[Huldr]

Opprinnelig lagt inn av wine, her.

Huldr, I'm sure you would have no problem supplementing your income using your proficiency in English! If your native tongue is not English then you're about as talented as they get ;-)

The nature of any business is to maximise their profit margins, that is inherent to any company/country. But iHerb is a bit special, as they don't compete on a level playing field. Evading Norwegian VAT costs to begin with. Perhaps this is a political issue, but the ramifications affect ordinary Norwegian consumers in the long run. If products and retailers can't establish themselves in the Norwegian market, then consumers become dependent on a mega-retailer in USA with scant regard for the situation in Norway.

But not to belabour the point. When it comes to this particular product, Miracle Noodle, I do buy it locally at a health food shop. And by my math, I don't pay any more than I would through iHerb?

Thank you so much for the compliment! My low income is due to illness unfortunately, but I love the chance to communicate in and improve my English. You seem like a very reflective and intelligent individual by the way. And I do appreciate what you're saying. I made the same point as you did about the Miracle Noodles further up.

I didn't mean to say that the VAT issue is political (I don't know much about it, really). I didn't know that Iherb didn't pay VAT. Do you mean to say that they're doing something illegal here? Import is VAT free under 200 NKR, so I don't see how that could affect the customers as long as they order for under 200. But I'm completely ignorant in these matters, so please bear with me!

When I mentioned politics I spoke in a broader sense. For instance keeping welfare at a minimum level and forcing people to make choices that aren't good for the Norwegian economy or for local business or for the environment ... And I suppose the taxes and duties are extensive on health food, and that contributes to the high prices. But I have been a customer in health food shops and have seen how prices have escalated enormously over the last few years. I've seen prices raised 20-30% two times in one year on many products. Someone in this market must be cashing in and being very greedy! I suppose what I have been thinking is that if they see that people are abandoning the Norwegian market they might come to their senses. I don't know. Something has to happen within this market, that's for sure. Maybe going bankrupt because of a big american company is what it takes?? Globalisation is affecting our economy and I don't think it will stop until something has changed dramatically.

But awareness is always good and we have to know what we're doing. I appreciate that you're raising this topic and making people more aware of the consequences of shopping at Iherb. My conscience isn't totally clear either ... and I'll think about my shopping habits and see what I can do. Thank you