Euro Boycott on the 2nd of December

LFCFan

Just found this out:

On December the 2nd this year there will a boycott by the consumers of
Ireland in protest to the excessive and unjust prices that are being
charged to the Irish consumer. A similar protest was organised in Greece
this year 3rd September where consumers avoided all shops, pubs and
restaurants etc. in protest to the prices that were being charged. The
European commissioner for consumer affairs (an Irish man David Byrne) and
the Irish Government have both being entirely passive with this issue when
a lot feel something could of been done. Since the Euro change over
Ireland leap frogged above France and Germany to become the second most expensive
country in the euro zone after Finland. This contention is supported by
several leading companies and organisations including Forfas and Price Waterhouse
Coopers. Please advise those you know to support the boycott. The boycott
is set to last for one day as in Greece.

Mountjoy Mugger

So, we stock up on the 1st instead of shopping on the 2nd? An absolute waste of time.

LFCFan

why do we need to stock up? Surely people can survive one miserable day without going to the shop. Something needs to be done to get the message across that we are sick of being ripped off. You'd be surprised how much money would be lost by shops from 1 full day of no spending.

Typedef

I've stuck this for you LFCfan.

I'm also wondering if you could shed some light on who it is is organising the boycott? Is it a blanket boycott? What groups are identified with the boycott etc? A link if you can find it would suffice.

It is about time that some sort of extraneous action was taken by the Irish public at large, not just to register protest at the profiteering that has taken place because of the introduction of the Euro, but, also because of the already extremely high cost of living in Ireland.
For those of you who haven't noticed, Ireland is one of the most expensive places to live in, in the Eurozone.

*warp speed now

LFCFan

Originally posted by Typedef
I've stuck this for you LFCfan.

Thanks! Hopefully people will take part

I'm also wondering if you could shed some light on who it is is organising the boycott? Is it a blanket boycott? What groups are identified with the boycott etc? A link if you can find it would suffice.

I'll have a gander. The mail was forwarded on to me by a mate.

For those of you who haven't noticed, Ireland is one of the most expensive places to live in, in the Eurozone.

And at the same time Wages haven't gone up to match. It's no wonder I'm so broke all the time.

Dun

Originally posted by Mountjoy Mugger
So, we stock up on the 1st instead of shopping on the 2nd? An absolute waste of time.

Think, you're gonna spend more buying two lots on two days than one larger lot on one day... the go-in-for-one-thing-come-out-with-three factor.

If there is a site or something with a half-decent poster, I'll print out a few copies and stick em up round where I am.

LFCFan

In fairness though, why would you need to go to the shop that day anyway. As long as you have the basics for that ONE day you should be fine. Some people will make this out to be a massive intrusion on their daily lives and won't bother with the Boycott even though they could do fine without going to the shop. December 2nd is a Monday so it should be easy for people to survive one day without a packet of crisps or whatver.

Typedef

Linkage Cloud: http://www.geocities.com/priceprotest/
Mail: europricehikes@boards.ie.

Regards
Brian.

LFCFan

some press coverage here:

http://www.unison.ie/stories.php3?ca=9&si=26986&breakingnews=1

ross_k

I agree with this sort of protest, but it really needs a lot of publicity if it's going to work properly. Do you think it will have any effect?

There's a great opportunity in this climate for some outlets to take a lead here. I mean, shops like Reed's on Dublin's Nassau Street always undercut Easons right beside it, and they do fantastic business, probably producing more profit by reducing their prices in the long run, and building up a good reoccuring customer base, especially from the student population. If more retailers had that modus operandi, things would be so much better value for money.

Anyway, just my thoughts on the matter, and I will be supporting the Dec 02 protest, it's a monday so I'll be o.k. I think!

Ross

Yoda

I won't be doing any shopping on 2 December because I will be in Prague that morning. I will be arriving home at 20:45 and will be taking a taxi home – even if the taxis hiked their prices.

Loomer

Originally posted by LFCFan
Just found this out:

On December the 2nd this year there will a boycott by the consumers of
Ireland in protest to the excessive and unjust prices that are being
charged to the Irish consumer. A similar protest was organised in Greece
this year 3rd September where consumers avoided all shops, pubs and
restaurants etc. in protest to the prices that were being charged. The
European commissioner for consumer affairs (an Irish man David Byrne) and
the Irish Government have both being entirely passive with this issue when
a lot feel something could of been done. Since the Euro change over
Ireland leap frogged above France and Germany to become the second most expensive
country in the euro zone after Finland. This contention is supported by
several leading companies and organisations including Forfas and Price Waterhouse
Coopers. Please advise those you know to support the boycott. The boycott
is set to last for one day as in Greece.

I've been bitching about the high prices of a pint in Dublin since the Euro to the point my friends are sick of hearing it. Of course they aren't willing to do anything about it.
Has anyone seen anything in the media about the proposed boycott? I'm emailing all TV and newspaper outlets I know of in Ireland in hopes that they will report on it. The Consumer Association seems completely unaware of this action and seems to be interested not at all in a boycott.
I urge everyone to contact RTE, TV3, TG4, Irish Times...etc. Word needs to get out otherwise this is useless.
I'm also texting everyone in my phone book.

Typedef

Good call... spamming devices to the ready.

Dampsquid

I don't think newspapers are going to be so supportive of this boycott. If the boycotts is a success, then they would loose out too!

Loomer

Originally posted by Dampsquid
I don't think newspapers are going to be so supportive of this boycott. If the boycotts is a success, then they would loose out too!

If many people harrass them then they'd basically have to.
There is something about a Buy Nothing Day on Saturday on unison.ie, but it's international.

SkepticOne

Mention on Marian Finucane today. Listen here (Real player required). Dermott Jewell of the Consumer's Association interviewed.

Villain

I think this is a complete waste of time, if people boycot the shops on the 2nd, then the 3rd will be a busy day shopping.

You would be a lot better served by lobbying the Government, like march the streets and and bring all the major cities to a stand still.

LFCFan

Originally posted by irish1
I think this is a complete waste of time, if people boycot the shops on the 2nd, then the 3rd will be a busy day shopping.

You would be a lot better served by lobbying the Government, like march the streets and and bring all the major cities to a stand still.

Can people not manage to get by one day without going to the shop? What exactly would you have to leg it to the shop for the next day?

Mountjoy Mugger

After hearing Paul Jewell from The Consumers' Association on the radio this morning announcing that they won't be supporting the ban, I think you're banging your head against a brick wall.

Maybe a boycott of Pubs for a Saturday night might be far more effective??

Dampsquid

Maybe a boycott of Pubs for a Saturday night might be far more effective??

I agree, it has to be a focused boycott. A blanket wide boycott would affect people who are not charging excessive and unjustified prices.

Loomer

Originally posted by Dampsquid
I agree, it has to be a focused boycott. A blanket wide boycott would affect people who are not charging excessive and unjustified prices.

Who might these be? I'm sorry if it might affect a few business that are not guilty of profiteering but the overall message, I think, is more important.
in Greece and Italy it got people's attention. After all it's going to have to be the government that steps in to get any real change.
It won't unless people make enough noise that they can't ignore.

LFCFan

Originally posted by Dampsquid
I agree, it has to be a focused boycott. A blanket wide boycott would affect people who are not charging excessive and unjustified prices.

It might make them think twice about ripping us off in the future though. I agree that there should be some action taken against pubs. They are ripping us off more than anyone and need to be shown that we are sick of it. Problem is the Irish are not going to avoid a pub on a Saturday night. I know people who hate certain pubs because of the prices etc yet they still go there every weekend. It's rediculous. I am adding pubs to my avoid list all the time and I refuse to go to them any more. More people should do this and you'd soon find all the pubs being more competitive.

Villain

Originally posted by Mountjoy Mugger
After hearing Paul Jewell from The Consumers' Association on the radio this morning announcing that they won't be supporting the ban, I think you're banging your head against a brick wall.

Maybe a boycott of Pubs for a Saturday night might be far more effective??

Are you living in Ireland or some country where drink is banned???


Your idea has to be the worst I have ever heard and would have no affect what so ever, because people are going to go out on a saturday, especially young people.

If you had said a mid week night maybe but saturday night, joke!!!

Mountjoy Mugger

Originally posted by irish1
Are you living in Ireland or some country where drink is banned???


Your idea has to be the worst I have ever heard and would have no affect what so ever, because people are going to go out on a saturday, especially young people.

If you had said a mid week night maybe but saturday night, joke!!!

FYI, I'm living in Dublin and I totally accept how difficult it would be. My point was made earlier in the thread when I indicated that I think the concept of boycotting shops is a total waste of time and effort.

As indicated by Paul Jewell in the program I referred to, most of the price gouging was down to hairdressers, dentists, doctors, and publicans.

As it isn't really practical to boycott your doctor, and if you want to make an effective stand against at lteast one of the profiteers, I suggested that the publicans be targetted as they are such a high profile group.


Your point about most young people going out on a Saturday night underlines my suggestion - if they were to sit in for one Saturday, or go to the cinema or elsewhere, the impact would be felt - and felt far than by a half cocked idea of boycotting your local corner shop.

Typedef

However the act of saying "Boycotting shops is conterproductive", makes that act counter productive. If a sufficient 'critical mass' of people is achieved then the boycott has effect, that is simple logic.

Therefore, professing that "Boycotting is ineffective, so I won't participate" is a self fulfilling prophecy.

LFCFan

Originally posted by Typedef
Therefore, professing that "Boycotting is ineffective, so I won't participate" is a self fulfilling prophecy.

Sure isn't that the Irish attitude. 'Ah, sure what good will that do' mentality. It'll do nothing 'cause we as a people do nothing except moan to each other and then when there's a chance to actually get up off your arse(or in this case stay on it) nothing happens. We should take a leaf out of Canada's book. Their main Telco a while back decided to increase calls by 15% but the country as a whole said no way and boycotted the company until they backed down and left prices as they were. This is the sort of action Ireland needs to take.

Dampsquid

Your idea has to be the worst I have ever heard and would have no affect what so ever, because people are going to go out on a saturday, especially young people.

Sure this whole boycott has been a joke. There was very little press coverage about it, I guess about 99% of the population don't even know its going on.

Patman

And if you are not shopping anywhere today, you can still spend your money at Komplett as prices are very low and you prolly got loads of money left from not shopping other places!

Check out our Boards.ie forum here.

Typedef

Somehow, I'm thinking that is a troll.

This is me looking the other way

leeroybrown

A boycott on the 2nd ... thats today. I didn't notice one
I think I'll stock up on stuff today!

Typedef

You'll pay for it too.

That'll show them

LFCFan

Well, that Boycott was a total waste of time. I stook to it and bought nothing but all the shops were still packed. So much for peoples outrage at being ripped off. I know it wasn't well publicised but I know a lot of people who knew about it and still spent money in the shops.