It's a sale, but not as we know it

You spot the prices, we ask the questions: One of our readers has a bone to pick with Homebase.

As the holder of a Spend & Save discount card she is invited from time to time to a two-day sale, at which the DIY store offers 10 per cent off. Homebase sends cardholders a brochure with details of discounted items, as well as inviting them to a exclusive preview evening, when they are meant to get the chance to buy sale items first.

The reader has found that Homebase doesn't always have stocks of its special-offer items, however. She has been trying since last year to buy a set of garden chairs that were on offer, but they have still not arrived. The store keeps telling her it is "a depot issue".

Then, before Christmas, a mini-sander was advertised as being on offer at half price. The store hasn't had any in stock since then, however. The sander is still on display, marked "blocked stock". Homebase will not sell her the display model.

In May she received another invitation to a 10-per-cent day. She was hoping to buy a garden bench that normally costs €149.99 but should have been available to her for €89.99. When she got to Homebase the bench was on display but again bore the blocked-stock label.

A spokesman for Homebase apologises for the problems the reader has encountered. He says it will investigate her complaints to try to ensure that this type of incident does not happen again. Pricewatch has forwarded the reader's details to Homebase.

Another reader, who was at Clontarf Castle, the north Dublin hotel, recently ordered and paid for coffee for one, for €2.50. He was then joined by a colleague, so they ordered coffee for two. They were brought the same size pot with the same amount of coffee - in this case barely enough for two small cups - but charged €5. When he queried the price he was told that the first pot had been too full. Then he was given a refund. A spokesman for Clontarf Castle says it seems the member of staff served the reader his first coffee in a pot for two. He apologises for the error.

What's more . . .

DVDs

The second series of The Sopranos costs €49.99 at HMVand €59.95 at Golden Discs but €89.99 at Virgin Megastore.

Chocolate

A regular bar of Cadbury Bournville costs €1.10 at Quay News, on Eden Quay in Dublin. Across the Liffey the same bar sells for 75 cent at Spar on Burgh Quay.

If you notice a significant price increase or discrepancy, let us know by e-mailing pricewatch@irish-times.ie