Why Are Air Purifiers So Much More Expensive in Australia?

Lozrobert on 14/01/2022 - 19:38
Last edited 14/01/2022 - 20:55 by 1 other user

Any idea why air purifiers are dramatically more expensive in Australia than the USA? Looking at this wire cutter article, none of the USA models are available in Australia (Coway mighty 1512 you pay like $200 shipping).

Winix has a completely different set of models that are like double the price, say the 5500-2 for $325 on eBay (+$120 shipping) and the Winix zero-4 at $489+shipping from Appliances Online.

For people who know about these things, are Australian needs fundamentally different, therefore more expensive? Is it just an Australia tax they're obscuring by using different model numbers?

Also, I'm told you want a model that uses generic HEPA filter cartridges – do you know what they are and where to get them? Everything seems to be for particular (heh) models.

Thanks!

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  serpserpserp on 14/01/2022 - 19:54

  +5

  Australia tax.

  • 

    ozrobert on 14/01/2022 - 20:07

    I was thinking that, but they're completely different models unavailable elsewhere in the world. It becomes difficult to compare them and know what's worth getting

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  singingwolf on 14/01/2022 - 20:19

  +7

  Everything is more expensive here. When our dollar was same as US and before GST (Gerry Service Tax) on imports, it was amazing. Those days are gone

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  Kangal on 14/01/2022 - 20:35

  +1

  We only sell the purest Air Purifiers here!

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  pharkurnell on 14/01/2022 - 21:04

  Is this a trick question?

  • 

    ozrobert on 14/01/2022 - 21:20

    no, what do you mean?

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  AustriaBargain on 14/01/2022 - 23:22

  Just shove wads of HEPA filter in your nose and stop breathing through your mouth.

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  Brodo Faggins on 14/01/2022 - 23:29

  +2

  Australian economics are a rort & taxation is comparably crazy numbers if you dig around other countries. Same with property. And people are keen to buy a 1/1/1 for $750k

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  JimmyF on 15/01/2022 - 00:02

  Any idea why air purifiers are dramatically more expensive in Australia than the USA?

  Many reasons.

  Suppliers all work ing USD, so they have to hedge the USD to AUD conversion.

  The price you see listed in USA is before taxes, while we have tax included.

  Our market is smaller, so less volume.

  Our market needs certain ticks on the product to be sold here, so that costs money.

  ACCC guidelines means more 'fat' has to be baked into the price for those that complain for free repairs outside of the warranty.

  and lastly because they can as we pay it.

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  orangetrain on 15/01/2022 - 11:50

  It's a potential business idea though. Set up US agent. Buy in bulk. Ship to Aus. Undercut the air purifiers here. ???? Profit

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  Ryanek on 15/01/2022 - 18:49

  Lack of competition because it's not really a high demand product here

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    ozrobert on 15/01/2022 - 19:09

    I think this is the most likely answer. We just don't have as much of a culture of them and especially with less intense winters where everything's closed up forever.

    Still sad that they don't even sell the same models though