I saw an ad today about Woolworths pet insurance with the usual "we will beat any quote" we come to expect from these jiants of the retail world.

As they have obviously obliterated the retail sector, including liquor, fuel and hardware and having the sights firmly on pharmacy and gold lotto, is there any small business safe from these ruthless corporate monsters who seemingly go about their quest for 100% market share with governments apparently unable, or unwilling to intervene.

In my shire alone, Moreton Shire, we have less than 400,000 people yet we have at least 20 Woolworths which means there's one for every 20,000 people, there's Coles as well.

It's a joke that has no end in site.

Yes it is interesting that the US is criticised for being corporation friendly, but they have anti trust laws, that stop monopoly type operations, & stop companies like our big two getting any where near the market share they have here.

Butch, Woolies were flogging 'Leg Hams' whole and half at $5.99/kg this week. The best price elsewhere I saw was $6.99, that was at the 'Big Butcher' how do you compete? Milk $2/2lt cheap bread $0.85c. Then everything else is over priced. The other day a product was $8.99 on the shelf, I was charged $9.99 at the checkout (Woolworths) well after a price check the girl at the desk wanted to give me a $1 refund, not for this little black duck. "What's your overcharging policy?" says me "Oh, what do you think it is?" says her. "If you overcharge, then the product is FREE!" I got the goods and 10 bucks back. I get a lot of things from Coles and Woolworths for free that way.
A tip, you must actually pay the higher price first before you can get it for free. You know from our previous discussions I actually support the small retailer, not easy, Old Sam down the road opened his F&V a half day yesterday.

Paul, the wholesale price on leg hams in QLD was $6.20/kg. Lean trim for mince is now at around $7 per kg, The big two sold hams for $5.99 and mince fir about the same, so if the tactics of the big two is not 'preditry pricing' what is it?

They are ruining small business, as newsagents are now unsaleable, where once they were a licinse to print money.

The big two want pharmacy and gold lotto. This will be the last straw as they already sell sushi, pizzas and no doubt will have a subway style sandwich bar in the planning.

I know the percentage they pay in meat wages is around 8% of sales, whereas small butchers are around 18%. all governments appear willing to allow jobs to be slashed.

rehctub, if things are genuinely cheaper at the supermarket then why does it matter if small retailers can't match them? The better small shops will compete on range or convenience, and the rest won't be missed.

Sounds similar to the Japanese tactic years ago.
They go into a market loose money with very low prices, when to competition is obliterated they then screw you on the prices.

Also Asians generally used to expect to make there money back after 10 years whereas Western people want to make there money back much quicker hence they have a higher pricing policies.