THE launch of Amazon in Australia is just another threat to local small business, according to Tuckey’s Mitre 10 Pinjarra owner John Tuckey.
A small business owner for 37 years, Mr Tuckey said he could not compete with online companies and multinationals.
“It’s the technology, people come into the store with their mobiles and they’re looking up prices from around the world,” he said.
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READ NOWMr Tuckey claimed significant increases in rates and taxes meant he could not compete.
Then there were staff wages, utility bills and fuel costs.
“The system is against us,” he said.
“How can I afford the price increases without putting up our prices?
“We’re doomed.”
Mr Tuckey said the whole retail sector in the Peel region was affected.
“The cat’s out of the bag and I am over it,” he said.
Mr Tuckey employs 26 staff at his hardware store on George Street.
Kristy Brown from Cook’s Kitchen in Greenfields was not as concerned about Amazon’s affect on local small business.
“People will shop local for products with warranties,” she said.
“They want the reassurance that they can follow-up with the warranty.”
US retailer Amazon is known for sacrificing profit for sales through aggressively low prices.
The online giant’s presence in Australia is expected to benefit customers but bring more pain for local retailers.
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