Des Long (RSF) Statement

STERLING EURO RIP OFF CONTINUES

The current exchange rate between sterling and the euro
is not benefiting the local consumer in what can only be
described as a gigantic rip off, a member of the Ard
Comhairle of Republican Sinn Fein said today.

Des Long from Corbally in Limerick said one of the
biggest offenders is the Eason chain of stores where
English magazines are priced away over the official
exchange rate.

A magazine costing 3 fifty sterling costs five euro
and one cent in the Eason store, he said. When the
price difference was brought to the notice of the
cashier all she said was that the magazine was priced
in sterling.

Even at the official exchange rate, the cost of the item
should only have been three euro ninety one cents but
Eason added one euro and ten cents to the price they
charged.

This type of blatant rip off is repeated in many more
places like department stores, and computer shops.
It is time that the consumer associations took action
to prevent this type of over charging.

If the stores and shops cannot be trusted to police
themselves when it comes to marking up prices
for imported goods, then it is time that some
official action was taken to ensure clarity and
openness in the sector.