Buying up North... Consequences!!

waterville72

I cant help noticing a lot of posts on here recently regarding people from The Republic buying golf equipment from Northern Ireland.
What do people think is going to happen?
We are losing jobs at an alarming rate here and all reports say that the economy will contract in the next 12 months. So what do these people do?
They take their money outside of the state and spend it in the North? Therefore less business for the Irish retailers and hence job losses in 2009.
And no VAT for the Government...and more VAT for the British Government????
What's going on? And these people call themselves Irishmen?
So you save yourself 20 % maybe which might amount to 100 euro. Less the 40 its cost you to get there! And then in 6 months time you lose your job because the retailer whom your employer supplies folds due to lack of business..etc etc for examples.
A lot of people lost their lives in order to set up this state that we all live in...and now we contribute to its downfall all for the sake of saving money!!! not lives but money.
Very narrow minded and selfish people in my opinion.

stockdam

I understand what you mean but then again I can see a problem........

Ireland, like the UK, is based on a free economy and for years people haven't complained about cheap imports coming in and hitting local industry. Instead they have been happy to buy cheap rather than local.

If you want to be consistent then you also need to complain about imported food etc that competes with local produce. You should also complain about cheap labour from Eastern Europe.

Nobody in the ROI was complaining when there was a flood of people from NI buying fuel.

D-Generate

I hope all you golf playing fat cats are happy. Wimmins and children not being able to eat because daddy lost his lucrative golf retail contract. Yes its all your fault.

Thomas_S_Hunterson

waterville72 wrote: »

Very narrow minded and selfish people in my opinion.

Very retarded of retailers not to cut prices to compete

Hogzy

our beloved tiger is dead but hey, after this recession i think we all will be a little more open minded about prices and searching for bargains! I think this Recession may do us good in the long run! This country has been a rip off for years and its about to change...hopefully!

Sandwich

I wouldnt worry about the effect of a few golf sticks on the Irish economy too much. Thems the swings(:D) and round(:D)abouts of an open(:D) ecomony. Irish retailers were happy to cash in as low Euro zone interest rates gave us easy credit to spend on imported Pings and Taylormades (not too many bags bulging with MD Golf kit in the stores I know). £ stayed out and can now use that position to stimulate exports through devaluation. You cant buck the market.

Wont last too long anyway - price parity will be more or less restored soon enough. Weak £ will increase the prices of the big brands in Northern shops which are imports to the Uk as well. Even G Browns VAT reduction is finite.

In the longer term they could be in for a tougher time than the Eurozone. Help your Northern cousins out - we spent long enough fighting to have them join us

(On only saving 20 quid : do a few weeks shopoing and stock up on alcohol while you're up there - net cost to you of a nice new driver is - zero!)

ant043

Don't see why people should be lectured in a golf forum to be honest. If you want to buy all of your goods in the south thats up to yourself but i'll continue to do what i want.

Blunder

I havent checked any other forums but I hope he's gone into every forum from motors to grocery forums and posted a similar thread to this.

OP, if I want to spend money anywhere other than Ireland on anything then thats my choice, just like every other person in this country has the choice. Everyone is going to have to make sacrifices during this depression. Personally I've had to take a pay cut as the company I work for is running out the same levels of work on which it has operated on over the last 5 years. This work is mainly government funded contracts which now in their wisdom have been cut back by the government. So not only have they reduced their VAT income from these type of contracts as they are not putting out jobs but they've also lost over 600 euro a month from my pay packet (even after the lenihan levy is applied). In my company there are approximately 40 people in the same situation who have taken a cut with a total loss to the taxman of 24k a month. Thats only a small company. The whole country is going to mirror this. How much money is this going to amount to as a direct result of government mis-management?

People buying stuff in the north is the last thing I'd be worrying about. IMO i think its an easy target for the greedy retailers in our country to blame when their balance sheet isnt looking as healthy as it used to.

I have a sneaking suspicion that waterville72 is either BC or BL.:D

Anyway, sorry for going on but the OPs logic annoys me!

Mods, nuke this thread please. Nothing to do with the golf forum. Nuke, Nuke, Nuke!:D

WHIP IT!

ant043 wrote: »

Don't see why people should be lectured in a golf forum to be honest. If you want to buy all of your goods in the south thats up to yourself but i'll continue to do what i want.

Well Said Anto - is the OP for real?? Yes, my friend - I am an Irishman. A proud one. And the beauty of being an Irishman? Living in a democracy. This allows me to shop where I like.

I have to laugh at the "poor" retailers who've been milking us dry from years (in every industry) who're now crying foul and playing the poor mouth. They've been getting away with the "Be Irish. Buy Irish" crap for generations and people were suckered in by it.

I saw a headline the other day "Retailers blame Cowen for Downturn in spending".

Retailers should look in the mirror - it's high prices, higher than anywhere I've been in the world, that keep my wallet in my pocket. It's kept there out of necessity and the fact things are just too expensive. Nothing else.

"Consequences of shopping up North"?? The consequences are it might wake the retailers here who've had it to good up a little bit and we - the consumer (it's all about us in the end, my friend) - might get a fair deal in future. These consequences I can live with.

Swinging Looney

WHIP IT! wrote: »

The consequences are it might wake the retailers here who've had it to good up a little bit and we - the consumer (it's all about us in the end, my friend) - might get a fair deal in future. These consequences I can live with.

Perhaps the best post of the past few weeks. A market and an industry exist for only one thing - the consumer. How backward is it to tell people off for not providing Joe Business man with enough profit?

The rest of us are suffering in this economy too you know. If I had no choice but to buy golf equipment in Ireland, there is a good chance I wouldn't buy anything at all. I'd make do with the crappy clubs I already have in my bag. How would that help things here?

Instead, in order to continue enjoying a recreational sport of my choosing, I have found that buying up north or in the UK allows me to continue improving my equipment so I can continue to enjoy my time off. And you think I should feel guilty about that? Could anything possibly be more absurd?

With luck, all this cross border shopping will force retailers to lower their prices and accept lower profit margins sooner - something that will only help the Irish economy in the long run. Which begs the question of those ridiculous people who say we are unpatriotic - How long do you suggest we force ourselves to shop in Ireland? Until the UK is no longer cheap anymore? Then can we buy in Europe? Or do we have to wait until Joe Business man has enough to buy a new Merc? Or a new house? Or should we just buy in Ireland forever regardless of price? And lead this economy into complete paralysis where the only people who will pay the exorbitant prices are the few million Irish people living here and all cross border trade dies off? What rubbish!!!

For me, I am simply taking the advice that the government dished out a few years ago when they said to their citizens complaining about high prices - "Go shop around and find the best deal" they said. "Don't complain if you simply buy in the first shop you walk in to" they said. "A frugal shopper is good for competition in the long run". Well, perhaps they weren't that far off the mark after all.

WHIP IT!

Swinging Looney wrote: »

Perhaps the best post of the past few weeks. A market and an industry exist for only one thing - the consumer. How backward is it to tell people off for not providing Joe Business man with enough profit?

The rest of us are suffering in this economy too you know. If I had no choice but to buy golf equipment in Ireland, there is a good chance I wouldn't buy anything at all. I'd make do with the crappy clubs I already have in my bag. How would that help things here?

Instead, in order to continue enjoying a recreational sport of my choosing, I have found that buying up north or in the UK allows me to continue improving my equipment so I can continue to enjoy my time off. And you think I should feel guilty about that? Could anything possibly be more absurd?

With luck, all this cross border shopping will force retailers to lower their prices and accept lower profit margins sooner - something that will only help the Irish economy in the long run. Which begs the question of those ridiculous people who say we are unpatriotic - How long do you suggest we force ourselves to shop in Ireland? Until the UK is no longer cheap anymore? Then can we buy in Europe? Or do we have to wait until Joe Business man has enough to buy a new Merc? Or a new house? Or should we just buy in Ireland forever regardless of price? And lead this economy into complete paralysis where the only people who will pay the exorbitant prices are the few million Irish people living here and all cross border trade dies off? What rubbish!!!

For me, I am simply taking the advice that the government dished out a few years ago when they said to their citizens complaining about high prices - "Go shop around and find the best deal" they said. "Don't complain if you simply buy in the first shop you walk in to" they said. "A frugal shopper is good for competition in the long run". Well, perhaps they weren't that far off the mark after all.

Aw, thanks Man... Yours is definitely second best... :pac:

mikemac

waterville72 wrote: »

What's going on? And these people call themselves Irishmen?

Ever gone a golfing trip abroad? Spain & Florida are two popular destinations?
Even if you haven't do you feel the same about them?
What they didn't pay green fees, VAT, duties on drinks or other expenses in Ireland but took their money abroad? :eek:

Get over yourself OP.
Most (bound to be a few gangsters here! ) pay lower tax, higher tax on overtime maybe, PRSI and now a 1% levy. But it's not enough it seems......

What's left is disposable income and the posters here like to spend money on golf, for some it's a sport but for all it's an enjoyable hobby and pasttime.

I'd say many here pay over 1k a month in tax, Not enough you say OP? It's our duty to pay more?
I've not checked your past posts OP,do have a golf shop? Welcome to the EU, compete or GTFO, the consumer comes first

stevire

That's strange OP... Just seen your old post:
http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=57357075#post57357075

waterville72 wrote: »

Had a look at them Frankie and they are absolutely fine. Masters is a recognised manufacturer so you would have comeback should anything go wrong. Stainless steel irons and a nice bag. Good value at 79 stg. Go for it.

For such a proud Irishman your encouraging international sales... Why didn't you tell him to stick to Irish shops??

copacetic

thread locked, economics/consumer issues/politics forum if you feel the need to bring it up again OP.