Retail spending is at its lowest level for 50 years - shops are closing and thousands of jobs are at stake and some stores are finding they're being used in a very different way.

DAVID BRAUE STORY:

DAVID BRAUE:  I tend to shop around a lot - I'm a bit of a tight-wad when it comes to spending money on things - I like to make sure I'm getting a good bargain.

There's a nice Fossil handbag - $319 here. There you go - $178 in the US. A bit of a price difference, isn't it? $254 price, which I believe is Australian pricing.

Red Laser is an app that runs on a smart phone and basically it uses the camera in the smart phone and you point the camera at the bar code on the back of the product. It will read the bar code. It checks with a number of online merchants. It will get their best prices on that product.

I love James Bond - $249 here. Let's have a look - $217 online. Interestingly, that's from an Australian seller, so it's not even coming from overseas. They've just undercut them by $32. I think I'll get it online.

OK. Have a look... Nice Dutch oven - Le Creuset - Sounds very designer and posh. I'll scan it there - $399 here and $207 online. It's basically half the price online.

Hi Nail,

Try one third the price for most items even with the cost of shipping.

Buy online & save big bucks.  

Why should I support Frank Lowy and his shareholders while they rip the rent for Westfield store holders?

Support the shops all you like cods, retail will still move to predominantly online, there's no stopping progress, if you could call it that. Few people will lose out for the sake of the store holder. Almost everyone looks after themselves first and foremost. I always check Australian online before International and if I get the better deal locally, that's how I go.

We want capitalism, we get capitalism. We want free trade, we get free trade, no good complaining when the tide turns.

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Sep 1^st, 2011 at 4:15pm:



How about you don't support Frank Lowy, but just support ALL the people who work in the retail sector in Australia???

Having no shops will 'hurt' Lowy....but it will hurt the 100,000+ people who work in the shops in Westfield shopping centres a lot more....

Bobby. wrote on Sep 1^st, 2011 at 3:17pm:



  no than ks I would sooner keep this country going if the stores close which they will do following your advice.. there wont be any Westfield or browsing.... we have watched our corner stores closed down.. so that now unless you have a car basically you are stuck..if we see the demise of the bigger sentres.. where does that leave us??.. buying everything from the big 2 or will that end up being the BIG 1 ..

great idea

Yes Nail once again correct as usual, but what is the answer?.  Two wrongs don't make a right.  These shops are paying to much rent, so they try take it out on the consumer with their high prices.  To bad for them though, that the Australian consumer, is now wide awake to them.  If people can get goods cheaper, they will, and who can blame them?.  People are sick and tired of paying high prices.