A READER called Cathy went to buy Easy Living magazine in her local Spar shop in Sandymount recently.

“The sterling price is £3.70 and normally this retails at €4.26,” she writes. “This month’s edition has a ‘special price’ of €2.50 instead, but there was no difference applied to the euro price.

“When we asked the manager he said he just sells at the Eason price quoted. He phoned and checked with Eason and they confirmed they weren’t applying any discount.”

The manager apologised but there was nothing he could do. “We went to Hughes & Hughes book store in Stephen’s Green where Easy Living was on sale for what they told us was a reduced rate aligned to the UK discount. The £2.50 cost us €3.78. If today’s exchange rate had been applied it should have only cost €3.10.”

Cathy was told that ordinarily it costs more than €4.50, which again doesn’t make sense as €3.70 is €4.59.

“Is there any regulation where Easons should have been obliged to pass on the UK discounted price in Ireland? Is there any regulation of exchange rates applied when selling UK goods in Ireland?”

The answer is no. Retailers her can charge whatever price they like without any reference to UK prices.