The Bunnings Fracture: Why Kiwis pay twice the Australian price for the same item

New Zealanders pay more than double the price of Australians for the same garage door device manufactured by the same company and sold by the same retailer, Bunnings.

A reader complained about the emergency access door lock, which costs less than 20 Australian dollars but more than 50 US dollars here. Kiwis.

In this case, it did not work.

The reader wrote to Herald wonder why an identical item would cost so much more in this market.

Jacqui Coombes, group of Bunnings group and director of human resources in New Zealand, acknowledged the price difference but explained that this was due to the small size of our market.

"In New Zealand, we buy directly from Chamberlain Group, which is an agent of Chamberlain Australia – two separate entities we deal with.

"In this case, given the relative size of the two markets, the overhead costs of their New Zealand operations are higher than those of Australia, which are factored into the price," Coombes said.

"Bunnings has the lowest price on the market for this product and is constantly working with all our suppliers on costs, as well as quality and availability of products for New Zealand consumers," she said.

Rodger Bowring of Chamberlain NZ did not wish to make any statement regarding the price difference.

Another Herald The reader talked about the price difference on a DeLonghi Tasciugo AriaDry Slim Dehumidifier: $ 799 here, but only $ 349 A across the Tasman.

"I was going to Australia for a business trip, which cost me $ 40 extra for the extra baggage, and even if I had to pay for the plane ticket, it would have cost me more. cheaper to go to Australia and come back with the device rather than buy here, "says the reader.