes, the more bureaucratic, & less efficient it becomes, just like government.

Have you noticed Coles/Woollies desperately trying to eliminate competition, before it becomes cheaper than them. Much of their cost advantage today is gained by cheep junk imports of often doubtful food.

OUG, what that report didn't mention is that many of those now bankrupt companies, that profited from Obama's generosity, were run by some of the largest donors to his campaign funds.

I find it interesting that much of his huge war chest of election funds comes from them, & from companies profiting from the "alternative energy" scam promoted & supported by Obama's administration, & funded by the tax payer.

579 following the natural order of things, eventually, when we are the poor white trash of Asia, these countries will have a cost base higher than Oz. Provided we have sat on the heads of the fool greens, the jobs will come flooding back, all other things being equal.

I must admit I would prefer that peak oil were true, rather than a myth, so that international freight fuel costs prevented this low wage chasing, but I'm not holding my breath.

The best thing our governments could do would put a 1,000% tax on international phone calls, & bring all our call centre jobs back home as well. Seen any flying pigs recently.

better, faster, cheaper, consumers benefit.
Yabby,
The downside's way too high a price to pay as you can see now. Don't for one moment believe worse is still a long way down the road. The cul-de-sac is just around the corner & the signposts have been in place for a long time. people just fail to read them.

put a 1,000% tax on international phone calls, & bring all our call centre jobs back home as well. Seen any flying pigs recently.
Hasbeen,
I advocated some time ago here on OLO that those who manufacture in sweatshops should have their profits taxed so much till the money equals sweatshop rates.
Telstra are jeopardising Australia's security just to endear themselves to greedy shareholders.
Flying porkies ? Well, I saw the VIP Jet a couple of times last week.

We bye Telstra's high priced commodities, and get sweat shop priced back up.
Who knows if the global market will survive. The only beneficiaries are importers.
The whole thing could take a step backward.
Some of the manufacturers in China that came from America, were asked if the rising costs in China meant they would return to America. The answer was no, they are going to India.

The answer was no, they are going to India.
579,
That's the sad reality but will shareholders curb their greed ? No ! We'll have to do it for them.

*The larger an organisation becomes, the more bureaucratic, & less efficient it becomes, just like government.*

Not in a well run company, Hasbeen. That is exactly the difference
between good and bad management. Cutting waste. Before the
Wesfarmers takeover, Coles was full of waste and poor logistics.
Woolies were miles ahead, because of a much more efficient supply
chain. Even now that continues to go ahead and figures are improving.

Coles/Target/Kmart used to buy from local importers, now they buy
direct from factories overseas. Roadtrains carting freight between
warehouses, can do so more efficiently, cutting what you complain
about, ie freight. The whole structure of Wesfarmers is about making
those supply chains more efficient, consumers benefit, so do the
companies that use those management tactics.

*The downside's way too high a price to pay as you can see now*

What downside, Individual? That consumers are getting a better deal?
That farmers input costs are lowered by lower input costs? That
waste is cut out of supply chains?

Consumers drive all this, people like you lot, who want lower prices
when you go shopping.

Yes shareholders benefit too. Anyone who has a super fund, would
have an indirect interest in Coles and Woolies. Is your super fund
making money for you, such a bad thing?