Ripped off? Stunned by good value? Write, blog or text your experience to us
The sterling rip-off hasn't gone away
THE GREAT euro-sterling rip-off hasn’t gone away you know, as Robert Thompson found out recently. He wanted to buy some hardware in Debenhams in Galway last summer and at the time the sterling and euro prices were both on the label. The euro price was 50 per cent more than the sterling price, he writes.
“I complained to the shop assistant who called a floor manager who gave me an explanation which was just unrealistic about other high street shop prices.”
Earlier this month, he went back into the same shop and noticed that most, but not all, of the sterling price labels had been covered by euro price labels.
“However, on checking the price of the clothes I intended to purchase I noticed the mark-up was still 50 per cent on the sterling price.
“Obviously rip-off Ireland is alive and well in Debenhams in Galway. And this despite Tesco recently bringing euro-sterling price parity on clothes at least,” he concludes.
Thompson is not alone in spotting big differences between euro prices and sterling prices this week. Niall Quinn was in Birmingham recently and popped into a Boots outlet where he bought a tube of Zovirax cold sore cream for £5.99.
“It costs €11.49 in Boots in Roselawn Shopping Centre, Dublin 15 – that’s almost a 75 per cent mark-up. How can they justify such a difference?” We very much doubt they, or any other store, can.
Another reader, Billy, gets a regular prescription of the drug Zoton Fastab and the difference in the price of it north and south of the Border is truly shocking.
“I am usually charged €38 to purchase one month’s supply in the Republic,” he writes. “I bought exactly the same supply in a chemist in Enniskillen last week for £6.50. This is just another example of how we are being overcharged in the Republic for items that are much cheaper in the sterling zone,” he says.
Opticians in the dark
Jill Nesbitt asks why is it that opticians seem unaware of the option of “fit-over” sunglasses for those who wear prescription glasses? “They’re a far cheaper option than buying a pair of prescription sunglasses,” she writes.
Several companies such as www.i-sunglasses.com sell them online at prices ranging from £15.63 (€16.70) to £20.53 (€21.94) – international orders cost £2.97 (€3.17) extra.
“Their fit-overs are available with various types of lenses, wraparound style to block UV light from the sides and above as recommended and full UV 400 blocking.
“They were also prompt with replies to queries when trying to choose a pair – pity Irish opticians can’t match that for service,” she concludes.
Take it or leave it
Indifference about the plight of consumers amongst retail staff in this country is not uncommon which seems peculiar given the economic downturn and the need for businesses to fight hard for each customer.
A reader by the name of Annette was looking around recently for a PlayStation 2 game based on the latest Bond movie, Quantum of Solace.
“The Gamestop price was €14.99 but it was out of stock, so I went to Argos where the price was €24.99. When I questioned the cashier in Argos as to price difference she wasn’t interested.”
Annette was told that it was her choice to buy it or not. “So I left it.”
