Government 'must make stores show dual prices'
They were responding to revelations that British stores are charging Irish customers up to 87% more for some products.
Consumer Association of Ireland (CAI) chief executive Dermott Jewell said Enterprise, Trade and Employment Minister Mary Harney must bring in regulations forcing British chain stores to operate this dual pricing system.
"Irish consumers should hit the British chain stores where it hurts in their pockets by taking their business elsewhere if they refuse to put up dual price displays," Mr Jewell added.
Mr Jewell said the survey confirms what we have suspected for a long time but no regulations can be brought in to stop this rip-off because we are an open market economy.
Responding to the call, Ms Harney's spokesman said: "Before we introduce new rules we have to be satisfied that the Tánaiste (Ms Harney) has the power to do so and enforce it and that it would benefit consumers."
The Tánaiste favours providing the consumer with as much information as possible to let people make an
informed choice. She believes the consumer should be encouraged to use all the information that retailers are already required to display on pricing, her spokesman added.
But knowing the price of a British chain store product in Birmingham will not benefit an Irish consumer, a Government source said.
"What will benefit the Irish consumer is if the product is cheaper in another Irish store and the current information tells them that," a Government source added.
The Fine Gael survey revealed that three British high street stores are fleecing Irish customers across a range of products from foodstuffs to electronics, furniture and a range of household goods.
The price survey on Fine Gael's consumer website, www.ripoff.ie, examined a random basket of goods available to both Irish and British customers of Tesco, Habitat, Argos, Marks & Spencer's and Dixons this week.
The survey revealed that in a basket of five goods:
Tesco was 43% dearer.
Habitat was 25% dearer.
Argos was 18% dearer.
Marks & Spencer was the same.
Dixons was the same.
Fine Gael's Finance spokesman Richard Bruton said the fact that prices were almost identical in the Marks and Spencer's and Dixon stores in both countries show that there is no obvious reason for the rip-off.
"So the clear message from this particular price survey is that Irish consumers are unnecessarily being ripped-off by some British chain stores," Mr Bruton said.
Fine Gael also wants the Government to introduce a dual pricing system and
to set up a consumer price portal that gives the public free and ready access to price and other information, Deputy Bruton added.
