Kimberley Liquor Accord Profiteering

Blown4by - Yeah, you're not alone in that gripe about the number of Kimberley places that are intent on a complete rip-off.
Broome comes to mind, I've seen a number of people explode at being charged $4 for a can of Coke or $8 for a fresh orange juice.
These retailers try to use the excuse of freight costs, and distance, and other high business costs.

Yes, I know there's a lot of inherent high costs in doing business in rural Australia - but a lot of these prices are just plain tourist gouging.
Luckily we have good and quick communications today in most areas, and we can warn others.

Typically, this is the same as servos in remote places shafting tourists on fuel - people don't take long to wake up and carry additional fuel, so they can drive straight past.

Nullarbor and Madura come to mind in these categories. It's amazing how many people just grumble, and still pay up, though.

b4b,
Maybe it's a Halls Creek thing. A bit off topic but 2 years ago at the Caravan Park getting ready for the CSR asked about LPG & was told that they weighed and sold by weight Gee that's fair so offered a 4kg for a top up. Told " That was 1kg, $17.90 thanks".
When I queried the price was told $17.90 is the minimum charge for LPG.
That's the way of life I guess.
Mike.

Thanks for the heads up

we are planning a trip there next year and do try to support the locals where we can but within reason.

I guess we shall carry some Chatauex Shiraz Cardboard and keep our fuel tanks full where the pricing is reasonable

It is indeed sad to hear that this is the case and do understand that it is a seasonal tourism sector but the pricing above does seem very excessive

cheers

Reminds me of my last visit to Fitzroy Crossing in 07. We arrived hot & dry one Friday
afternoon..booked into that Hotel cum C/p. All good..nice grass for C/t..quick set up
& old shearer mate & I headed for the bar for a few well earned, time 4.30 pm.
Turned back at the door by very large gent of Islander Appearance..(can I say that ?)
for WEARING THONGS !!!!. I gave great reasoned argument why this was crap &...
got shown the door. Trudged back to camp, 400 metres & swapped offending footware for ...yep...old sandals. Back to bar , smiled at guard & ordered 2 pints..
We watched aghast as barmen put a pint in each glass...& another 3 pints over the
side & down the drain..then sat two of the flattest beers you would ever see ,on the bar. He quickly scuttled away before I had paid. I invited guard over & asked what he
thought of the beers. No idea, says he..don't drink beer. I'm not drinking these either,
says I..or paying for them. Please yourself he says, my shift just finished, already done an hours OT... & was gone. Barman returns & I order two stubbies. Whats wrong with the pints says he. Everything says we. He apologises & advises he has been a barman for just on 20 minutes. Old shearer mate takes over & in another two
minutes we have barman pulling a beer we can drink..after suitable instruction.
All is good again...Guard returns...been told to work more OT..
A very large bloke in a big hat & rural clobber comes in & orders 4 slabs...guard
rushes over & advises this chap that he cant wear his hat in the bar just as he heads out the door with a slab under each arm. Big chap grins at him & keeps going, to
return in a minute, still hatted.. invites guard to remove the hat. Interesting we thinks,
& order more pints from our new friend the barman. Guard looks worried & has an
anguished conversation with an unseen advisor via some flash comms gear. The
only bit we catch is..."wake up to your F****** self. Big cattleman is long gone,
guard looks sheepish..come & have a beer, old shearer mate says, he was too big for you anyway..guard declines & sulks in corner. After a couple more well poured pints
old shearer mate & I help one another back to camp..giggling likeschoolboys...
A Happy Hour after all. It remains our fondest memory of the Crossing.
..cheers.....oldbaz.

And folk wonder why some of us travelers take a good supply of our favorite beer and wine along with us on out trips.

It sure isn't to sell to the "locals" for a profit.