Shopping in Northern Ireland

RiverWilde · 13-01-2009 04:21PM

I didn't know they sold bear in asda. Is it good? Good value for money?
Bet it tastes like chicken .....

Riv

paddydriver · 13-01-2009 04:28PM

johnfás wrote: »

How is traffic through Newry these days?

I have to go up to Belfast completely unrelated to shopping this Saturday. Last time I had to do this was when the traffic jams outside Newry were reported all over the media before Christmas. It took me two hours to go past somewhere I didn't want to be.

Those reports came from the government press office:pac: Can be bad sometimes but if you are just heading past Newry then you should be OK.

consultech · 13-01-2009 04:46PM

paddydriver wrote: »

Those reports came from the government press office:pac:

It's funny how many people those ridiculous reports actually put off. The "three miles long/people out of cars peeing on the side of the road/something out of a hollywood movie" ones were my faves. I had full on vehement argument from various sheeple (usually 40/50+ years) who were sure there was no value in going north due to tailbacks of apocalyptic proprtions - Despite me having a photo of a relatively clear Newry approach road at 2pm on Saturday 20/12/08.

RiverWilde · 13-01-2009 04:53PM

Ah well I didn't have to go north for my shopping last weekend as I still have stuff in from Enniskillen to go through. Will go up again next sat though and do a major shop and get a few bargains.

Riv

alastair · 13-01-2009 06:33PM

consultech wrote: »

It's funny how many people those ridiculous reports actually put off. The "three miles long/people out of cars peeing on the side of the road/something out of a hollywood movie" ones were my faves. I had full on vehement argument from various sheeple (usually 40/50+ years) who were sure there was no value in going north due to tailbacks of apocalyptic proprtions - Despite me having a photo of a relatively clear Newry approach road at 2pm on Saturday 20/12/08.

All hype aside - it took a bit over an hour to get from a couple of miles south of the Newry roundabout, to beyond the final roundabout north of Newry a couple of days after Christmas. Took me by surprise as it was twice as long as the delay a week before Christmas - I'd assumed it'd ease up a bit, not get worse. Newry onwards - grand. Heading back down to Dublin on the 2nd, the Newry-bound traffic looked nearly as bad.

Qwerty? · 13-01-2009 08:53PM

A mate of mine is going up to Enniskillen at the weekend to get Wine for a wedding, somewhere in the region of 160 bottles. Is there any restrictions on quantity you can buy in Asda up there, assuming Asda is the best place to buy.
Thanks.

tregan · 13-01-2009 09:00PM

Has he factored inthe corkage charged for having your own wine at the reception? some hotels (providing it's an hotel is having his reception?) can charge up to eur17 per bottle for corkage!

re number of bottles you can buy - i couldn't tell you but might be safer to ring them and ask if ok??

Qwerty? · 13-01-2009 09:35PM

tregan wrote: »

Has he factored inthe corkage charged for having your own wine at the reception? some hotels (providing it's an hotel is having his reception?) can charge up to eur17 per bottle for corkage!

re number of bottles you can buy - i couldn't tell you but might be safer to ring them and ask if ok??

Yeah, the corkage isn't cheap, I think its about €15 a bottle.

Esel · 14-01-2009 03:49AM

Qwerty? wrote: »

A mate of mine is going up to Enniskillen at the weekend to get Wine for a wedding, somewhere in the region of 160 bottles. Is there any restrictions on quantity you can buy in Asda up there, assuming Asda is the best place to buy.
Thanks.

Official limit is 90 litres (of which only 60 litres can be sparkling). Have a look here.

Our man in Havana · 14-01-2009 03:58AM

And I seriously doubt there will be anyone around to enforce this notional limit.
In all my many trips up north I have yet to see a customs checkpoint anywhere.

J_Dublin15 · 14-01-2009 10:23AM

Was up in Belfast yesterday, 20-30% off everything in Zavvi, not really much there however in either of them, a lot of the best stuff and latest stuff has gone, as have all consoles unfortunately.

Quick tip for people who may be buying in GameStop, don't use your Irish Card, go and draw sterling out instead, I went in to buy a few things and they picked a box up from behind of what I took up to them, saw my card and then put the box back and said they were "Sold Out" someone else came in and bought the same items, and they got them. I made a complaint to the guy there and he said they were not allowed to sell to People in Ireland, and if I want to buy I should do so back home.

So I went across to the other gamestop, and went up with same games, and then the person behind the counter said I had to be charged at the Euro price, not the exchange rate one, the one that is charged in Dublin, to which I refused. In the end I have no sympathy with Gamestop if they go bust, they're turning customers away.

On the way back Garda patrol stopped us right on the border (car Hiding behind a bit of shrubery no less!) and wanted to check what we had with us and wanted to check if we were all EU nationals, (We were all Irish), and stated that they need to make sure people are not breaking the laws and spending too much over the border!

smashey · 14-01-2009 10:38AM

J_Dublin15 wrote: »

Quick tip for people who may be buying in GameStop, don't use your Irish Card, go and draw sterling out instead, I went in to buy a few things and they picked a box up from behind of what I took up to them, saw my card and then put the box back and said they were "Sold Out" someone else came in and bought the same items, and they got them. I made a complaint to the guy there and he said they were not allowed to sell to People in Ireland, and if I want to buy I should do so back home.

So I went across to the other gamestop, and went up with same games, and then the person behind the counter said I had to be charged at the Euro price, not the exchange rate one, the one that is charged in Dublin, to which I refused. In the end I have no sympathy with Gamestop if they go bust, they're turning customers away.

That is totally out of order. How the hell can they justify trying to charge the price from another jurisdiction? That really needs to be taken to the powers that be in Gamestop. I live in the north but work in Donegal and get paid in euros. I'll try to buy something with euros in Derry at the weekend to see what they say.

J_Dublin15 · 14-01-2009 10:41AM

smashey wrote: »

That is totally out of order. How the hell can they justify trying to charge a price in another jurisdiction? That really needs to be taken to the powers that be in Gamestop.

I don't know if they actually would have done that or not, they may have just said it to put me off, it was made quite clear my custom was not wanted there so I went and spent my money elsewhere.

It seemed to be the sale items they were concerned with, a guy who was served 2-3 people in front of me used a Bank of Ireland Laser card to pay for items not in the sale but they had no problem with that.

tantipie · 14-01-2009 10:47AM

JoshThomas wrote: »

Please let me know when you hear back from them! Thanks!

Dear tantipie

Thank you for your e-mail regarding ordering via our UK online service.

As the ordering system requires post codes, we are unable to provide this service via our online system. May I recommend for you to visit your nearest Argos store where our staff will be able to assist you further.

Should you require any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact us at order.enquiries@argos.co.uk or call us on 0845 640 2020.

Regards,

DubDani · 14-01-2009 12:41PM

Just for general Info:

The Zavvi Store in the Buttercrane Centre in Newry has been closed now. It's one of the 18 shops that have been closed today by the Zavvi Administrators.

griffdaddy · 14-01-2009 04:06PM

J_Dublin15 wrote: »

Was up in Belfast yesterday, 20-30% off everything in Zavvi, not really much there however in either of them, a lot of the best stuff and latest stuff has gone, as have all consoles unfortunately.

Quick tip for people who may be buying in GameStop, don't use your Irish Card, go and draw sterling out instead, I went in to buy a few things and they picked a box up from behind of what I took up to them, saw my card and then put the box back and said they were "Sold Out" someone else came in and bought the same items, and they got them. I made a complaint to the guy there and he said they were not allowed to sell to People in Ireland, and if I want to buy I should do so back home.

So I went across to the other gamestop, and went up with same games, and then the person behind the counter said I had to be charged at the Euro price, not the exchange rate one, the one that is charged in Dublin, to which I refused. In the end I have no sympathy with Gamestop if they go bust, they're turning customers away.

On the way back Garda patrol stopped us right on the border (car Hiding behind a bit of shrubery no less!) and wanted to check what we had with us and wanted to check if we were all EU nationals, (We were all Irish), and stated that they need to make sure people are not breaking the laws and spending too much over the border!

I'd sue them for discrimination. What difference does it even make to them who gets the stuff? I'm gonna put on northy accent next time i'm up just in case

brettmirl · 14-01-2009 04:21PM

Bond-007 wrote: »

And I seriously doubt there will be anyone around to enforce this notional limit.
In all my many trips up north I have yet to see a customs checkpoint anywhere.

I saw one on one trip. But they weren't actually stopping anyone. They were all in their customs van reading The Star and eating what looked like breakfast rolls.

consultech · 14-01-2009 06:10PM

J_Dublin15 wrote: »

Quick tip for people who may be buying in GameStop, don't use your Irish Card, go and draw sterling out instead, I went in to buy a few things and they picked a box up from behind of what I took up to them, saw my card and then put the box back and said they were "Sold Out" someone else came in and bought the same items, and they got them. I made a complaint to the guy there and he said they were not allowed to sell to People in Ireland, and if I want to buy I should do so back home.

So I went across to the other gamestop, and went up with same games, and then the person behind the counter said I had to be charged at the Euro price, not the exchange rate one, the one that is charged in Dublin, to which I refused. In the end I have no sympathy with Gamestop if they go bust, they're turning customers away.

On the way back Garda patrol stopped us right on the border (car Hiding behind a bit of shrubery no less!) and wanted to check what we had with us and wanted to check if we were all EU nationals, (We were all Irish), and stated that they need to make sure people are not breaking the laws and spending too much over the border!

I'm not quite declaring shenanigans on these tales, but I don't find any of them believable tbh. Kinda smacks of a huge mis-understanding of how it doesn't actually make a jot of difference to GS what currency they take in for their games. A directive like this wasn't passed down from the top in GS, it just wasn't.

Looks to me like someone's gotten a little too excited by their first trip across the border - You weren't exactly running hooch cross-border into 1920's America. More likely you were part of a foursome of lads packed into a speeding boymobile who bumped into some bored guards who knew they could play on an apparent lack of knowledge of your right to free movement of goods between EU nations.

elle150 · 15-01-2009 12:43AM

hey guys, just a bit of advice.
If you live in republic of ireland and go up to the north to get good deals on electrical goods from currys or pc world. Don't!

The Currys/ Pc world store in the ROI won't exchange or refund any products bought in the UK or northern ireland. even the faulty product.

Big problem is tvs. northern irish tvs have a different frequency to irish tvs.

Our man in Havana · 15-01-2009 12:51AM

The Currys/ Pc world store in the ROI won't exchange or refund any products bought in the UK or northern ireland. even the faulty product.

Why on earth would you return a product bought in the north to a store here in the south? Your contract is with the store where you purchased the item.

Big problem is tvs. northern irish tvs have a different frequency to irish tvs.

Not true, they have the same frequency bands as here.

Zynks · 15-01-2009 01:22AM

Some suspiciously biased comments here lately....

Isn't it great how the Internet has reduced the power of propaganda?

Esel · 15-01-2009 01:43AM

consultech wrote: »

I'm not quite declaring shenanigans on these tales, but I don't find any of them believable tbh. Kinda smacks of a huge mis-understanding of how it doesn't actually make a jot of difference to GS what currency they take in for their games. A directive like this wasn't passed down from the top in GS, it just wasn't.

You think bigotry died when the GFA was signed?

elle150 wrote: »

Big problem is tvs. northern irish tvs have a different frequency to irish tvs.

Only matters if you are using an aerial, which I suspect is rare these days.

DundalkDuffman · 15-01-2009 01:54AM

J_Dublin15 wrote: »

On the way back Garda patrol stopped us right on the border (car Hiding behind a bit of shrubery no less!) and wanted to check what we had with us and wanted to check if we were all EU nationals, (We were all Irish), and stated that they need to make sure people are not breaking the laws and spending too much over the border!

Did they pull you on the A1/M1 motorway or where did they pull you in? That is highly unusual, I am on stretch as well as the Carrickarnon road and have never seen them there bar maybe twice where they had the Ulsterbus to Dublin pulled in. As for spending too much over the border? WTF?

Our man in Havana · 15-01-2009 01:58AM

Normally they only target buses and taxi/hackney vehicles. Very strange that they would target a private car. There is an inspection lay by after the Jonesbrough exit southbound where they inspect the buses. I have never seen a private car getting the once over.

CHEAPSTER1000 · 15-01-2009 04:22AM

We are going to shop in northern ireland, newry or enniskillen, we know beer, razor blades, washing powder is cheaper there, does anyone know what else we should look for?

Ruu_Old · 15-01-2009 04:27AM

Removed the the potentially slanderous/libel comments against certain stores, we don't want to drop boards in hot water. Less of this please, back on topic.

robo · 15-01-2009 10:02AM

Bond-007 wrote: »

Not true, they have the same frequency bands as here.

Perhaps a little off topic but 3 years ago I bought a DVD recoder in Argos and could not get it to tune to my TV stations (normal NTL stations). I rang up the helpline of the manufacturer and it was found to have a different tuning setting and I was told that they would only work in the UK and the Argos (Dublin) should not have been selling those type.
I returned it for one that did work for me. But just be aware they may have been an issue with settings previously that is not now in new models of TVs and recorders. I can't for the life of me remeber the brand, but changed it for a Philips.

Tony · 15-01-2009 10:09AM

esel wrote: »

Only matters if you are using an aerial, which I suspect is rare these days.

Its the other way around, it primarily matters if you are using VHF cable like NTL/UPC . Aerials are not rare at all in fact they will become more common as time goes on as people use them to get RTE in conjunction with a freesat system as well as receiving the new digital terrestrial service.

Sorry for going OT but thought it was important to clarify that for anyone thinking of buying a TV up North.

Bam33 · 15-01-2009 12:21PM

Hi All,

Sorry if I am asking something you have already answered there are too many pages to read through everything.:( I am going to Banbridge outlet this weekend and I want to do some food shopping too. Can you tell me where is the nearest ASDA and Sainsburys to Banbridge?

Thanks

Our man in Havana · 15-01-2009 12:38PM

Nearest Sainsburys would be in Sprucefield. Nearest asda would be in Downpatrick.

Shopping in Northern Ireland

Comments