Import/Export
Ever since my return to South Africa, one of the biggest shocks has been the price of imported goods. Things like CDs, books and sneakers had always been expensive, but they had kept par with international prices, so there was some level of justification. So when you bought a CD in 2000 and it cost R100, you knew that in the US it was costing $12, and the exchange rate was about 8:1, and it was all fine.
Now, however, the situation has gotten completely out of hand.
The prices, which increased dramatically when the Rand dropped to about 13:1 against the dollar in 2001, have stayed at the same level since then. So that a new CD still costs about R150, even though the exchange rate has been steady at about 6:1 for over a year. Sneakers average about R800.
Can you imagine paying $25 for a CD? or $135 for trainers??
A brief stroll around one of the city's more upmarket shopping malls a few weeks ago was enough to disgust me with the South African retail industry. I made a decision to do my utmost to shop only in countries where the prices are reasonable.
I realise that this will be an entirely impractical endeavour, but dammit, there's a principle involved here.
So it's finally begun. Rory is going over to the UK at the end of the month, so I've just bought a bunch of CDs from Amazon.co.uk, to be delivered to my brother in St Albans. Rory will then collect them and bring them back in his luggage.
You don't get quite the same thrill of acquisition when you buy stuff this way, but I view it as a delayed pleasure.
Now, however, the situation has gotten completely out of hand.
The prices, which increased dramatically when the Rand dropped to about 13:1 against the dollar in 2001, have stayed at the same level since then. So that a new CD still costs about R150, even though the exchange rate has been steady at about 6:1 for over a year. Sneakers average about R800.
Can you imagine paying $25 for a CD? or $135 for trainers??
A brief stroll around one of the city's more upmarket shopping malls a few weeks ago was enough to disgust me with the South African retail industry. I made a decision to do my utmost to shop only in countries where the prices are reasonable.
I realise that this will be an entirely impractical endeavour, but dammit, there's a principle involved here.
So it's finally begun. Rory is going over to the UK at the end of the month, so I've just bought a bunch of CDs from Amazon.co.uk, to be delivered to my brother in St Albans. Rory will then collect them and bring them back in his luggage.
You don't get quite the same thrill of acquisition when you buy stuff this way, but I view it as a delayed pleasure.
posted by Sentinel at
6:19 PM
1 Comments:
Sadly,
here in the land of the long brain sleep, I can imagine paying $25 per CD (or higher), and similar amounts for sneakers,etc.
The $A may be far stronger than the Rand, but a small market, domination by Coles and Woolworths, and a lack of any manufacturing industry policy enforce similar results here....
Good blog,anyhow, Mike - I can actually hear your voice, as if you're talking to me while I read :)
Scott
By
Anonymous, at 7:26 AM
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