Readers' forum: Have your sayWE FREQUENTLY carry items from readers complaining about sky-high prices in the Republic but Pricewatch reader Alex Cleland has a different take on it all.
He says he has sent many e-mails to the chief executive of the National Consumer Agency (NCA) Ann Fitzgerald in connection with the NCA’s claims that retailers are ripping off consumers.
“I found it distasteful the NCA did not do their homework correctly before making this announcement. For any person with any sort of mathematical nuance it is easy to see why prices in Ireland are higher than the UK. Running costs controlled by the Government have increased every year for the last decade,” he says.
“Unfortunately, the NCA will not admit this, as it would put the blame at the feet of the Government. Instead, it picked what I regard as a very easy target, the retailer, who incidentally is at the mercy of their suppliers.”
He says it is worth noting that small independent retailers account for 47 per cent of the grocery sector and are also the largest employment group in the country. “Yet it is constantly blamed for ripping off consumers by the NCA.
“ I am afraid I have very little faith in the NCA since it decided to deflect the blame for higher prices away from the Government and onto the retailers. If the retailers are ripping off the consumer then why have so many retailers lost their businesses and closed down during the last 18 months?”
Skype app for iPhone also works on 3 mobile sets
LAST WEEK we highlighted an iPhone app which allows people to use Skype to make free or very cheap calls on their handset. Tom Byrne sent us an e-mail pointing out that 3 mobile has been allowing Skype on its handsets for a long time. “I use it and it’s excellent, cheap and no echoing from channel overload,” he says.
Hotel corking it at €6.25 for a half glass of wine
ANNETTE KENNY visited the Ashling Hotel on Parkgate Street on Dublin’s northside on Mother’s Day. Initially, she was very impressed with what she found. There was “lovely food and ambience” and she was quietly satisfied with her choice of celebration venue.
It was when she ordered a glass of white wine for her sister that things took a turn for the worst.
“Lo and behold the bartender produced a large spirit measure to gauge the amount of Sauvignon Blanc to be poured,” she says. “I was charged €6.25 for what was really only a half glass of wine. What a rip-off!”
Reader calls time on Weir & Sons over watch repair
AINE KINSELLA has a story about the benefit of shopping around when it comes to watch repairs.
She recently brought a Raymond Weil watch to be repaired in the Weir & Sons jewellers store in Dundrum.
“After an initial assessment, I was quoted €250. Shocked, I said that I would seek a quote elsewhere,” she says.
She did just that and she brought the watch to Wilkies jewellers on the main street of Midleton, Co Cork. “The lady informed me that, if they could fix it, the price would be €60.”
Kinsella says that the shop assistant was “almost embarrassed” when she added that if it had to be sent back to the manufacturer, the price would be €150.
“She said that she would let me know the verdict before proceeding. A few days later she called and said the in-house repair, including parts, would cost €90.”
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