19/05/2008
Rip Off Ireland Pays 50% More To British Retailers
Irish consumers are paying up to 50% more than their British counterparts for many goods sold by British retailers, according a recent survey.
The survey of 10 British retailers, which included popular household names such as Tesco, Argos, Top Shop and Laura Ashley showed that all but one of the retailers were charging Irish customers significantly more than British customers.
Products at Tesco were up to 43% more expensive in Ireland, while electronic goods were more than 20% dearer at Argos.
According to the survey, Laura Ashley is charging Irish customers as much as 57% more for goods.
Labour Senator Brendan Ryan said the situation was just the latest in instalment in a growing body of evidence showing Irish consumers are being ripped off.
"The increase in the value of the Euro should have meant that goods imported from the Sterling and Dollar areas are 20% cheaper.
"Instead, as this and other surveys showed, prices of imported goods and still going up and Irish consumers are being exploited and ripped off," he said.
The Labour spokesman for consumer affairs added: "This exploitation is further fuelling inflation and adding to the general economic difficulties the country is facing, yet neither the government nor the National Consumer Agency appear to be treating the problem with the seriousness it deserves."
Just one of the 10 retailers surveyed, Waterstones, was charging similar prices in Ireland and Britain, a fact likely to undermine the argument by some retailers, who claimed that it was more expensive to do business in Ireland.
(DW)
The survey of 10 British retailers, which included popular household names such as Tesco, Argos, Top Shop and Laura Ashley showed that all but one of the retailers were charging Irish customers significantly more than British customers.
Products at Tesco were up to 43% more expensive in Ireland, while electronic goods were more than 20% dearer at Argos.
According to the survey, Laura Ashley is charging Irish customers as much as 57% more for goods.
Labour Senator Brendan Ryan said the situation was just the latest in instalment in a growing body of evidence showing Irish consumers are being ripped off.
"The increase in the value of the Euro should have meant that goods imported from the Sterling and Dollar areas are 20% cheaper.
"Instead, as this and other surveys showed, prices of imported goods and still going up and Irish consumers are being exploited and ripped off," he said.
The Labour spokesman for consumer affairs added: "This exploitation is further fuelling inflation and adding to the general economic difficulties the country is facing, yet neither the government nor the National Consumer Agency appear to be treating the problem with the seriousness it deserves."
Just one of the 10 retailers surveyed, Waterstones, was charging similar prices in Ireland and Britain, a fact likely to undermine the argument by some retailers, who claimed that it was more expensive to do business in Ireland.
(DW)
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