Hearing is believing: Here is an experience that should astound even the hardened Pricewatch team!
Reaching a certain age, and diminishing hearing ability, I recently went for assessment for hearing aids. These are cunningly designed and very sophisticated little packages that hide behind the ear, and are programmed on an individual basis for each user.
The price quoted was pretty sophisticated, too. €3,500 - each. Yes, €7,000 the pair, in Dublin! A little bit of research (God bless Google!), revealed that they could be had in other jurisdictions for a heck of a lot less. I eventually plumped for Banbridge, Northern Ireland, where I got the identical models for around £3,000 (yes, for the pair!). This came to €3,840 for the identical pair, north of the border.
With the new M1, it is just over an hour to get there from Dublin. But could I suggest that even for someone living in Kerry, it is worth the trip to save over €3,000. Brian Richardson
Pot kettle black
It is with great amusement that I read the Pricewatch features page of yesterday, Monday, May 19th. The most blatant example of "Lost in Conversion" I can think of is that of yourselves at The Irish Times. How can you justify your pricing of €1.80 against the sterling price of £1 in Northern Ireland? This, in my basic maths calculation, equates to a rip-off in excess of 50c. Pat O'Donnell
More sterling shenanigans
Whilst the practice of overcharging by retailers in their operating of a dual pricing system is a continual thorn in the side of consumers, I was horrified at the dual pricing operated by Dunnes Stores last Saturday. I bought a number of small clothing items including a child's swimsuit for €10 (the sterling price tag was £7). Whilst this is significantly in excess of the current conversion rate, it paled into insignificance with another item (a backpack) being sold at €15, that carried a similar £7 price tag. How two items, both priced at £7, can be converted to €10 or €15 is incomprehensible. Irish consumers are used to being exploited, but surely we shouldn't be taken for such a ride as this. Needless to say, the backpack was left behind. M Webb
