Query regarding prices in shops

Fromvert

I was shopping today and a friend of mine asked me question regarding the prices displayed. When shops display their prices in both euro and sterling should they not correspond with the conversion rate. Im not concerned regarding the conversion rate at the moment as the stock they have would have been shelved weeks if not months ago but the prices seemed to be working to a conversion rate of less 60 pence to a euro. This seemed extremely low to me.

Can shops do this?

johnfás

Shops can charge what they like. There is absolutely no legal obligation on their part to ensure that there is an adequate exchange rate given. Beyond that, even if they misprice an item there is nothing you can do to force them to sell that item at the price marked. The price on an item is merely an invitation to treat rather than an offer of a product by them to you. But back to your initial question, no there is nothing wrong, in law, with them charging vastly different prices in sterling and in euro. Beyond which, there are vastly different costs between the two jurisdictions, higher vat, higher utility bills, higher rent, higher minimum wage etc.

gurramok

Some shops now in Xmas week have a sign saying a 10% discount on the exchange rate on their front windows(see Henry St, Dublin for example). If ever there was proof that they can afford to reduce their prices and they are hurting by cross border shopping.