Australian Members

[joiji]

I need a cotton jumper or two. Can anyone suggest a better alternative than this?: http://www.mjbale.com/on-sale/young-sweatshirt-grey

Some breton stripes would be nice...

Uniqlo?

 

[fxh]



I'm heading to Thailand/Cambodia for a couple of weeks, and looking at getting a couple of suits made in Bangkok (probably Narin) or Travellers Apparel. I only want to spend ~1k per suit, thus PJ is out of the question. Previously, I've used a HK guy who has come down to Melbourne, but I have found that I want a more fitting suit.

Any thoughts?

Most Bangkok suits can be spotted a mile away on the street - thats if they stay together more than a month or two.

Opshops are full of them. They are almost uniformly dreadful. This is not SF snobbery. I have never ever seen a Thai made suit that was anything less than embarrassing.

I'm told, (I have never seen it), that NARIN is ok, but that you will easily pay aud$1,200+ for proper UK/Italian material, floating canvass and 3 proper bespoke fittings over at least a week or so, and it might still have more padding on shoulders than you would like. Thats no real saving over something here and it would be rushed and possibly not right.

edit:: unless you are a funny shape (not anyone here) you'd do better here with an on sale off the rack suit for $300- $400 here and $120 worth of good alterations. Try Azzaro in Melb or Tolley on sale. Mind you if I was to go to BKK, not that I am, I'd have a squiz at getting, say, an unlined, unstructured, cotton or cord jacket if it was less than $80 aud or so. Or maybe not. For stage clothes that get sweaty and or rough treatment and look good under lights then a cheapo thai suit in a bright colour might be ok.

 

[TheWraith]



I'm heading to Thailand/Cambodia for a couple of weeks, and looking at getting a couple of suits made in Bangkok (probably Narin) or Travellers Apparel. I only want to spend ~1k per suit, thus PJ is out of the question. Previously, I've used a HK guy who has come down to Melbourne, but I have found that I want a more fitting suit.

Any thoughts?

There are plenty of local and/or online options, not just those already listed in reply to your question. Many are in this very thread, scattered throughout it. As others here have said, though, avoid the Thai tailor like the plague.

 

[Journeyman]



I need a cotton jumper or two. Can anyone suggest a better alternative than this?: http://www.mjbale.com/on-sale/young-sweatshirt-grey
Some breton stripes would be nice...

Uniqlo?

+1 on Uniqlo, although it's not easy to get in Oz.

Also have a look at the Land's End website, as their basics such as cotton jumpers and OCBD shirts are well-made and good quality at an excellent price point.

 

[joiji]

Quote:
Sure isn't. I got mine from that free forum proxy. We really need an Aus store already, preferably with online shopping

 

[elisiX]

It's coming. Along with H&M and a bunch of other similar retailers.

 

[joiji]

Also, anyone in Adelaide got any suit ideas? Friend of mine is having a wedding in December is looking for his suits. Young adult budget, which means 400-500/suit. Am I going to get much better than MJ Bale 2/1k at that price? Only other decent option I've found is Adelaide Suits Direct, who will do a half canvas for 495.

 

[jmills]

I don't usually wear black dress shoes with jeans, but these just arrived, and I had to take a quick phone picture:





(Sargent Exclusive Moore, courtesy of A Fine Pair of Shoes)

 

[thebrownman]

Uniqlo opening in Melbourne by August 2014.

Correction: Opening a subsidiary in Melbourne 'later this year' and opening a flagship by August 2014.

 

[fox81]



Uniqlo opening in Melbourne by August 2014.
Correction: Opening a subsidiary in Melbourne 'later this year' and opening a flagship by August 2014.

whats the source on this subsidiary?

the uniqlo store will be going in to the "emporium", so might be postponed due to the industrial relations climate between now and then

 

[thebrownman]

Source for Uniqlo news >> http://www.pedestrian.tv/fashion/news/uniqlo-sets-australian-opening-date-/91219.htm

 

[deingesicht]

I don't usually wear black dress shoes with jeans, but these just arrived, and I had to take a quick phone picture:





(Sargent Exclusive Moore, courtesy of A Fine Pair of Shoes)

Nice looking shoes!

 

[meister]

Sydney Gowing's famous building makeover

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/gowings-gowings-but-not-gone-20120918-264s5.html

 

[lennier]



I think in those examples there are some factors which mask the actual impact of the thresholds in place.
Canada - part of NAFTA so IIRC the threshold doesn't apply to imports made in one of their southern neighbours. Also, the personal exemptions for travellers are more generous - you can bring back $800 per person without duty when you return to CAN. Shopping trips to New York are common and easy - not really an option for Australians.
UK - similarly, part of the EU, so imports from the Continent are not subject to the threshold and associated VAT (as they are paid in the EU country of origin). This is more of an EU-bloc trade barrier, rather than something designed to foster insular trading practices within the UK itself. Finally, there are few local availability issues relating to goods in the UK/EU so the need to import is less than somewhere like Australia.
USA - part of NAFTA, several other PTAs, and threshold is $100 which is not that low. Also, what you can't get locally in the US at reasonable prices isn't worth fretting about.

QFT.

Analysis at this level will of course be beyond the mainstream media, politicians, and especially the likes of Harvey.

 

[Jimbosaurus]



Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

Many good posts on the whole Low Value GST threshold. Lachyz made some spot on points (I might have to boot blahman from my intern position and take on lachy)
I'll bang on about some of my points I've been banging on about for years.
Retail is tough and fickle. Its possibly tougher and more fickle than its ever been , but not by much - its always like that.
The Department store model has been in trouble for years, worldwide, irrespective of "tough"retail conditions or online buying or un-australian consumers.
Mid and upper mid department stores have been in more trouble than others for years. DJs and Myers etc. are mid and upper mid department stores through and through. They do not know any other model. Harvey Norman is a department store model slightly adapted and different enough to be disruptive when it was first introduced. Its now just another low service low knowledge bulk department store on suburban big box estates that doesn't sell clothes and cosmetics.HN success is only partly due to retail model and sales. Their franchise model placed most risk onto franchisees and their real estate ownership model reaped increased value due to factors other than retail volumes - for evidence of this look at HN Irish network and the impact of a dead economy and burst property boom.
You'd be hard pressed to go to a Harvey Norman shed and find an Australian made product. HN has been repeatedly warned about misrepresentation. HN 'free" no interest credit always came with an initial fee GREATER than interest on a personal loan for same period and almost equal to credit card interest rates. HN credit was run by GE. HN earned money from selling GE credit. This is drying up due to economy.
The Productivity Commission’s final report on the Economic Structure and Performance of the Australian Retail Industry 2011 (PC) found that the costs of collecting GST on Low Value imports, less than $1,000, exceeded revenue. (note the PC did not take into account costs transferred by collection agents, couriers, forwarders, Post Office to consumer - which are considerable).
As expected the mercantilists/ protectionists went ballistic with misinformation and special pleading to pressure government to introduce anti competitive measures and punish consumers who purchased online.
The Government set up the Low Value Parcel Imports Task Force, which reported in March 2012. There are those who cynically suggest that this Task Force was set up to soften or change the PC recommendations. Ther e is no evidence that the Task Force had as many resources as the PC, or that their model was as good or better than the PC. They certainly didn’t have abroad view related to productivity.
The Task Force consulted with Gov agencies such as Customs, Parcel forwarders, Customs agents and retail associations. Not consumers or online retailers or competition specialists. All those consulted have an interest in greater barriers and bureaucracy created by the lowering of the GST threshold. (Increased customs jobs, increased agent fees etc)
The task Force themselves estimated that there could be a $60 PER PARCEL cost to consumers if the LVT is lowered.
The imposition of GST on LV goods is not a simple 10% increase.
The imposition of GST on LV imports greatly increases costs to consumers by many factors. Some overseas retailers will refuse to ship to Australia and collect GST. Those that do collect GST for the Australian government will, as a matter of good business practice, need to charge for the administrative cost of collecting tax for the Australian government.
The will be increased inspection / collection costs at the Australian border, these will be charged to the consumers, either by Australian customs, Australia Post or couriers forwarders. These are easily likely to be around $50 PER PARCEL irrespective of value.
There are increased costs to consumers due to delay in processing LV imports. There are myriad illustrations ( case studies) of LV goods being held up at "customs" for WEEKS in those countries with a low threshold. This will be the norm not the exception.
In all the lowering of the threshold would be a anti-competitive punishment levied on consumers for shopping overseas and online.
The sting in the tail for the retailers will be that online retailer like Amazon and LE, will find it cheaper to set up online and in depots in Australia than to collect GST in USA or elsewhere. But then that never stopped Australian business from seeking government protection from competition or the march of technology.
To compete on price, quality and service without taxpayer/government help would be absolutely un-Australian.

Great summary. Thanks, fxh.