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djuqa

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Joined: 23/11/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 447

Posted: 09:19pm 23 Mar 2013

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Is this Australia's Most Expensive?
From their latest catalogue.
And they still don't take PayPal
Edited by djuqa 2013-03-25

VK4MU MicroController Units

graynomad

Senior Member

Joined: 21/07/2010
Location: Australia
Posts: 122

Posted: 11:30pm 23 Mar 2013

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They must be taking the piss, $49 for a 4x20 LCD.

_______
Rob

Rob Gray, AKA the Graynomad, www.robgray.com

paceman
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Joined: 07/10/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 1329

Posted: 01:51am 24 Mar 2013

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Gotta be getting close David.
Greg

donmck

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Joined: 09/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 1313

Posted: 10:51am 24 Mar 2013

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Gobsmacked.

Don...

https://www.dontronics.com

bigmik

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Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2914

Posted: 05:33pm 24 Mar 2013

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Yeah,

Mr. China can sell me one and post it (with STN display which I prefer) for cheaper than the local AUS postage cost for the above unit..

China

Gerry Harvey is right... we are buying from OS because of the lack of GST... makes me laugh...

Regards,

Mick

Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<

djuqa

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Joined: 23/11/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 447

Posted: 05:40pm 24 Mar 2013

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Or from where I get them
$6.45 posted

VK4MU MicroController Units

James_From_Canb

Senior Member

Joined: 19/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 265

Posted: 05:48pm 24 Mar 2013

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djuqa said Or from where I get them
$6.45 posted

That's a bit unfair gentlemen.

Altronics are selling a jumbo display. I agree it's expensive, but it's unfair to compare Altronic's price to those of standard size 4x20 displays.

James

My mind is aglow with whirling, transient nodes of thought careening through a cosmic vapor of invention.

Hedley Lamarr, Blazing Saddles (1974)

djuqa

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Joined: 23/11/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 447

Posted: 05:52pm 24 Mar 2013

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JUMBO!
They are the SAME size module
Module size: 98 x 60 x 12.7mm (4in x 2.5 x .5in)
Viewing area: 77 x 26mm
(3in x 1in for the metrically challenged) Actual display size

For $50 bucks I would expect something a little more "Jumbo" size wise than just a "Jumbo" sized price.
Edited by djuqa 2013-03-26

VK4MU MicroController Units

James_From_Canb

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Joined: 19/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 265

Posted: 01:33am 25 Mar 2013

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OK. You're right. Sort of. I only read down the ebay listing until I got to the spec sheet. It said the size was 87 x 60 x 14.5. It also said it was 16 characters x 4 lines. That's a bit of a give-away that the sheet might not match the description, which I would have seen if I'd bothered to read it.

The viewing area of 61.8 x 25.2 (according to the spec) seemed smaller than the Altronics 77 x 26mm. Maybe not enough to justify Jumbo, but enough to say we weren't comparing apples with apples.

Still that's a heck of a markup. AliExpress sells what seems to be the same item for $10.79 - link

James

My mind is aglow with whirling, transient nodes of thought careening through a cosmic vapor of invention.

Hedley Lamarr, Blazing Saddles (1974)

djuqa

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Joined: 23/11/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 447

Posted: 01:51am 25 Mar 2013

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The actual 20x4 module spec sheet for unit i linked is EXACTLY same spec sheet altronics have on their website
Unit is virtually Identical/
Plus altronics 16x2 is over $20 (some variants over $30)

Above photo is actual unit in Blue
Edited by djuqa 2013-03-26

VK4MU MicroController Units

arvindk
Newbie

Joined: 31/10/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 10

Posted: 03:51pm 25 Mar 2013

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I recently bought from ebay. here is the link:-
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/300821309840?ssPageName=STRK:MEWN X:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

How can any Aussie business compete with this?

djuqa

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Joined: 23/11/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 447

Posted: 04:40pm 25 Mar 2013

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Who wants to compete with those prices (My linked module is cheaper, $12.90 for 2, and the blue one pictured only cost 5$aud on promo)
Instead do like a lot of supposed Aussie Online busnes (TopBuy, fishpond, crazysales) and embrace dropshipping.

VK4MU MicroController Units

donmck

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Joined: 09/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 1313

Posted: 07:38pm 25 Mar 2013

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djuqa said
Instead do like a lot of supposed Aussie Online busnes (TopBuy, fishpond, crazysales) and embrace dropshipping.

If I had another 30 years and all fired up with enthusiasm, I would do just that David.

However it would also mean re-writing my shopping cart to suit, and finding a whole new set of wholesalers. Something that I am not in a position to do at this stage of my life.

I also grab gear I want from China for myself, usually an Ebay or Dealextreme transaction, and I wonder where the hell it is all going to end up.

What I don't like is when I buy from a so called Australian company, and am not told that I am in fact the importer, and the reason I can purchase at around 10% off my local retailer, is that they will be saving the 10% gst. I would rather get it from a true Australian company, and pay the 10%, and not have the delay and possible hassle of being the importer. You really need to ask if the goods are in fact sitting in stock in Australia before you commit.

=================================

On another note, I purchased this on special from Kogan the other day:
http://www.kogan.com/au/buy/universal-car-kit-for-mobile-pho nes-charger-cradle/

The special price was $9 including free shipping. This was sent by Australia Post and arrived within 2 days. It costs me a minimum $7 to send anything OZ post within Australia. How in the hell can they do the whole deal for $9, and still make a profit?

The cigarette lighter power supply is a 2 x USB output with a total 2.1 Amps, so this was worth the $9 by itself.

The local manufacturing and retail industry is in trouble I feel, and I really don't know where all of this is heading. Just glad I am now on the tail end of things and won't need to worry for too much longer, as I really need to retire very soon.

Jools, can I get a pension please?

:-)

Don...

https://www.dontronics.com

JohnS
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Joined: 18/11/2011
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 3802

Posted: 10:34pm 25 Mar 2013

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I have heard that some postal authorities have long-standing agreements with others to deliver foreign items (stamped in the foreign area) free (or some small uplift on the domestic charge). The idea would be that the user just pays in their country. This looks not to work when some countries such as China have very low charges.

The ending/reduction of trade barriers (import charges) has exposed this and is causing in effect unfair trade, whereas the intent was to promote fair trade.

I wish I knew whether the postal thing is true and its details!

John

djuqa

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Joined: 23/11/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 447

Posted: 11:05pm 25 Mar 2013

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I got really annoyed with some "Aussie" sites when they had publicity about the "Advantages" of shopping local, yet when I ordered at a premium some small items.
Lo and behold they turn up in familiar Chinese packaging dropshipped from Surelectronics HK.
Do now I check eBAY first (always cheaper than DX.com), than DX.com (their RANGE is Fantastic). I NEVER EVER Deal with AliExpress, too many scammers. My ex-wife got ripped several times buying stuff through them.

One thing I love is looking at the products some eBay shops list. they may have arduino boards and gate latches, or LCD modules as well as Ladies underwear.

Apparently specialization has escaped them.

VK4MU MicroController Units

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