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I'm boycotting MOnsoon/Accessorize!

  • 13-06-2008 10:06AM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,852 ✭✭✭


    I know there is a lot of talk at the moment about the difference in the sterling price on an item and the euro price, but I think Monsoon are taking the biscuit.

    I was in Accessorize last night looking at a pair of flip-flops. They were marked £12 and €20! That is a mark up of 2/3! With the current exchange rate, they should only be priced at about €15. Now I know that they can't follow the exchange rate exactly, but it has never been 1.66, which is what they were using for those flip flops. I walked out in disgust and i'm really tempted to email their head office.

    You know the really stupid thing? A couple of years ago, when the exchange rate was much higher, they had flip-flops marked at £12 and €18, so why the jump of €2 when the exchange rate has gone down? :mad:


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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,060 ✭✭✭Niamho!


    well i personally would never buy from Monsoon, scabby fooks. they get away with the Scandalous amounts they charge coz dimwits keep buying from them. i want to murder my sis the odd time she buys from them....


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 30 SheenaD


    i agree the prices are madness :eek:

    bit of the subject but i have a wedding next weekend and planning on doing a false tan can anyone suggest a good one ?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,852 ✭✭✭ncmc


    Niamho! wrote: »
    well i personally would never buy from Monsoon, scabby fooks. they get away with the Scandalous amounts they charge coz dimwits keep buying from them. i want to murder my sis the odd time she buys from them....

    To be honest, I don't buy much off them either, I think their stuff is over priced at the best of times so my boycott isn't gonna bankrupt them! But I still think that is the most outrageous exchange rate i've ever seen, I'm not gonna even step inside their door now. :mad:

    Sheena :confused: you'd be better off starting a new thread on that one, more likely to get responses. :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35,954 ✭✭✭✭Larianne


    ncmc wrote: »
    Sheena :confused: you'd be better off starting a new thread on that one, more likely to get responses. :)


    Or use the search function. Plenty of threads on it in here!

    I'll be shopping in Newry or Belfast from now on. Saving yourself a lot by doing so. Never shopped in Monsoon anyway as stuff there way overpriced!!!!!!!!!!!!!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,410 ✭✭✭kizzyr


    SheenaD wrote: »
    i agree the prices are madness :eek:

    bit of the subject but i have a wedding next weekend and planning on doing a false tan can anyone suggest a good one ?

    I use the Lancome Flash Bronzer. Its pretty easy to apply, isn't too dark and doesn't stink like lots of the others do.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,852 ✭✭✭ncmc


    Larianne wrote: »
    Or use the search function. Plenty of threads on it in here!

    I'll be shopping in Newry or Belfast from now on. Saving yourself a lot by doing so. Never shopped in Monsoon anyway as stuff there way overpriced!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    TBH Larianne, I intend to go up North to do my pre-hols shopping, I'm from up by the border originally so no hassle for me to pop to Newry. But for a lot of people down South, going up the North isn't an opton and the point is; they shouldn't have to! The shops should be charging us a fair price to start with.

    I am asking every person on this forum, every time they see an outrageous example of this over charging using the exchange rate to email the company with a complaint. It only takes 5 mins and maybe if enough people do it to enough companies they might actually do something about it. This rip-off has gone on long enough, time for some People Power! :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 296 ✭✭BeansMeansHynes


    Yeah I am boycotting Oasis at the moment. Price different is unbelievable. I was looking at a brown leather jacket in there last week. £140 and €200. Same for most of the clothes in there at the moment. We are being totally ripped off.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35,954 ✭✭✭✭Larianne


    ncmc wrote: »
    I am asking every person on this forum, every time they see an outrageous example of this over charging using the exchange rate to email the company with a complaint. It only takes 5 mins and maybe if enough people do it to enough companies they might actually do something about it. This rip-off has gone on long enough, time for some People Power! :D


    There's been a lot of publicity about this in the papers and what is happening now in the stores is that they are just blocking out the sterling price and just leaving the euro price on the tags so it's really down to the person whether they feel a product is worth the price on the tag. The stores aren't given consumers a fair deal. The only way for companies to listen is by not buying their products. To the second shops everyone --->


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 296 ✭✭BeansMeansHynes


    I think complaining and boycotting might have some effect.

    I have noticed in Cork that A Wear have brought down their prices but that’s about the only one I think. All the rest have just blacked out the Sterling price or cut it off.

    There was something on Prime Time last night about it! Hopefully all the media attention might do some good.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,852 ✭✭✭ncmc


    I think complaining and boycotting might have some effect.

    I have noticed in Cork that A Wear have brought down their prices but that’s about the only one I think. All the rest have just blacked out the Sterling price or cut it off.

    There was something on Prime Time last night about it! Hopefully all the media attention might do some good.

    Now that you mention it, the majority of the prices in Accessorize were blacked out, but the dopes used the kind of black marker that you could see through. That's just made me even angrier, even worse deception!

    I have emailed Monsoon, so I am awaiting their reply with interest!

    Surely retailers in Dublin must be feeling a pinch as everyone North of Dublin that used to travel there for shopping are now heading up to Newry and Belfast.

    Boycotting the store is the best course of action, but please also email and let them know the reason you're not going in, otherwise they'll just think it's the credit crunch biting!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 522 ✭✭✭Sugar Drunk


    Re the blacking out of prices - I was in Dublin airport a while ago. In monsoon, the prices in EURO had been scribbled out and another price written. With the rate being strong I assumed the prices had been reduced but no - they had been increased!! I reckon a good few people thought they had been decreased and wouldnto have checked what the conversion was. I just was shocked the had the cheek to increase their prices. every item in the shop had the original price scribbled out


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 522 ✭✭✭Sugar Drunk


    Just to add I am also boycotting claires accessorise. £3.25 does not equal six euros!!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,152 ✭✭✭lubie76


    ncmc wrote: »
    Boycotting the store is the best course of action, but please also email and let them know the reason you're not going in, otherwise they'll just think it's the credit crunch biting!

    I totally agree with you NCMC and have just finished emailing the store site to tell them so.

    I was in London recently for a weekend and was shocked about the difference between the price differences. I was actually questioning my maths skills when I was working out the currency rates between the two.

    Irish people are too easygoing for this type of thing. We need to stand up for our consumer rights.The credit crunch thing has us all in financial trouble as it is so why should we be paying over the odds for what we can just about afford anyway.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35,954 ✭✭✭✭Larianne


    I think you may need to change the threads title to boycotting Oasis, Marks and Spencer, Awear, Topshop, Jigsaw, River Island.

    They're all at it!!!!!:mad: The French wouldn't have any of this, they'd be all out protesting. Irish people's attitude is too laid back and 'ah sure, someone else will deal with it'.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,469 ✭✭✭Pythia


    Something to remember is that costs and Vat is more expensive here. I know most shops are ripping people off far worse that that but just something to remember for small differences.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 922 ✭✭✭trishasaffron


    Its all very well to say we should complain but doing so is really time consuming. I did buy something (way overpriced) in Monsoon recently and explained to the assistant that I would like if she would tell managment that people were complaining about the sterling conversion - u know something on the lines of " I know its not your fault but ......" Even though she was pleasant I had to listen to "Its not me who sets the prices" over and over again. Certainly put me off complaining. If she'd just said "I'll bring your comments to management attention" and then shut up it'd have been fine.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 10,730 ✭✭✭✭simu


    Yeah, Monsoon was always overpriced imho. How are these shops going to get through the looming recession?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,119 ✭✭✭Donald-Duck


    Yeah I am boycotting Oasis at the moment. Price different is unbelievable. I was looking at a brown leather jacket in there last week. £140 and €200. Same for most of the clothes in there at the moment. We are being totally ripped off.

    Just think about this.

    Did they buy their stock this week, or earlier in the year.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,852 ✭✭✭ncmc


    Just think about this.

    Did they buy their stock this week, or earlier in the year.

    I know that they can't keep their prices completely up to date, but if you read my OP, Monsoon are adding 2/3 on to the Sterling price, now I'm no finance expert, but I don't think the exchange rate has ever, ever been this high! They are using it an excuse to make an extra couple of euro, it is a scam.
    Its all very well to say we should complain but doing so is really time consuming. I did buy something (way overpriced) in Monsoon recently and explained to the assistant that I would like if she would tell managment that people were complaining about the sterling conversion - u know something on the lines of " I know its not your fault but ......" Even though she was pleasant I had to listen to "Its not me who sets the prices" over and over again. Certainly put me off complaining. If she'd just said "I'll bring your comments to management attention" and then shut up it'd have been fine.

    I agree, talking to someone in the shop is useless, I'm sure the comments never reach the people who matter. Half the time you are probably talking to some college student who works there part time and doesn't give a sh1t. That's why I'm suggesting emails to the companies head office, it isn't at all time consuming and it's more likely to reach the relevent people.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 67 ✭✭fruitbat


    Where can we shop if Monsoon, River Island, Topshop, Oasis, Wallis, Principles, M&S, etc, aren't charging fairly and should be boycotted?

    :confused:

    Pennys, Dunnes & Brown Thomas? Are there any other Irish chains?

    I don't think I'd ever find anything!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 507 ✭✭✭sickpuppy32


    SheenaD wrote: »
    i agree the prices are madness :eek:

    bit of the subject but i have a wedding next weekend and planning on doing a false tan can anyone suggest a good one ?

    the one that turns you orange is the best!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 100 ✭✭Dee369369


    - u know something on the lines of " I know its not your fault but ......" Even though she was pleasant I had to listen to "Its not me who sets the prices" over and over again. quote]

    I know where u coming from but i used to work in a newsagents and people would always give out bout the price of milk etc saying they could get it for 20cent cheaper down the road and even though u smile and say sorry u feel like saying go down the road and buy the cheaper milk so!:D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,604 ✭✭✭xOxSinéadxOx


    I think complaining and boycotting might have some effect.

    I have noticed in Cork that A Wear have brought down their prices but that’s about the only one I think. All the rest have just blacked out the Sterling price or cut it off.

    There was something on Prime Time last night about it! Hopefully all the media attention might do some good.


    is a/wear not an irish shop?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,410 ✭✭✭kizzyr


    is a/wear not an irish shop?

    I know it certainly used to be. One of the owners of Brown Thomas set the shops up.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 938 ✭✭✭chuci


    Just buy everything on the internet for cheaper. It saves going into town and all the rest of that. Im so sick of the rip off republic. When i was austria for a few months i bought a good bit of stuff over there, like surfer brands etc and the price difference here for the exact same item is a total joke my god it made me so angry.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 86 ✭✭emee


    was in monsoon yesterday and bought a cardigan and two hair bands and it came to 73 euro - i was obviously off in my own little world because i payed on my laser and only now realised the price when i checked banking365.

    price on the cardigan was 38 pounds and looking at my receipt i paid 59 euro for it!! :eek:

    on xe.com 38 pounds = ~48 euro

    the two hair bands also had the euro price scribbled off with a black marker but you could still read them and they had a euro sticker with a higher price stuck on.

    i wouldn't mind but when we were at the till my mother asked the girl why the mark up was so high that surely the prices should come down with the exchange rate and the girl said some crap about printing all the labels at the beginning of the year.... well if thats the case then why are they scribbling out some prices to mark them up even more!

    i've a good mind to return the cardigan now its not *that* nice :(


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,852 ✭✭✭ncmc


    Well Monsoon replied to my email, so here is a copy of what they said:
    Thankyou for your e mail regarding the Euro and the exchange rate. I was sorry to hear you feel the need to boycott our stores.

    I have been advised that the Exchange Rate we use is set periodically and as such, our prices will therefore not reflect any fluctuating Exchange Rates.

    In addition to this, factors such as extra costs incurred in distributing to the Republic of Ireland and the differing tax structure also have an impact on the costs of garments as sold in ROI.

    Please be assured we take this matter very seriously and I will pass your comments onto our finance team.

    I hope that this clarifies this situation for you, if I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.

    Kind Regards

    Mary Kirkham
    Monsoon Accessorize Customer Services

    What a load of crap, you can be sure if the exchange rate was going the other way they'd be fast enough to adjust their prices.
    I have been advised that the Exchange Rate we use is set periodically and as such, our prices will therefore not reflect any fluctuating Exchange Rates.

    The exchange rate has been going down for months, surely it's time they looked at their prices?
    In addition to this, factors such as extra costs incurred in distributing to the Republic of Ireland and the differing tax structure also have an impact on the costs of garments as sold in ROI.

    How come other chains don't feel the need to mark up the garments to the same degree (I know some take the p1ss, but some stores price quite fairly)
    I knew that their reply would be a load of sh1t, but I will continue to send off complaints when I see an obvious rip off, at least it is forcing one of their employees to take the time to write an email and who knows, maybe if enough of us complain they might sit up and take notice.

    Emee, you should take that cardi back and make sure you email them and let them know why you returned it!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 296 ✭✭BeansMeansHynes


    What a stupid email. You are dead right ncmc. If the exchange rate was going they other way it wouldn’t take them long to change the prices.

    I am still trying to find an email for Oasis Ireland so if anyone can help me on that one. I cant even find a phone number!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 117 ✭✭-aboutagirl-


    I live in the UK at the moment and everytime I come home the prices seem more and more shocking! Fair enough that they can't predict fluctuations in the exchange rate but sterling has been falling for quite some time now! Some things are almost double the price, will definetly be buying everything I need while I'm here and not at home!!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 952 ✭✭✭bills


    they dont care because they are getting away with it!! im not the best for complaining myself.I think Marks & spencer needs to be added to that list too- bought shoes for 30euro, only 20 sterling.


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