Say what you like about the National Consumer Agency, but they’re great at producing timely surveys to rattle the big retailers. The one published this morning is particularly good as it puts to bed one of the myths that retailers like to perpetuate that the only reason prices are so much higher in the Republic than in the North is because overheads and taxes are that be higher.
I don’t think wages are 30 per cent higher here though. I think everyone would accept it if the price differentials were around 10 or 15 per cent but the retailers can not justify charging the prices they do for some branded products in this country. There are no price controls - and nor should their be - so all that can really be done is to name and shame them and make them account for their actions, which is what the NCA is trying to do, I think.
Comment by Conor
10:39 am
But they only deducted taxes - what about wages, which are significantly higher here?
Also, don’t shops in the North price the same as in England etc, even though it might cost them a bit more to supply in NI?
Don’t want to defend the big boys but the NCA seems to be on a crazed campaign that may yield little or no results.
Here’s something I was more concerned about: Super Valu stores often display posters comparing their prices to Tesco and Dunnes. However, rather than say they are cheaper/better, they just say they are the same.
A recent example I saw was a poster of a till receipt for the same basket of goods from each of the 3 stores. The final price for all 3 was EXACTLY THE SAME.
Doesn’t this raise competition issues? Therefore, isn’t this a matter for the Competition Authority and not the NCA?
Also found it a bit odd for a shop to advertise the fact that its prices are exactly the same as all main competitors.
Comment by An Fear Bolg