I'm just fed up with people who don't bother their arses shopping around blaming their increased expenditure (often mostly on discretionary items anyway) on "rip-off Ireland".
I agree with Clubman's notion that a wide range of prices indicates healthy competition rather than a rip-off. But Rip-Off Ireland to me has always been about Ireland in general being more expensive than our neighbours.
We can discuss the reasons for the rip-off later, i.e. It may be that insurance companies and landlords are creaming it meaning the retailer has to push up prices. But the fact that Ireland is insanely expensive relative to other countries is hardly in doubt.
Some examples....
Parker Brothers Games in wooden boxes. Price in Ireland €39.99 to €49.99. Price in the States $19.99 (€15)
Pair of Docker's trousers is Dublin €65 to €100
in the US $29.99 or (€22.50)
A deck of bicycle cards in Dublin €3.50
in the US $1.97 (€1.50)
A Meal for one in a nice-ish restaurant in the states at 10 O'clock at night cost me $8.50 or just over €6. I reckon that the amount of free coke I drank alone would have cost me €6 in an equivalent restaurant in Dublin.
Eating out in General in the US Seemed to cost about 50% of what it does in Ireland. And the quality of the food seemed to be higher.
As you can see, even without the incredible exchange rate savings, even parity with the Dollar would see huge savings.
And before anyone points out that it's not fair to compare with the US. I've had similar experiences of eating and shopping in Scotland and England. With the exchange rate going the other way I still come out ahead.
Ireland in general is TOO EXPENSIVE, and that is what Rip-Off Ireland means.
-Rd