any wonder our retailers are struggling

I just bought a Breville juicer. The RRP price was $229. I got it at $60 off, so thought this was a pretty good deal. That was, until I saw that it's RRP was $149 in the US. Now using our exchange rate of 1.07, the RRP in US dollar terms is $249. Breville products are designed and engineered in Australia, assembled in China. I don't understand how the exact same product can have a RRP $100 less. We are paying 67% more for the same product.

I thought I would be happy to pay more if I knew the products were manufactured here, but last year I bought a pool cleaner. The price in Australia $399 ($US427.00). The product states it was made in Australia, by an Australian company. However, in the USA, it retails for $129. So, how does a product that is manufactured here, then shipped to the US, cost $300 less. That's a 230% difference.

I feel that we are being totally ripped off. Any experts out there who are able to explain to me why there is such a disparity?