Is this a Rip Off: dress marked stg£65 but €165 was asked for?

Re: Is this a Rip Off?

Trish2006 said:
Ubiquitous, I know I used Spain as an example but even compare the price of drink in Dunnes in Newry vs Dunnes in Dublin since this is a debate about Sterling vs Euro. I just find that whatever the reasons, justified or not, Ireland is an expensive country for the consumer.
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Hi Trish

I have heard this explained on the basis that the minimum wage for shopfloor staff in NI is a couple of £ short of the equivalent minimum wage in ROI. Apparently most shopfloor staff are on minimum wage. Whether this was true or just spin I don't know. In relation to drink, the price difference is also explained by the much higher VAT & excise duties in ROI. On the other hand petrol is subject to much higher excise duties in NI and is about 30% or so dearer than in ROI.
 
Re: Is this a Rip Off?

ClubMan said:
What "type"? It's a common or garden clothes shop as far as I can see.
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Whatever type of shop it is. Bars are 'alcohol shops' and they are obliged to display correct prices are they not ? ( I often dont see the prices displayed which is another issue)
 
Re: Is this a Rip Off?

ClubMan said:
What "type"? It's a common or garden clothes shop as far as I can see. As far as I know they should have displayed (presumably €) all inclusive prices but according to this it seems that the NCA has no power to prosecute retailers for breaches of the pricing rules...
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The ODCA threatened to prosecute a service station owner for displaying misleading petrol prices after one of my friends brought the case to their attention a few years ago.
 
Re: Is this a Rip Off?

ClubMan said:
What "type"? It's a common or garden clothes shop as far as I can see. As far as I know they should have displayed (presumably €) all inclusive prices but according to this it seems that the NCA has no power to prosecute retailers for breaches of the pricing rules...
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From above link (Bold added to text by me); This may be a misleading price claim by the trader and this practice is prohibited by consumer legislation. The price displayed should include all taxes and other charges (delivery, postal, etc), if applicable, and should not mislead the consumer in any way. The National Consumer Agency has the power to prosecute offences in breach of this legislation.

Am I missing something?
 
Re: Is this a Rip Off?

ubiquitous said:
In relation to drink, the price difference is also explained by the much higher VAT & excise duties in ROI. On the other hand petrol is subject to much higher excise duties in NI and is about 30% or so dearer than in ROI.
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My point exactly. The economic factors in 2 different countries will never be identical so one cannot assume or expect that the same product will cost the same in 2 different countries even if it's in the same shop. This is just a fact of life. I remember these price 'discrepancies' first coming to light when the major British stores moved into the Irish market, e.g. Debenhams, Boots, Next, River Island, etc., even Tesco. Suddenly people could see what the price was in Sterling because it was printed on the tag and were up in arms. But of course it had always been this way, just now it was being broadcast to the consumer, and funnily enough noone complained when the exchange rate changed in their favour and suddenly the goods were cheaper here. The Book People catalogues have a huge difference in pirce. Many children's books are £2.99 but €6.49 and the new Harry Potter is £12.99 vs €24.49. They claim distribution costs, etc. but unfortunately even with their online service they don't allow you to order from the UK site for delivery to Ireland.
At the end of the day you buy it or you don't - your choice.
 
Re: Is this a Rip Off?

Sorry - my mistake on the NCA powers. I misread the page and thought that they did NOT have the power to prosecute when, in fact, they obviously DO!
 
Re: Is this a Rip Off?

I think someone mentioned "invitation to treat" earlier in the thread.

As far as I can see, the product had a price, which invited the OP's wife to treat. She did, negotiated a price, and paid. End of the deal.

Correct change, free receipt, free bag, free swing-tag, away she goes.

20% discount from the store wouldn't be an admission of guilt to me, rather an inducement to take the item and just go!
 
Re: Is this a Rip Off?

emaol said:
I think someone mentioned "invitation to treat" earlier in the thread.

As far as I can see, the product had a price, which invited the OP's wife to treat. She did, negotiated a price, and paid. End of the deal.

Correct change, free receipt, free bag, free swing-tag, away she goes.

20% discount from the store wouldn't be an admission of guilt to me, rather an inducement to take the item and just go!
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Yes-I mentioned that, but it would appear that the shop is legally obliged to display a euro price (which they didn't).
 
Re: Is this a Rip Off: dress marked stg£65 but €165 was asked for?

If a retailer makes a mistake and the actual price for the item is more than that displayed the retailers have certain rights. They do not automatically have to sell you the goods at the price stated. It is the retailer's responsibility to correct the mistake as soon as possible. If the retailer knowingly charges more for a product than is displayed an offence may be committed. Generally, if you are told the correct price before you pay, you have no right to redress. If you notice the error after you have paid, you should bring the matter to the retailer's attention who, most likely, would refund you the difference. You could also report the matter to the National Consumer Agency. The office will investigate the complaint with the objective of ensuring future compliance with the Act. This however does not mean financial redress for the individual complainant

From the Citizens Information website, highlighted earlier in the thread.

It would appear to me that the shop made a mistake, and told the correct price before the purchase, therefore no redress necessary.

The seperate question of margins shops make on the goods they sell is not relevant to the discussion. Clothes in particular are subject to the laws of supply and demand and a shop will charge what it feels is a reasonable price in the context of its own market.
 
You are missing the point-there was no € price on the article, only a GBP£ price-from what others have said, this is an offence.

I agree fully with what you are saying if we are talking about the incorrect display of a € price, but in this case there was no € price displayed, only a GBP£ price.

Are you disagreeing with what Purple and demoivre have said above?

Purple said:
As far as I know the shop is obliged to display the full price, inclusive of all taxes etc, in Euro. A Stirling can be shown but only if a Euro price is also shown. Again, and I am open to correction, but I think they are required to sell at the displayed price.
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demoivre said:
Purple is correct. This shop is breaking the law which, under the EC (Requirements to Indicate Product Prices) Regulations 2002, retailers must show the correct selling price in euro including taxes. See [broken link removed].
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Re: Is this a Rip Off: dress marked stg£65 but €165 was asked for?

There should be no confusion here...the issue is the item (a dress, was it?) not having a price on it. This is an offence. Charging a high Euro price relative to the Sterling price, although morally dubious, is perfectly acceptable.
 
Re: Is this a Rip Off: dress marked stg£65 but €165 was asked for?

I am a regular visitor to Kildare Village and while I don't know which shop this took place in I do know that there is a shoe shop there that prices all their shoes in sterling but you pay the exact price in euro eg 25GBP = 25E.

In saying that, I wouldn't have bought the dress. Why buy it when you know you're being clearly robbed? I would have taken note of all details and complained in writing.
 
Re: Is this a Rip Off: dress marked stg£65 but €165 was asked for?

CCOVICH

Not disagreeing with the legislation linked to by demoivre, it is an offence not to display a euro price, however, the legislation makes no mention relating to mistakes made by the store.

The Citizens Information website does indicate that a store can remedy a mistake, if done so before a transaction.

To my mind, the store in question did this, therefore there was no offence.

(Assuming the store is not habitually doing this!)
 
Re: Is this a Rip Off: dress marked stg£65 but €165 was asked for?

emaol said:
CCOVICH

Not disagreeing with the legislation linked to by demoivre, it is an offence not to display a euro price, however, the legislation makes no mention relating to mistakes made by the store.

The Citizens Information website does indicate that a store can remedy a mistake, if done so before a transaction.

To my mind, the store in question did this, therefore there was no offence.

(Assuming the store is not habitually doing this!)
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Yes there was an offence!
There was no Euro price displayed
 
Good Afternoon All

Just to clarify, under Irish Consumer legislation a retailer has the legal obligation to have the item priced, i.e. the Dress. The currency should be EURO, but they can display any other currency they want on the tag.
If they do not, contact the National Consumer Agency, formally the ODCA, at 1890 432 432 or ask@consumerconnect.ie to pass on details of the shop etc so we can look into the matter.
The issue of exchange rates, this all be it sharp practice, is not illegal. The retailers obligation is to display the EURO price if the Sterling price is on the tag they have no obligation to exchange exactly according to current exchange rates.

I hope this sheds some light on the issue.

NCA2007
 
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