lawnmower

jett

After extensive search for a good quality mower I have found the most reasonable best for price, warranty,features and manufacturer at Argos.
I tried to buy from smaller companies, even abroad, but they did the best and were at least 30% better across the range.
They are closing lots of stores in Britain strangely enough so business cannot be good or are they responding before they are forced to.
I don't work for them.
I won't even mention 3 of us saving a small fortune on a raiding party to the North last week.
Be warned about visits up there on a Sunday. Nothing opens till 1pm as everyone seems to be in Church judging by the full car parks outside them.

jimoc

How is this a ripoff?

jett

Because its the same article, sold in the same area, for a much reduced price.
The playing field is reasonabley level and I cannot afford to be benevolent to those that cannot get even close to it.

neilthefunkeone

Maybe because Argos can buy in mega bulk for both UK and Irish markets whereas the little hardware shop on the corner only buys maybe 2 per year so pays more forcing him to sell it for more.. Not his decision to rip off!!

Not every shop can do every item for the same price..

davo10

jett wrote: »

Because its the same article, sold in the same area, for a much reduced price.
The playing field is reasonabley level and I cannot afford to be benevolent to those that cannot get even close to it.

If I am reading your post right, you are saying the North and the South are "the same area", surely you are not that dumb. For one they have a different currency, two they have different Vat rates, three shops have lower rates, employees have lower wages, social welfare payments are lower, utilities are lower, must I go on.....

jett

Nothing to do with up there really.
The same area mean,t down here. ie Clonmel Argos against local business's.
I am not talking about corner shops I am talking about Garden centres and Specialist suppliers here who think they have a closed market.
The difference cannot be halve can it.
On another point for once he Pound is good value now so use it. The VAT rate is the same in both places. If anyone thinks running a business in the UK is half the cost as doing it here then I think they are incorrect.
Just informing, if people want to pay more then thats fine.

davo10

Jett have you ever asked for a discount in a shop when you buy multiple items?

Your garden centre in Clonmel may order 50 Armo lawnmowers from the Irish distributor for the summer knowing that if they do not sell them they are stuck with the stock until next spring. Argos on the other hand can go to the manufacturer and order 20,000 mowers to be sold in stores all over the UK and Ireland, now I'm not a retailer but I'm pretty sure that Argos payes less per item than a small store so they are able to sell at a lower price and still make a profit. This is not a rip off, just a gigantic business selling an item at a lower price than a small independent.

Someone doiung your job/being paid your benefits also probably earns less in the North than you, would you be willing to drop your income to parity?, it's a double edged sword.

borderlinemeath

I'm normally an advocate of southern shopping to keep the economy going - I do my best not to shop in the north if there's a southern equivelent.

Well- My OH is letting a house and needed to replace 2 beds and mattresses and a new kitchen table & chairs so we headed to Ikea in Dublin to get all but the beds we wanted weren't in stock. There was no date for delivery available so we checked the Belfast store as my OH has clients in Antrim that he's meeting next week.

Ikea Dublin - Heimdal double bed €99/ Sml double €79
Ikea Belfast - Heimdal double bed £66.38/ Sml double €56.18

Now I understand all the differences in the economy and only for the beds aren't available in Dublin would we even bother to check the North.
Another thing that puzzles me is that I also checked the table and chairs to see what the price difference was with them.
Suprisingly they were €99 in Dublin and £89 in Belfast! I just don't understand Ikea's pricing strategy. Anybody able to enlighten me?

maxer68

jett wrote: »

After extensive search for a good quality mower I have found the most reasonable best for price, warranty,features and manufacturer at Argos.
I tried to buy from smaller companies, even abroad, but they did the best and were at least 30% better across the range.
They are closing lots of stores in Britain strangely enough so business cannot be good or are they responding before they are forced to.
I don't work for them.
I won't even mention 3 of us saving a small fortune on a raiding party to the North last week.
Be warned about visits up there on a Sunday. Nothing opens till 1pm as everyone seems to be in Church judging by the full car parks outside them.

Someone found something cheaper in argos than a local store

This is a first.

It should be up in lights.

Why? - Because normally argos are one of the MOST EXPENSIVE stores in the country.

ejmaztec

The only time that Argos have anywhere near competitive prices is when they're having a sale, and even then they're pushing it.

jett

Found a local man with a better make of mower. Same price as England (miracle by itself) More expensive than argos but collected oiled, fueled and ready to go.
He bought 25 , and sold the lot because he priced them right!
A lesson perhaps.
So supported the local guy because he supported me.