Prices in clothes shops here ‘up to 37% higher than in British stores’
CONSUMERS shopping for clothes are being charged as much as 37% extra compared to prices in the UK. Monsoon, Penneys, M&S and River Island charge lower prices to customers in the UK than here, it has emerged.
One shopper was ‘horrified’ when she checked prices online here and in Britain for a dress and discovered a €30 difference.
She said: ‘The difference was amazing. It was €108 here and £69 in Britain which works out at €79 so I just didn’t buy it.’
The woman was looking at a Marianna Velvet Dress in Monsoon. The price difference between the UK and here is €29, or 37%.
In Penneys, which trades as Primark in the UK, a pair of women’s ripped jeans costs €19 in Ireland – 28% more than in Britain where the cost is £13 (€14.80).
However, some clothes are cheaper in Ireland than in Britain despite the fall of sterling. Prices at online department store Littlewoods Ireland are lower than on its UK site even though the pound is weak against the euro.
‘They are unapologetic’
Dermott Jewell of the Consumers’ Association of Ireland has criticised the higher prices for shoppers here.
He said: ‘The reality is for as long back as we want to think they have never passed on the savings. It’s shameful but they’re unapologetic – it’s been the case for many, many years.
‘It’s frustrating as we should be seeing benefits but we’re not. The biggest challenge is, once again: are we going to see a tranche of business going across the border? It’s not good for Ireland. It’s not good for jobs.’
However, lobby group Retail Ireland said price differences were down to many factors.
A spokesman said: ‘Irish retailers are working hard to get prices down. There’s always going to be an anomaly or two but I wouldn’t agree that prices are anything like of the order of a 20% differential between the two markets.
‘There is a reason for a differential between the markets: firstly you’re taking about the UK market of 60million people; in Ireland you’re talking about a market of 4.5million. You also have the increased transport costs of getting the products here in the first place from the UK or further afield in most instances.
‘You’re also talking about a VAT differential of 3% between the UK and Ireland; Ireland is 23% and the UK 20%. Wage differentials are significant as well.’
River Island said: ‘We continuously review our pricing strategies to ensure that our prices remain fair and in line with industry practice.’
Littlewoods Ireland, which sells Miss Selfridge and Karen Millen, said: ‘We regularly review our prices to make sure they offer value for customers, and will continue to do so.’
M&S said: ‘Like any business, we have to take into consideration a number of factors specific to the Irish market when setting our prices, such as higher employment, rental and operational costs.’
Primark said: ‘Prices can vary by country because of changing exchange rates, manufacturing location, transport costs and costs of doing business within local markets.’ Monsoon and Dunnes Stores did not return requests for comment.