Nails, does he hold a gun at your head, and refuse to let YOU leave until you sign up to GE Finance????

Sir lastnail wrote on Nov 25^th, 2010 at 2:17pm:



So he 'wants' a GST applied to online purchases....big woop...he knows, as we also know, that it's never going to happen...he used the comment to try and 'guilt' consumers into going to his stores...

It was a marketing tool...Gerry probably never expected it to happen..


I'd like a night of wild sex with Jennifer Aniston, and/or Pamela Anderson......I also know it's NEVER going to happen......it's a dream, as is Gerry Harvey's 'dream' of a GST on overseas, online purchases..It got his name in the media and might convince a few suckers to shop at Harvey Norman stores...which was the whole purpose of the exercise...

Yeah, and IF that's happened...then he will eventually change his tune, once his profits drop, he'll have to either 'lift his game' or go bust...either way the 'short sharp shower of poo' concept will kick in and he'll change..

Sir lastnail wrote on Nov 25^th, 2010 at 11:55am:


No nails....No one is FORCED to sign up to GE money at harvey normal, or any other store...

They simply 'offer' to arrange finance instore......if you pay cash, you don't need to worry about GE, or if you go to a bank or lender of YOUR choice, there's nothing GE or Harvey Norman can do about it...

Sure, they might 'hard sell'....but you can always refuse, don't blame the companies for the stupidity/weak will of the punter...

Right on Gizmo.

How happy do you think the workers of Harvey Norman would feel if he sacked 2,000.

He creates jobs, Australian jobs in his stores.

What is wrong with wanting a level playing field for all retailers that sell to Australians to have to contribute to the tax.

You seem pretty happy to think Gerry is taking a hit Nail, but you are also forgetting about plenty of other things like clothing, footware and just about any other consumer product is also being bought overseas, not supporting Australian retail jobs.

Dont worry about the local sports store who supports the local sporting clubs, as long as you get your shoes and clothes 10% cheaper online because they dont have to pay to GST like the local shop.

Did you stop Nail and wonder if the online shopping had anything to do with pacific brands sending jobs offshore with people buying clothes direct from overseas.

You can be pretty ignorant Nail, just because you dont like Harvey Norman you are more than happy to condem everyone that works for them.

Charity a waste, says Gerry Harvey

Retail king Gerry Harvey may have a personal fortune of about $1.6 billion but the Harvey Norman founder thinks donating to charity is "just wasted".

Asked in a new book about the role he and Harvey Norman play in the community, Mr Harvey said giving money to people who "are not putting anything back into the community" is like "helping a whole heap of no-hopers to survive for no good reason".

He said he believed in helping "develop people to their potential" because "when they achieve [their potential] they will put a lot more back into the community".

"You could go out and give a million dollars to a charity tomorrow to help the homeless. You could argue that it is just wasted. They are not putting anything back into the community.

"It might be a callous way of putting it but what are they doing? You are helping a whole heap of no-hopers to survive for no good reason. They are just a drag on the whole community.

"So did that million you gave them help? It helped to keep them alive but did it help our society? No. Society might have been better off without them but we are supposed to look after the disadvantaged and so we do it. But it doesn't help the society."

Mr Harvey added: "That is not to say we don't give money away to charities because we have given plenty away over the years. At the end of the day, the more quality individuals you develop in the community, the better off the community should be."

Earlier this year, Harvey Norman donated beds to a charity, Bridge Back to Life, that helps homeless men find rental accommodation.

The comments are in a new book, Master CEOs, by the Sydney funds manager Matthew Kidman.

Clare Martin, the chief executive of the Australian Council of Social Service, said: "I have really been impressed at corporate Australia and their real involvement in the wider community … and I always thought that Harvey Norman shared that as well.

"It does surprise me that Gerry Harvey, who's a very significant business figure, should not share the values of many other corporates."

In the interview, Mr Harvey also said that despite his wealth, "I still have a fear about going broke. I always think about it."

You fool, its about buying online from overseas.  I dont give a toss about a guy in a Chinese back shed selling stuff online and sending it here, I care about the people here doing.

If the Mums and Dads in Oz are selling online, if its a business (and they can prove through the tax law not a hobby) then they will be paying tax on it anyway, if its a hobby who cares its a bit of cash for them.  If the turnover is too high then they pay the GST and eveyone is on the same playing field.

You seem so focused on Gerry and not the issue at heart.  If people want to buy from Australians online, good luck to them.  But when we are buying from overseas they have a headstart on everyone else, an unfair one.

You also seem to forget that many of these businesses are francises owned by locals, locals who support local people and fellow local businesses.

Even our local Maccas throws a fortune into our local community groups.