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The Hefty Price Of Being An Aussie Nail Enthusiast

23 August 2010 767 views 70 Comments

I have been debating about whether or not to post this all morning, and after reading a few ridiculous articles about IP/Copyright laws in media (unrelated, but another sore point with me), I am suitably riled up to get on my soapbox and have a bitch.

First of all, I’m not here to be popular. I’m not here to suck up to brands and get free samples. I don’t really care if I am on their PR list. I prefer to let my freak flag fly. I’ll buy what I want and be honest with my reviews. I’ll also be honest when I feel slighted or mistreated. And in this instance, I do.

A friend of mine (who I will not name) recently told me that while at a PR event, an Aussie rep from a well known polish company was rude to her, because she happened to mention that not only had she already seen the “new” collection that this rep was touting, but had no qualms about importing polish from the US.

“Oh.” The rep remarked with disdain. “You’re one of those people.”

How ridiculous is that?

Of course she is “one of those people”, and so am I. We both have at least half a brain in our heads and access to the internet. Do you expect us to just bow down to your exorbitant prices and outdated collections when we have the ability to search for a better deal?

Look, maybe I can forgive the fact that the few seasonal collections that we do get are late. We are on the opposite side of the world, and “trends” differ from season to season, but my main issue is the price.

China Glaze Australian RRP $18.95 AUD
China Glaze US RRP $5.99 USD (AU $6.65)
Transdesign Price $2.99 USD (AU $3.32)

Orly Australian RRP $16.95
Orly US RRP $6.95 (AU $7.72)
Transdesign Price $3.75 USD (AU $4.16)

OPI Australian RRP $19.95
OPI US RRP $8.50 (AU $9.44)
Transdesign Price $5.24 USD (AU $5.82)

Given that the Australian dollar at present is buying $0.90 USD, why on earth is there such an enormous price discrepancy? I am able to import the polishes in small quantity (the bulk import that the polish companies would be working with would result in a much lower freight factor than what I am paying), and even AFTER shipping costs importing is STILL cheaper for me than paying Australian retail.

China Glaze even went as far as imposing shipping restrictions on etailers like Head 2 Toe Beauty and Transdesign, which prevented them from shipping China Glaze products outside the US in an attempt to get the rest of the world to buy their expensive local product. You know what though? It didn’t work. I just started buying on eBay. Nfu-Oh has restricted Fabuloustreet.com from selling to Australian customers, because there is an Aussie reseller – Vivid Nails. It doesn’t seem to matter that most of the colours at Vivid Nails are perpetually out of stock, and retail for double the price of Fabuloustreet. In fact, the range hasnt been updated in years and all their stock is now on clearance. And yet I still can’t order from Fabuloustreet?

EDIT: GildedNails has informed me that Transdesign are still shipping worldwide – not sure if any product restrictions are still in place. Also, if you email Vivid Nails, they will order in stock for you and are selling at $14.95, which isn’t too different from Fabuloustreet’s $12.95 per bottle of Nfu-Oh. They really should update their site!

But it’s not just salon brands that we suffer with. What the Americans refer to as “drugstore” brands are enormously inflated too.

Revlon Australian RRP $13.95
Revlon US RRP $4.79 (AU $5.32)

Maybelline Australian RRP $9.95
Maybelline US RRP $4.49 (AU $4.98)

Sally Hansen HD Australian RRP $16.95
Sally Hansen HD US RRP $5.95 ($6.60)

Not to mention the fact that we get very few of the seasonal collections, and when we do it can be up to a year later. Is it any wonder that we are all turning to online shopping? What is going on? Are the companies REALLY making that big of a profit? Is there some sort of massive import tax on cosmetics that we are not aware of?

My biggest beef at the moment would have to be Illamasqua Nail Polish. I was SO excited to hear that Illamasqua was launching in Australia. I have a few of them, and they are amazing quality. Illamasqua are manufactured in Australia, so I really thought that that factor would impact the price in a positive manner. WRONG.

Illamasqua UK RRP £13.00 (AU $21.60)
Illamasqua US RRP $14.00 (AU $15.55)
Illamasqua AU RRP $34.00

*sigh*

I’m all for buying local and supporting the Aussie arms of these international companies, but I have to draw the line somewhere. I feel like I am being ripped off. Until these prices change to accurately affect the strength of our aussie dollar I’m going to continue to buy my polishes overseas.

And no rep with a negative attitude is ever going to make me feel guilty about that.

splattergirl

I am closer to the US, just accross the border in Toronto, but I have similar issues as you do. I buy stuff online because I pay almost double when buying in store + 13% tax. Well written post, the prices in Australia seem really outrageous!!!
Kaz

That’s just ridiculous! You’re so close to the US! It’s not like it has far to travel at all! As educated consumers we should be able to buy online. At the end of the day, the parent company still sells X amount of units, right?
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Anonymous

I fall a little more in love with you every day. Bravo on this amazing post – let’s hope the companies listen!
Kaz

Thanks J!

I’m sure they won’t but we can dream, right?
http://thegirlwithabow.com thegirlwithabow

I absolutely agree and love this blog post.

Australian nail polish fanatics don’t ever get a break. Buying online from overseas is practically our only choice unless we want to be broke FOREVER.

Thanks for the awesome post!

thegirlwithabow xx
Kaz

You’re welcome. Something has to be said. I doubt it will make a difference, but at least I can take comfort in the fact that I am not suffering in silence anymore.

That and I probably have PMS and enjoy a good bitch as well haha.
Aniploish aka IceRozie

WHAT. THE. EFF???
And I thought we had it bad over here in Europe.
zero cheers for illastuffyerhedinyerarse – you realize that the stuff is actually MADE in Australia?? Because that’s what it says on my bts (old and new style). Thinking about it – maybe the reason there are ‘new’ bottles is because they moved production to Ozzie and they don’t have the sharp-edged bts there! I will try to find the boxes of my first order of their site (all old bts) and check. This really pisses me off big.
And the rest of the prices – I’d almost do a big fat YAY for the Bay of Evil and it’s etailing bastard cronies.
*is moody because it’s raining cats n dogs here*
http://twitter.com/manikpixi Selina McEntee

I hear ya sista! The situation’s even worse in NZ – some brands we pay even more for, and some brands can’t even be found here. So of course I’m going to order from overseas – it’s a no-brainer.

And HOW MUCH did you say Illamasqua is going to retail for in Oz? *faints*
Kaz

Yep! I knew that Illamasqua was made here, that’s why the price makes absolutely no sense to me!

eBay is the only way I can get a decent deal on most stuff.

Aniploish IceRozie

you may want to check yr MUA mail…:D

Kaz

$34!! It’s already out. Selling in Myer. I won’t be buying any that’s for sure.
http://www.lovevulcanella.com Anita – Love Vulcanella

Fantastic Post and so so true!

I haven’t paid Australian RRP for nail polish in ages, I scour etailers and ebay a lot now, the other week I bought 3 essie polishes (from a recent collection) including shipping it cost me a total of $24… one Essie polish retails for $18.95 here

I guess I do this with most makeup though, if I can find it online cheaper there is no way i’ll buy it in the store.
Kaz

Exactly! Most of us do this. If the polish companies would drop their prices maybe it wouldn’t be such a big deal to buy retail over here. I know I wouldn’t mind paying a couple of bucks more for something if it meant I didn’t have to wait for it and/or run the risk of it breaking in transit.
Anonymous

Jeez, I had talked to both Jacie and Selina about the prices of polish but I didn’t realize it even extended to the “drugstore” brands – that is a RIDICULOUS markup. I’d go broke!
Kaz

I really shudder to think at how much I have spent on shipping alone for polish in the last five years. But it’s still less than what I would have paid buying my stash at retail.
Anonymous

(still here, browsing posts I hadn’t read yet!) I’d be buying overseas ALL THE DAMNED TIME. Or hitting up folks to buy for me. No way would I ever pay that price.
Kaz

I’m very lucky that I have so many willing mules!
http://amusedpolish.blogspot.com amusedPolish

wow, i thought we here in europe had a bad price policy (yeah, I’m talking about you, OPI!)

we have something similar too with opi (not to mention that we don’t even have all the great us brands)- for 20€ a bottle I could buy a little army of polishes in the us.

I mean other companies do have “about the same prices”- i.e. mac but you’ll have to be quick and fight for your bottle.
http://twitter.com/felizarine Feline Alizarine

The pricing is similar in Sweden. And it even differs a lot from other European countries, which bothers me A LOT. How can it be more expensive to import to Sweden than to the Netherlands?! We’re both part of the same trade union! And I know for a fact that for example OPI polishes arrive Europe in the NL, to then being shipped off to the other countries. There are no customs in between!!! Argh.

So, yes, I understand your pain…
Nixxys

A-Freeakin-Men, sistah! I remember doing a post back when I first started my blog along the lines of “An Aussie Girl’s Guide to Buying Polish” and the head of Zoya Oz at the time actually commented on the post after I ranted about the cost of Zoyas and various other things. He trotted out the old “we have to pay for shipping and staff” routine. Bah! I say. When are companies going to realise that the world has changed and there are no countries anymore when it comes to retail? Bloggers and customers wait for no man/woman/company. Just give us the damn polish and nobody gets hurt, bitches!
Anonymous

I can go one better. I’m a Catholic – nominally anyway – so I’ll send a word up to the Big Guy and let’s see what he can do.
http://www.gildednails.blogspot.com GildedNails

I totally agree. It is ridiculous that we have to pay such inflated prices here… I found ORLY minis the other day in a chemist and they were $8.95!!! I actually laughed out loud!

Oh and not sure if everyone is aware, but it seems Transdesign is shipping internationally again… I placed an order the other day…
And in defence of Vivid Nails, I placed an order with them a couple weeks back and the girls are really nice there. They have ordered in all the polishes I wanted (including #51 and all those other highly lusted after colours) and they were only $14.95AUD each which works out about the same as what it would cost to get a CP from America (They are $12.50USD each on Fabulous Street)…
Rachna

Those prices are crazy! By the way amazing post, i hope the companies listen!
http://twitter.com/LavenderPekoe Lavender Pekoe

Holy crap! $34 for Illa? Wow.
http://twitter.com/ScandalousAnge Ange-Marie

That is fucking ridiculous that Illamasqua is freakin produced in effing australia and yet its DOUBLE what it cost in other countries. That’s just stupid
http://fleurs-stuff.blogspot.com/ *Fleur*

I hear you and sympathize… In Slovenia, the prices are around 13 EUR or 18,5 AUD, China Glaze retails for the same, we don’t even have SH and so on and so on. I only have to order 2 bottles of polish to cover the postage from USA with the price difference. Seriously, why would I buy in a drugstore?

And I hope you get the answer as to why the prices differ so much. Just because they can? WTF?
Kaz

I know, it makes absolutely no sense to me.
Kaz

It’s terrible that the same thing seems to be happening all over the world. Surely they could afford to cut the profits by a little in order to make them more affordable?
Kaz

I doubt they will, but if you don’t speak up, no one can listen, right?
Kaz

Yep. They must be making it here, sending it back to the UK, and then back here again to even get close to justifying that price.
Kaz

Dude, if he can help I say have at it!
Kaz

That’s great news about Transdesign and Vivid Nails. I will update the post.

Thanks so much for that.
Kaz

Will do!
Kaz

I’m so sorry to hear that things are the same in Sweden. Ugh, I just wish that we could all get treated fairly. I don’t mind paying a few dollars extra, but not three times as much.
Kaz

Surely the costs of overheads can not equal a 300% markup? And the price I have quoted is US RETAIL not cost. Cost would be significantly lower, yet our retail price is a 300% markup on US retail? (Using ChG as an example here). It’s ridiculous!
Kaz

That’s just it! I have no interest in paying retail for OPI or China Glaze when that will get me four polishes shipped from TD. What’s the point?
Lucy

I complain about the prices here. I shouldn’t complain at all. So sorry that you have a big reason to bitch. Why don’t these companies wise up. The thing is they know that we’ll always buy their product.
Kaz

I will indeed keep buying, just not locally!
Alison

I usually scoop up my polishes from amazon.com (I live in the States) and have done a swap when eBay prices went too high (and I don’t even have an account). Luckily I can buy Illamasqua polishes from Sephora. The Illamasqua thing seems like something you could contact the company about; I mean, the cost is totally prohibitive. Not even Chanel costs $34 right out of the gate.

I’m very, very sad that BYS won’t ship overseas…but I know it has to be tough trying to get your hands of stuff you see here because shipping prices are outrageous. That Rimmel Forest color you featured in May was on an Australian website but shipping was over forty dollars for a bottle only worth three or four bucks. (Luckily I got this as part of my swap)

Don’t ever let anyone make you feel bad for feeling the pain. All makeup lovers have craved some rare overseas/limited edition/Asia exclusive and have probably plunked down way more cash than they should have. We love you for going the distance and finding rare gems
http://www.fashionaddict.com.au Director Dave

Great post Kaz, I think you should start a weekly soap box! Well written.
The price difference will ultimately drive the market majority toward the internet. FA listens and prices accordingly.
Kaz

Thanks for that.

I gotta admit I have been tempted to contact Illamasqua, but I just know I will get the same story about how they need to cover import costs and hire staff etc etc… I was honestly expecting the price to be about $22.95. But $34! That’s more than twice the retail price in the US.

I am glad that you were able to get that Rimmel, and yes it is a shame that BYS won’t ship overseas, however, I know that I love being able to help other girls around the world with swaps for stuff that I can’t get here.

Thanks so much – I love that you guys are interested in my rare polishes!
Kaz

Thanks Dave! Thanks for the retweet too!

I don’t whinge often, but when I do I go all out!

Fashion Addict is great, service and price wise. You do a great job!
Alison

How closely do you follow the latest Stateside polish releases, just out of curiosity?

I’ve only done one swap, but do you do them often? I’m dying to get my hands on some BYS polishes.

Yes, your posts make me nostalgic. I recognize old brands I used to buy (Street Wear! OMG!) and now I’ll have to troll eBay for that Nat Robbins color. Thanks for bringing that to my attention, even though my wallet is weeping from my makeup buying ways.
MissMidnightBlue

That is some crazy sh!t. I mean what the hell? Is there like gold or some thing in those polishes over there? For them to make it that high of a price? For nail polish. That’s just Bat sh!t crazy.
Kaz

I know what you mean! I wish I knew their reasons. Might save me some money!
Kaz

Pretty closely, via other blogs, MUA and twitter.

I do swap relatively often – I am candihart on MUA. Hit me up if you want to organise a swap.

No worries! I know what you mean though! I spend WAY too much on polish & makeup!
Anonymous

Absolutely agree! Very well written too! These companies are insane if they expect people to pay extra just because we live in Aus. $20+ is not a reasonable price to pay for 1 lousy bottle of OPI.
Kaz

Thanks Violet! They are doing themselves out of business by not making it more affordable.
http://www.gildednails.blogspot.com GildedNails

No prob
http://ashardasnails.blogspot.com/ MQ

This is the thing I never understood :/ In Europe we have outrageous prices as well compared to US. Even if the polish is producted here. :(

Good post. The companies should do something about the situation. It’s not like we are richer or anything.
Sanita

Those prices are just insane. Here in Latvia OPIs, Orlys and ChGs cost about $7 each, so not that bad at all. Thought we do not have Essie or US drugstore brands. The only thing I could think why are the Illamasqua (for example) prices so different is that maybe they are priced accordingly to market, meaning that in US they have much bigger market so they can lower the price. But my economical knowledge ends at high school level, so I might be wrong. btw, I love your blog and you have created me countless HTF lemmings, thank you very much.
Kaz

No, but they are getting richer! And I don’t think that’s fair.
Kaz

I think that’s the problem though. They are charging us such huge amounts because they can, not because it’s what they need to in order to turn a profit. They are pricing to market, and that market is horrendously over inflated.

Aww thanks! Sorry about the lemmings!
Millie

I know I’m about a week late, but I agree wholeheartedly. I’ve never bought an OPI, Orly etc polish at Oz retail and never will. The price differences make me absolutely furious and I hope that more consumers will do their research and also boycott australian arms of US companies (but then plenty of Aussie companies also overcharge, ie Bloom) so that they are forced to wake up and smell the coffee. Like you mentioned, it has absolutely nothing to do with import taxes or shipping – it is purely because the prices are set at what the market will bear. They rely on consumers being ignorant to this and the fact that polish is available online much cheaper. I think this is the case for virtually all products available over here especially beauty products, clothes and shoes.
Kaz

Well said! I am so glad you agree with me. This “pricing to market” is ridiculous and it makes other more affordable brands like BYS and Mode (which are great quality by the way) look like “cheap” brands simply because they are doing us a better deal. I don’t think that’s fair.
Ness

I must say, I’m slightly =0 – I just bought 3 essie polishes from a recent collection online for $24 too! HAHA. *high five*

And yes, I agree with the blog post. It’s disgusting how overpriced everything is here, not just in terms of nail polish but make up, too!
Anlina

Shipping to Canada is also insane (when companies will ship at all.) I feel fortunate that I have the option of driving across the border to shop or pick up packages. Sadly, crossing the border is often the cheaper option.
Kaz

It’s sad to hear that. You’re so close – it should be much cheaper.
Kaz

Oh yes, I agree. Makeup is terribly overpriced. I buy most of that online too!
EveryShadeOfPINK

*gives you a standing ovation* Hell-to-the-YEAH girl :(

Generally I am a firm believer in ye olde saying that ‘if something is to good to be true than it probably isn’t true’… years (and years and years) ago i stumbled onto 88 accidentally, and i was so gobsmaked at the cheap price of OPI compared to here that i closed the window convinced it was a dodgy brothers operation. Finding out through MUA how great 88 actually are a few years back left me ….. yeah …… *speechless* ……
Kaz

Rosey! *tacklehugs*

Thank you my dear
http://polishdrop.blogspot.com/ Blu11

Great article! :bigthumbsup: I had no idea things are so bad in Australia too… 18,95 AUD for China Glaze is unbelievable! I live in Croatia and prices here are similar: OPI 18,45 USD (DS costs 36 USD in some stores), Orly 15 USD, China Glaze 6,6 USD – 8,5 USD… I have no idea where this money is going…

Kaz

Big profits! That’s where it’s going.

Sorry to hear that prices suck in Croatia too!

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http://thegirlwithabow.com thegirlwithabow

Just rereading this post again!

When I went to Illamasqua in Myer, I asked about the prices of polish and why they were so inflated when they were made here. The girl at the counter didn’t know, and tried to tell me that they were made in the UK.

After I pointed at the ‘Manufactured in Australia’ sticker, she kept insisting it was made in the UK so I left.

Disgraceful, I’m really thinking about writing a letter of complaint, not that it’ll do much good.

Kaz

That makes me so mad! It’s written right there! UGH!
Kaz

That makes me so mad! It’s written right there! UGH!
Kaz

That makes me so mad! It’s written right there! UGH!

SoozieQ78

Hi, Nine month on and your post is still spot on. Even though the Australian dollar is now stronger than the American dollar no prices are being reduced! It makes me really mad too. I have searched all across Melbourne for China Glaze, I even called all of the distributors, and none of them would even tell me where i could buy it retail. I had no choice but to purchase it online from overseas. I get so jealous when i read blogs about how the girls in England or America can just pop down the to the drug store and find and awesome new hot brand for a reasonable price. Here anything new will set you back at least $17.