Shopping in Northern Ireland

Boatlake · 14-02-2017 3:56pm

Car park in Newry is a joke. Overfull.

bladespin · 14-02-2017 4:11pm

Boatlake wrote:

Car park in Newry is a joke. Overfull.

Which one? There's lots.

Cortina_MK_IV · 14-02-2017 4:15pm

bladespin wrote: »

Which one? There's lots.

I think it was a response to my photo on previous page about the Quays.

Boatlake · 14-02-2017 4:31pm

yes. The Quays.

park elsewhere if you can.

bladespin · 14-02-2017 5:12pm

Try out the Quayside, the Buttercrane or any of the other parks along the Quays (just round the corner (KFC sign) Dunnes stores etc

14-02-2017 5:15pm

Surprised that carpark isnt sorted yet its been dug to bits a good while now. Up there in september and would have expected it sorted closer to christmas with the extra custom. Anyone know what exactly they are doing?

Cortina_MK_IV · 14-02-2017 5:17pm

£20M Expansion. I think it was put on hold for a while but it's back on again.

http://www.itv.com/news/utv/update/2016-10-03/newry-set-for-major-shopping-boost/

OldMrBrennan83 · 14-02-2017 5:18pm

This post has been deleted.

Cortina_MK_IV · 14-02-2017 5:20pm

This was 23rd Jan, not moved much since.

Quackster · 14-02-2017 8:13pm

bladespin wrote: »

Try out the Quayside, the Buttercrane or any of the other parks along the Quays (just round the corner (KFC sign) Dunnes stores etc

Decent Tesco Extra to the north of the town too which is perfect if all you're doing is a grocery shop.

bladespin · 15-02-2017 12:45am

Quackster wrote:

Decent Tesco Extra to the north of the town too.

Hooge carpark & it's free, park up and go walkabout

Cortina_MK_IV · 09-03-2017 11:36pm

I need new glasses so popped into Specsavers in Dundalk on Monday to look at them. I want reaction/transition lenses which is €69 extra. Specs I want are €149+€69 = €218. In Buttercrane on Monday and the €149 range are £99 up there. Promo at the moment and reactions are free (normally £49). My €218 glasses were £99 in total or €114.23.

dubrov · 10-03-2017 12:09am

Reaction lenses should be free in the ROI stores too.

Still a bit of a saving up north but way cheaper again to stay at home and order online

nosilver · 12-03-2017 11:46pm

Cortina_MK_IV wrote: »

I need new glasses so popped into Specsavers in Dundalk on Monday to look at them. I want reaction/transition lenses which is €69 extra. Specs I want are €149+€69 = €218. In Buttercrane on Monday and the €149 range are £99 up there. Promo at the moment and reactions are free (normally £49). My €218 glasses were £99 in total or €114.23.

I'd be returning these as they seem to have put a rose tint on them.

Reactions has almost always been a "free" extra in specsavers here and uk. A quick look on their website would show you.

Yes, some glasses that are £99 in uk are €149 here, but some that are £49 are €59 here.

I never understand these currency comparisons when different countries and cost bases are in play.

Somehow I dout that the staff in Dundalk had a 20% pay cut imposed when sterling tanked, similarly with their rent and rates and utilities.

I doubt too if you would be happy to give up 20% of your wage so that you are paid a similar rate to someone in uk for your job.

So your "saving" is about €30 less fuel and time to travel to Newry twice.

Can't see the savings there - I value my time a lot higher than that.

Cortina_MK_IV · 12-03-2017 11:55pm

nosilver wrote: »

I'd be returning these as they seem to have put a rose tint on them.

Reactions has almost always been a "free" extra in specsavers here and uk. A quick look on their website would show you.

Yes, some glasses that are £99 in uk are €149 here, but some that are £49 are €59 here.

I never understand these currency comparisons when different countries and cost bases are in play.

Somehow I dout that the staff in Dundalk had a 20% pay cut imposed when sterling tanked, similarly with their rent and rates and utilities.

I doubt too if you would be happy to give up 20% of your wage so that you are paid a similar rate to someone in uk for your job.

So your "saving" is about €30 less fuel and time to travel to Newry twice.

Can't see the savings there - I value my time a lot higher than that.

2 things. My quote was in Dundalk last Monday was €218 transitions not free. I paid €114.23 by Revolut.

Where are you getting €30 on fuel from?

nosilver · 13-03-2017 12:01am

Cortina_MK_IV wrote: »

2 things. My quote was in Dundalk last Monday was €218 transitions not free. I paid €114.23 by Revolut.

Where are you getting €30 on fuel from?

Saving was €30, less the cost of fuel. Lets say a fiver for fuel - so net savings €25 over two trips. Maybe you value your time that little, I put far greater value on my time.

I don't believe your €218 quote, reactions have always been a free extra and its advertised on their website and usually on posters in store. - Have a check on their website yourself.

Cortina_MK_IV · 13-03-2017 12:24am

nosilver wrote: »

Saving was €30, less the cost of fuel. Lets say a fiver for fuel - so net savings €25 over two trips. Maybe you value your time that little, I put far greater value on my time.

I don't believe your €218 quote, reactions have always been a free extra and its advertised on their website and usually on posters in store. - Have a check on their website yourself.

I wouldn't see the point of lying... How odd! Bit pointless going on really, however still don't get the €30 thing. I'm in Newry at least once per week anyway, it's only 20 minutes up the road.

Well done anyway... The topic is bargain alerts in the north. I "thought" I made a €100 saving so decided to share it. Won't make that mistake again.

https://www.specsavers.ie/glasses/lens-options#lens_reactions

nosilver · 13-03-2017 10:13am

Cortina_MK_IV wrote: »

I wouldn't see the point of lying... How odd! Bit pointless going on really, however still don't get the €30 thing. I'm in Newry at least once per week anyway, it's only 20 minutes up the road.

Well done anyway... The topic is bargain alerts in the north. I "thought" I made a €100 saving so decided to share it. Won't make that mistake again.

https://www.specsavers.ie/glasses/lens-options#lens_reactions

Yep - they have a "value" of €69 and if you click "offers" it states that it is free. Both UK and Irish sites are identical with identical frames and identical offers.

https://www.specsavers.ie/offers/free-reactions

there's a small saving IF you are near to Newry and IF you are in Newry every week and IF you pick one of the models where there is a saving on.

Too many IF's for 99% of people and its not a Bargain Alert - just a small currency saving in select circumstances.

But if a different model suits you the saving may not be there and on some models the saving is in Dundalk.

robyntmorton · 13-03-2017 11:00am

The issue here is in the offer that was offered in the different outlets, if I am reading it correctly (correct me if I'm not)

ROI:
Buy One Get One Free offer
€149 glasses
€69 reactions
Second €149 glasses (standard lenses) free

NI:
Single pair £99
Free reactions

The offers can't be combined, leading to where the prices go messy.

If we were to go on the same offer in NI:
Glasses £99
Reactions £49
Second glasses free (standard lenses)
£148 total (€173 approx.)

James Delaney · 13-03-2017 7:28pm

robyntmorton wrote: »

The issue here is in the offer that was offered in the different outlets, if I am reading it correctly (correct me if I'm not)

ROI:
Buy One Get One Free offer
€149 glasses
€69 reactions
Second €149 glasses (standard lenses) free

NI:
Single pair £99
Free reactions

The offers can't be combined, leading to where the prices go messy.

If we were to go on the same offer in NI:
Glasses £99
Reactions £49
Second glasses free (standard lenses)
£148 total (€173 approx.)

******************
Can u please explain what REACTIONS are ?

I live in Dublin.
Would cost me €40 for retrn trip to Belfast.

Online is the way to go.
Once u have you glasses prescription from the 'South' & know the ID Name / No. Of frame, u'll buy much cheaper.

I purchased a 49" tv in Belfast in Nov.
Cost me stg £6.75 to deliver to Dublin & did not ave 2spend the day driving.

robyntmorton · 13-03-2017 7:32pm

Reactions are the name Specsavers use for photochromatic lenses. They're the ones that change colour in UV light, IE sunlight.

nosilver · 13-03-2017 7:45pm

Checked with local specsavers in Naas.

Two pairs for price of one always apply to €89 + ranges. £69+ in uk.

Reactions are free on one pair of glasses. They are not free on the second pair. You cannot have any other "free" finishes on the other pair.

So you can get 2 pairs for one, and one free extra on one pair.

Same applies to UK.

So two pairs + one reactions (sunglass) finish from €89 in Republic of Ireland or £69 if in uk (about €83 using today's consumer exchange rates.)

James Delaney · 13-03-2017 7:51pm

nosilver wrote: »

Checked with local specsavers in Naas.

Two pairs for price of one always apply to €89 + ranges. £69+ in uk.

Reactions are free on one pair of glasses. They are not free on the second pair. You cannot have any other "free" finishes on the other pair.

So you can get 2 pairs for one, and one free extra on one pair.

Same applies to UK.

So two pairs + one reactions (sunglass) finish from €89 in Republic of Ireland or £69 if in uk (about €83 using today's consumer exchange rates.)

**************

In this instance, ur better buying 'local' for the sake of €6.

OldMrBrennan83 · 13-03-2017 8:20pm

This post has been deleted.

Geuze · 14-03-2017 9:34pm

ECB rate at 87.5 pence today, up from 84.5p a month or so ago.

James Delaney · 14-03-2017 9:36pm

Geuze wrote: »

ECB rate at 87.5 pence today, up from 84.5p a month or so ago.

*******************
So what rate do the shops in NI give.

I bet its a lot lower than 87.5

nosilver · 14-03-2017 10:20pm

Geuze wrote: »

ECB rate at 87.5 pence today, up from 84.5p a month or so ago.

Far better to quote gbp/eur consumer debit card rate.

Currently it is just over €1.17 per £1 stg.

Official mid market rate is €1.1465 at this minute.

Geuze · 14-03-2017 10:46pm

Sat 4-Mar.

Asda EK gave 85p approx for euro notes.

ECB rate on the Friday 3-Mar was 86.355p.

My bank gave me 85.57p using a debit card at an ATM.

But I was charged 3.17 fee.

nosilver · 15-03-2017 5:20pm

Geuze wrote: »

Sat 4-Mar.

Asda EK gave 85p approx for euro notes.

ECB rate on the Friday 3-Mar was 86.355p.

My bank gave me 85.57p using a debit card at an ATM.

But I was charged 3.17 fee.

using above

Asda rate was €1.176 per £1
Bank rate was €1.169 per £1 + 3.17 fee for transaction.

A lot of people think that if the rate is 87p, that you add 13% to get to euro price not realising its 13% of 87p + bank margin, so always best to look at GBP/Eur rate instead of Eur/GBP and add 2c for bank charges to make price comparison easier.

overmantle · 16-03-2017 6:13pm

nosilver wrote: »

using above

Asda rate was €1.176 per £1
Bank rate was €1.169 per £1 + 3.17 fee for transaction.

A lot of people think that if the rate is 87p, that you add 13% to get to euro price not realising its 13% of 87p + bank margin, so always best to look at GBP/Eur rate instead of Eur/GBP and add 2c for bank charges to make price comparison easier.

All this talk of conversion rates makes me appreciate how easy it has become to holiday on mainland Europe, since the introduction of the Euro. Fluctuating exchange rates with sterling etc etc, as well as the potential of time, fuel and hassle, make me think it's hardly worth the effort of shopping in the north.

bladespin · 16-03-2017 6:26pm

overmantle wrote: »

All this talk of conversion rates makes me appreciate how easy it has become to holiday on mainland Europe, since the introduction of the Euro. Fluctuating exchange rates with sterling etc etc, as well as the potential of time, fuel and hassle, make me think it's hardly worth the effort of shopping in the north.

Don't overthink it, it'll be straight up either worth it or not, very obvious, worrying about a cent or penny difference is nuts.

batistuta9 · 08-06-2017 11:07pm

Might be a good weekend to head north, going by the UK election exit polls.

Euro was over 88p a minute ago, if you can convert with revolut or something similar might be worth taking

09-06-2017 7:09pm

batistuta9 wrote: »

Might be a good weekend to head north, going by the UK election exit polls.

Euro was over 88p a minute ago, if you can convert with revolut or something similar might be worth taking

Yes, very good time. Clothes and shoes would be my own focus.

Geuze · 12-06-2017 3:14pm

Official ECB rate today 88.5 pence.

Geuze · 21-07-2017 5:18pm

89.61p today, highest in six months.

90p was reached during the last 12 months.

http://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/policy_and_exchange_rates/euro_reference_exchange_rates/html/eurofxref-graph-gbp.en.html

Cortina_MK_IV · 21-07-2017 5:27pm

I was hoping it might hit 90 today... Revolut currently around £0.8990

Aph2016 · 24-07-2017 12:56pm

Does anyone have any experience buying in next home in the north? Prices are much cheaper than the south.

For example a ceiling light we looked at is €265 in the south vs 200gbp in the north. Furniture has even higher savings, we could save €200 on a couch.

Geuze · 24-07-2017 3:32pm

89.35p today, there is always a bit of trading/fallback when a currency reaches a local low or high.

reubenreuben · 24-07-2017 8:08pm

Aph2016 wrote: »

Does anyone have any experience buying in next home in the north? Prices are much cheaper than the south.

For example a ceiling light we looked at is €265 in the south vs 200gbp in the north. Furniture has even higher savings, we could save €200 on a couch.

Yep, is cheaper, they can deliver to south as well

Hogzy · 30-07-2017 12:04am

Is it possible to do a click and collect for Sainsbury's in Newry or do you need a NI address? Thinking of doing a large shop and popping up

alowe · 01-08-2017 9:46am

Hogzy wrote: »

Is it possible to do a click and collect for Sainsbury's in Newry or do you need a NI address? Thinking of doing a large shop and popping up

Don't think so. We'd hope to do one too, but it doesn't appear to be available anywhere in the north.

https://help.sainsburys.co.uk/help/delivery-collection/cc-where-when

batistuta9 · 07-08-2017 4:33pm

Cortina_MK_IV wrote: »

I was hoping it might hit 90 today... Revolut currently around £0.8990

.9055 now

J_Dublin15 · 12-08-2017 7:36pm

What these days is the conversion rate on AIB cards?

Geuze · 12-08-2017 11:10pm

J_Dublin15 wrote: »

What these days is the conversion rate on AIB cards?

Banks typically charge 1.75% after the Visa exchange rate.

https://www.visaeurope.com/making-payments/exchange-rates

The Visa wholesale rate on 12-Aug is 90.5pence.

Then knock 1.75% off that to get the retail exchange rate.

Geuze · 22-08-2017 11:51am

GBP fell to 91.3 pence yesterday, yet another low.

Lowest in over five years.

22-08-2017 9:28pm

Geuze wrote: »

GBP fell to 91.3 pence yesterday, yet another low.

Lowest in over five years.

Will possibly fall a bit further too but if thinking of buying, buy now.

Hogzy · 22-08-2017 9:32pm

Anyone popping up to newry from Dublin soon and fancy picking up a bottle of whiskey in Sainsbury's :P

22-08-2017 10:17pm

Hogzy wrote: »

Anyone popping up to newry from Dublin soon and fancy picking up a bottle of whiskey in Sainsbury's :P

Will be up in a few weeks time but chances of your whiskey remaining intact are slim :P

Geuze · 23-08-2017 11:11am

Hogzy wrote: »

Anyone popping up to newry from Dublin soon and fancy picking up a bottle of whiskey in Sainsbury's :P

Redbreast at 31 GBP is a bargain.

It's 60 euro in RoI.

batistuta9 · 23-08-2017 1:41pm

.9212 now

Shopping in Northern Ireland

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