Christmas shopping Dundalk v Newry? - Mod Note Post #46

Johnny Foreigner

Where will you be doing your Christmas shopping this year Dundalk or Newry?
With the stronger sterling and weaker Euro the price differential doesn't seem as good this year as in previous ones.

mada999

wait till the budget and see?

Derfil

Probably Newry again.

amacachi

Amazon.

Johnny Foreigner

I just bought a 3KW Delonghi oil heater from Argos in Newry, 23 Euro cheaper than in Argos Dundalk. So there are still savings to be had on bigger purchases or bulk buying. I find the prices in Penney's v Primark negligible though.

southlouth type

Drogheda .

Vego

not much difference anymore ...as mentioned earlier wait for the budget and see then

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Simply because we need to keep money in the country and jobs are vital; I'll be buying all at home for Christmas this year, including the upgrade to a digital TV or 3.

vvvooo

Those who get paid in the republic should spend their money in the republic. The government does not make it easy for shops here with higher vat, higher electricity, higher rates, higher vrt etc but I support my own 26 county economy / jobs here.

MugMugs

vvvooo wrote: »

Those who get paid in the republic should spend their money in the republic. The government does not make it easy for shops here with higher vat, higher electricity, higher rates, higher vrt etc but I support my own 26 county economy / jobs here.

I support the ability to be able to sustain myself as things stand. If the South want my money then make it affordable for me to shop south. Ps- wouldn't go near Newry. Most expensive Sainsbury outlet in the UK.... Which is quite funny.....

Johnny Foreigner

With the 3% higher VAT in the Republic than the UK, I will be doing all my Christmas shopping in Newry. Its true Sainsbury's is expensive, but the other major retailers like Argos are significantly cheaper on electrical items. I saved 50 Euro on a laptop and digital camera alone. I would love to support the Republics economy, but the price differential is too great.

280special

Johnny Foreigner wrote: »

With the 3% higher VAT in the Republic than the UK, I will be doing all my Christmas shopping in Newry. Its true Sainsbury's is expensive, but the other major retailers like Argos are significantly cheaper on electrical items. I saved 50 Euro on a laptop and digital camera alone. I would love to support the Republics economy, but the price differential is too great.

Spend another 15/20 mins in the motorway and go to Tesco's in Banbridge !

It is a scandal in these times that we are forced to go north for our shoppingand an even bigger scandal that multi-nationals are allowed to charge so much more here for the same goods. I posted a comparison of prices , which while not comprehensive enough gives a good idea of what the reality is. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=75566075

But its not even that, I recently went into a few shops in the northeast and to be honest the level of service was crap, much the same as it has been since that flaming tiger arrived in town ! Their were some exceptions but especially in the larger stores it was a case of rudeness, ignorance and look after yourself !

There is talk now that the UK may drop their VAT rate.

gipi

Even though it looks likely that there'll be a VAT increase in next month's budget, it's unlikely to be implemented before Christmas, so there'll be no need to head northwards just to beat VAT (whatever about other reasons for shopping there - price, choice, etc).

What happens after new year might be a different story!!

Johnny Foreigner

280special wrote: »

Spend another 15/20 mins in the motorway and go to Tesco's in Banbridge !

It is a scandal in these times that we are forced to go north for our shoppingand an even bigger scandal that multi-nationals are allowed to charge so much more here for the same goods. I posted a comparison of prices , which while not comprehensive enough gives a good idea of what the reality is. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=75566075

But its not even that, I recently went into a few shops in the northeast and to be honest the level of service was crap, much the same as it has been since that flaming tiger arrived in town ! Their were some exceptions but especially in the larger stores it was a case of rudeness, ignorance and look after yourself !

I could not agree with you more regarding poor customer service.
I think the reason may be poor pay as many retail staff in the North are on the UK minimum wage of £6.08 (7.10 Euro) per hour. They are just not motivated on that low wage. I was shocked to hear the staff in one store openly swearing on the shop floor with customers around, in front of the store manager! (He did nothing about it).

amacachi

hellboy99 wrote: »

There is talk now that the UK may drop their VAT rate.

I highly doubt that. While obviously we'd all love lower taxes the UK tried lowering their VAT to 15% for a while and as soon as figures were available they reversed it and put it back to 17.5% then up to 20%.

You and I both know that what stemmed the flow of shoppers to the north was border towns raising prices, a nearly 10% change in the value of sterling and a roughly 10% differential in inflation between the UK and Ireland over the last few years. A percent or two difference in VAT will make little difference.

280special

Johnny Foreigner wrote: »

I could not agree with you more regarding poor customer service.
I think the reason may be poor pay as many retail staff in the North are on the UK minimum wage of £6.08 (7.10 Euro) per hour. They are just not motivated on that low wage. I was shocked to hear the staff in one store openly swearing on the shop floor with customers around, in front of the store manager! (He did nothing about it).

When referring to the North-east I was referring to that area within the ROI !

Yes I have come across crap service up north, some times down to the sight of a ROI number plate on my car !!! I have even been told that as i am from outside Northern Ireland that I have no rights to complain !!

But when it comes to downright rudeness, lack of customer care and a " i dont give a fcuk" attitude it is hard to beat some of the larger stores down this side of the border..

To give you an example, I was with a friend when he had occasion to complain to a manager about the fact that the manager had spent quite some time chatting to some of his younger female counter staff while around 6-8 people were waiting to be served, his Reply ? "Yeah, whatever..." and he then proceded to walk off. A complaint was sent in to their head office and some 4 months later he still hasnt had a reply. On another occasion when I spotted that a price on the till was different to what was displayed, I was told to go elsewhere if I didnt like it,and not in particularily polite language.

borderlinemeath

I'll be making all my purchases in Drogheda, just like last year. Got a few gifts already, there's good value to be had in the town and I have no complaints with service. I find if you go in with an attitude you get it back.

Onesimus

All my shopping is always done in Dundalk/Drogheda. I dont get people in this town, it costs them like 20 euros in petrol each way to newry topping to about 40 euros. Whats the point really?

event

Onesimus wrote: »

All my shopping is always done in Dundalk/Drogheda. I dont get people in this town, it costs them like 20 euros in petrol each way to newry topping to about 40 euros. Whats the point really?

eh, what the hell are you driving??

its 14 miles from dundalk. so thats 28 miles. now a lot of cars will do 35-40 miles to a gallon of petrol, which costs ye about €7

drogheda is 38 miles away, 72 there and back. so about €14

10green bottles

The pain of it all.
For the sake of all the hassle up North i will be sticking with the "free state".
I am not so much of a dote or dope that i cant shop around without giving myself a rage/heart/panic attack by heading across a line on a map to pick up a cheap bottle of brown sauce :rolleyes:

amacachi

10green bottles wrote: »

The pain of it all.
For the sake of all the hassle up North i will be sticking with the "free state".
I am not so much of a dote or dope that i cant shop around without giving myself a rage/heart/panic attack by heading across a line on a map to pick up a cheap bottle of brown sauce :rolleyes:

That's obviously how it is.

280special

10green bottles wrote: »

The pain of it all.
For the sake of all the hassle up North i will be sticking with the "free state".
I am not so much of a dote or dope that i cant shop around without giving myself a rage/heart/panic attack by heading across a line on a map to pick up a cheap bottle of brown sauce :rolleyes:

What hassle up north ? If you find that driving up a road and crossing a map line brings on a rage/heart/panic attack in yourself, then you wont want to venture into any of the car parks around here either....stay in the house, dont venture out past the front door, get all essentials delivered at the end of a long pole and DONT watch the news, it may scare the bejesus out of you !

If all you need in life is a bottle of brown sauce then your needs are easily satisfied locally , if somewhat expensively ! But if , like the rest of us, you need some of the more normal foods, you may find that your local multi-national or Irish owned store is making a damned sight more profit on your purchases than their "brother" shops across that rage/heart/panic inducing imaginary line on a map !

280special

borderlinemeath wrote: »

I'll be making all my purchases in Drogheda, just like last year. Got a few gifts already, there's good value to be had in the town and I have no complaints with service. I find if you go in with an attitude you get it back.

You could turn that last comment right round and say that if you go into a shop and are at the receiving end of some employee/owners bad attitude/temper/mood THEY get it back !

Have you never had cause to complain about any sort of poor customer service you have received? Have you dealt with a business where you have been badly looked after, had to make repeat calls to get something done or had to put up with some bad tempered shop assistant who has a hangover from the night before ?

Yeah, right.....Kind of reminds me of the rose tinted glasses people wore down here up untill a few years ago, the one's that didnt see the Celtic Tiger was eating too many suger coated sweets and was on his way to a terminal heart attack !

borderlinemeath

280special wrote: »

You could turn that last comment right round and say that if you go into a shop and are at the receiving end of some employee/owners bad attitude/temper/mood THEY get it back !

I worked in a customer facing role for 18 years, most of them as a manager and the stupidity, ignorance and self righteousness of some customers never ceases to amaze me.

Have you never had cause to complain about any sort of poor customer service you have received? Have you dealt with a business where you have been badly looked after, had to make repeat calls to get something done or had to put up with some bad tempered shop assistant who has a hangover from the night before ?

Of course I've had cause to complain but approach the staff/management with manners and respect, believe me it goes a long long way.

I don't think I've ever been "badly looked after". I'm not a time waster, a haggler (I know the cost price of a lot of goods and know the profit margins) a moaner or a serial complainant (the type who complains time after time in the hope of receiving a discount)

And no, I've never had to "put up with" a bad tempered shop assistant. Like I said, if you treat people with manners and respect you will get them back. I have had bad tempered customers who have come in all guns blazing but after treating them nicely and politely I have had them leave happy and contented.

It's about developing a rapport and showing a bit of respect and that works both ways - if you happen to encounter a sales assistant who is having a bad day, be nice and maybe sympathize - who knows what might have just happened - they may have just gotton bad exam results, had a row with a loved one, or going through a personal trauma. Take for example the woman who worked for me a number of years ago who's sister was dying of cancer yet she came into work 5 days a week while looking after 2 households.

Yeah, right.....Kind of reminds me of the rose tinted glasses people wore down here up untill a few years ago, the one's that didnt see the Celtic Tiger was eating too many suger coated sweets and was on his way to a terminal heart attack !

I certainly don't wear rose tinted glasses - you have no idea of my personal circumstances, I certainly didn't do well during the celtic tiger compared to others, probably lucky as unlike others I didn't lose touch with reality.

280special

borderlinemeath wrote: »

I worked in a customer facing role for 18 years, most of them as a manager and the stupidity, ignorance and self righteousness of some customers never ceases to amaze me.



Of course I've had cause to complain but approach the staff/management with manners and respect, believe me it goes a long long way.

I don't think I've ever been "badly looked after". I'm not a time waster, a haggler (I know the cost price of a lot of goods and know the profit margins) a moaner or a serial complainant (the type who complains time after time in the hope of receiving a discount)

And no, I've never had to "put up with" a bad tempered shop assistant. Like I said, if you treat people with manners and respect you will get them back. I have had bad tempered customers who have come in all guns blazing but after treating them nicely and politely I have had them leave happy and contented.

It's about developing a rapport and showing a bit of respect and that works both ways - if you happen to encounter a sales assistant who is having a bad day, be nice and maybe sympathize - who knows what might have just happened - they may have just gotton bad exam results, had a row with a loved one, or going through a personal trauma. Take for example the woman who worked for me a number of years ago who's sister was dying of cancer yet she came into work 5 days a week while looking after 2 households.



I certainly don't wear rose tinted glasses - you have no idea of my personal circumstances, I certainly didn't do well during the celtic tiger compared to others, probably lucky as unlike others I didn't lose touch with reality.

Did you read any of my posting at all???

From this reply i will leave it to others to decide who has lost touch with reality, the idea that everything is rosie in the customer service end of Irish Retail is beyond belief ! Customer service standards took a major dip during the Celtic tiger years and some people still think they can treat people the same way.

Ohh and if you want to talk about length of time dealing with customers on a day to day basis, for your 18 I can give you 30+ , and for 15 of those directly responsible for dealing with customer complaints about our companies service. Yes you do get the serial complainers, or the one's who come in looking for a something to complain about or the ones who are just looking for an argument. But to label everyone with that tag says a hell of a lot about a sort of attitude to customers that is driving people away just when they are needed the most !

Just a very few examples for you but i am sure if you do a quick search here you will find many more examples, it is time some people woke up and smelt the roses , they aint all they are cracked up to be :rolleyes: !

http://www.yelp.ie/topic/dublin-customer-service-skills-in-ireland
http://www.aidanfinn.com/?p=10262
http://anamericaninireland.com/2011/08/10/an-open-letter-to-eircom/#more-2001
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g211922-d1146016-r19329426-Westlodge_Hotel-Bantry_County_Cork.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/ShowUserReviews-g551511-d206793-r115209406-Finnstown_Country_House_Hotel-Lucan_County_Dublin.html

borderlinemeath

280special wrote: »

Did you read any of my posting at all??? 7

From this reply i will leave it to others to decide who has lost touch with reality, the idea that everything is rosie in the customer service end of Irish Retail is beyond belief ! Customer service standards took a major dip during the Celtic tiger years and some people still think they can treat people the same way.

As I say, you give what you get. For example, I was in M&S recently, I was running late for an appointment (my fault) and something I was buying wasn't scanning and the assistant went to get another item of the same price, I apologised and politely explained to the manager that I was in a hurry and she sorted it for me in about 10 seconds and gave me a couple of quid off. No hassle, no eye rolling just politeness got me more than what I needed.

Ohh and if you want to talk about length of time dealing with customers on a day to day basis, for your 18 I can give you 31 , and for 15 of those directly responsible for dealing with customer complaints about our companies service. Yes you do get the serial complainers, or the one's who come in looking for a something to complain about or the ones who are just looking for an argument. But to label everyone with that tag says a hell of a lot about the attitude to customers that is driving people away just when they are needed the most !

http://www.yelp.ie/topic/dublin-customer-service-skills-in-ireland
http://www.aidanfinn.com/?p=10262
http://anamericaninireland.com/2011/08/10/an-open-letter-to-eircom/#more-2001

You are the one labelling everybody with the same tag.

like the rest of us, you need some of the more normal foods, you may find that your local multi-national or Irish owned store is making a damned sight more profit on your purchases than their "brother" shops across that rage/heart/panic inducing imaginary line on a map !

Have you proof of this other than rumour or speculation? Because you don't know how much it costs to run a retail business in Southern Ireland doesn't give you carte blanche to say they are all making more profit. Wages, commercial rates, upward only rent leases, insurance premiums, utilities, franchise agreements, unions.... all far more substantial than the UK, in fact most other european countries.

For somebody with a substantial amount of customer experience you will really enjoy "cries of retail" section in the ranting and raving forum. :rolleyes:PM a mod for access.

ashgal

Im understand that many may want to travel to Newry to source cheaper deals, but please spend your money locally......

ashgal

ashgal wrote: »

Im understand that many may want to travel to Newry to source cheaper deals, but please spend your money locally......

I'm sure everyone would love to spend locally but it's not going to happen with the state of things and this government.

Bosh

Simple thing: two boards to make shelves for a small store we have in the house;

Woodies Dundalk €19.99 each. (£17.10)

B&Q Newry £9.99 each. (€11.68)

Both same dimensions and quality.

Saving €16.62.

Deduct €10 for diesel & €6.62 isn't much of a saving.

But seeing as you're already in Newry you go ahead & do the rest of your shopping, so the fuel arguement doesn't really come into it.

Anyway, NAMA have the Quays so you're still supporting the Irish economy

borderlinemeath

Bosh wrote: »

Simple thing: two boards to make shelves for a small store we have in the house;

Woodies Dundalk €19.99 each. (£17.10)

B&Q Newry £9.99 each. (€11.68)

Both same dimensions and quality.

Saving €16.62.

Deduct €10 for diesel & €6.62 isn't much of a saving.

But seeing as you're already in Newry you go ahead & do the rest of your shopping, so the fuel arguement doesn't really come into it.

Anyway, NAMA have the Quays so you're still supporting the Irish economy

You have to justify the trip by spending even more money. Then people wonder where all their money is gone.

Nor are you supporting keeping jobs locally. While you spend your money in the Quays and then wonder in January why half the shops in the Marshes have closed down.

Bosh

I live more or less half way between the two, so the fuel cost is moot, I'm spending it either way.

Given how my income has been cut and the cost of living is increasing how stupid would I be to pay extra?

I'm not talking luxuries, just everyday stuff.

It's all well and good to talk about this ethereal noble thing to shop local but at the end of the day I need to get the best value I can with my limited resources.

Businesses in the South have to get by as best they can, and so do I. I'll buy what I need wherever I get the best value, not necessarily the cheapest, whether that be north or south.

We do our grocery shopping in Dundalk generally, that may change with new VAT rate, electronics online, spirits up north, DIY hardware/tools up north, redecorated house lately - all paint bought in Dundalk.

Shopped around for best value. There wasn't much difference with a lot of the stuff so in that case would generally stay south if possible.

But as I said, at the end of the day it's all about bang for your buck.

280special

borderlinemeath wrote: »

As I say, you give what you get. For example, I was in M&S recently, I was running late for an appointment (my fault) and something I was buying wasn't scanning and the assistant went to get another item of the same price, I apologised and politely explained to the manager that I was in a hurry and she sorted it for me in about 10 seconds and gave me a couple of quid off. No hassle, no eye rolling just politeness got me more than what I needed. Lucky You ! If you are trying to say that this happens each and every time someone has an issue with poor service, inaccurate pricing or goods not fit for purpose then as previously advised go get a reality check !Q




You are the one labelling everybody with the same tag. No I didnt " Customer service standards took a major dip during the Celtic tiger years and some people still think they can treat people the same way." Please do us the courtesy of reading the post properly and completely before responding....



Have you proof of this other than rumour or speculation? Because you don't know how much it costs to run a retail business (How do you know i dont???) in Southern Ireland doesn't give you carte blanche to say they are all making more profit. Wages, commercial rates, upward only rent leases, insurance premiums, utilities, franchise agreements, unions.... all far more substantial than the UK, in fact most other european countries.Can you provide us with some figures to prove this and substantiate your claim to the extent of the price differentials which are very evident to anyone who compares prices....well anyone without blinkered "everything is perfect in Irish retail! vision that is...

For somebody with a substantial amount of customer experience you will really enjoy "cries of retail" section in the ranting and raving forum. :rolleyes:PM a mod for access.No I will leave that particular section to those of you who feel that the problems of the Irish retail market are everyone else's and that if you blaim everyone else things will be ok...

These sort of responses are a sure sign that some folks still have to get a grip on the real problems in this country.

borderlinemeath

280special wrote: »

These sort of responses are a sure sign that some folks still have to get a grip on the real problems in this country.

I don't have to agree with you on anything. My opinion is my own and don't tell me to "get a grip" because you don't agree. I have seen you're posts banging the same "customer service is crap" message in other forums so you have your agenda as well.

Have you proof of this other than rumour or speculation? Because you don't know how much it costs to run a retail business (How do you know i dont???) in Southern Ireland doesn't give you carte blanche to say they are all making more profit. Wages, commercial rates, upward only rent leases, insurance premiums, utilities, franchise agreements, unions.... all far more substantial than the UK, in fact most other european countries.Can you provide us with some figures to prove this and substantiate your claim to the extent of the price differentials which are very evident to anyone who compares prices....well anyone without blinkered "everything is perfect in Irish retail! vision that is...

I could post all the figures I know about the businesses I've managed but Iwon't as I respect my previous employers privacy. Some of them are PLCs and some are limited companies that post their accounts but I certainly won't disrespect them by posting for your benefit. Anybody who has run their own retail business or run a business on behalf of somebody knows the exorbitant costs in this country are the cause of price differencials. If you search through my previous posts you will find more on why it costs far more to do business in this country.

No I didnt " Customer service standards took a major dip during the Celtic tiger years and some people still think they can treat people the same way

To be honest, if you come across in a shop as self righteous as you do on this thread, I'm not suprised you receive bad service. I could link where you gave a sweeping statement on an AH thread if you like...



And finally, I'm not "blinkered" I don't think everything is perfect in Irish retail, far from it. But I don't think that harping on that customer service is crap and that retailers are ripping off consumers so shop up North is going to solve anything other than lead to job losses. All you did in your last post was add a few links to bad service. Anybody can google that.:rolleyes:

280special

Seeing as some people choose to ignore facts and as per usual cite labour costs, energy costs, the colour of the sky....anything but the fact that they will just have to accept that their profit levels cant stay at Celtic Tiger levels.....Well here are some more direct comparisons, perhaps someone can tell us if or how, in hard facts and figures ,all these horrendous costs retailers have to put up with justifies such disparities.

ROI/NI

Alba 16" TV..........................E129.99 / E104.84
Morphy Richards Microwave.....E 57.99 / E52.42
Acer Laptop.........................E 429.99 / E384.44
Power shower.......................E 259.00 / E194.85

( this last one isnt so bad , when i bought one a few years ago the price down here was THREE times what it was up north!!!!! )

All available from the same companies. After looking at the grocery price comparison previously listed (Corn flakes almost twice the price??? ) it seems like running costs for business's are HUGE this side of the border...makes you wonder why they bother :rolleyes:

But of course those of us who have to be careful with our money shouldnt worry about it, sure arnt we just giving these guys a nice bonus, a new car or some great holidays....

Maybe it is something to do with this kind of thing????

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/1103/1224282560226.html

280special

borderlinemeath wrote: »

I don't have to agree with you on anything. My opinion is my own and don't tell me to "get a grip" because you don't agree. I have seen you're posts banging the same "customer service is crap" message in other forums so you have your agenda as well.

Put the toys back in the pram, i know the truth hurts but that life !




I could post all (some would be great....)the figures I know about the businesses I've managed but Iwon't as I respect my previous employers privacy. Some of them are PLCs and some are limited companies that post their accounts but I certainly won't disrespect them by posting for your benefit (what about everyone else's benefit then?? come on, you are such a fountain of knowledge why dont you share what is , according to you, well known to the rest of the country? ). Anybody who has run their own retail business or run a business on behalf of somebody knows the exorbitant costs in this country are the cause of price differencials.(No Actually we dont, Examples please) If you search through my previous posts you will find more on why it costs far more to do business in this country.

Yeah...right, you say its soooo expensive but cant back it up with hard facts or figures....interesting !


To be honest, if you come across in a shop as self righteous (I aint the one who dismissed people's complaints as unimportant)as you do on this thread, I'm not suprised you receive bad service. I could link where you gave a sweeping statement on an AH thread if you like...

Toys back in the pram again please and look at your own quote directly underneath...Maybe you accept poor service, but where i come from we were always told to provide excellant service each and every time, no excuses, no back chat to customer's and I therefore expect the same from others !


And finally, I'm not "blinkered" I don't think everything is perfect in Irish retail, far from it (Goddamn, daylight at last!). But I don't think that harping on that customer service (what part of "some" dont you understand?) is crap and that retailers are ripping off consumers (the figures are there!!) so shop up North is going to solve anything (didnt say that, but as evidenced by some other people's posts here it will help some folks !)other than lead to job losses. All you did in your last post was add a few links to bad service. Anybody can google that.:rolleyes: So it appears on google...whats the problem with that??? ohh , of course, i forgot, people dont really complain about stuff do they, because they have no cause to complain , have they ??

Ohh dear, the champion of all things Retail, cant provide the proof, what a surprize !

Johnny Foreigner

Bosh wrote: »

I live more or less half way between the two, so the fuel cost is moot, I'm spending it either way.

Given how my income has been cut and the cost of living is increasing how stupid would I be to pay extra?

I'm not talking luxuries, just everyday stuff.

It's all well and good to talk about this ethereal noble thing to shop local but at the end of the day I need to get the best value I can with my limited resources.

Businesses in the South have to get by as best they can, and so do I. I'll buy what I need wherever I get the best value, not necessarily the cheapest, whether that be north or south.

We do our grocery shopping in Dundalk generally, that may change with new VAT rate, electronics online, spirits up north, DIY hardware/tools up north, redecorated house lately - all paint bought in Dundalk.

Shopped around for best value. There wasn't much difference with a lot of the stuff so in that case would generally stay south if possible.

But as I said, at the end of the day it's all about bang for your buck.

Well said. I totally agree with you.
I love the saying; bang for your buck. That cracked me up. Never heard it before, but its a great one.

borderlinemeath

280special wrote: »

Ohh dear, the champion of all things Retail, cant provide the proof, what a surprize !

As I said, I'm certainly not going to post figures on a public board to prove to a blindly ignorant poster who has NO idea of costs of running a business in the retail sector.

And please learn how to multi quote, it's becoming quite difficult to read your rambling posts in a mixture of regular and bold font.

280special

borderlinemeath wrote: »

As I said, I'm certainly not going to post figures on a public board to prove to a blindly ignorant poster who has NO idea of costs of running a business in the retail sector.

And please learn how to multi quote, it's becoming quite difficult to read your rambling posts in a mixture of regular and bold font.

Come on sunshine, its getting late , shouldnt you have put the toys back by now and calmed down for the night ?? I think others will find it easy to see who is the ignorant poster here old son ! The bold font is there for those who otherwise choose to ignore points being made to them, however in your case you seem to have an almost political case of selective eyesight.

Once again you make a statement that you cannot back up. How do you know that I have no knowledge about the costs of running a business this side of the border? Do you know what part of the retail/service industry I work in ? No you dont !

Your refusal to provide ANY kind of costings, even generalised industry figures , hardly be claimable as mission critical to an unidentified business, proves that it is YOU who have no idea about the costs involved.

Those of us who do not subscribe to your vision of all parts of the retail industry as being extremely good value, fair to their customers and giving them the best deal possible have provided plenty of examples of what the reality is in at least some parts of this saintly industry you worship. You asked for proof, you got it, you now choose to ignore it. When you can back up your claims with hard facts let us know, untill then, go back to the Boss and tell him what hard time you are having convincing ordinary people of the great people you are.

borderlinemeath

280special wrote: »

Seeing as some people choose to ignore facts and as per usual cite labour costs, energy costs, the colour of the sky....anything but the fact that they will just have to accept that their profit levels cant stay at Celtic Tiger levels.....Well here are some more direct comparisons, perhaps someone can tell us if or how, in hard facts and figures ,all these horrendous costs retailers have to put up with justifies such disparities.

ROI/NI

Alba 16" TV..........................E129.99 / E104.84
Morphy Richards Microwave.....E 57.99 / E52.42
Acer Laptop.........................E 429.99 / E384.44
Power shower.......................E 259.00 / E194.85

( this last one isnt so bad , when i bought one a few years ago the price down here was THREE times what it was up north!!!!! )

All available from the same companies. After looking at the grocery price comparison previously listed (Corn flakes almost twice the price??? ) it seems like running costs for business's are HUGE this side of the border...makes you wonder why they bother :rolleyes:

But of course those of us who have to be careful with our money shouldnt worry about it, sure arnt we just giving these guys a nice bonus, a new car or some great holidays....

Maybe it is something to do with this kind of thing????

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/1103/1224282560226.html

The tesco link is speculation, not proof. Every time a disgruntled consumer wants to look for "proof" google throws out a few links to a Tesco story that is out of date and purely analytical speculation. Well done:D

Seeing as you seem to ignore the facts that there is a substantial cost differencial to run a retail business in this country answer me this. If it is such a profit making business, why is every main st, shopping centre and retail park half empty and businesses closing down every week? Surely if it "ripping off" the Irish consumer to the degree you claim, then everybody would be a shopkeeper?

The facts are that 55,000 jobs have been lost in the retail sector, press release from Retail Excellence Ireland on 7th Nov 2011:

David Fitzsimons, Chief Executive, Retail Excellence Ireland commented, "I want to commend all of the retailers

who entered this year’s awards. I particularly congratulate the awards finalists and winners. The very high standard of service, customer engagement, display and levels of investment among Irish retailers made choosing this year’s winners particularly difficult. These awards are about recognising and rewarding excellence.

In a market with very selective consumers, recognition as an industry leader should be of significant value.”

“High standards are particularly important given the very severe challenges currently facing Ireland’s retail

industry. September represented the 34th

month of consecutive decline in retail sales. Retailers are closing and

retail jobs are being lost at record rates. Over 55,000 retail jobs have been lost in the past three years”.

And while you try to distract from the facts by telling me I'm throwing my toys out of the pram, nothing could be further from the truth. If I come across as defensive of retailers it's because I'm on the frontline dealing with consumers who have NO IDEA of the hardship that face retailers. I have friends who own their own businesses and are faced with cutting loyal employees to 3 day weeks because they can't afford their wages and PRSI contributions. Nor can they afford to make them redundant. I have a good friend who has an outstanding rates bill of €40K on a modest sized unit in a shopping centre in the south east. He works 6/7 day weeks and hasn't taken a holiday in 2 years in order to keep the doors open. I know a couple who have no staff other than themselves and are taking no wages from their business in order to pay the rent and keep the doors open, they have a 90k loan they they took out for a shopfit and stock out of said shop that the bank have increased rates on 4 times. The shops on either side of them have closed down and they have resigned themselves to closing down when the loan is paid back. These people are in their 50s, are self employed and have no income will be entitled to bugger all from social welfare for all their years of contributions.

These are independent employers who are on the brink of losing their livelyhoods, businesses that they have run for years but have been bled dry by landlords, county councils, governments and now are being abandoned by the consumer because they can get goods a fraction cheaper in a neighbouring country where business rates are negligible compared to the South, wages, utilities, insurances, warehousing, transport - ie all costs for running a business are far less.

Toys out of the pram? No. Worried like hell for my livelyhood. Yes.

borderlinemeath

280special wrote: »

Come on sunshine, its getting late , shouldnt you have put the toys back by now and calmed down for the night ?? I think others will find it easy to see who is the ignorant poster here old son ! The bold font is there for those who otherwise choose to ignore points being made to them, however in your case you seem to have an almost political case of selective eyesight.

Once again you make a statement that you cannot back up. How do you know that I have no knowledge about the costs of running a business this side of the border? Do you know what part of the retail/service industry I work in ? No you dont !

Your refusal to provide ANY kind of costings, even generalised industry figures , hardly be claimable as mission critical to an unidentified business, proves that it is YOU who have no idea about the costs involved.

Those of us who do not subscribe to your vision of all parts of the retail industry as being extremely good value, fair to their customers and giving them the best deal possible have provided plenty of examples of what the reality is in at least some parts of this saintly industry you worship. You asked for proof, you got it, you now choose to ignore it. When you can back up your claims with hard facts let us know, untill then, go back to the Boss and tell him what hard time you are having convincing ordinary people of the great people you are.

I'm not your "sunshine" nor your "old son".

You didn't post proof, you posted a link to a speculative article and your own comparisons.

Seeing as you know so much, why don't you tell me? I don't think you work in any sector of retail given you're blatantly ignorant postings on what you consider to be a "rip off". Or maybe you do work in retail, aren't you the guy who collects trolleys from the car park in Tesco?:D

As I've said before, I'm not going to disclose figures from my employers. I will however do out a cost analysis for a small business for you when I get a chance.

I don't have to convince my Boss of anything. He knows full well how far removed from the reality of running a business most consumers are. He also knows what good customer service is and that the customer isn't always right. (they just think they are)

280special

borderlinemeath wrote: »

I'm not your "sunshine" nor your "old son".

You didn't post proof, you posted a link to a speculative article and your own comparisons. I wasnt the only one who posted FACTS about price comparisons, if you dont beleive the several posters who did provide FACTS as opposed to your pompous, "I know what I am talking about,take it as gospel, the rest of you are ignorant peasants and not capable of understanding" , assertions. Give us provable FACTS Sunshine FACTS !

Seeing as you know so much, why don't you tell me? Oh sure I couldnt do that, that would be a breach of employee/employer confidentiality wouldnt it ??? :rolleyes:I don't think you work in any sector of retail given you're blatantly ignorant postings on what you consider to be a "rip off". Prove US wrong, go on, prove us wrong, explain why goods down here are at times hugely more expensive, oh i forgot , you want to ignore that under the "I am sooo important, sooo senior, sooo much more intelligent than you plebs, i cant/wont bother explaining it to you lower beings." Or maybe you do work in retail, aren't you the guy who collects trolleys from the car park in Tesco?:D So the great god has spoken again, demeaning lower class workers, you might be better off out in India old son, they have a real nice caste system out there that you would really love !

As I've said before, I'm not going to disclose figures from my employers.No one asked you to, you brought it up as an excuse for excessive profits, and then realised you had backed yourself into a corner that you couldnt get out of.Generalised industry figures will suffice, you dont need to be specific. I will however do out a cost analysis for a small business for you when I get a chance. Sure if its that obvious, that well known, that should take all of what, 5 minutes ?

I don't have to convince my Boss of anything. He knows full well how far removed from the reality of running a business most consumers are. He also knows what good customer service is and that the customer isn't always right. (they just think they are) But sure according to you they are ALWAYS wrong

Here we have a prime example of what has been wrong with this country for far too many years and got us into the mess we are in. Greed is good, ignore customer's opinions,treat the lower grade staff as lower life forms...

Interesting that he/she decided to ignore the 2010 Irish Times article showing Tesco Ireland, even though we were in the middle of a financial crash, as being the 2nd most profitable part of Tesco's worldwide operations, so the Irish Times is wrong as well is it? god how lucky are we to have such a great bright person in our midst....What about the up to 34% differential in pricing within the same company operating north and south ?

280special

borderlinemeath wrote: »

The tesco link is speculation, not proof. Yeah right.....The Irish Times ? surely if it was inaccurate Tesco would have done something about it ?? Every time a disgruntled consumer wants to look for "proof" google throws out a few links to a Tesco story that is out of date article dated November 2010?? out of date ??and purely analytical speculation. Well done:D no, think its time for you to READ the article again !:rolleyes:

Seeing as you seem to ignore the facts that there is a substantial cost differencial to run a retail business in this country answer me this. If it is such a profit making business, why is every main st, shopping centre and retail park half empty and businesses closing down every week? Surely if it "ripping off" the Irish consumer to the degree you claim, then everybody would be a shopkeeper? Again you generalise, I didnt say "Everyone" you are one making generalisations about every consumer !

The facts are that 55,000 jobs have been lost in the retail sector, press release from Retail Excellence Ireland on 7th Nov 2011:


And while you try to distract from the facts by telling me I'm throwing my toys out of the pram, Well some of your posts come across like Sean Gallagher on the night of that final Tv debate,not a nice image nothing could be further from the truth. If I come across as defensive of retailers it's because I'm on the frontline dealing with consumers who have NO IDEA of the hardship that face retailers. I have friends who own their own businesses and are faced with cutting loyal employees to 3 day weeks because they can't afford their wages and PRSI contributions. Nor can they afford to make them redundant. I have a good friend who has an outstanding rates bill of €40K on a modest sized unit in a shopping centre in the south east. He works 6/7 day weeks and hasn't taken a holiday in 2 years in order to keep the doors open. I know a couple who have no staff other than themselves and are taking no wages from their business in order to pay the rent and keep the doors open, they have a 90k loan they they took out for a shopfit and stock out of said shop that the bank have increased rates on 4 times. The shops on either side of them have closed down and they have resigned themselves to closing down when the loan is paid back. These people are in their 50s, are self employed and have no income will be entitled to bugger all from social welfare (which is a disgrace) for all their years of contributions.

KLook, We all know people who are hard workers, providing a decent service & competitive pricing, We all know plenty of people who have taken serious cuts in their incomes to keep going...BUT those people arnt the problem, its the ones, usually huge organisations, who are sticking the knife in big time, and whose staff sometimes have an attitude of " who gives a F8ck about the customers" that are the problem. They are the ones who see themselves as safe with the backing of a huge company and maybe a complacent management too interested in their next bonus to worry about pricing or dealing with customers properly.

These are independent employers who are on the brink of losing their livelyhoods, businesses that they have run for years but have been bled dry by landlords, county councils, governments and now are being abandoned by the consumer because they can get goods a fraction cheaper in a neighbouring country where business rates are negligible compared to the South, wages, utilities, insurances, warehousing, transport - ie all costs for running a business are far less.

Well then surely it is time to go to the councils, go to the landlords and tell them they need to change? As regards service providers there are plenty of better deals to be had out there, Insurance is now a much more competitive market, we secured a far better deal thsi year by starting making calls a few months in advance, the word got back to our existing provider and quess what ?? On a similar vein, I was delighted to read of the way some of the local business people had their heads screwed on, they used the fall in demand for commercial premises to either re-negotiate or move to better premises!

Toys out of the pram? No. Worried like hell for my livelyhood. Yes. Not being sarcie or smart but that i can understand,We are all worried about the future.At times I feel like a lone voice within my own organisation trying to convince some of our newer managers of the need to go back to the levels of customer care we were famous for 10 to 15 years ago...But the real problem is that at a time when people are facing into real cuts in theor income they face prices that are not falling by as much as they should. After all Tesco were suddenly able to "reduce" prices a few years ago, they still werent as cheap as the north but it was an improvement, when they realised they were losing business to their own shops up north...why not the rest ?

Life is fairly crap for everyone you know, retailers and consumers, the difference being that consumers will walk if they dont get decent deals ! I dont remember too many people this side of the border complaining when all those yellow plate cars were packing the shopping centre car parks 10 or 15 years ago....or for that matter all those q's still to be seen of NI cars at filling stations !

borderlinemeath

I wasnt the only one who posted FACTS about price comparisons, if you dont beleive the several posters who did provide FACTS as opposed to your pompous, "I know what I am talking about,take it as gospel, the rest of you are ignorant peasants and not capable of understanding" , assertions

Give us provable FACTS Sunshine FACTS !

I have not come across as pompous. Can you quote where I called posters "ingnorant peasants"? No you cant because I havent. I have at all times been polite and informative. You on the other hand have been sneering, condescending and sarcastic and have deliberately kept posting within posts when I asked you not to as it it difficult to read and more time consuming to quote.

KLook, We all know people who are hard workers, providing a decent service & competitive pricing, We all know plenty of people who have taken serious cuts in their incomes to keep going...BUT those people arnt the problem, its the ones, usually huge organisations, who are sticking the knife in big time, and whose staff sometimes have an attitude of " who gives a F8ck about the customers" that are the problem. They are the ones who see themselves as safe with the backing of a huge company and maybe a complacent management too interested in their next bonus to worry about pricing or dealing with customers properly.

So now it's "usually huge organisations" that you feel are ripping consumers off? How do you know I don't work for a small independent retailer? You don't - yet you have assumed that because I defend retailers that I must be raking it in. Nothing could be further from the truth.

I think it's time to put you on the ignore list - you have repeatedly told me to stop "throwing my toys out of the pram" and "calm down" - while I have been completely calm and it's your posts that have come across as agitated.

And well done on completely derailing the thread. :rolleyes:

280special

borderlinemeath wrote: »

I have not come across as pompous. Can you quote where I called posters "ingnorant peasants"? Grow up sonny, you treat people as ignorant peasants, and you know that is what was being alluded to No you cant because I havent. I have at all times been polite and informative.Polite??You think so do you? Maybe by your standards but then that speaks legions for your attitude to good customer service, something you know damn all about !! Informative ??? what about the FACTS, the FIGURES you alluded to but suddenly cant provide because it would be a breach of confidence to even provide industry figures You on the other hand have been sneering, so who was the first to include a :rolleyes: then ? condescending and sarcastic and have deliberately kept posting within posts when I asked you not to yes Mein Fuhrer, i am sorry Mein Fuhrer.... as it it difficult to read and more time consuming to quote.




So now it's "usually huge organisations" that you feel are ripping consumers off? Good grief you really have a problem keeping attention on anything dont you??? Read the posts again and please pay attention.... How do you know I don't work for a small independent retailer? You see, there you go again, you are seeing this as a personal attack rather than a questioning of the industry, what a sad individual you are. You don't - Yet you have assumed that because I defend retailers that I must be raking it in. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is you who are making the assumptions chum ! You assumed i didnt work in retail sunshine, you assumed I didnt know about about the cost factors involved for Irish business, I didnt assume you worked anywhere in retail, though to be honest with your attitude to customers i would be surprized if you do , or maybe you do work for one of those organisations that doesnt give a flying f8ck for their customers, you would seem to fit the bill quite well

I think it's time to put you on the ignore list - you have repeatedly told me to stop "throwing my toys out of the pram" and "calm down" - while I have been completely calm good one !!! you have a future on the stage ! and it's your posts that have come across as agitated. Ahhh so people havent the right to be annoyed when faced with price differentials that even you , that great doyen of the greatness of retail Ireland, can explain or justify ? Yep thought so.....thought police at work again !

And well done on completely derailing the thread.No will leave that to your great genuis old boy wouldnt want to steal anything from your parade, as it is , despite your best efforts, the discussion has continued, you are the one who has chosen to take it down a different path and ignore the price comparisons that I and others have provided ! :rolleyes:

Imagine trying to deal with someone like this if you had to take some "not fit for purpose" goods back to a shop!!!! If working at all, he/she must be one of those stuck up little brats who walk round in a suit with a shirt collar 3 sizes too big or too small, a tie (if male)that isnt properly tied, thinks they know everything and looks down their nose at the great unwashed public who pay their wages.....give me one of the lads or lassies who retreive the trollies any time !

cournioni

Everybody, please calm down and have a reasonable conversation or argument about the topic. There is no need for insults and the culprits have already been warned.

Any more of the same will result in the thread being closed and bans.

280special

Fair enough, shame we couldnt have got some proper answers about the costs of doing business here.

positron

Mrs. P did all the gifts shopping in Drogheda couple of weeks ago - probly about 4-500 over all. We buy stuff off Amazon as well if/we we spot a bargain. We do our normal grocery shopping in town, and I don't think we would be going north just for grocery.

We do shop around for big ticket items - for instance if I were to get a new TV, or a car. And when it comes to saving what is left after paying tax, levi, fees, vat etc - all bets are off - I would buy north, or south, or online - where ever saves the money. I am only that patriotic. Sorry!

Onesimus

10pm tonight on Midweek ( TV3 ) they discuss cross border shopping and whether or not it is worth our while. Would be interesting to watch.

My own opinion is that it really isnt worth our while at all.

280special

Well, we were up in Banbridge last night, did a shop which cost £134/ E156...the same shop down here would cost E207. We werent able to compare everything as there were some products not in common. Allowing for travel cost we saved E40.

Surprizingly booze wasnt cheaper in some cases!

Allowing for everything it would seem difficult to justify the difference on the strength of alledged extra business costs.

Why didn't they go to Asda or Iceland, and I don't "go for a coffee".

The prices are wrong for Elmo:

Let’s Rock Elmo Price here in the south is €59.99

http://www.toys.ie/Sesame-Street-Lets-Rock-Elmo-!110547-prd.aspx?qwSessionID=1bebe5ea-ff57-4bba-9078-287f38e486ff

Up north in the same store it’s £39.99/€46.72

http://www.smythstoys.com/sesame-street-171sc/sesame-street-lets-rock-elmo-110547itm.aspx?qwSessionID=e010abe6-79a6-4a15-bf20-0997e8fc04f2

I don't know where she got it for €57 up north.