Shopping in Northern Ireland

johnnyrotten · 02-01-2009 04:10PM

purchased an item in Argos , Newry today for £244
The same item in argos here is €499!
They do home delivery to Republic for and extra £20

BTW I was there early this morning. I left about 1pm and there traffic was jammed right back to just south of the border!
Anyone going tomorrow should leave extra early

TarfHead · 02-01-2009 04:51PM

kellygav wrote: »

Heading up to Newry 2moro, wondering weather to change money in the BDC up there or use my laser card.

Laser, or cash from an ATM

kellygav wrote: »

Looking to buy a pram in Mothercare, i don't know if i should ring the store and see if they have it in stock because most stores dont carry stocks of prams and they order them in anyways.

Thanks in advance

If it would ruin your day to travel home empty-handed, then yes.

robo · 02-01-2009 05:44PM

I am planning on going up the weekend of the 16th and 17th of January. I was initially planning on a day trip, to visit Belfast, Sprucefield and IKEA but I spotted a great hotel break in the Park Plaza out by Belfast Airport - they are charging £44 per room per night so 2 people sharing a room for 2 nights will be £90 betwen us!
It is out in the airport but still not bad!! But beware you are charged instantly and as far as I know, there is no refund if you cancel.
Here is their website - http://www.parkplazabelfast.com/

ntlbell · 02-01-2009 05:46PM

kellygav wrote: »

Heading up to Newry 2moro, wondering weather to change money in the BDC up there or use my laser card.

Looking to buy a pram in Mothercare, i don't know if i should ring the store and see if they have it in stock because most stores dont carry stocks of prams and they order them in anyways.

Thanks in advance

alot of places are doing 1e = 1stg

so ring and check first I've gotten the best deals going into stores and actually asking for 1e = 1stg and if your sepdning a few quid they'll usually oblige...

don't be afraid to haggle a bit it's not ireland! (sort of)

gerire · 02-01-2009 06:02PM

bigkev49 wrote: »

It's also the widescreen model which makes a big difference.

My gf got me one from elara lately and they were definitely the cheapest around.

Got a bluetooth navman in halfords yesterday for 119. by far the cheapest bluetooth option out there;

stocked up the beer press too, it'll be paddys day before i need to travel up again

cycling is fun · 02-01-2009 06:09PM

purchased an item in Argos , Newry today for £244
The same item in argos here is €499!
They do home delivery to Republic for and extra £20

Hi Johnny Rotten are you sure that they deliver to the republic?
Its just l would like to get a freezer and am sure it would be cheaper also they have a large range on uk website none on Irish and very few in the catalogue do l have to go to a shop in north or can l order online?

faolteam · 02-01-2009 06:45PM

:eek:were the best place in newry to buy one of these cheaper than dublin any clues

ntlbell · 02-01-2009 06:51PM

faolteam wrote: »

:eek:were the best place in newry to buy one of these cheaper than dublin any clues

I'd try powercity in dub first.

mmalaka · 02-01-2009 07:02PM

going to newry tomorrow to do the normal shopping that I used to do in Tesco here, and perhaphs some baby clothes... etc

Is there a specific shopping center that I should look for? do they have Tesco? Next?...etc

what about the parking? should I have some coins for that?

never been in newry before....

the corpo · 02-01-2009 07:09PM

for all the hassle of getting into newry, i'd try and bypass it and head to somewhere else, belfast is only a little further on, will have tons more shops to choose from, and won't be anywhere near as mad

i imagine even bypassing newry by heading east via carlingford would work out quicker than sitting in traffic into the city

Richard · 02-01-2009 07:27PM

mmalaka wrote: »

going to newry tomorrow to do the normal shopping that I used to do in Tesco here, and perhaphs some baby clothes... etc

Is there a specific shopping center that I should look for? do they have Tesco? Next?...etc

what about the parking? should I have some coins for that?

never been in newry before....

Maybe Tesco in Banbridge would be less busy:

Tesco Stores
25A Castlewellan Road, Banbridge, BT32 4AX

Not sure whether you need a pound for the trolly, but if you need to, get some money from an ATM, buy something cheap so you'll get a few quid in your change.

Bluetonic · 02-01-2009 07:30PM

Richard wrote: »

Maybe Tesco in Banbridge would be less busy:

Tesco Stores
25A Castlewellan Road, Banbridge, BT32 4AX

Not sure whether you need a pound for the trolly, but if you need to, get some money from an ATM, buy something cheap so you'll get a few quid in your change.

The trolleys don't require money to free them.

mickoneill30 · 02-01-2009 07:35PM

I was just up in Lisburn today. Got there about 11:30AM. Traffic was OK. It was a bit heavy around the Newry junctions but it was only for about 10 mins and then we were motoring again.

At 11:30AM the carpark in Lisburn was empty. So empty that I was getting worried that the shops were closed today. There weren't a lot of shoppers around at that time either. They must be late risers up the North. When we were leaving there around 2PM the car park was a lot busier and so were the shops. We were going to stop in Sprucefield on the way back but it looked like bedlam so we didn't bother.

We went to the Outlet for a couple of hours and passed Newry again around 4:30PM. Traffic was very heavy for a few miles heading from the South and I would have hated to have been in it. From all of the roundabouts -> Newry it didn't seem to be moving much. It was heavy enough heading from the North too but after 20 mins of slowish traffic we were through it.

HMV is dead cheap if you're buying DVDs. I saw No Country For Old Men and loads of other movies for £4. Xbox 360 games seem very cheap compared to here too. There's a lot for £20 - £29. Next is absolutely rubbish (for men anyway). Their sale is a rack that's about a metre long with shorts hanging on it and a couple of crappy trousers.

I didn't see any other glaring bargains in the sales. They were cheaper than here but they always are any time of the year. My missus in the Outlet saw a pair of shoes that she bought for £5 a few months ago now "reduced" to £10. She didn't bother buying anything there and that's unusual for her. For my clothes I didn't see anything hugely cheaper than they were 6 months ago.

So if you want to avoid the traffic wait a few weeks and go up when it's quieter. Although the Pound Vs Euro stuff might be different then.

joolsveer · 02-01-2009 07:38PM

the corpo wrote: »

......

i imagine even bypassing newry by heading east via carlingford would work out quicker than sitting in traffic into the city

Sorry it can't be done by going east via Carlingford as there isn't a bridge across the lough.

kingshankly · 02-01-2009 07:39PM

mmalaka wrote: »

going to newry tomorrow to do the normal shopping that I used to do in Tesco here, and perhaphs some baby clothes... etc

Is there a specific shopping center that I should look for? do they have Tesco? Next?...etc

what about the parking? should I have some coins for that?

never been in newry before....

there is no tesco but you have sainsburys and dunnes the quays shopping center is the main shopping area which consists of sainsburys ,next,river island,argos,monsoon,faith,awear,boots, debenhams,jack and jones to name a few parking is free but get down early across from the quays you have the buttercrane shopping center which consists of m and s dunnes clothing ,primark ,adams,topshop, principles plus many more hope this is of some help

faolteam · 02-01-2009 07:45PM

hi there was up in newry quays buttercrane a few weeks ago was just wondering if there was even better bigger places up there or further on i want to buy a tv lcd plasma etc and was wondering what u might recommend were to buy any clues ,

also is sprucefield beeter than they quays etc

kingshankly · 02-01-2009 07:45PM

joolsveer wrote: »

Sorry it can't be done by going east via Carlingford as there isn't a bridge across the lough.

you can get to newry from calingford via omeath then take the old dublin road to belfast but would imagine it would take longer no need to cross the lough unless you were headin to warrenpoint or kilkeel direction.

faolteam · 02-01-2009 07:46PM

what would u recommend

hi there was up in newry quays buttercrane a few weeks ago was just wondering if there was even better bigger places up there or further on i want to buy a tv lcd plasma etc and was wondering what u might recommend were to buy any clues ,

someone mentioned Elara is this in newry i heard its mega cheap
also is sprucefield better than they quays etc

TarfHead · 02-01-2009 08:04PM

robo wrote: »

I am planning on going up the weekend of the 16th and 17th of January. I was initially planning on a day trip, to visit Belfast, Sprucefield and IKEA but I spotted a great hotel break in the Park Plaza out by Belfast Airport - they are charging £44 per room per night so 2 people sharing a room for 2 nights will be £90 betwen us!
It is out in the airport but still not bad!! But beware you are charged instantly and as far as I know, there is no refund if you cancel.
Here is their website - http://www.parkplazabelfast.com/

"The Park Plaza Belfast is situated just 18 miles north-west of Belfast and is easily accessed via a network of main roads and motorways"

18 miles ! You get what you pay for ! Did you think it was the airport (George Best/Belfast City) near IKEA ?

dcr22B · 02-01-2009 08:13PM

sallymount wrote: »

did anyone notice any good deals on car tyres on their shopping trips

Got a brand new 225/40ZR18 in Modern Tyre Services in Newry (beside The Quays SC) for £65. Best I was quoted down here was €130.

faolteam · 02-01-2009 08:17PM

what would u recommend

hi there was up in newry quays buttercrane a few weeks ago was just wondering if there was even better bigger places up there or further on i want to buy a tv lcd plasma etc and was wondering what u might recommend were to buy any clues ,

someone mentioned Elara is this in newry i heard its mega cheap
also is sprucefield better than they quays etc

rai555 · 02-01-2009 08:53PM

dcr22B wrote: »

Got a brand new 225/40ZR18 in Modern Tyre Services in Newry (beside The Quays SC) for £65. Best I was quoted down here was €130.

82,90 incl delivery : http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?details=Ordern&cart_id=65247137.124.17692&typ=D-102722&ranzahl=4&Breite=225&Quer=40&Felge=18&Speed=W&weiter=0&kategorie=6&Ang_pro_Seite=12&Transport=P&F_F=&dsco=124&sowigan=So&Achse=

robo · 02-01-2009 08:57PM

TarfHead wrote: »

"The Park Plaza Belfast is situated just 18 miles north-west of Belfast and is easily accessed via a network of main roads and motorways"

18 miles ! You get what you pay for ! Did you think it was the airport (George Best/Belfast City) near IKEA ?

No I know where it is, meant to say that in the post. It is a fair way out but I am happy with that.

johnnyrotten · 02-01-2009 09:17PM

cycling is fun wrote: »

purchased an item in Argos , Newry today for £244
The same item in argos here is €499!
They do home delivery to Republic for and extra £20

Hi Johnny Rotten are you sure that they deliver to the republic?
Its just l would like to get a freezer and am sure it would be cheaper also they have a large range on uk website none on Irish and very few in the catalogue do l have to go to a shop in north or can l order online?

Yeah purchased myself today, said i wanted it delivered to Dublin. "No Problem, thats an extra £20, £25 in total for delivery"
Easy as that.
Call them Argos Ltd The Quays Tel: 0044 845 1657857
I rang before i went up and confirmed delivery to Republic !!

faolteam · 02-01-2009 11:29PM

:cool:can anyone tell me what exactly is in this shopping centre as there is only 4 shops mentioned are the likes of sainburys curry hidden around the corner???

Esel · 03-01-2009 12:18AM

joolsveer wrote: »

Sorry it can't be done by going east via Carlingford as there isn't a bridge across the lough.

Take the Carlingford road, but then left at some point for Omeath via the Windy Gap. Nice scenery, and shorter than going all the way to Carlingford. Either way brings you right into the centre of Newry.....

anotherlostie · 03-01-2009 12:35AM

I was in Enniskillen today. The place is still mad busy, but the sales are very very poor at this stage. I had to buy a couple of birthday presents and everything I got was at full price as there was either nothing on sale or a very poor selection. Of course seeing a tag say £35 and €54 made me realise it was still better than doing the same shop in Dublin. The ASDA car park was jammed, and didn't even bother going inside.

rainbowtrout · 03-01-2009 01:00AM

I was also in Enniskillen today, was stuck in traffic coming into town from Sligo side. Took about half an hour to get over to Asda where we had to do several laps before we nabbed a space from people leaving. Although the car park was wedged, it wasn't as mad inside with all the new checkouts open. It meant that it was possible to go down the aisles near the checkouts because there were no queues blocking them.

Still very good value for food shopping. Asda's rate today was 94p and there were no more than two trollies at a checkout at any time(around 5pm). There were a lot less of the deals available than were available before christmas. And there was none of the manic lunacy around the drink section that was there a month ago. Filled the guts of a shopping trolley for £74. I started (food) shopping monthly in Enniskillen in November and I'd say i've barely spent €30 in the local Tesco since, just on the daily perishables (bread, milk etc) if i'm passing by.

sallymount · 03-01-2009 01:28AM

rai555 wrote: »

82,90 incl delivery : http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?details=Ordern&cart_id=65247137.124.17692&typ=D-102722&ranzahl=4&Breite=225&Quer=40&Felge=18&Speed=W&weiter=0&kategorie=6&Ang_pro_Seite=12&Transport=P&F_F=&dsco=124&sowigan=So&Achse=

thanks guys. having read a lot of posts about eveything in norn irn ,tyres are also leaving me dumbfounded. there is something majorly wrong somewhere. i can understand to a degree our lack of competition but our prices are not at the races. please please can anyone have a solution that will stop the rot and get everyone back on an even keel.

03-01-2009 02:09AM

sallymount wrote: »

thanks guys. having read a lot of posts about eveything in norn irn ,tyres are also leaving me dumbfounded. there is something majorly wrong somewhere. i can understand to a degree our lack of competition but our prices are not at the races. please please can anyone have a solution that will stop the rot and get everyone back on an even keel.

I have a solution. Someone should start a delivery service where they will pick up goods for us up the north for a small fee and deliver them down here.

Shopping in Northern Ireland

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