Limerick business that have put up prices over VAT increase?

bigpink

So what places around town have put up there prices

Heard of a few cafes and pubs

Insect Overlord

HMV insisted on an extra 40-odd cent when I tried the 2 for €12 offer last week.

Big_Evil

Insect Overlord wrote: »

HMV insisted on an extra 40-odd cent when I tried the 2 for €12 offer last week.

HMV are in dire need of the money :rolleyes:

Fairly sneaky way of trying to bump up prices...everybody knows they are struggling and prob wont survive another 12 months

Not surprised to hear some pubs have snuck in a price increase too, albeit a pretty daft move - weekends in Limerick seem to be getting a lot quieter of late - and it is not just down to the usual Jan blues either

bigpink

Heard of a few pubs in town putting 10 cent on to drinks

cul-2008

Cafés/restaurants should surely be basing prices on the 9% rate that applies to the hospitality sector, excluding soft drinks and alcoholic beverages?

Perhaps increases in electricity etc are hitting some harder than others, and the only way is to pass it on to the customer rather than absorb the cost.

Wrong move Mr.Noonan, wrong move.

bigpink

Front page of the Chronicle with the local pubs saying VaAT increase will ruin the industry

Dont raise prices so try encourage people to come in

http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/business/vat_increases_could_ruin_pub_industry_in_limerick_1_3426086

phog

bigpink wrote: »

Front page of the Chronicle with the local pubs saying VaAT increase will ruin the industry

Dont raise prices so try encourage people to come in

http://www.limerickleader.ie/news/business/vat_increases_could_ruin_pub_industry_in_limerick_1_3426086

You do realise that whether the pubs or any business for matter raises their prices or not they must still pay the VAT increases to revenue, I serioulsy doubt that there are many pubs that can afford to take the hit.

bigpink

Yes i see that point of it but i just hope places dont try more than 2 %

Berty

bigpink wrote: »

Yes i see that point of it but i just hope places dont try more than 2 %

Kind of like when we moved from the £ to the €. Nearly every other business rounded up the amount to the nearest 10c instead of the correct exchange.

europa11

From that Leader article:

"....The 2% increase would average at about seven cent on a pint, but publicans have been forced to add ten cent to the price for common sense reasons, increasing to €4.10 for a pint of stout and to €4.50 for a pint of lager......"

"Forced", I doubt if they could wipe the smile off their mugs saying that. So for "common sense" reasons they're going to magically pocket 3 cents per drink while habitually whining about the dwindling numbers in pubs. How about absorbing the 7c instead? Of course not, "Oh no, not us, we're above the little people, we can't be hurt"

Every other business in the country has cut prices to stay in business. Few if any publicans have made any effort to offer value for money, those who do, cut price drinks on nights when few people are out (although credit to them for at least doing something).

Publicans seem to think prices can only move in one direction. During the Celtic Mad-times when taxes were not increased the pubs and breweries shoved up the prices frequently without giving a damn for customers or the effect their prices were having on tourism.

And yet, while I was talking to a pub owner over the w/e, all he bitched about was the smoking ban, supermarkets, takeaways and drink-driving rules, when I broached any possibility of even a "Happy Hour" he said it was "impossible, Guinness and the LVA would have me shut down".

tbh, they're fooling themselves, this 10 cent rise will soon become 20 cent as the publicans will use the "common sense, less small change in your pocket" argument. Drink and in particular, drinking in pubs, is fast becoming a luxury.

If the monoplies (Brewers and the Vintners' Association primarily) can't see the wood for the trees then more pubs will shut up shop. Bring down yer prices and cut your cloth to measure like everyone else has had to.

Voy

Do people generally base their decisions to go to a pub based on price though?

I mean, even if one pub had particularly lower prices, if people are staying at home to save money, they're always going to make a saving over even the cheapest pub anyway. The majority of people will go to the popular pubs, which don't become popular because they're serving cheap drink. As much money as publicans claim to be losing, if they don't see it necessary to drop their prices to keep their business going, why would they?

europa11

Well, I hear what you're saying Voy and as regrds customers you make valid points throughout.

However the Publicans are only ones I hear constantly complaining about trade being down, in most other businesses traders will look at how their prices are affecting trade and act accordingly - this is something the licenced trade seems to think they're above.

What people are fearing is that the price of say Guinness, which was €4.00 on average, now trades at €4.10.....will during the summer climb to €4.20 and slyly meander up to €4.50 by this time next year on that "common sense" theory known only to the virtual monopoly that controls the drinks industry.

As far as I'm concerned, it's a vastly overpriced product even at current prices.

kenoconnell

europa11 wrote: »

From that Leader article:

"....The 2% increase would average at about seven cent on a pint, but publicans have been forced to add ten cent to the price for common sense reasons, increasing to €4.10 for a pint of stout and to €4.50 for a pint of lager......"

"Forced", I doubt if they could wipe the smile off their mugs saying that. So for "common sense" reasons they're going to magically pocket 3 cents per drink while habitually whining about the dwindling numbers in pubs. How about absorbing the 7c instead? Of course not, "Oh no, not us, we're above the little people, we can't be hurt"

Every other business in the country has cut prices to stay in business. Few if any publicans have made any effort to offer value for money, those who do, cut price drinks on nights when few people are out (although credit to them for at least doing something).

Publicans seem to think prices can only move in one direction. During the Celtic Mad-times when taxes were not increased the pubs and breweries shoved up the prices frequently without giving a damn for customers or the effect their prices were having on tourism.

And yet, while I was talking to a pub owner over the w/e, all he bitched about was the smoking ban, supermarkets, takeaways and drink-driving rules, when I broached any possibility of even a "Happy Hour" he said it was "impossible, Guinness and the LVA would have me shut down".

tbh, they're fooling themselves, this 10 cent rise will soon become 20 cent as the publicans will use the "common sense, less small change in your pocket" argument. Drink and in particular, drinking in pubs, is fast becoming a luxury.

If the monoplies (Brewers and the Vintners' Association primarily) can't see the wood for the trees then more pubs will shut up shop. Bring down yer prices and cut your cloth to measure like everyone else has had to.

You should really educate urself and get a broad based sense of what is going on before posting, while I fully appreciate that you are entitled to your opinion, what you have posted above is nothing more than your opinion, with the odd specific point and couldn't be further from the truth in many cases in pubs throughout limerick. Feel free to call in any day for a tea or coffee on the house and a true insight to the pub business in limerick. Oh btw we didn't increase the vat. A Guinness is still below €3.50, I won't actually quote the price and I haven't seen a publican with a smile on his face in a very long time. U might correct me on a incidental point but not on the majority......

TheEntertainer

Im still trying to figure out why there was 3.6bn in cuts etc when a few weeks before the budget they more or less just happened to find 3.6bn lying around under a mattress or as they called it human error in the NTMA and department of finance. And this is what i found really stupid "The correction has reduced the national debt by 2.3% but will not have any impact on next month's Budget" (RTE, 2011). Its like me saying I won the euromillions but sure il go to work anyway

europa11

kenoconnell wrote: »

You should really educate urself and get a broad based sense of what is going on before posting...... A Guinness is still below €3.50, I won't actually quote the price .........

OK, Ken, maybe I'm drinking in the wrong places, so educate me. Where will I find a pint Guinness for less than €3.50 in Limerick?

(Leaving aside Sarsfield Barracks and we are talking about Guinness, not Beamish)

Going by my experience over the weekend, and I was out Fri/Sat and Sun, I had pints in a total of ten pubs, all city centre based, I will quote the prices - of those in which I bought a round in - all charged variously €4.00 / €4.10 / €4.50 per pint, so if there are bargains to be had, please do tell.

As for increasing the VAT, well of course you didn't increase it, the Governmant only have that power, however, a 2% rise comes to 7 cent, What the publicans did do was to "top up" by an additional 3 cent - a la the same rounding-up procedure that we experienced during the euro-changeover.

Am I also wrong btw, in not thinking that this rise will be the last one?, or as I suspect (correct me by all means), are prices set to increase further from the brewers/publicans in the coming months?

Thanks for the free coffee offer.

skyguy19

there a price increase also coming next month on all drink. the vinituers are putting it up as they said it hasnt risen in 2 years.

The Snipe

europa11 wrote: »

kenoconnell wrote: »

You should really educate urself and get a broad based sense of what is going on before posting...... A Guinness is still below €3.50, I won't actually quote the price .........

OK, Ken, maybe I'm drinking in the wrong places, so educate me. Where will I find a pint Guinness for less than €3.50 in Limerick?

(Leaving aside Sarsfield Barracks and we are talking about Guinness, not Beamish)

Going by my experience over the weekend, and I was out Fri/Sat and Sun, I had pints in a total of ten pubs, all city centre based, I will quote the prices - of those in which I bought a round in - all charged variously €4.00 / €4.10 / €4.50 per pint, so if there are bargains to be had, please do tell.

As for increasing the VAT, well of course you didn't increase it, the Governmant only have that power, however, a 2% rise comes to 7 cent, What the publicans did do was to "top up" by an additional 3 cent - a la the same rounding-up procedure that we experienced during the euro-changeover.

Am I also wrong btw, in not thinking that this rise will be the last one?, or as I suspect (correct me by all means), are prices set to increase further from the brewers/publicans in the coming months?

Thanks for the free coffee offer.

Oconnells, men's pub for 3.30 and it is good Guinness


Posted from my phone :P

TheEntertainer

europa11 wrote: »

kenoconnell wrote: »

You should really educate urself and get a broad based sense of what is going on before posting...... A Guinness is still below €3.50, I won't actually quote the price .........

OK, Ken, maybe I'm drinking in the wrong places, so educate me. Where will I find a pint Guinness for less than €3.50 in Limerick?

I dont know but I think theres a pub called O Connells that sell Guinness for 3.30 a pint. :-)

adaminho

skyguy19 wrote: »

there a price increase also coming next month on all drink. the vinituers are putting it up as they said it hasnt risen in 2 years.

The vintners don't put up the price. Price increases either come from the Government (vat) or the Brewery's (wholesale cost).

eclectichoney

TheEntertainer wrote: »

Im still trying to figure out why there was 3.6bn in cuts etc when a few weeks before the budget they more or less just happened to find 3.6bn lying around under a mattress or as they called it human error in the NTMA and department of finance. And this is what i found really stupid "The correction has reduced the national debt by 2.3% but will not have any impact on next month's Budget" (RTE, 2011). Its like me saying I won the euromillions but sure il go to work anyway

There is a big difference between national debt and the budget deficit however. It is like comparing apples and oranges in a way - the debt has no impact on the deficit - so even if we 'found' €20bn, we would still have to cut the deficit as even with the cuts we are spending €8-10bn too much every year which is obviously unsustainable.

I don't think the VAT increase was a good move however given how retail is finding it very tough at the moment as it is.

skyguy19

adaminho wrote: »

The vintners don't put up the price. Price increases either come from the Government (vat) or the Brewery's (wholesale cost).

and the Vintners represent the publicians, look wait and see it will be announced in the next few weeks,

bazz26

They are just putting another nail in their own coffin. More and more people will just go to the off licence/supermarkets for cheap booze and drink it at home. You can see it on Saturday nights, pubs that used to be packed are now half empty.

europa11

TheEntertainer wrote: »

I dont know but I think theres a pub called O Connells that sell Guinness for 3.30 a pint. :-)

Good, not knowing who Ken is I didn't make the link (that and not having had drinks there since the Old Quarter days), but will be happy to support someone with a more realistic notion of the products actual value. I'll skip that coffee roll on Friday.

Anyone else following this example, or is it a solo run? Pleasantly surprised the LVI and Guinness aren't whining about underselling.

testicle

adaminho wrote: »

The vintners don't put up the price. Price increases either come from the Government (vat) or the Brewery's (wholesale cost).

Or the Publican (profit)

europa11

adaminho wrote: »

The vintners don't put up the price. Price increases either come from the Government (vat) or the Brewery's (wholesale cost).

Who told you that? Of course they have put on price inceases, usually in tandem with the breweries.

This latest rise was the first VAT/Excise increase in donkeys years. All increases during the Tiger madness came courtesy of the brewers and/or the vintners.

L.T.P.

europa11 wrote: »

Good, not knowing who Ken is I didn't make the link (that and not having had drinks there since the Old Quarter days), but will be happy to support someone with a more realistic notion of the products actual value. I'll skip that coffee roll on Friday.

Anyone else following this example, or is it a solo run? Pleasantly surprised the LVI and Guinness aren't whining about underselling.

Guinness is €2.95 in Synotts (O'Connells!!) in Annacotty for the month of January as far as I know

source

In fairness it feels at times that ken is the only one willing to put on GOOD offers to actually draw people in.

The steak deal in Annacotty, the soup and sandwich deal in town, table quiz Monday nights with cash prizes and cheap drinks in town.

It doesn't seem that any other bars in the city are going to as much bother as ken is to draw in the punters.

The closest I can recall is the Locke doing free finger food at 5 on a Friday!

Everyplace else feels like a rip off.

xsiborg

source wrote: »

In fairness it feels at times that ken is the only one willing to put on GOOD offers to actually draw people in.

The steak deal in Annacotty, the soup and sandwich deal in town, table quiz Monday nights with cash prizes and cheap drinks in town.

It doesn't seem that any other bars in the city are going to as much bother as ken is to draw in the punters.

The closest I can recall is the Locke doing free finger food at 5 on a Friday!

Everyplace else feels like a rip off.

not to mention too but that on said quiz nights, the price of a good pint of guinness, actually, no, one of THE best pints of guinness in the town, is only €3.00!

SnoopyGunner

Yes, really good Guinness at O'Connell's and their evening menu from 5 to 7pm is buy one get one free! Great value, and I agree that sometimes Ken does seem to be the only publican offering a good deal to customers.

diol07

europa11 wrote: »

As for increasing the VAT, well of course you didn't increase it, the Governmant only have that power, however, a 2% rise comes to 7 cent, What the publicans did do was to "top up" by an additional 3 cent - a la the same rounding-up procedure that we experienced during the euro-changeover.

Price rounding is not as simple as you make it out to be. Rounding from 7cent to 10cent is common sense. The days when cashiers and customers deal with pennies are long gone and this is commonly accepted. Give a customer 3cent change and they either walk away and tell you to keep it or it goes straight in to the charity box. From a business perspective, it makes a big difference in till management and when cashing up at the end of the evening, counting pennies is both time consuming and a pain in the ass. It's just not practical anymore. For retailers, do you honestly think they are going to re-price a bag/shoe/clothing from say €65 to €66.30? No chance, it'll be €67. You price it at €66.30, you have customers saying "I don't have the 30 cent, you'll hardly take it off me!". You have a sale with say 20% off, the €66.30 becomes €53.04 - inconvenient pricing that just isn't practical in a busy, fast paced store. A nightmare for the staff and management when it comes to sale pricing, sourcing price tickets etc too.

Today at work we received a letter from one of our European suppliers (German) instructing us to increase everything by €2 due to the Irish VAT increase. That came from the supplier, not the retailer!

osarusan

diol07 wrote: »

PFor retailers, do you honestly think they are going to re-price a bag/shoe/clothing from say €65 to €66.30? No chance, it'll be €67. You price it at €66.30, you have customers saying "I don't have the 30 cent, you'll hardly take it off me!".

Why not E66.50?

kenoconnell

europa11 wrote: »

Good, not knowing who Ken is I didn't make the link (that and not having had drinks there since the Old Quarter days), but will be happy to support someone with a more realistic notion of the products actual value. I'll skip that coffee roll on Friday.

Anyone else following this example, or is it a solo run? Pleasantly surprised the LVI and Guinness aren't whining about underselling.

Hi Europa,

The LVI and Guinness can't actually tell u what price to sell at.

You can't sell for short periods of time, ie happy hours

So like out in Annacotty we can sell The Black stuff for the month of Guinness @ €2.95, and in town all the time for €3.30

We could do it for a week, couple days or even a full day. Once you start with a price in the morning you must maintain that as your base level and you may only increase it upwards.

I unfortunately know that we not be as popular as some of the other more established pubs in the area with many years of business behind them or more know rugby associated names.

We therefore must put more competitive deals and bargains out there to get people in.

I do not believe in trying to get customers in with offers at certain times and confusing people, when we do a deal its simple and easy to understand. Like the €3.30 offer, its there all the time, even sat nights at 12!!!!

I do also agree with you whole heartedly that some pubs do over charge and must look around and see that people simply cannot spend the amount of money that they used to, and need to change there prices.

However, with all the great value, were making no money!!! Just keeping the business going, people employed and keeping the wolf from the door!!!!

Thanks for the time and support.

Ken O'Connell

kenoconnell

L.T.P. wrote: »

Guinness is €2.95 in Synotts (O'Connells!!) in Annacotty for the month of January as far as I know

Its a January Sale, Just like Harvey Normans!!!

sioda

kenoconnell wrote: »

Its a January Sale, Just like Harvey Normans!!!

Go KENNY Go :p:p:p

Berty

kenoconnell wrote: »

Its a January Sale, Just like Harvey Normans!!!

Can we haggle with you just like Harvey Normans?

europa11

Thanks for that informative reply Ken.

More publicans like you, in particular with a similar customer friendly attitude and there might be hope for us yet Pity the established pubs (and rugby names:( ) take such a blinkered approach, yet they're usually the most vocal when it comes to bitching about trade being down.

Good luck and look forward to having a few down your way over the w/e.

Gallee

Rugby names? As in Peter Clohessys who also has select pints at €3? The only other rugby named pubs are Jerry Flannerys, Willie Sextons and the Locke Bar and they alll appear to be doing ok.

TheWarrior

Just left Fine Wines in Corbally- Empty handed- they have increased their prices a nice bit. Brooklyn East India Pale ale was 2.99 now 3.10, Budvar up to 3.20, smithwicks pale ale up to 2.65 from 2.50 etc,etc. 2%(21-23% vat increase) of 3 euro isnt 11 cent, or 15 cent for the smithwicks.

I went to Tescos where the prices are the same as before the increase!
The days where people accept gouging are gone........

bazz26

Gallee wrote: »

Rugby names? As in Peter Clohessys who also has select pints at €3? The only other rugby named pubs are Jerry Flannerys, Willie Sextons and the Locke Bar and they alll appear to be doing ok.

The select pints have gone up to €3.10 since the VAT increase.

The Snipe

kenoconnell wrote: »

You can't sell for short periods of time, ie happy hours


We could do it for a week, couple days or even a full day.

Once you start with a price in the morning you must maintain that as your base level and you may only increase it upwards.

Doesn't that mean so, on the Monday we should only be paying €3 a pint all day long? Or how do you work it?

kenoconnell

Beer Baron wrote: »

Can we haggle with you just like Harvey Normans?

If I'm there you can ya, no problem, I'm always on for a deal!!!