Kat wrote on May 10^th, 2013 at 5:51pm:



You have NFI Kat.

Company I worked for imported specialised machinery. One piece I remember cost around $2,000 landed, sold for just over $7,000.

Why?

Staff of twelve, five vehicles, factory rent, insurances, advertising, electricity, phone, trade shows etc etc etc.

Actually freind of mine had surgery and on the bill they charged $455.00 for each "clip". I read through his paperwork and it seems a "clip" is a lil thing they stick on to stop bleeding. $455!!!!!!! Each!!!!!! How can they justify that? Luckily he didnt pay it and his insurance did.

SOB

The trickle down effect

The 1% will always piss on the rest of us, we should be used to it by now, and incidentally, no one on this forum is in the top 1% or the top 10% for that matter, so you're imagined outrage is a sham.

KJT1981 wrote on May 10^th, 2013 at 6:30pm:

So, you think a 350% mark-up is acceptable?

Glad I don't do business with you.

I can't wait for Aldi to decide to get into the Insurance game.

Add to that the energy and fuel games, we can dream 

bogarde73, would it interest you to know there are only 2 insurance companies in the World and that every one you deal with is in some way an offshoot of those 2 companies.

baron, I think your friend may have been referring to the big reinsurance companies like Swiss Re. There are only a few of them and they are like the bookies who all the other bookies lay off their bets with.
I was just pointing to insurance as an example because I'd noticed that there were a few new names around recently. Admittedly some of these might be just online branches of the better known ones.
But for example IAG runs a few brands, the best known being NRMA, but includes others like NZI. They are all in competition.
You have rightly highlighted Coles & Woolworths, who are in monopolistic competition which is not competition at all. But more & more people are discovering they can save 30-50% on their groceries by shopping Aldi. Funny enough it doesn't alawys seem to be the people who need to be.

As for dividends v interest, average rates are meaningless. Any investor seeks out higher than average yields consistent with risk unless they are looking exclusively or mainly for gain.
Another point of interest when you are complaining about business ripping off the customer is to ask where does the money go. I already argued that a lot is going to wages to employ Australians. Someone else also pointed out the whole range of business expenses. And finally when it comes to what's left, net profit, it is not uncommon for companies to pay out 50-75% of NPAT in dividends. The rest is held for expansion, for a rainy day, for acquisitions, whatever.

I take issue with you on that mm. Until afew years ago I was a Coles shopper. I was frequently having to throw out food that was bad, especially dairy & fruit & veg. Since switching to Aldi I've had none of that waste.
Some people don't like the home brand set up. What you have to realise that in most cases they are just made by the same manufacturer and given adifferent label.
Next you have to look at the awards Aldi is constantly winning for its products in industry wide tests. Recently it gained top honours in various cheeses and ice cream.
I could go on but I would bore you.

bogarde73 wrote on May 11^th, 2013 at 4:27pm:

You say this, but I dont think you understand what actually happens. The amount of people who ring me up buying top50 stocks for the dividend yield is astonishing, and if you know anything about the market you will know why thats a joke.

Quote:

Again, no, this is wrong. Prove it, or withdraw your blatantly false comments.