Why are books so expensive in Australia?

[robinpud]

I want to take back a selection of children's picture books to use at school- iconic Australian titles like Possum Magic and Diary of a Wombat. Prices vary wildly- Possum Magic was $11.99 in toysrus and $14.99 in Angus and Robertson and $12.24 on fishpond online.
Where can I buy books without being rippped off at a reasonable price?

What other titles would you include?

We have noticed this too.... Crazy expensive!!
I used to think nothing of buying myself and DD books in the UK but here I have joined the library!!
I'm sure the pricing is down to the same old issue of being on the wrong side of the world and shipping/transportation costing so much. And having such a small population!
I have found books cheapest at places like Target, K-mart and Big W when they have their sales on.

Same here in NZ, if I'm right books are tax free in the UK but are taxed here. Makes a huge difference. Same, I rarely buy books here but thought nothing about buying them at home.

yes they are bloody expensive - makes me so cross (but does mean I have become a devotee of the excellent libraries here in NZ)

that's right Sibble - in the UK there is no VAT on books (and sheet music) but there is GST on them here. Also I think they're mostly imported so a lot more expensive - as superloopy says

Big W often has books cheaper than anywhere else. QBD is another place that seems to have them at a reasonable price.

Anything Mem Fox would be fab

Wombat Stew - fab includes a song

One Woolly wombat - counting book using all aussie animals

A Possum in the House

Crocodile Beat

Not iconic aussie but fab anyway

I went walking - Sue Machin

Time for Bed - absolutely beautiful

WHere is the green sheep? Mem Fox

You're all my favourites

How old are the children?

For older ones - Mulga Bill's Bicycle

Waltzing Matilda

They are the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

You could try a website called

The Book Garden - they do books for kindy displays etc

Think they have one called Bush Babies - looked good.

book garden

i think there is a website from Perth that you can order books and have them delivered overseas and as they are going overseas - you do not pay GST on them. Can't remember what it was called. I know some contacts of mine used it so will also ask them if I can't find it.

this is not it but might be worth a try

Forgot about Koala Lou by Mem Fox

Thanks Eidsvold. I started this in Big w and bought what I thought was Possum Magic only to find it was Blossom Possum. Big W are cheap but you have to buy what they have. The kids scholastic leaflet has a deal on Wombat Stew/Possum Magic / Blossom Possom and Boom Cha cha boogie for $49 instead of $114, all hardback so I might go for that. I wanted to get paperbacks really so that I could take them home with me rather than have to ship them. I want to use them in school straight away!
If you remember that other site I would be very interested, but have added all the others to my list to go and look at!
What about Walter the Farting Dog- do kids like the STORY or just the word FARTING?!

not come across that - think farting might be the winner there

oooh ds who is 7 loves that one, think it's a boy farting thing - sniggering etc....like fungus the bogeyman cos it has the word bogey in it.

Import duty (or small print runs because they are only suitable for the Australian market)

GST on everything adds an extra 10% (or 12.5% in NZ)

Sheet music can be obscene here. Like $55 for a book that costs 6 quid in a UK music shop.

I only buy books when Whitcoulls do 50% off a children's book deal, or from the Warehouse (for Thomas and non fiction).

Libraries are excellent in NZ though and more eco friendly - though I realise you can't take your library back with you!

My DH was very clever once and bought a heap of 2nd hand Thomas the Tank Engine books off ebay, which have got heaps of use and the kids couldn't care less that they are pre-loved. Also library is a great idea - that way I don't get so bored reading the same story forever. Whenever anyone asks what they should buy your kids for a present I always say 'books'.

am so glad this is in my 'current threads' has jsut reminded me ds1 needs to pack his library books to take on Friday (am going away with work). I ticked the only allowed 2 books box on the form but the 'very kind' mobile librarian allows them the 25 max - my house is a mobile library with 2 boys

Are there any on-line places to order books in NZ? If they are expensive as you are all saying it might be a good idea for my nephew's birthday/Christmas presents as my DB & SIL don't have a lot of money.....

I've never bought on-line but there is...

whitcoulls.co.nz (It's WH Smiths)

we also have ebay equivalents:

www.ferrit.co.nz (never used but heanily advertised, apparantly they have a deal with whitcoulls and the books are cheaper!)

www.trademe.co.nz

also

www.fishpond.co.nz

www.newzealandbooks.co.nz

Can't vouch for the last 2 but have heard OK

Others may have first hand experience. I would love it if somebody sent my boys books as a gift and likewise, if asked it's usually what I suggest (especially for ds1 as they get handed down ). My Nan bless her sends the boys magazines fortnightly and annuals every Christmas, last week the magaxines cost her 4 pounds and the postage 3 pounds 80 but she's happy and so are the boys.

Too right...I went into St Vinnie's to get a new book for the flight home. I picked up a second hand Lynda La Plante...$27.50!!!

Is it just me or is the food really expensive here too? Never thought I'd say it but I miss Asda!

Thanks for that Sibble! I often order from the internet for his presents (unless I'm sending something particularly "English") as the delivery cost is usually less than the postage from here.

I remember in the UK the big supermarkets (tesco/asda etc) won a huge court case to be able to sell books bellow the fixed RRP prices printed on the books. This has not happened yet here in NZ from the looks of it - so all books sell at the RRP set by the publishers.

I tend to ask for books as xmas presents and get family to bring a load over in their suitcases!!!

I use the second hand bookstore near me for all my stuff now, and anything that I do buy new I take down there when I'm finished and change it for something else.

I was horrified at the prices when I got here (after absentmindedly throwing a handful of books in my basket UK-stylie and getting a nasty shock at the cash register).

My favourite book for DD (4) is Diary of a Wombat. The Premier's Reading Challenge book list (it's online if you google it) has a lot of good Aussie Children's books too.

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wow- what a lot of good places to look. I know the supermarkets in the Uk can undersell, but even Waterstones do 3 for 2 which no Australian booksellers emulate sadly.
I have collected all the books my uk visitors have brought with them and am off to the second hand book shop before I go to Fiji.
I will look at the Post Office Bloss, but the one I was in today didn't have many so will go to a big one and hope to be lucky as those prices sound good.

Bloss- no worries about the invite. It would have been nice to see you. I had decided you were ignoring mewondered if you had gone to distant shores already. Hope all is well with you and if you are heading overseas, we'd love to repay your kindness and hospitality. Do you still have my email?

That is a fab tip off about the Post Office, thanks Bloss.

How are you btw? I haven't seen you around in ages.

Robinp - Borders does 3 for 2 on children's and adults books.

Sorry, hijack -

Kokeshi! Are you still there?? I heard you were off to Aus and was looking for you on MN. Will you be back Down Under sometime?

Am hoping for a Mumsnet Southern Hemisphere Cyborg Meetup (to use Aitch's term) one day!