Dick Smith is cranky and so am I

[Occasional_panner]

https://vimeo.com/288285200

 

[silver]

Couldnt see it from my phone

 

[Ded Driver]

this issue of on-line 'comparison' hotel booking got right up my craw not so long ago.
its not hard & doesn't take long to find 2 or 3 hotel websites yourself & then ring your favoured hotel & ask for their best deal, & pay them direct.
definitely better for jobs & our kids/g-kids/gg-kids future if we do what we can to keep $$$ in Australia.
The exception of course, is when the hotel you book is owned by a foreign company & most of the room fee goes offshore (minus local tax), but at least the jobs are here
.
Go Dick Smith ... great bloke & one of the most passionate & patriotic aussies alive

 

[Manpa]

Old story, this hit the airwaves last year, August, Sept.
Always deal direct where you can.

 

[Redfin]

I always use sites like Trivago, Trip Adviser, Wot If etc to research and look at visitors photos and reviews.
Then,
Ring the establishment direct.
Always get a cheaper price than the above sites have on offer.

 

[LONEWOLF]

That was why Trivago adds were pulled from TV for a few weeks and they got a $10mil fine...

LW...

 

[mudgee hunter]

Least of our worries in reality but. Bigger fish to fry

 

[user 4386]

I always use sites like Trivago, Trip Adviser, Wot If etc to research and look at visitors photos and reviews.
Then,
Ring the establishment direct.
Always get a cheaper price than the above sites have on offer.

What he says is quite correct and I use the sites to find a motel in my range, then ring the motel. However I have been making bookings this week and have actually found that some places will NOT even meet the on-line prices, and also will not match the "cancel free until two days before" type deals offered on-line. So you need to investigate fully - everyone wants to make a buck (although I support the motels if they will equal the deals).

Overall I guess I find Dick Smith fairly on the mark. However I have some reservations about someone who was worth $60 million (no longer) criticizing wealthy foreign businessmen - it does correlate a bit with his business interests. When he had his Dick Smith electronics stores he said about Tandi being "a foreign firm ...allowed by the Australian Government to take over the Australian market from the Australian people" (his stores went under, as did much of his wealth...and ultimately Tandi). When he started Dick Smith foods he made comments about Aldi and 1930s Germany, their immense greed and siphoning money to Germany - he then had to close his stores. I see he is involved with eco-resorts now....

Nevertheless I think he is on the mark on this issue.

 

[grubstake]

Overall I guess I find Dick Smith fairly on the mark. However I have some reservations about someone who was worth $60 million (no longer) criticizing wealthy foreign businessmen - it does correlate a bit with his business interests. When he had his Dick Smith electronics stores he said about Tandi being "a foreign firm ...allowed by the Australian Government to take over the Australian market from the Australian people" (his stores went under, as did much of his wealth...and ultimately Tandi). When he started Dick Smith foods he made comments about Aldi and 1930s Germany, their immense greed and siphoning money to Germany - he then had to close his stores. I see he is involved with eco-resorts now....
Nevertheless I think he is on the mark on this issue.

But Dick had sold the Dick Smith Electronics business to Woolworths back in 1980, for $25 million, so he wouldn't have lost anything when it eventually folded in 2016. He is presently estimated to be worth around $60 million.

 

[Redfin]

I have been making bookings this week and have actually found that some places will NOT even meet the on-line prices,

I would agree with that on the cheaper places to stay [$100-$150] as they haven't much room to move.
However, I stayed in the tower at Wrest Point casino a while back and saved over 1k, which went into a nice seafood platter at Mures.
It is only a phone call after all.

 

[Redfin]

But Dick had sold the Dick Smith Electronics business to Woolworths back in 1980, for $25 million, so he wouldn't have lost anything when it eventually folded in 2016. He is presently estimated to be worth around $60 million.

and 10% of earnings.
Dick , Gerry Harvey and a few other are bleating about unfair prices online etc, but they were pioneers and all made their money from cheap imports at
grossly inflated prices.
Time has caught up with them.

 

[Ward69]

I always use sites like Trivago, Trip Adviser, Wot If etc to research and look at visitors photos and reviews.
Then,
Ring the establishment direct.
Always get a cheaper price than the above sites have on offer.

What he says is quite correct and I use the sites to find a motel in my range, then ring the motel. However I have been making bookings this week and have actually found that some places will NOT even meet the on-line prices, and also will not match the "cancel free until two days before" type deals offered on-line. So you need to investigate fully - everyone wants to make a buck (although I support the motels if they will equal the deals).

Overall I guess I find Dick Smith fairly on the mark. However I have some reservations about someone who was worth $60 million (no longer) criticizing wealthy foreign businessmen - it does correlate a bit with his business interests. When he had his Dick Smith electronics stores he said about Tandi being "a foreign firm ...allowed by the Australian Government to take over the Australian market from the Australian people" (his stores went under, as did much of his wealth...and ultimately Tandi). When he started Dick Smith foods he made comments about Aldi and 1930s Germany, their immense greed and siphoning money to Germany - he then had to close his stores. I see he is involved with eco-resorts now....

Nevertheless I think he is on the mark on this issue.

What Dick Smith, is saying is correct. now we have the cloud. The earth is smaller than before. Easier for larger companies to make more profit, Here in Manila. The money has to stay here no returns are sent back to the main company, Australia Goverment needs to catch up. If you do business in Australia the profit stays in Australia if not its taxed to hill

 

[user 4386]

Overall I guess I find Dick Smith fairly on the mark. However I have some reservations about someone who was worth $60 million (no longer) criticizing wealthy foreign businessmen - it does correlate a bit with his business interests. When he had his Dick Smith electronics stores he said about Tandi being "a foreign firm ...allowed by the Australian Government to take over the Australian market from the Australian people" (his stores went under, as did much of his wealth...and ultimately Tandi). When he started Dick Smith foods he made comments about Aldi and 1930s Germany, their immense greed and siphoning money to Germany - he then had to close his stores. I see he is involved with eco-resorts now....
Nevertheless I think he is on the mark on this issue.

But Dick had sold the Dick Smith Electronics business to Woolworths back in 1980, for $25 million, so he wouldn't have lost anything when it eventually folded in 2016. He is presently estimated to be worth around $60 million.

No, he did badly and the company went into liquidation - his wealth dropped from $60 million to $10 million (wish I had problems like that). At least he did not go bankrupt. "After more than 45 offers were received to buy the business, none were deemed acceptable by Ferrier Hodgson, and the business was liquidated with hundreds of millions still owed to creditors". So he lost very badly. Subsequent sale of the assets and retention of the name had nothing to do with him - he crashed.

 

[user 4386]

I always use sites like Trivago, Trip Adviser, Wot If etc to research and look at visitors photos and reviews.
Then,
Ring the establishment direct.
Always get a cheaper price than the above sites have on offer.

What he says is quite correct and I use the sites to find a motel in my range, then ring the motel. However I have been making bookings this week and have actually found that some places will NOT even meet the on-line prices, and also will not match the "cancel free until two days before" type deals offered on-line. So you need to investigate fully - everyone wants to make a buck (although I support the motels if they will equal the deals).

Overall I guess I find Dick Smith fairly on the mark. However I have some reservations about someone who was worth $60 million (no longer) criticizing wealthy foreign businessmen - it does correlate a bit with his business interests. When he had his Dick Smith electronics stores he said about Tandi being "a foreign firm ...allowed by the Australian Government to take over the Australian market from the Australian people" (his stores went under, as did much of his wealth...and ultimately Tandi). When he started Dick Smith foods he made comments about Aldi and 1930s Germany, their immense greed and siphoning money to Germany - he then had to close his stores. I see he is involved with eco-resorts now....

Nevertheless I think he is on the mark on this issue.

What Dick Smith, is saying is correct. now we have the cloud. The earth is smaller than before. Easier for larger companies to make more profit, Here in Manila. The money has to stay here no returns are sent back to the main company, Australia Goverment needs to catch up. If you do business in Australia the profit stays in Australia if not its taxed to hill

Doesn't really work like that with any countries' foreign investment, including the Philippines (which has few restrictions - the Philippines has no restriction in remitting dividend income back overseas). Countries (including Australia) require foreign investment because there is not enough money in the country for investments in MAJOR projects. So people like Dick Smith castigating foreign investors for taking their profits out are really just blowing hot air (well, they are trying to get investors here to invest in their own small local companies, itself perfectly desirable, by appealing to patriotism - again desirable within the limits of the small amount of money Australians have to invest). And of course larger Australian companies also invest overseas, but it depends on the type of investment opportunity available and the company's expertise (mining companies tend not to invest in yoghurt manufacture because they don't understand it). Foreign companies invest to make a profit and most of their shareholders are in another country. If they cannot get their profits out of a country, the companies do not invest in it. Otherwise they would be simply throwing their money away. Foreign economies had a total of $3.3 trillion invested in Australia at the end of 2017 - contrary to popular belief, Belgium is the third biggest investor (after the USA and UK) - China is only the 9th biggest (only 2% of all foreign investment in Australia - Belgium's investment is six times larger than China). But you won't hear pollies complaining about Belgian investment here...it doesn't sell as well as anti-Chinese sentiment. All largely politics, the politicians know that our economy could not survive without foreign investment (but it gets votes).

 

[Occasional_panner]

Overall I guess I find Dick Smith fairly on the mark. However I have some reservations about someone who was worth $60 million (no longer) criticizing wealthy foreign businessmen - it does correlate a bit with his business interests. When he had his Dick Smith electronics stores he said about Tandi being "a foreign firm ...allowed by the Australian Government to take over the Australian market from the Australian people" (his stores went under, as did much of his wealth...and ultimately Tandi). When he started Dick Smith foods he made comments about Aldi and 1930s Germany, their immense greed and siphoning money to Germany - he then had to close his stores. I see he is involved with eco-resorts now....
Nevertheless I think he is on the mark on this issue.

But Dick had sold the Dick Smith Electronics business to Woolworths back in 1980, for $25 million, so he wouldn't have lost anything when it eventually folded in 2016. He is presently estimated to be worth around $60 million.

No, he did badly and the company went into liquidation - his wealth dropped from $60 million to $10 million (wish I had problems like that). At least he did not go bankrupt. "After more than 45 offers were received to buy the business, none were deemed acceptable by Ferrier Hodgson, and the business was liquidated with hundreds of millions still owed to creditors". So he lost very badly. Subsequent sale of the assets and retention of the name had nothing to do with him - he crashed.

NO,
NO,
NUP,
Noh,Noh,Noh,Noh,Noh,Not

He sold 60% in 1980 and the rest in 1982.

Whoever made a stuff up of it later had nothing to do with him.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Smith_(retailer)

 

[Occasional_panner]

I always use sites like Trivago, Trip Adviser, Wot If etc to research and look at visitors photos and reviews.
Then,
Ring the establishment direct.
Always get a cheaper price than the above sites have on offer.

What he says is quite correct and I use the sites to find a motel in my range, then ring the motel. However I have been making bookings this week and have actually found that some places will NOT even meet the on-line prices, and also will not match the "cancel free until two days before" type deals offered on-line. So you need to investigate fully - everyone wants to make a buck (although I support the motels if they will equal the deals).

Overall I guess I find Dick Smith fairly on the mark. However I have some reservations about someone who was worth $60 million (no longer) criticizing wealthy foreign businessmen - it does correlate a bit with his business interests. When he had his Dick Smith electronics stores he said about Tandi being "a foreign firm ...allowed by the Australian Government to take over the Australian market from the Australian people" (his stores went under, as did much of his wealth...and ultimately Tandi). When he started Dick Smith foods he made comments about Aldi and 1930s Germany, their immense greed and siphoning money to Germany - he then had to close his stores. I see he is involved with eco-resorts now....

Nevertheless I think he is on the mark on this issue.

What Dick Smith, is saying is correct. now we have the cloud. The earth is smaller than before. Easier for larger companies to make more profit, Here in Manila. The money has to stay here no returns are sent back to the main company, Australia Goverment needs to catch up. If you do business in Australia the profit stays in Australia if not its taxed to hill

Doesn't really work like that with any countries' foreign investment, including the Philippines (which has few restrictions - the Philippines has no restriction in remitting dividend income back overseas). Countries (including Australia) require foreign investment because there is not enough money in the country for investments in MAJOR projects. So people like Dick Smith castigating foreign investors for taking their profits out are really just blowing hot air (well, they are trying to get investors here to invest in their own small local companies, itself perfectly desirable, by appealing to patriotism - again desirable within the limits of the small amount of money Australians have to invest). And of course larger Australian companies also invest overseas, but it depends on the type of investment opportunity available and the company's expertise (mining companies tend not to invest in yoghurt manufacture because they don't understand it). Foreign companies invest to make a profit and most of their shareholders are in another country. If they cannot get their profits out of a country, the companies do not invest in it. Otherwise they would be simply throwing their money away. Foreign economies had a total of $3.3 trillion invested in Australia at the end of 2017 - contrary to popular belief, Belgium is the third biggest investor (after the USA and UK) - China is only the 9th biggest (only 2% of all foreign investment in Australia - Belgium's investment is six times larger than China). But you won't hear pollies complaining about Belgian investment here...it doesn't sell as well as anti-Chinese sentiment. All largely politics, the politicians know that our economy could not survive without foreign investment (but it gets votes).

I'm not sure you understand this scenario.
This isn't about MOJOR PROJECTS at all.

It's about MAJOR foreign companies flooding the internet with their marketing power, advertising OTHER peoples services.
Because they flood the google searches with their advertising they get the bookings.
A search engine should actually be a search engine, but google are just robbers that charge huge amounts to ramp ads up in the page.
Poor bastards who actually provide the service don't even come up on the crooked search engine of google till pages later.
Google are probably one of the worst insidious companies around, they are total parasites.

 

[user 4386]

I always use sites like Trivago, Trip Adviser, Wot If etc to research and look at visitors photos and reviews.
Then,
Ring the establishment direct.
Always get a cheaper price than the above sites have on offer.

What he says is quite correct and I use the sites to find a motel in my range, then ring the motel. However I have been making bookings this week and have actually found that some places will NOT even meet the on-line prices, and also will not match the "cancel free until two days before" type deals offered on-line. So you need to investigate fully - everyone wants to make a buck (although I support the motels if they will equal the deals).

Overall I guess I find Dick Smith fairly on the mark. However I have some reservations about someone who was worth $60 million (no longer) criticizing wealthy foreign businessmen - it does correlate a bit with his business interests. When he had his Dick Smith electronics stores he said about Tandi being "a foreign firm ...allowed by the Australian Government to take over the Australian market from the Australian people" (his stores went under, as did much of his wealth...and ultimately Tandi). When he started Dick Smith foods he made comments about Aldi and 1930s Germany, their immense greed and siphoning money to Germany - he then had to close his stores. I see he is involved with eco-resorts now....

Nevertheless I think he is on the mark on this issue.

What Dick Smith, is saying is correct. now we have the cloud. The earth is smaller than before. Easier for larger companies to make more profit, Here in Manila. The money has to stay here no returns are sent back to the main company, Australia Goverment needs to catch up. If you do business in Australia the profit stays in Australia if not its taxed to hill

Doesn't really work like that with any countries' foreign investment, including the Philippines (which has few restrictions - the Philippines has no restriction in remitting dividend income back overseas). Countries (including Australia) require foreign investment because there is not enough money in the country for investments in MAJOR projects. So people like Dick Smith castigating foreign investors for taking their profits out are really just blowing hot air (well, they are trying to get investors here to invest in their own small local companies, itself perfectly desirable, by appealing to patriotism - again desirable within the limits of the small amount of money Australians have to invest). And of course larger Australian companies also invest overseas, but it depends on the type of investment opportunity available and the company's expertise (mining companies tend not to invest in yoghurt manufacture because they don't understand it). Foreign companies invest to make a profit and most of their shareholders are in another country. If they cannot get their profits out of a country, the companies do not invest in it. Otherwise they would be simply throwing their money away. Foreign economies had a total of $3.3 trillion invested in Australia at the end of 2017 - contrary to popular belief, Belgium is the third biggest investor (after the USA and UK) - China is only the 9th biggest (only 2% of all foreign investment in Australia - Belgium's investment is six times larger than China). But you won't hear pollies complaining about Belgian investment here...it doesn't sell as well as anti-Chinese sentiment. All largely politics, the politicians know that our economy could not survive without foreign investment (but it gets votes).

I'm not sure you understand this scenario.
This isn't about MOJOR PROJECTS at all.

It's about MAJOR foreign companies flooding the internet with their marketing power, advertising OTHER peoples services.
Because they flood the google searches with their advertising they get the bookings.
A search engine should actually be a search engine, but google are just robbers that charge huge amounts to ramp ads up in the page.
Poor bastards who actually provide the service don't even come up on the crooked search engine of google till pages later.
Google are probably one of the worst insidious companies around, they are total parasites.

As I said twice, I think Dick Smith has got it right on this issue. I have been caught like most people who book online.

 

[user 4386]

Overall I guess I find Dick Smith fairly on the mark. However I have some reservations about someone who was worth $60 million (no longer) criticizing wealthy foreign businessmen - it does correlate a bit with his business interests. When he had his Dick Smith electronics stores he said about Tandi being "a foreign firm ...allowed by the Australian Government to take over the Australian market from the Australian people" (his stores went under, as did much of his wealth...and ultimately Tandi). When he started Dick Smith foods he made comments about Aldi and 1930s Germany, their immense greed and siphoning money to Germany - he then had to close his stores. I see he is involved with eco-resorts now....
Nevertheless I think he is on the mark on this issue.

But Dick had sold the Dick Smith Electronics business to Woolworths back in 1980, for $25 million, so he wouldn't have lost anything when it eventually folded in 2016. He is presently estimated to be worth around $60 million.

No, he did badly and the company went into liquidation - his wealth dropped from $60 million to $10 million (wish I had problems like that). At least he did not go bankrupt. "After more than 45 offers were received to buy the business, none were deemed acceptable by Ferrier Hodgson, and the business was liquidated with hundreds of millions still owed to creditors". So he lost very badly. Subsequent sale of the assets and retention of the name had nothing to do with him - he crashed.

NO,
NO,
NUP,
Noh,Noh,Noh,Noh,Noh,Not

He sold 60% in 1980 and the rest in 1982.

Whoever made a stuff up of it later had nothing to do with him.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Smith_(retailer)

You are correct - it did not go into the hands of liquidators under him (Woolworths and the subsequent buyer kept trading under the same name, the last making hundreds of millions of dollars loss). It was only Dick Smith Foods that Dick Smith personally had to close. However it was Dick Smith himself who made the comments that I mentioned about Aldi and Tandi, and he did it while they were his competitors. The report I read that said he was down to $10 million appears to be incorrect and he does appear to still be worth $60 million. However that supports my comment about the anomaly of such a rich person railing against the wealthy, and overseas investment - the point I was making. As mentioned, I agree with his comments re the booking companies (and I also agree with him about Google - it is too large and powerful and is effectively a monopoly).

 

[Keitzy]

I love boking.com lol I use it for nearly every holiday. Ringing the places after finding the prices on the app Ive rarely even got close to a price match from the motel compared to the app. I dont bother ringing anymore.
The convieniance of being able to book a place 3 months In advance with free cancelation and no payment till I rock up to the motel is never matched either. Booking.com wins me for price and convieniance every time.!

 

[user 4386]

I love boking.com lol I use it for nearly every holiday. Ringing the places after finding the prices on the app Ive rarely even got close to a price match from the motel compared to the app. I dont bother ringing anymore.
The convieniance of being able to book a place 3 months In advance with free cancelation and no payment till I rock up to the motel is never matched either. Booking.com wins me for price and convieniance every time.!

That free cancellation up to the last minute is a winner for me on many occasions. However I do always try a direct phone call before locking in, and sometimes get as good or better deal. I would always prefer to support the venue itself.