RIP OFF REPUBLIC ****

sharonbabes

I just bought a dress in Monsoon for €280 and the same dress is online/priced in the UK at £180. How can these rip-off merchants justify the difference?

I want your help to make a difference!

Are you tired of retailers taking the proverbial piss by charging you over the odds for clothes that are a snip of the price in sterling? Just who is responsible for monitoring retail prices in Ireland and why are these big name retailers getting away with it? Now is the time for all of us to come together, show some people power and show these rip off merchants that we will NOT take it! Help me name and shame those shops

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=643466986&ref=profile#/group.php?gid=87926845663&ref=mf

I have every confidence that this group will be popular and I will prove these shops can not afford to ignore what is the power of social networking. It's time to fight back!

CiaranC

Why did you buy it then?

Prices are €280 in Ireland because people pay them. Its called market economics.

Alanstrainor

sharonbabes wrote: »

I just bought a dress in Monsoon for €280 and the same dress is online/priced in the UK at £180. How can these rip-off merchants justify the difference?

I want your help to make a difference!

Are you tired of retailers taking the proverbial piss by charging you over the odds for clothes that are a snip of the price in sterling? Just who is responsible for monitoring retail prices in Ireland and why are these big name retailers getting away with it? Now is the time for all of us to come together, show some people power and show these rip off merchants that we will NOT take it! Help me name and shame those shops

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=643466986&ref=profile#/group.php?gid=87926845663&ref=mf

I have every confidence that this group will be popular and I will prove these shops can not afford to ignore what is the power of social networking. It's time to fight back!

Let me get this straight. You bought the dress, and it's only now you want to start the rebellion agaisnt Irish retail? If it's too expensive, dont buy it. It's that simple.

sharonbabes

CiaranC wrote: »

Why did you buy it then?

Prices are €280 in Ireland because people pay them. Its called market economics.

The answer to that question is (a.) I didn't think the price difference would be THAT much, and (b.) I needed it quite quickly.

My shopping habits or that of others aren't and shouldn't be under fire. ealistically not everyone can shop online or travel "up north". The wider concern is that these shops are getting away with robbery quite frankly and this issue must be highlighted.

Believe it or not there are people who aren't aware of these massive scale differences.

Rather than point out the obvious it would surely be better to discuss a way of pushing for change/action?

sharonbabes

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Let me get this straight. You bought the dress, and it's only now you want to start the rebellion agaisnt Irish retail? If it's too expensive, dont buy it. It's that simple.

I came on this forum to share my views with people who I thought had similar grievances. Simply advising people not to buy a product is not going to change the situation...as much as I'd love to live in that airy fairyland where everybody does the right thing....it just isn't going to happen pet.

This problem (I agree) has been present for quite some time but I haven't seen anybody even try to take some action...

One of my questions was who is responsible for monitoring retail prices in Ireland...is there someone? If you don't know ...don't worry I won't judge you or write a pointless negative response!

ScouseMouse

No. Its no ones job to monitior prices. It is a free country and there are no caps on prices. To impose a cap, would fall foul of the anti-price fixing legislation.

It is buyer beware - LITERALLY !

bobcar61

Why lower the prices when people like yourself are willing to pay those prices.

sharonbabes

superscouse wrote: »

No. Its no ones job to monitior prices. It is a free country and there are no caps on prices. To impose a cap, would fall foul of the anti-price fixing legislation.

It is buyer beware - LITERALLY !

Thank you superscouse. You know I could have turned a blind eye to maybe €20 in the difference but €100 (after conversion!) Surely the consumer agency or watchdog can do something?

BuddhaJoe

sharonbabes wrote: »

My shopping habits or that of others aren't and shouldn't be under fire.

Of course they are. If people are willing to buy the products at the prices being sold then the shops will continue to charge those prices.

sharonbabes wrote: »

Simply advising people not to buy a product is not going to change the situation...

It will do a lot more good than a Facebook group will.

sharonbabes

BuddhaJoe wrote: »

Of course they are. If people are willing to buy the products at the prices being sold then the shops will continue to charge those prices.



It will do a lot more good than a Facebook group will.

Oh be realistic - the whole of Ireland isn't going to stop going into shops. Absolutely they should, but some can't and alot don't even realise the extent of the difference.

I was at a conference yesterday which highlighted and discussed the power of social media to influence decisions/actions of companies/brands. Only when you have studied the power of new media are you in a position to say whether or not a FB group can help a cause.

I'm not on the thread to argue so I'll agree to disagree with you.

Alanstrainor

bobcar61 wrote: »

Why lower the prices when people like yourself are willing to pay those prices.

exactly. If you were a shop owner with customers that will pay these high prices, what reason do they have to lower them? It does come down to simply not buying Irish if possible, OP i sincerely doubt buying that dress was a life or death situation. If you felt so strongly about it you could have just not bought it. Paying these prices is supporting these prices, if you think it's unjust buy elsewhere.

sharonbabes

Alanstrainor wrote: »

exactly. If you were a shop owner with customers that will pay these high prices, what reason do they have to lower them? It does come down to simply not buying Irish if possible, OP i sincerely doubt buying that dress was a life or death situation. If you felt so strongly about it you could have just not bought it. Paying these prices is supporting these prices, if you think it's unjust buy elsewhere.

I didn't see the price difference until after the purchase - If I had I would have put 50 yo yo's in the car and went to Newry!!!:D trust me!! BUT...I shouldn't have to do that. That's my only point. And I will do whatever I can to get the hard-done-by consumers behind me with a view to push these retailers into making some big changes. If I fail I fail, but it's better than simply saying I can't change it so I'll roll with it.;)

Robbo

sharonbabes wrote: »

I was at a conference yesterday which highlighted and discussed the power of social media to influence decisions/actions of companies/brands. Only when you have studied the power of new media are you in a position to say whether or not a FB group can help a cause.

I'm part of a rather large Facebook group that wants Ray D'arcy off the air yet he continues to mediocre the airwaves each morning. I'm glad you drank the Kool Aid but it's fanciful at best to think that you'll achieve anything with a Facebook group. Like online petitions, you're tilting at windmills.

And in what particular circumstances does one "need" to purchase a €280/£180 dress? You paid what the market will bear for a luxury good and now have buyers remorse.

sharonbabes

Robbo wrote: »

I'm part of a rather large Facebook group that wants Ray D'arcy off the air yet he continues to mediocre the airwaves each morning. I'm glad you drank the Kool Aid but it's fanciful at best to think that you'll achieve anything with a Facebook group. Like online petitions, you're tilting at windmills.

And in what particular circumstances does one "need" to purchase a €280/£180 dress? You paid what the market will bear for a luxury good and now have buyers remorse.

If I told you what I needed it for Robbo I'd have to kill ye! lol...I did need it and yes it was a luxury item (I never normally splash that much). Sure I'll just bring it back when I'm finished with it!! LOL I joke, I joke!

PS: Ray D'arcy is not that bad!

bobcar61

sharonbabes wrote: »

I didn't see the price difference until after the purchase - If I had I would have put 50 yo yo's in the car and went to Newry!!!:D trust me!! BUT...I shouldn't have to do that. That's my only point. And I will do whatever I can to get the hard-done-by consumers behind me with a view to push these retailers into making some big changes. If I fail I fail, but it's better than simply saying I can't change it so I'll roll with it.;)

Shouldn't have to go up north,but it's a choice and alot of us choose to go up North for the saving but alot more decide to shop local hence the high prices.

A Facebook group is going to do very little towards getting the retailers to lower their prices.
You said you "needed" it earlier.I'm sure you didn't need it but wanted it for something that evening or the next day.

MunsterCycling

R F on the other hand is a complete waste of space but then again he's banned from here so shouldn't mention the dweeb.

MC

ScouseMouse

sharonbabes wrote: »

Thank you superscouse. You know I could have turned a blind eye to maybe €20 in the difference but €100 (after conversion!) Surely the consumer agency or watchdog can do something?

ER? No, the carn't.

The only way people can do something is to vote with their feet (or get onto Scott Williams on Q102)

sharonbabes

bobcar61 wrote: »

Shouldn't have to go up north,but it's a choice and alot of us choose to go up North for the saving but alot more decide to shop local hence the high prices.

A Facebook group is going to do very little towards getting the retailers to lower their prices.
You said you "needed" it earlier.I'm sure you didn't need it but wanted it for something that evening or the next day.

Well if I'm not too busy with the day job I might make this a much bigger campaign than FB and throw alot more behind it. I'm quite passionate about it so yes I think I will. Cheers for all your views anyhoo

whippet

sharonbabes wrote: »

Surely the consumer agency or watchdog can do something?

they can't !!!!!

If I had some sort of government agency coming in to my office telling me what prices I had to charge for stuff I would be out of business very quickly.

When I quote a customer, I do so factoring in a massive amount of variables including what I feel the market will bare. If I win the business I must be doing something right, If I loose the business (and if I get good feedback) I will alter my cost base if I can, offer additional value-add services for the next quote.

Anyone can charge what they like for what they are selling, it is up to the buyer if they want to pay that much for it.

Currently in ireland we are seeing that many consumers are not willing to pay the prices in ROI and instead are willing to make the journey across the border or buy online. It really is a buyer's market in many ways.

The bottom line is you made a purchase and want to 'do' something about it after the fact. The only way you could have made a difference really is by not buying the item, shopping elsewhere and making the retailer aware that you spent money in another shop due to the price of the dress.

By the way, as the saying goes .. the market price of anything is whatever someone is willing to pay for it. You were obviously willing to pay €280 for the dress, but have a touch of buyer's remorse after finding out your british neighbours could buy it cheaper in their local store.

sharonbabes

whippet wrote: »

they can't !!!!!

If I had some sort of government agency coming in to my office telling me what prices I had to charge for stuff I would be out of business very quickly.

When I quote a customer, I do so factoring in a massive amount of variables including what I feel the market will bare. If I win the business I must be doing something right, If I loose the business (and if I get good feedback) I will alter my cost base if I can, offer additional value-add services for the next quote.

Anyone can charge what they like for what they are selling, it is up to the buyer if they want to pay that much for it.

Currently in ireland we are seeing that many consumers are not willing to pay the prices in ROI and instead are willing to make the journey across the border or buy online. It really is a buyer's market in many ways.

The bottom line is you made a purchase and want to 'do' something about it after the fact. The only way you could have made a difference really is by not buying the item, shopping elsewhere and making the retailer aware that you spent money in another shop due to the price of the dress.

By the way, as the saying goes .. the market price of anything is whatever someone is willing to pay for it. You were obviously willing to pay €280 for the dress, but have a touch of buyer's remorse after finding out your british neighbours could buy it cheaper in their local store.

Of course I have buyers remorse...who wouldn't. I actually consider myself lucky though because now that I have seen the price variation I will never shop there (MONSOON) again. However, there are people who don't know what is going on and need to be made aware...and I'm a big believer that people power does pay off no matter how big or small your shop is...

A buyers market?? ... clearly not (unless it's a second hand car or the house of your dreams... in which case I'd agree)

Tks

notlongleft

just my 2c on this - i for one am all up for people going shopping online in uk etc i do it myself but people always forget that although we have rip off prices here we also have ridiclous wages. Has anyone thought about what people in the north in the same job as them are on for a salary?? in my profession they are on 10k less therefore let them off with the cheaper prices they dont have as much money to spend therefore the lower prices!
if retailers are to bring down their prices we are all goign to have to take even more pay cuts!

rubadub

I seriously thought this thread was sarcastic, like that other "boxer shorts" thread, everything is so wrong about it.

sharonbabes wrote: »

I just bought a dress in Monsoon for €280

Why did you buy it if it was so expensive. Oh! thats right, you obviously thought it was worth the price.

sharonbabes wrote: »

now that I have seen the price variation I will never shop there (MONSOON) again.

So now you will go to a similar shop and buy a similar dress for a similar price, just as long as they do not have shops in other countries with lower prices. Makes sense.

sharonbabes wrote: »

How can these rip-off merchants justify the difference?

They don't have to.

sharonbabes wrote: »

Just who is responsible for monitoring retail prices in Ireland

YOU

sharonbabes wrote: »

why are these big name retailers getting away with it?

Because of the likes of YOU. Why would they charge less if you are willing to pay more, makes no business sense whatsoever, it is not a charity shop.

The Pontiac

sharonbabes wrote: »

ealistically not everyone can shop online

Everbody can shop online, no excuses at all. If you don't own a credit card get a friend to purchase online for you. You can also purchase some sort of pre-paid credit card yoke I think. There is also internet cafes everywhere nowadays..

I purchase as much as I possibly can online..

sharonbabes

rubadub wrote: »

I seriously thought this thread was sarcastic, like that other "boxer shorts" thread, everything is so wrong about it.


Why did you buy it if it was so expensive. Oh! thats right, you obviously thought it was worth the price.


So now you will go to a similar shop and buy a similar dress for a similar price, just as long as they do not have shops in other countries with lower prices. Makes sense.


They don't have to.


YOU


Because of the likes of YOU. Why would they charge less if you are willing to pay more, makes no business sense whatsoever, it is not a charity shop.

I honestly can't believe you're a moderator:(

ch750536

sharonbabes wrote: »

I honestly can't believe you're a moderator:(

Thats right, I'd have banned her for gross numpty without due licence.

BuddhaJoe

sharonbabes wrote: »

I was at a conference yesterday which highlighted and discussed the power of social media to influence decisions/actions of companies/brands. Only when you have studied the power of new media are you in a position to say whether or not a FB group can help a cause.

Bringing back the Whispa is a far cry away from getting shops to change the prices on items that consumers seem to be willing to pay.

sharonbabes

BuddhaJoe wrote: »

Bringing back the Whispa is a far cry away from getting shops to change the prices on items that consumers seem to be willing to pay.

ha ha ha...wasn't the wispa I had in mind but good guess!! lol You def' need a sense of humour to be on these boards amongst the social elite don't ye!! lmao

Right...I've real work to do - later y'all - thanks for your input/output , whatev'!

Idbatterim

to a large extent consumers here have theselves to blame for the high prices! Why wouldnt the retailers charge what they can get away with?! I mean are people only waking up to the reality of this rip of republic now?! how anyone can be shocked anymore is beyond me!

wmpdd3

Best thing for Monsoon to do is invest thousands in payroll and cover up the sterling like some other stores have done.


To Sharonbabes, be generous with your campaign; I hear Iceland and Dubai are paying over the odds for consumer items, make sure the British companies trading there also get the brunt of your actions!!

Why stop there: Zara sells at 30% less in the Eurozone compared to GB.
American Apparel, 25% more in Europe
Top shop 20% more in America than GB.

If you want the government to control prices start a communist party.

Cabaal

You came to a forum and complained about high prices people pay yet you are part of the problem as you paid the high price, you should have done your part as a concerned consumer and shopped around instead of blindly buying at a higher price

Cabaal

sharonbabes wrote: »

I honestly can't believe you're a moderator:(

If rubadub is a mod or not has nothing to do with his or her views on this forum, as rubadub is not a mod of this forum they are a user the same as you or me and as such are entitled on their views.

This is a standard enough rule on boards.ie made very clear in the past,

Given this type of thread has been posted thousands of times and the OP is actually part of the problem imho I have to agree with rubadub

Cabaal

OP its nice that your concerned and all but if you search this forum and the ripp off ireland forum you will start to better understand how pricing works, what advise is given to consumers and what you should do yourself as a consumer.

Starting a facebook group which has 4 members at present is not a very productive way of getting prices dropped, before you campaign for such things you need to understand the workings for and it appears you don't....ranting aimlessly doesn't help anyone.

I'd recommend you do some research in order for anybody to take you seriously in future regarding any campaign you want to start.

dudara

Moved to Rip-Off Ireland.

Best suited there I think.

With regard to your comment re rubadub, moderators have no influence outside the forums they moderate. Therefore rubadub was posting as a regular poster in this context. Moderators are also allowed voice their opinion and are subject to the same regulations as other posters.

dudara

vikingdub

sharonbabes wrote: »

Well if I'm not too busy with the day job I might make this a much bigger campaign than FB and throw alot more behind it. I'm quite passionate about it so yes I think I will. Cheers for all your views anyhoo

Count me in I would be delighted to be part of a campaign to force the UK retailers to reduce their prices here. Monsoon is one of the worst, I was in the UK recently dress was stg£45 there and stg €60 here. Also noticed in the Grafton Street store a label that had a price of Stg£50, €75 and on top of it another label €90, appears they have three prices, Stg£, € and Irish €.

As for the consumer bodies, toothless, I contacted them about Boots displaying the as stg£ price in large bold print and the the € in much smaller print, did not discover the € until I got to the till, they were in the process of stiffing an elderly lady for the € price. She paid, I did not, I asked to see the Manager, pointed out that I regarded this as sharp practice which certainly would not occur in France. Where else in the world would the local currency price be practically hidden and a foreign currency price be prominant? I won, the price I paid was the Stg£ amount but in €. and this was a few years ago during the Celtic Tiger madness.

As for the argument about higher wages in the Republic, I am sick of that Mark Fielding argument, retail staff are paid at or slightly above minimum wage, and until the € made substantial gains against Sterling there was very little difference in the minimum wages in both jurisdictions. However, the cost of living in the Republic was always substantially higher. The excessive mark-ups in Ireland relate to the pursuit of obscene profit levels, a fact admitted by the earlier poster who factors in "what the market will take" into his/her pricing.

sharonbabes

dudara wrote: »

Moved to Rip-Off Ireland.

Best suited there I think.

With regard to your comment re rubadub, moderators have no influence outside the forums they moderate. Therefore rubadub was posting as a regular poster in this context. Moderators are also allowed voice their opinion and are subject to the same regulations as other posters.

dudara

Would you look at the gang of mods jumping to defence...hilarious! Guys thanks for your comments but I'll do what I have to do anyway. I guess other forums I'm on work differently. RE the other mod who said "do my research"...I intend to and I am...just not on this forum. lol. I'm here to basically meet like minded people (other than you guys, of which I'm sure exist) who are interested in getting off their asses and actually doing something/anything about this that might result in a positive outcome. I'm currently studying the behaviour of bloggers/posters and I gotta say you're fitting the stereotype to a T

sharonbabes

Cabaal wrote: »

OP its nice that your concerned and all but if you search this forum and the ripp off ireland forum you will start to better understand how pricing works, what advise is given to consumers and what you should do yourself as a consumer.

Starting a facebook group which has 4 members at present is not a very productive way of getting prices dropped, before you campaign for such things you need to understand the workings for and it appears you don't....ranting aimlessly doesn't help anyone.

I'd recommend you do some research in order for anybody to take you seriously in future regarding any campaign you want to start.

Given I only created the group a few hrs ago I'd say 10 members aint too bad. You'll be hearing alot more from this group with what I have planned my friend...seems to me you're more interested in an argument than supporting a decent person trying to make a difference. God forbid you actually say something remotely positive on here...does that go against rules or something???

I won't be carrying on a pointless conversation - anybody interested in getting involved can mail me privately and we'll take it from there.

Guy:Incognito

sharonbabes wrote: »

The answer to that question is (a.) I didn't think the price difference would be THAT much, and (b.) I needed it quite quickly.

My shopping habits or that of others aren't and shouldn't be under fire. ealistically not everyone can shop online or travel "up north". The wider concern is that these shops are getting away with robbery quite frankly and this issue must be highlighted.

Believe it or not there are people who aren't aware of these massive scale differences.

Rather than point out the obvious it would surely be better to discuss a way of pushing for change/action?

You need it quickly and /or cant travel to get it cheaper, so why the hell does it matter what it ssold for in a different country?

If you have time to travel to get it cheaper you could order it or someting similar from China for cheaper again and avoid being ripped off in the uk.

hussey

sharonbabes wrote: »

.....

The best thing you can do is shop with your feet, i.e. go somewhere else

You needed something you bought it, you didn't shop around, yeah there is a price difference but before you blame other people, the fact remains you did not shop around.

and please not you cannot get items delivered via the website.

Rather than ranting and raving about it, send a letter to the head office (not the retail shop) and point out the price difference and how you will never shop there again etc etc.

That might make a difference.
Don't blame other people for pointing out the fact that you were also to blame.

If I walk into a pub in the city order a pint and it costs 6euro and a pint in suburbs cost 5euro, I wouldn't rant and rave, I'd just wouldn't go back.

Cabaal

sharonbabes wrote: »

Given I only created the group a few hrs ago I'd say 10 members aint too bad. You'll be hearing alot more from this group with what I have planned my friend.

Thats grand, however I wouldn't be under any allusions that you can create some sort of career using this, your post history's shows you went from one post ranting about Monsoon to creating a facebook group to having big plans.....are you hoping to use this as some sort of springboard?

..seems to me you're more interested in an argument than supporting a decent person trying to make a difference. God forbid you actually say something remotely positive on here...does that go against rules or something???

People on this board are more interested in educating consumers as ranting consumers who don't understand the law or why prices are at the amount does nothing to help anyone.

If people don't want to do the research before aimlessly ranting then there's no hope for them, in addition if people are told they are part of the problem they (you in this case) can't simply say you are not especially if you knowingly paid the higher price.

In relation to FB groups, the last Facebook group I heard of that gave out advice to Irish consumer recently announced that if a shop advertises a price in euro and sterling and you offer sterling as a payment they HAVE to take it.....reality however is different as sterling is not legal tender in Ireland they don't have to accept it by law. (some shops may but this is purely down to shop policy and nothing else)

Its wrong information like this that fecks it up for everyone and anyone who uses such misleading poorly researched info only comes across as a ill informed fool when they try and complain to shops or complain about shops

darc

There's a lot of poor information on this thread and many have no rationale behind their responses.

The OP purchased a dress for €280. - €280 is not too expensive for a decent dress. Later on she finds taht if she purchased it in the UK it would have cost her £180. Based on the commercial exchange rate last week, this would be €209.

The added costs in the republic (higher wages, higher rents, higher rates, Higher vat) add another 20% (6.5% vat + approx 13.5% other costs), so the fair retail price in Ireland should be max. €250.

If the dress was bought in Oasis, Karen Millen, Coast or a local Irish owned boutique, the cost would have been €230 - €250. However Monsoon, Kookai, Debenhams and some othe ENGLISH stores have kept their Irish retail margins at too high a level whereas the others mentioned above have dropped theirs to more reasonable levels.

Virtually Every single thread on rip off is the same UK retailers.

So, its not rip off republic - its UK Retailer Rip Off in the Republic. UKRROR

Listing that I know of that still use 1.50 or more exchange

Debenhams (up to 1.65)
Kookai (1.60)
Homebase (1.50)
Argos (up to 2.00)
Monsoon (1.55)

Though you can smile that we still pay much lower taxes than the UK, have much higher wages & we don't currently have a council tax of £2500 or water charges of £350!

Cabaal

darc wrote: »

There's a lot of poor information on this thread and many have no rationale behind their responses.
!

Your post is pretty much spot on,

Fighting Irish

Why lower prices when stupid people keep paying them? :rolleyes:

sharonbabes wrote: »

I just bought a dress in Monsoon for €280 and the same dress is online/priced in the UK at £180. How can these rip-off merchants justify the difference?

I want your help to make a difference!

Are you tired of retailers taking the proverbial piss by charging you over the odds for clothes that are a snip of the price in sterling? Just who is responsible for monitoring retail prices in Ireland and why are these big name retailers getting away with it? Now is the time for all of us to come together, show some people power and show these rip off merchants that we will NOT take it! Help me name and shame those shops

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=643466986&ref=profile#/group.php?gid=87926845663&ref=mf

I have every confidence that this group will be popular and I will prove these shops can not afford to ignore what is the power of social networking. It's time to fight back!

dudara

sharonbabes wrote: »

Would you look at the gang of mods jumping to defence...hilarious! Guys thanks for your comments but I'll do what I have to do anyway. I guess other forums I'm on work differently. RE the other mod who said "do my research"...I intend to and I am...just not on this forum. lol. I'm here to basically meet like minded people (other than you guys, of which I'm sure exist) who are interested in getting off their asses and actually doing something/anything about this that might result in a positive outcome. I'm currently studying the behaviour of bloggers/posters and I gotta say you're fitting the stereotype to a T

Right, now that I'm not in a forum that I moderate...

Don't make assumptions about people you encounter on the net. I could make a lot of assumptions about you based on the fact that you have the word 'babes' in your username.

Secondly, you voiced your opinion on a public forum. Accept the replies that you get. Some will be helpful, some won't. That's the way of the net. You might learn that if you got out of classes about the internet and used it instead. Remember the old joke about arguing on the internet and being in the Special Olympics? I won't give the answer here, but you should google it.

rubadub

sharonbabes wrote: »

Would you look at the gang of mods jumping to defence...hilarious!

Defence of what? If you found something offensive about my post you can report it, there is a little triangle at the side of each post like a yield sign that you can click.

I would honestly like to hear any retort to any points I made, do you disagree with anything I said?

newman10

darc wrote: »

There's a lot of poor information on this thread and many have no rationale behind their responses.

The OP purchased a dress for €280. - €280 is not too expensive for a decent dress. Later on she finds taht if she purchased it in the UK it would have cost her £180. Based on the commercial exchange rate last week, this would be €209.

The added costs in the republic (higher wages, higher rents, higher rates, Higher vat) add another 20% (6.5% vat + approx 13.5% other costs), so the fair retail price in Ireland should be max. €250.

If the dress was bought in Oasis, Karen Millen, Coast or a local Irish owned boutique, the cost would have been €230 - €250. However Monsoon, Kookai, Debenhams and some othe ENGLISH stores have kept their Irish retail margins at too high a level whereas the others mentioned above have dropped theirs to more reasonable levels.

Virtually Every single thread on rip off is the same UK retailers.

So, its not rip off republic - its UK Retailer Rip Off in the Republic. UKRROR

Listing that I know of that still use 1.50 or more exchange

Debenhams (up to 1.65)
Kookai (1.60)
Homebase (1.50)
Argos (up to 2.00)
Monsoon (1.55)

Though you can smile that we still pay much lower taxes than the UK, have much higher wages & we don't currently have a council tax of £2500 or water charges of £350!

Great to see a little sense about who is ripping off whom.

UK retailers here ripping us off is more to the point

parsi

darc wrote: »

There's a lot of poor information on this thread and many have no rationale behind their responses.

The OP purchased a dress for €280. - €280 is not too expensive for a decent dress. Later on she finds taht if she purchased it in the UK it would have cost her £180. Based on the commercial exchange rate last week, this would be €209.

The added costs in the republic (higher wages, higher rents, higher rates, Higher vat) add another 20% (6.5% vat + approx 13.5% other costs), so the fair retail price in Ireland should be max. €250.

If the dress was bought in Oasis, Karen Millen, Coast or a local Irish owned boutique, the cost would have been €230 - €250. However Monsoon, Kookai, Debenhams and some othe ENGLISH stores have kept their Irish retail margins at too high a level whereas the others mentioned above have dropped theirs to more reasonable levels.

Virtually Every single thread on rip off is the same UK retailers.

So, its not rip off republic - its UK Retailer Rip Off in the Republic. UKRROR

Listing that I know of that still use 1.50 or more exchange

Debenhams (up to 1.65)
Kookai (1.60)
Homebase (1.50)
Argos (up to 2.00)
Monsoon (1.55)

Though you can smile that we still pay much lower taxes than the UK, have much higher wages & we don't currently have a council tax of £2500 or water charges of £350!

Good post, but what do folk do to "sock it to the man" ?

They go up North and give them their money there.

Folks - if you want to boycott Argos et al, boycott all their shops. There's not a whole lot of pain for them if you spend your bobs in their Northern shop.

And another thing - please accept the reality of life which is that if you want it quickly then you'll have to pay extra (because you don't have the time to shoparound).

And a third thing - none of these shops have a man inside whose job is to point a gun at our heads. If it's dear - leave it there.

Moosh10

I've fallen victim to the shopping in Ni for clothes & makeup etc cos it really is much cheaper.
I'd prefer to support local but hate feeling ripped off.
I see the point though on giving your money to the same store just in a different place. Basically they never lose.
Might need to rethink my actions!!!!

parsi

parsi wrote: »

Good post, but what do folk do to "sock it to the man" ?

They go up North and give them their money there.

Folks - if you want to boycott Argos et al, boycott all their shops. There's not a whole lot of pain for them if you spend your bobs in their Northern shop.

.

At the same time though, they won't get the inflated price amounts as they would if you'd paid for it down here, so surely they're getting less money overall.

ejmaztec

bluewolf wrote: »

At the same time though, they won't get the inflated price amounts as they would if you'd paid for it down here, so surely they're getting less money overall.

I would say that the vast majority of what is on sale in Argos can be bought anywhere in the South for less. The only reason that I would ever buy anything from them is if it were half-price.

For example, just look at the ludicrous prices for photographic equipment, camcorders etc... You would be completely mad to buy it from Argos.

Even down the other end of the scale. I was looking for a can of the Nivea stuff that goes with a Philishave shaver. Argos have it for €9.49 and I bought some in my local one-off "everything" supplier for €7.99.

ejmaztec

ejmaztec wrote: »

I would say that the vast majority of what is on sale in Argos can be bought anywhere in the South for less. The only reason that I would ever buy anything from them is if it were half-price.

For example, just look at the ludicrous prices for photographic equipment, camcorders etc... You would be completely mad to buy it from Argos.

Even down the other end of the scale. I was looking for a can of the Nivea stuff that goes with a Philishave shaver. Argos have it for €9.49 and I bought some in my local one-off "everything" supplier for €7.99.

Well I didn't mean argos in particular, just in general e.g. tescos north vs tescos south. Just that "you're giving them your money anyway" isn't such a bad thing if you're giving them less money overall.

ejmaztec

bluewolf wrote: »

Well I didn't mean argos in particular, just in general e.g. tescos north vs tescos south. Just that "you're giving them your money anyway" isn't such a bad thing if you're giving them less money overall.

Unfortunately most people are stuck with the nearest competitive supermarket. What is even more unfortunate is that Dunnes, Superquinn, Musgrave/SuperValu etc., can't afford to take Tesco on in a pricewar.

If the longstanding rumour about Dunnes/Asda ever came to be true, then Asda/Walmart could most definitely take on Tesco and drive the prices down.