Prices are for new 10-year passports, except for the Dutch one, which is for five
Here . . .
Ireland: €75
There . . .
Australia: 86
Canada: €50
Finland: €80
France: €60
Germany: 39 for over-26s, €26 for under-26s
Italy: €36
Netherlands: €45.70
New Zealand: €63
South Africa: €15
Spain: €17.22
UK: €63
US: €69
Next week: going swimming
What you've found . . .
Christopher Quinn paid 3.99 for a 1.5-kilogram bag of oats at the Wrights of Howth shop at Dublin Airport. As he normally pays no more than 1.85 he complained to Wrights, which refunded the difference. It also said it would amend the price. But when PriceWatch got in touch with the airport branch this week it was still charging 3.99. A spokesman for Wrights of Howth was unavailable to comment.
Brian Woods went to great lengths to get new spacer washers for his Flymo lawnmower, so he could adjust the height of the blade. The ESB shop where he bought the mower was unable to supply them, so he checked Flymo's UK website, which charges £1.50 (2.25) a pair plus a flat £3.50 (5.25) handling charge. As it delivers only to UK addresses, it put him in touch with its parent company, Electrolux, which referred him on to Domestic Appliance Services, in Letterkenny. It delivered a pair of washers for €12, including postage. When PriceWatch got in touch, Domestic Appliance Services said it had made a mistake. Instead of charging 5.78, the list price for a pack of two washers, it had charged 5.78 per washer. It says it will reimburse Woods if he gets in touch. But even at 5.78 a pair, people in the Republic are still paying twice as much as those buying from the UK website. According to Electrolux Ireland, the difference represents the handling cost of getting the part to Ireland.
If you notice a significant price increase or discrepancy, let us know by e-mailing pricewatch@irish-times.ie
