Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

How about Lidl ripoff

«1

Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 16,096 ✭✭✭✭the groutch


    it's not a 60% increase, we've been through this a million times


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 241 ✭✭olearydc


    ok groutch, sorry my maths is not up to scratch!:rolleyes:

    what I should have said is..

    Thats a big bloody increase...:confused:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,288 ✭✭✭✭ntlbell


    how are they ripping anyone off??

    how many threads do we have to have before this nonsense stops?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 16,096 ✭✭✭✭the groutch


    what I meant was, have you factored in the vat differences, and the higher wages, rents, and everything else that makes it more expensive to run a supermarket in the republic? even the xe.com exchange rate is about 2.5% off what you will pay
    when you factor them in, there is a bit of profiteering, but not as much as you'd think


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 791 ✭✭✭viv2


    ntlbell wrote: »
    how are they ripping anyone off??

    how many threads do we have to have before this nonsense stops?
    ^^^ +1


  • Advertisement
  • Closed Accounts Posts: 16,096 ✭✭✭✭the groutch


    +2


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,131 ✭✭✭subway


    do the people defending this price difference really think that it costs lidl 8euro more per toaster to sell it in dundalk as it does in newry?

    seriously?

    the more this type of thing is highlighted, the better.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 16,096 ✭✭✭✭the groutch


    you can't base this kind of thing on a single product that a place sells


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,288 ✭✭✭✭ntlbell


    subway wrote: »
    do the people defending this price difference really think that it costs lidl 8euro more per toaster to sell it in dundalk as it does in newry?

    seriously?

    the more this type of thing is highlighted, the better.

    first of all that rate is xe rates this is not the rate you get at the bank so it's not 8euro.

    secondly you are more than capable of getting into your car and driving to newry spending 20-25e on petrol to save your few quid on the toaster no one is stopping you.

    highlighting that prices are cheaper in other countries than ireland?

    no one is forcing you to go to dundalk or anywhere else.

    we have gone over it a hundred times.

    insurance/rent/land/wages..just about every single cost you can think of will be cheaper in the uk than to here

    this will make up a huge different in price

    then when you add how weak STG is this is making a difference

    if you go back only a few months and take the actuall rate a bank etc was given in STG the time it takes to go there not everyone lives in dundalk

    the petrol etc etc

    see how much cheaper your toaster becomes.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 372 ✭✭Lplated


    ntlbell wrote: »

    we have gone over it a hundred times.

    You may have gone over it a 100 times, but it appears you are incorrect.
    Heres a link to the recent Forfas study, commissioned by Minister Coughlan -
    http://www.forfas.ie/publications/2008/title,2623,en.php

    Summary of said report from Irish times (which puts it better than I could) @ http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/1222/breaking50.htm

    "Forfás’s study, which was published today, shows that while operating costs for retailers in Dublin were on average 25 per cent higher than in Belfast, such costs accounted for only 20 to 25 per cent of the total cost of a retail good, meaning that the price differential between goods should only be 5 to 6 per cent higher in the capital." (my emphasis)

    Hope this helps.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,804 ✭✭✭GerardKeating


    Lplated wrote: »
    You may have gone over it a 100 times, but it appears you are incorrect.
    Heres a link to the recent Forfas study, commissioned by Minister Coughlan -
    http://www.forfas.ie/publications/2008/title,2623,en.php

    Summary of said report from Irish times (which puts it better than I could) @ http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/1222/breaking50.htm

    "Forfás’s study, which was published today, shows that while operating costs for retailers in Dublin were on average 25 per cent higher than in Belfast, such costs accounted for only 20 to 25 per cent of the total cost of a retail good, meaning that the price differential between goods should only be 5 to 6 per cent higher in the capital." (my emphasis)

    Hope this helps.

    But most of the extra costs of doing business "down south" are caused by the government, and one would hardly expect a government body to stress this much...


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,131 ✭✭✭subway


    ntlbell wrote: »
    first of all that rate is xe rates this is not the rate you get at the bank so it's not 8euro.

    secondly you are more than capable of getting into your car and driving to newry spending 20-25e on petrol to save your few quid on the toaster no one is stopping you.

    highlighting that prices are cheaper in other countries than ireland?

    no one is forcing you to go to dundalk or anywhere else.

    we have gone over it a hundred times.

    insurance/rent/land/wages..just about every single cost you can think of will be cheaper in the uk than to here

    this will make up a huge different in price

    then when you add how weak STG is this is making a difference

    if you go back only a few months and take the actuall rate a bank etc was given in STG the time it takes to go there not everyone lives in dundalk

    the petrol etc etc

    see how much cheaper your toaster becomes.
    i'm sure you've heard of the term "economies of scale"?
    lidl are a huge bulk buyer and distributor.

    if i was to go to the north and get 500 hundred toasters it would not cost me 8euro (or 7/7.50) per box to transport etc.

    fact that the forum is called rip off ireland indicates that it is indeed the place to show ireland is a rip off compared to other countries.

    you may have gone over it one hundred times, but that still does not make it the blanket defence answer everytime someone posts a rip off for all to see. is there any reason why you are so quick to dismiss this users post? do you work for some interested party (government or otherwise) that might have an interest in putting negative spin on such repoirts as these?
    you have given some generic answers, but nothing that explains the price difference on this particualr item in full.

    this is clearly a rip off and this forum is for highlighting it


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 241 ✭✭olearydc


    Hi all

    I know that living and working in Ireland is expensive..

    I know that all things coming through from the UK will be more expensive, what I was trying to highlight with that single product is how much company's can and do try to maximize profits from us.

    The links to both versions of Lidl websites show that the increase is in everything, of course I was showing just one product as a comparison, but please look at other products beside that toaster :o

    There is a VAT difference
    there are wage differences
    there are a humumgous differences in areas of cost that we deal with each day, but we all know that its not that different.

    No, I wont go up North to just buy a toaster. (I already have one!!). It would be bloody stupid for the majority of people to do that as its not cost effective, unless maybe they were on the border.

    But what I will do is buy things the cheapest way possible. If that means going online I will, if it was feasible (cost effective) to go up north to buy a number of larger products, I will.

    What I am showing is when Lidl claim, how cheap they are when in effect they are still charging us over the odds.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,288 ✭✭✭✭ntlbell


    subway wrote: »
    i'm sure you've heard of the term "economies of scale"?
    lidl are a huge bulk buyer and distributor.

    if i was to go to the north and get 500 hundred toasters it would not cost me 8euro (or 7/7.50) per box to transport etc.

    fact that the forum is called rip off ireland indicates that it is indeed the place to show ireland is a rip off compared to other countries.

    you may have gone over it one hundred times, but that still does not make it the blanket defence answer everytime someone posts a rip off for all to see. is there any reason why you are so quick to dismiss this users post? do you work for some interested party (government or otherwise) that might have an interest in putting negative spin on such repoirts as these?
    you have given some generic answers, but nothing that explains the price difference on this particualr item in full.

    this is clearly a rip off and this forum is for highlighting it

    that would be great of this was the buisness/whole sale forum it's for consumers to go and buy and consumers don't generaly go and buy 500 toasters what a rediclous statment.

    no i don't work for any VI :rolleyes:

    I'm more than happy for people to shop around be it in ireland the republic or thailand

    But to post a thread on every fc*king item that's sold in a different country at a different price is rediclous.

    I think the problem is half the people here don't seem to understand what a rip off is.

    If you can't understand why things are cheaper in the uk and other countries then you really need to spend some of your earnnings from selling all those toaster on a basic book on econmics.

    something been sold in another country at a different price != a rip off

    regardless of what spin you put on it if you want to point out bargains then point them out in the bargain forum whioch has a specific thread for pointing them out

    this is for rip off's the OP's is not a rip off

    I can't make it any more simple.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,288 ✭✭✭✭ntlbell


    olearydc wrote: »


    But what I will do is buy things the cheapest way possible. If that means going online I will, if it was feasible (cost effective) to go up north to buy a number of larger products, I will.

    What I am showing is when Lidl claim, how cheap they are when in effect they are still charging us over the odds.

    and so you should but what you should do is post bargain's in the bargain forum's and rip off's here

    what you showed was a bargain in newry.

    but they're not ripping anyone off.

    They have a toaster they have set a price in ireland

    there's no rip off in this post


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,131 ✭✭✭subway


    ntlbell wrote: »
    that would be great of this was the buisness/whole sale forum it's for consumers to go and buy and consumers don't generaly go and buy 500 toasters what a rediclous statment.

    no i don't work for any VI :rolleyes:

    I'm more than happy for people to shop around be it in ireland the republic or thailand

    But to post a thread on every fc*king item that's sold in a different country at a different price is rediclous.

    I think the problem is half the people here don't seem to understand what a rip off is.

    If you can't understand why things are cheaper in the uk and other countries then you really need to spend some of your earnnings from selling all those toaster on a basic book on econmics.

    something been sold in another country at a different price != a rip off

    regardless of what spin you put on it if you want to point out bargains then point them out in the bargain forum whioch has a specific thread for pointing them out

    this is for rip off's the OP's is not a rip off

    I can't make it any more simple.
    i think you need to chill out.
    if you dont like the post, report it or suggest that it isnt a rip off.

    but this "its not f*cking rip off, you dont understand how things work" attitude does you no favors.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,288 ✭✭✭✭ntlbell


    subway wrote: »
    i think you need to chill out.
    if you dont like the post, report it or suggest that it isnt a rip off.

    but this "its not f*cking rip off, you dont understand how things work" attitude does you no favors.

    thanks for your concern.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 241 ✭✭olearydc


    ntlbell wrote: »
    and so you should but what you should do is post bargain's in the bargain forum's and rip off's here

    what you showed was a bargain in newry.

    but they're not ripping anyone off.

    They have a toaster they have set a price in ireland

    there's no rip off in this post

    There is 2 ways at looking at this

    1...Your way...Its a bargain in newry.....Great, you can post it where you like
    2...My way.....Its a rip off here......And I post it in the rip off forum..

    But I'm sure you are right...so relax..
    send a email to admin with your concerns and I'm sure they will move this post to the appropriate forum


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 370 ✭✭MaxFlower


    The enthusiasm with which some posters defend the retail sector while claiming no VI or connection with same makes me wonder. The retailers are well able to defend their own actions. If someone in the sector wants to come on and give us some solid facts/links as to why their prices are justified I would welcome that. Some examples with actual profit margins etc would be even better.


    However it has been obvious for the last number of years that we in this country were not always getting the best deal to be had. Couple that with something that was relayed to me by someone in the business and I quote 'we don't charge a specific percentage mark-up, we charge what we think we can get for the item'. With the willingness of the Irish population as a whole to pay whatever was asked for the last number of years and you can understand why Lidl et al are still at this sort of carry on irrespective of Vat and the other costs of doing business in the Republic.

    As far as I can tell the second hand motor trade of cars 5+ years is the only place I see value beginning to creep in due to a virtual collapse in sales. But I am sure others will follow in due course.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,288 ✭✭✭✭ntlbell


    olearydc wrote: »
    There is 2 ways at looking at this

    1...Your way...Its a bargain in newry.....Great, you can post it where you like
    2...My way.....Its a rip off here......And I post it in the rip off forum..

    But I'm sure you are right...so relax..
    send a email to admin with your concerns and I'm sure they will move this post to the appropriate forum


    There has been a ton of posts recently due to recession, there's another huge thread on the first page explaining price difference in the uk and ireland

    What your posting is not a rip off it's a company in two different countries charging different amounts.

    this happens all over the world.

    it's _not_ a rip off.

    You seem to be having problems with the concept "rip off"

    maybe have a read through the debenhams thread to get get a grasp of whats going on


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,288 ✭✭✭✭ntlbell


    MaxFlower wrote: »
    The enthusiasm with which some posters defend the retail sector while claiming no VI or connection with same makes me wonder. The retailers are well able to defend their own actions. If someone in the sector wants to come on and give us some solid facts/links as to why their prices are justified I would welcome that. Some examples with actual profit margins etc would be even better. .

    I'm not defending the retail sector, if you are that bothred i'm sure a little search on topis I generally post on it will be obvious to you I'm not a VI.

    I work in IT I'm a techie, I'm not sticking up for them I type this to you on a fantastic laptop I purchased in the north only a week about and saved myself a lot of money.

    What you don't see is me posting that the same shop in Ireland tried to rip me off. I'll explain why they didn't they said we have X product I asked how much it was they said X amount I walked out and looked elsewhere

    He wasn't trying to rip me off he did try and sell me something that it wasn't he didn't tell me it was the best laptop in the world and sell me some out of date slow sluggish laptop he put a price on it told me what it was and I walked away

    how is this shop ripping me off?

    am I happy that prices in the republic are more exspensive? no...

    but claiming every shop that charges more than a shop in another country is a rip off I could post thread after thread after thread of items that are cheaper elsewhere

    I could litearlly fill pages every day of cheaper items elsewhere

    But the point is the shop isn't "ripping you off" they're not selling you something it's not they're not hiding anything from you

    they say here's the product this is the price you make the call.

    there's no "ripping off" going on.....

    Calling me a VI is just down right stupid.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 370 ✭✭MaxFlower


    Wasn't really directed at you, just an observation in general of a number of posts I have read over a period, but if you want to take offense so be it.
    ntlbell wrote: »
    What you don't see is me posting that the same shop in Ireland tried to rip me off. I'll explain why they didn't they said we have X product I asked how much it was they said X amount I walked out and looked elsewhere.

    Assuming the item is not something essential. You can't always walk out. If I need a part to get my car on the road and I can't afford to wait the days/weeks it would take to get that part from a dealer in another country - despite the factor of 4 price difference - I have to purchase locally at whatever price.
    ntlbell wrote: »
    But the point is the shop isn't "ripping you off" they're not selling you something it's not they're not hiding anything from you

    Why does it have to be hidden to be a rip-off? Some retailers are not too concerned if you know it or not.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 241 ✭✭olearydc


    ntlbell wrote: »
    There has been a ton of posts recently due to recession, there's another huge thread on the first page explaining price difference in the uk and ireland

    What your posting is not a rip off it's a company in two different countries charging different amounts.

    this happens all over the world.

    it's _not_ a rip off.

    You seem to be having problems with the concept "rip off"

    maybe have a read through the debenhams thread to get get a grasp of whats going on


    Hi

    Yes, had read it..read it again..
    amazing ...Looks to be 2 different opinions there too..just like in this toast..I mean post

    you're right again...my concept of being ripped off is totally wrong...:D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 38,247 ✭✭✭✭Guy:Incognito


    subway wrote: »
    do the people defending this price difference really think that it costs lidl 8euro more per toaster to sell it in dundalk as it does in newry?

    seriously?

    the more this type of thing is highlighted, the better.

    Not Lidl but Aldi.

    Graduate program

    from .ie

    "All in return for a market leading rewards package including a starting salary of €58K plus car and fantastic career prospects. "

    .co.uk

    "All in return for a market leading rewards package including a starting salary of £40K plus car and fantastic career prospects."


    Store Assistant

    .ie



    "If you're over 18, a practical and friendly team player who likes working in a fast-paced environment, but also likes thinking for yourself, then this may well be the job for you.Hourghly rate from €10.85"

    .co.uk


    If you're over 18, a practical and friendly team player who likes working in a fast-paced environment, but also likes thinking for yourself, then this may well be the job for you. £7.70 rising to £8.85"







    Anyone want to take up the case for the poor oppressed Brits?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,288 ✭✭✭✭ntlbell


    MaxFlower wrote: »
    Wasn't really directed at you, just an observation in general of a number of posts I have read over a period, but if you want to take offense so be it.

    Assuming the item is not something essential. You can't always walk out. If I need a part to get my car on the road and I can't afford to wait the days/weeks it would take to get that part from a dealer in another country - despite the factor of 4 price difference - I have to purchase locally at whatever price.
    Why does it have to be hidden to be a rip-off? Some retailers are not too concerned if you know it or not.

    I'm not taken offence I just think it was a mornic statment to make.

    I'm not saying it has to be hidden but to get ripped off something has to happen, if you don't purchase something you haven't been ripped off.

    Taken car parts for example I use a breakers in the north that delivers every morning to Dublin and have done for the last twenty years.

    They don't even charge for delivery.

    You could look around for the part in other parts of the country I have often bought parts on Cork/Limerick/Cavan cheaper than I was getting them in Dublin

    The Dublin parts department wasn't trying to rip me off

    they were paying a hell of a lot more rent for ther parts shop in dublin city

    there staff had mortages up to the hilt cause property was so expsensive in dublin so they demanded much higher wages

    the list goes on and on and on the parts place couldn't sell at a loss so it has to raise the price of the goods to stay in buisness..

    this is just econmomics it's not a "rip off"

    Now I'm not saying every single place is in ireland is in the right and are charging more becuase they can of course there is some places doing this
    but you have to look at the reality of the situation here Lidl have really put the cat amongst the piegions regarding supermarkets they are forcing tesco etc to make less profits by offering fantastic value on just about 99% of their produce

    Tesco have a history of some strange carry on like dropping the prices of some items to get you and hiking up the prices of others Lidl does not do this they have offered fantastic value

    To say they're ripping people of basing it on a fecking toaster is just down right retarded.

    Lets save our annoyances for companies that geuinley dont offer value and go out of there to try and "rip off" their loyal customers.

    Lidl is not one of them and this fecking toaster is not an example.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 241 ✭✭olearydc


    ntlbell wrote: »
    To say they're ripping people of basing it on a fecking toaster is just down right retarded.

    Lets save our annoyances for companies that geuinley dont offer value and go out of there to try and "rip off" their loyal customers.

    Lidl is not one of them and this fecking toaster is not an example.

    you are getting a bit heated up with that toaster...I take it you wont be buying one soon


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,288 ✭✭✭✭ntlbell


    olearydc wrote: »
    you are getting a bit heated up with that toaster...I take it you wont be buying one soon

    No, But after all this talk I'd murder a few slices of toasted brennans dripping in butter...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 241 ✭✭olearydc


    ntlbell wrote: »
    No, But after all this talk I'd murder a few slices of toasted brennans dripping in butter...

    Fair play...:D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,386 ✭✭✭✭rubadub


    Lplated wrote: »
    Heres a link to the recent Forfas study, commissioned by Minister Coughlan -
    http://www.forfas.ie/publications/2008/title,2623,en.php
    I have been waiting to see this report. I had a quick skim through it.
    Lplated wrote: »
    meaning that the price differential between goods should only be 5 to 6 per cent higher in the capital."
    I couldn't see that in the report. Have you read it fully yet? if so could you point me to the page where this is mentioned.

    I did see this bit
    The purpose of this study was to examine the composition of retail business costs in Ireland and to determine how their cost base compares with retailers in other countries. While operating costs are on average 25 percent higher in Dublin than in Belfast, they account for a relatively small share of
    total costs (circa 20-25%).Our analysis highlights that higher operating costs in Ireland add approximately 5-6 percent to the total cost base of retailers in Dublin versus those operating in Belfast
    I do not think that means the same as the previous quote though. I am not familiar enough with economic terms, but I presume "cost base", and "price of goods" are different things.

    I find it really puzzling since if this was the case surely retailers in the north and UK would be selling up and opening up here, if it really was so good.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 437 ✭✭tororosso


    Thanks for that OP :) Must check the comparisons in future before buying stuff there; That €8 price difference is nonsense!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 370 ✭✭MaxFlower


    @ntlbell

    If you don't consider 4x the price for the same item a rip-off, fair play to you.
    BTW Less of the abuse would be appreciated. Having an opinion contrary to your own is neither stupid nor moronic - you just don't agree with it


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,288 ✭✭✭✭ntlbell


    MaxFlower wrote: »
    @ntlbell

    If you don't consider 4x the price for the same item a rip-off, fair play to you.
    BTW Less of the abuse would be appreciated. Having an opinion contrary to your own is neither stupid nor moronic - you just don't agree with it

    It has nothing to do with disagreeing with me, calling people VI's who are trying to be rational and fair is moronic.

    plus an important part that you keep missing

    XE's rate is NOT the rate you get at the bank and more than likley not the rate you get at the lidl till.

    If you take AIB's or boi's rate the price difference is under 4 euro how does that equal a 4X price difference?

    if you take the rate of a month or two ago it's about 2euro difference at the rate of the bank NOT xe as xe is NOT the rate you get.

    see?

    this is not very complicated really.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 45 Anan


    It all depends on what the baseline is. If the highest price is the baseline ( ROI) then the NI price is a bargain. If the lowest price (NI) is the baseline, then ROI is a rip-off.

    I know we are not comparing apples with apples etc. but the Average Joe in the street will only see the difference in price and will not understand how the business is run.

    Le us say there are two shops in Dublin. Shop A charging 1.60 for a specific brand of 2 litre of milk and shop B charging 2.25 for the same brand. Will you call the shop B price a rip-off ? Will the same argument of - Each business is different not be valid then?

    Maybe the guy who is charging 2.25 is paying higher wages... Maybe his refrigerator which is storing the milk is consuming more electricity... Maybe the guy who delivers milk to the shop does it at 2:00 A.M. in the middle of the night and is paid double his wages as overtime... Maybe the lease to the shop was much higher.. Maybe the management was downright inefficient in sourcing their items cheaper.... You could go on. But if a common shopper sees this price difference in the shelf, he will not try and make an effort to understand the issues behind this business and appreciate the higher price. He is going to call it a rip-off.

    Of course Business B is not cheating. They have clearly said that Milk in their shop costs 2.25. It is displayed in the shelf and you are well aware of it and you are not forced to buy. You can walk out and go elsewhere and buy the milk ( At a BARGAIN price of 1.60 :rolleyes: )

    Certainly there would be differences between each and every business. And so will be differences due to the other factors due to their location and country.

    What percentage of cost between NI and ROI would you coniser as normal and above what percentage would you consider this a rip-off ?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 372 ✭✭Lplated


    rubadub wrote: »
    I do not think that means the same as the previous quote though. I am not familiar enough with economic terms, but I presume "cost base", and "price of goods" are different things.

    I find it really puzzling since if this was the case surely retailers in the north and UK would be selling up and opening up here, if it really was so good.

    I assume you're being sarcastic? How many possible ways could you interpret the line

    "Our analysis highlights that higher operating costs in Ireland add approximately 5-6 percent to the total cost base of retailers in Dublin versus those operating in Belfast"

    It would seem to suggest to me that the higher costs here add 5 to 6% to the overall costs of products being sold in Dublin as against in Belfast.

    I'm unsure what is meant by your last paragraph - a significant number of retailers operate both sides of the border, giving rise to a lot of heat about the different prices in both.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 370 ✭✭MaxFlower


    ntlbell wrote: »
    It has nothing to do with disagreeing with me, calling people VI's who are trying to be rational and fair is moronic..
    I haven't called anyone a VI.
    ntlbell wrote: »
    plus an important part that you keep missing. XE's rate is NOT the rate you get at the bank and more than likely not the rate you get at the lidl till.
    I said nothing about Xe.com or AIB
    ntlbell wrote: »
    If you take AIB's or boi's rate the price difference is under 4 euro how does that equal a 4X price difference?
    The 4X price difference I am talking about related to an item I bought.
    ntlbell wrote: »
    see? this is not very complicated really.
    Either is reading my posts and not misquoting me


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,726 ✭✭✭✭noodler


    If we were in the North and we were finding cheaper prices in mainland Britain on the web then the OP's argument would make alot more sense.

    Do you know what the minimum wage is in Britain by any chance? Compared to Ireland? Of course we all know the near 7% difference in VAT as well.
    Economies of scale is also rather obvious, 5 million in ROI or 60m in the UK.

    Now obviously when all this is taken into account we would still have slightly higher prices its just nowhere near as high as it appears on the face.

    NI is an anomaly. It is tough for UK companies to keep prices their as low as they are in mainland Britain but they have to because it is part of the UK. Retailers don't have to artificially lower our prices and DO take the higher costs etc into account.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,386 ✭✭✭✭rubadub


    Lplated wrote: »
    I assume you're being sarcastic? How many possible ways could you interpret the line

    "Our analysis highlights that higher operating costs in Ireland add approximately 5-6 percent to the total cost base of retailers in Dublin versus those operating in Belfast"

    It would seem to suggest to me that the higher costs here add 5 to 6% to the overall costs of products being sold in Dublin as against in Belfast.
    No I am not being sarcastic. I do not know what "cost base" means, maybe somebody familiar with economic terms does.

    In full again it says
    While operating costs are on average 25 percent higher in Dublin than in Belfast, they account for a relatively small share of total costs (circa 20-25%). Our analysis highlights that higher operating costs in Ireland add
    approximately 5-6 percent to the total cost base of retailers in Dublin versus those operating in Belfast.
    The way I read that is that the operating cost of keeping a shop open is 25% higher in dublin, but this is only 20-25% of total costs. So in total a shop in dublin being open is only 5-6% more than in belfast. No mention of the cost of a good.

    Have they mentioned anything else? I do not see them mentioning how much it costs the customer to get something. e.g. there was a thread on a Wii a few days ago, saying it was cheaper up north. The dublin shop might cost 5-6% more to stay open. BUT they are paying for the goods as set by nintendo, which has a higher RRP and so I presume a higher wholesale price here. Then we have higher VAT on top of that too. So the customers price here is higher on 3 counts, the running of the shop, the higher wholesale price, and the higher VAT.

    I am sure plenty of other global brands have varying wholesale prices like this, e.g. coke, ipods, cadburys etc.
    Lplated wrote: »
    I'm unsure what is meant by your last paragraph - a significant number of retailers operate both sides of the border, giving rise to a lot of heat about the different prices in both.

    My last line "I find it really puzzling since if this was the case surely retailers in the north and UK would be selling up and opening up here, if it really was so good."

    Is that in all these threads people seem to think Irish retailers are raking it in big time, fleecing people and getting away with it. So why not give up the day job and open a retail store if they really have it so good? Why are independent northern retailers not selling up and flocking down here if it is really such a golden goose. I just don't think retailers here are making as much as people think.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,366 ✭✭✭luckat


    Yes, it's a rip-off.

    Incidentally, the higher-VAT article is used for plenty of items which don't carry VAT, though this isn't one of those cases.

    But that price differential - what kind of fools do they think we are? It just shows an utter lack of respect for their Irish customers.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 372 ✭✭Lplated


    rubadub wrote: »
    No I am not being sarcastic.


    I must have misread the tone of your post.

    In a way, the Forfas report is irrelevant. People can see how much cheaper it is to shop in the North (or New York, or online). A significant proportion of us seem to have made the choice to shop around and get the best value we can for our euro.

    Retailers attempts to explain price differences, nor this report which casts severe doubt over their explanations, do not alter the reality, that people can achieve savings by shopping elsewhere.

    When things ran well for us, we didn't seem to care too much about value, but that has changed. My guess is that while people generally might 'care' about whether they were/are being ripped off or not, it won't alter their search for value.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 385 ✭✭DanGlee


    Off Topic... But between the three pages I just read, thats the best economics lesson I've ever had, beats anything they can teach you at school.

    (Not being sarcastic either.)

    Not going to comment on the price difference. I'm a non national (English) living in Ireland for 8 years and I'm always heading home to UK and I find myself getting sucked into the trap of buying things cos they seem cheaper, but when the credit card bill comes in, its generally within a couple of percent of a difference, not factoring in the cost of travel etc (but you can't put a cost on the price of seeing you mammy once in a while :) )

    My 2 cent on this is, if you want a bargain... buy it on the interweb. Even with P+P you'll always save a little, not only on cost of goods, but petrol, shoe leather, etc... and you can do it from the comform of your own home.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,288 ✭✭✭✭ntlbell


    luckat wrote: »
    Yes, it's a rip-off.

    Incidentally, the higher-VAT article is used for plenty of items which don't carry VAT, though this isn't one of those cases.

    But that price differential - what kind of fools do they think we are? It just shows an utter lack of respect for their Irish customers.

    Yes no respect what so ever they beat tesco,superquinn and dunnes in just about every single department....the neck of them coming to our country and giving us great value for money and forcing others to advertise when they can even "match" them on somethings that are not even of the same quality

    omg a 2e price difference in a different country on a toaster :o where wages are lower,vat is lower,insurance is lower, rent is lower _everything_ is lower

    off with their heads!


  • Site Banned Posts: 5,904 ✭✭✭parsi


    Can we get back down to brass tacks ?

    Is the toaster anygood ?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,321 ✭✭✭sham69


    More importantly , how many slices can it toast and have the speeds at which it toasts been compared between the one in Dublin and the one in Newry...

    Sorry bad joke, just trying to lighten the mood.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,288 ✭✭✭✭ntlbell


    sham69 wrote: »
    More importantly , how many slices can it toast and have the speeds at which it toasts been compared between the one in Dublin and the one in Newry...

    Sorry bad joke, just trying to lighten the mood.

    even more importantly

    does it have a make the second batch of toast taste nicer?

    that i would be pay an extra 8 euro for


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,203 ✭✭✭partyguinness


    For Christmas I bought my mother this Molton Brown box thing in England (House of Fraiser) for £34.00 (which we will say is about €40.00)

    The same thing costs €84.00 in Brown Thomas in Cork....:eek:

    More than double the price. Incidently I did all my Xmas shopping in England this year and I dont feel one bit guilty about it..so there...


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 16,793 ✭✭✭✭Hagar


    I don't think that either Lidl or Aldi are British companies. Both their HQs are in the Eurozone afaik and most of the products they sell are sourced in the Eurozone so they were never paid for in Sterling in the first place. FX doesn't really come in to it. The number of staff in these stores is down to the barest minimum so difference in wages isn't as significant as people are making out. VAT differences are only a couple of percent. It's hard to justify the price differences.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,203 ✭✭✭partyguinness


    I believe they are German companies.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 38,247 ✭✭✭✭Guy:Incognito


    For Christmas I bought my mother this Molton Brown box thing in England (House of Fraiser) for £34.00 (which we will say is about €40.00)

    The same thing costs €84.00 in Brown Thomas in Cork....:eek:

    More than double the price. Incidently I did all my Xmas shopping in England this year and I dont feel one bit guilty about it..so there...

    Did you try getting it (or at leats not pickign the dearest shop in the country for comparison) in a shop that doesnt exist solely to cater for people who have too much money to bother looking at prices.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,203 ✭✭✭partyguinness


    Stekelly wrote: »
    Did you try getting it (or at leats not pickign the dearest shop in the country for comparison) in a shop that doesnt exist solely to cater for people who have too much money to bother looking at prices.

    I wasnt actively looking to compare. I just happen to be walking through the make up department and there was a big stand advertising the same products so naturally I looked (after I had bought it England) plus I understand (although open to correction) that Brown Thomas is the only stockist of this product in Ireland. Which makes sense considering the doubling of prices.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,603 ✭✭✭Mal-Adjusted


    usually, they will up their price by about a third from their european stores (or at least their italian stores, which iv'e checked)


  • Advertisement
Advertisement