€10.40 for €10 euro credit

refusetolose

shop near me charges 20 cent per 5 euro credit

is this allowed?

NegativeCreep

They brought that in a good few years ago although it's rare that you find a shop that actually charges extra. But yes, they are allowed.

refusetolose

ok thanks

Our man in Havana

Just buy your credit elsewhere. Most shops don't charge extra these days.

thesandeman

Edit. Next post. Phone decided to send before I had finished writing.

thesandeman

*waits for an established Boards member to arrive to defend the premium*

My local convenience shop does that and they lose over 100euro a month from me as any days I need credit for my phones (not a drug dealer before anyone asks) I go to Tesco and buy my smokes/milk/bread etc at the same time. Every other day I use the local as the staff are friendly and I like to support local business.
I believe the convenience store crowd (RGDATA maybe?) brought this in as a protest against the phone companies getting greedy but it backfired on them (similar to taxis going on strike WTF?) and a small few are too proud to admit that they are losing out because of it.

foggy_lad

refusetolose wrote: »

shop near me charges 20 cent per 5 euro credit

is this allowed?

Yes it is allowed but only some newsagents and shops charge extra. You should have a shop near you which does not charge.

5500

Topaz petrol stations dont seem to charge extra for credit if there's one near you

lotsofthegreen

Neither do Boots and u get 4 Advantage points per euro spent! Mad

Pablo Sanchez

You can buy phone credit through your Banking 365 account online if your with Bank of Ireland, maybe other banks as well?

lotsofthegreen

Pablo Sanchez wrote: »

You can buy phone credit through your Banking 365 account online if your with Bank of Ireland, maybe other banks as well?

Yea but with BOI would that not cost 28c should you not qualify for fee free banking

sandin

thesandeman wrote: »

*waits for an established Boards member to arrive to defend the premium*

My local convenience shop does that and they lose over 100euro a month from me .

you're ripping yourself off by spending €100 a month on prepay - you'll get an unlimited plan from emobile for about 60 a month.

as for the surcharge - plenty not charging, so buy from next store. If I were selling it, i'd never surcharge as phone top-ups bring customers into shops.

thesandeman

You read me wrong there. I'm not spending 100euro/mth on prepay. What I'm saying is that on the days I need to top up my phones I don't go to my local as they have the surcharge. Therefore they are losing out on profit from my other purchases as well.
Basically we are saying the same thing.

ScouseMouse

If you think this is bad, A memo went out of friday allegding the one of the phone companies is going to increase the cost price again. If it is true, watch out, there will be more handling fees applied or shops will stop selling it altogether. We shall see if there is some substance to it in the next few months.

I guess the company involved needs the extra cash to pay for its concert venues (allegedly)

lotsofthegreen

200 advantage card points with a 20 euro top up in Boots this weekend. Mad

jahalpin

thesandeman wrote: »

*waits for an established Boards member to arrive to defend the premium*

My local convenience shop does that and they lose over 100euro a month from me as any days I need credit for my phones (not a drug dealer before anyone asks) I go to Tesco and buy my smokes/milk/bread etc at the same time. Every other day I use the local as the staff are friendly and I like to support local business.
I believe the convenience store crowd (RGDATA maybe?) brought this in as a protest against the phone companies getting greedy but it backfired on them (similar to taxis going on strike WTF?) and a small few are too proud to admit that they are losing out because of it.

A lot of shops have been forced to charge extra for the top-up as the discount that they are given by the network has reduced over the last few years, but the retail price has stayed the same. A retailer would be lucky to make 25c on a 10euro top-up sale (before any indirect costs are taken into account)

With every other item sold, if the wholesale price increases, the retail price also goes up, but it doesn't seem to happen in this case for some reason

Buying your cigarettes from Tesco isn't a major loss for the local shop as the margin on cigs is very low. The margin on bread and milk wouldn't be the greatest either

Wanderer2010

I always top up using my bank account online, its very handy and there are no extra fees. just make sure you have enough in your account obviously! TSB also gives this option.

Pablo Sanchez

lotsofthegreen wrote: »

Yea but with BOI would that not cost 28c should you not qualify for fee free banking

It would, but equally it counts twords one of your 9 online transactions to help you get your fee free banking.

RGDATA!

jahalpin wrote: »

A lot of shops have been forced to charge extra for the top-up as the discount that they are given by the network has reduced over the last few years, but the retail price has stayed the same. A retailer would be lucky to make 25c on a 10euro top-up sale (before any indirect costs are taken into account)

O2 are now further reducing the margin for retailers, so it will be less than half of that on a 10 euro top up, a few cent basically and hardly worth the hassle for retailers. Wouldn't be surprised if some retailers start to charge for O2, or drop them altogether.

Our man in Havana

O2 are the dearest network with least market share. I am surprised that any sane person would stay with them.

fussyonion

I was charge €10.40 for €10 credit in several different places and I called Vodafone to ask if this was normal.
They said they were not aware that this was happening and that it shouldn't.
However they didn't say it was illegal and just advised me to go elsewhere.

ScouseMouse

fussyonion wrote: »

I was charge €10.40 for €10 credit in several different places and I called Vodafone to ask if this was normal.
They said they were not aware that this was happening and that it shouldn't.
However they didn't say it was illegal and just advised me to go elsewhere.

Hahahahahahahahahaha.

It did occur to me to reply with the comment "they are lying", but for legal reasons, its probably not wise, so I won't.

I think in this case it would be safe to say company policy is "we are not aware of this happening". Or whatever their script would say

This all stems from THEM increasing the cost price leaving the shop piggy-in-the-middle to take the hit, or put on a handling fee.

Capri

It's a constant battle for the consumer to stay ahead of / outwit the multinationals - as for the 'small shopkeeper', THEY usually try to con their customers as well :mad:

ScouseMouse

Capri wrote: »

It's a constant battle for the consumer to stay ahead of / outwit the multinationals - as for the 'small shopkeeper', THEY usually try to con their customers as well :mad:

So how do I try to con my customers then?

Please do tell !

Stinicker

I wonder do people realise that if you are spending more than €25 a month on phone credit that it is invariably cheaper to be on bill pay?

My sister used to spend €80 a month on phone credit and I switched her over to Meteor's 30 day contract for €15/month in June, she exceeds this but each month since June she has not paid more than €28 - €30/month for her phone bill. Call Credit phones are a waste of money and are only suitable for teenagers, criminals etc. She will save €600 a year by just moving to bill pay from Meteor PAYG.

jordainius

Stinicker wrote:

Call Credit phones are a waste of money and are only suitable for teenagers, criminals etc. She will save €600 a year by just moving to bill pay from Meteor PAYG.

As someone who has used prepay for 12 years, I have spent no more than €20 a month for the entirety of that time, with free call/text/internet offers for topping up by 20 a month I have gotten by just fine thank you very much. Last time I worked it out I have saved approximately €320 a year by remaining on prepay compared to what I would have had to pay for my equivalent usage at billpay prices.

I have not been a teenager for 9 years so I can only assume that you believe me to be a criminal (if so, what I have to say to you would result in me receiving an infraction) or that I fall into the "etc." category, in which case I would like you to clarify what exactly you mean by "etc.".

Ideally, you would just drop your ignorant snobbery towards prepay. It suits some people perfectly. And works out cheaper for many people than bill pay.

Stinicker

jordainius wrote: »

As someone who has used prepay for 12 years, I have spent no more than €20 a month for the entirety of that time, with free call/text/internet offers for topping up by 20 a month I have gotten by just fine thank you very much. Last time I worked it out I have saved approximately €320 a year by remaining on prepay compared to what I would have had to pay for my equivalent usage at billpay prices.

I have not been a teenager for 9 years so I can only assume that you believe me to be a criminal (if so, what I have to say to you would result in me receiving an infraction) or that I fall into the "etc." category, in which case I would like you to clarify what exactly you mean by "etc.".

Ideally, you would just drop your ignorant snobbery towards prepay. It suits some people perfectly. And works out cheaper for many people than bill pay.

Obviously you mustn't have alot of people to be calling or texting, I can understand why.

Gurgle

Stinicker wrote: »

Obviously you mustn't have alot of people to be calling or texting, I can understand why.

Obviously :rolleyes: anyone who doesn't live with their mobile permanently attached to their hand doesn't have any friends.

Some of us (grown ups) have a phone at home and a phone in work.
These are cheaper to use, so we use them.

€10 every couple of months covers the few texts I send from the mobile (500 free webtexts does the rest), and the rare phonecall I need to make while I'm out.

As in jordainius' case a monthly contract would be throwing money away.

Motorist

thesandeman wrote: »

*waits for an established Boards member to arrive to defend the premium*

My local convenience shop does that and they lose over 100euro a month from me as any days I need credit for my phones (not a drug dealer before anyone asks) I go to Tesco and buy my smokes/milk/bread etc at the same time. Every other day I use the local as the staff are friendly and I like to support local business.
I believe the convenience store crowd (RGDATA maybe?) brought this in as a protest against the phone companies getting greedy but it backfired on them (similar to taxis going on strike WTF?) and a small few are too proud to admit that they are losing out because of it.

In reality, you're just pi$$ed off you have to pay 20 cent extra and you'd go to Tesco anyway though because it's cheaper.

jordainius

Stinicker wrote: »

Obviously you mustn't have alot of people to be calling or texting, I can understand why.

What a witty chap you are. Great response, you were totally stumped by my post, and as it was not possible for you to argue with what I said, you resort to childish nonsense and personal abuse, like baby throwing his toys out of the pram when he doesn't get things his own way.

I feel sorry for you on account of your general attitude and stupid prejudice that I have already addressed. Good luck with that :rolleyes:

SoundFella

remember this a few years back (about 5) but didn't know they still did it , i use to hear that shops got a 50c commission on a €20 top up so they added a bit more commission for themselves , but then other shops use to have signs up saying ''no extra on top up'' , in my opinion its a joke that once again us consumers have to pay the extra when the big men at the top of o2 vodafone etc are making millions! , sorry for the rant but the shop should not charge extra and just be greatful for getting extra people in the shop that might by something else while their in :cool:

Calibos

We removed the surcharge last year for a year as an experiment. Made zero difference to the amount of credit sold. So much for rewarding shops that dont charge a surcharge with your custom.

We'll be putting it back on. Credit just isn't worth selling otherwise. If you guys wan't to spend 30 minutes of your lives every other day walking to Tesco or using a euro's worth of petrol by driving, all to save 20c on your phone credit and 50 cent on your 2L Milk....well...be my guest

The clue is in the name...."Convenience Store"

Wanderer2010

Calibos wrote: »

We removed the surcharge last year for a year as an experiment. Made zero difference to the amount of credit sold. So much for rewarding shops that dont charge a surcharge with your custom.

We'll be putting it back on. Credit just isn't worth selling otherwise. If you guys wan't to spend 30 minutes of your lives every other day walking to Tesco or using a euro's worth of petrol by driving, all to save 20c on your phone credit and 50 cent on your 2L Milk....well...be my guest

The clue is in the name...."Convenience Store"

Lovely guy. Still have your communion money do you? :rolleyes:

kirving

Just as an aside, a 30 day rolling contract is usually better value than buying credit anyway.

Our man in Havana

Or go to 48. 10 a month for all the calls and texts you need.

Calibos

Wanderer2010 wrote: »

Lovely guy. Still have your communion money do you? :rolleyes:

Surely it's the people who'll walk an extra 20 minutes to tesco to save 20c on credit that are the people most likely to still have their communion money? :rolleyes:

Gurgle

Calibos wrote: »

Surely it's the people who'll walk an extra 20 minutes to tesco to save 20c on credit that are the people most likely to still have their communion money? :rolleyes:

Also most likely to discourage 'convenience' shops from this ridiculous rip off.

Calibos

Hypothetical scenario....

Mars Ireland launch their new Jupiter giant chocolate bar. The RRP is €3.50 and its cost price is €3. Its a popular bar. 6 months down the road Mars puts up the cost price to €3.10. The shops reprice it at €3.60. 6 months later Mars increase the cost price to €3.20. The shops reprice at €3.70. 6 months later Mars increase the cost price to €3.30. The shops start price marking it at €3.80. Customers ask why the Jupiter bar is now €3.80. We tell them its because Mars put the price up. Customer says "fair enough mate, that shower at Mars are greedy barstewards though increasing the price every six months".

At the same time as Mars launched the Jupiter Bar, Cadburys come out with the '3 Fiddy' giant chocolate bar. Cost price is €3 and RRP is €3.50(3 Fiddy). 6 months down the road the cost price goes up to €3.20. The shops take the margin hit cause he doesn't want to get into arguements with customers. 6 months later Cadburys increase the cost price to €3.30. Shops can't take any more margin erosion. It was a low margin product to begin with and thus price mark the bar at €3.80. Ever second customer who buys the 3 Fiddy bar complains.

They say, "How in the hell can a 3 Fiddy bar cost 3 eighty. Thats robbery!"

We say, "But Cadburys reduced our margin, we need to......".

Customer interupts, "It says 3 Fiddy right there on the wrapper. The bar should be 3 Fiddy!!".

We say, "We need to sell it for more to maintain a basic margin. Its cadburys that have increased the cost price and...."

Customer interupts again," Bullsh!t, Cadburys haven't increased the price, sure it still says 3 Fiddy on the wrapper. You're a bunch of thieves here in this shop, is what you're doing even legal? It shouldn't be allowed. A 3 Fiddy bar should cost 3 Fiddy!!!

We say," Look, if we were greedy money grabbin' barstewards we would have increased the price of all the giant chocolate bars. Theres Nestles Saturn bar for €3.50. We still 'only' charge €3.50 for it 18 months later. Why? Because the cost price is still only €3. Its unfortunate that Cadburys named their giant bar the '3 Fiddy' because then people expect......"

Customer interupts again, "Look, I don't care, a 3 Fiddy bar should cost 3 Fiddy and thats that. I'm not dealing with you robbers, I'm going to buy my 3 Fiddy bar for 3 Fiddy from a multinational conglomerate who can afford to sell things at nearly a loss.....

2 years later the same customer posts a thread on boards.ie complaining about Tescos gutting the Mainstreets of Ireland and that he has no friendly shop just around the corner from him anymore.......

Our man in Havana

Maybe you should stop selling phone credit?

Gurgle

Calibos wrote:

Customer interupts, "It says 3 Fiddy right there on the wrapper. The bar should be 3 Fiddy!!".

I agree with the customer, sell it at (or under) the RRP or don't sell it at all.
Any problems you have with your supplier are between you and your supplier.

Calibos wrote: »

2 years later the same customer posts a thread on boards.ie complaining about Tescos gutting the Mainstreets of Ireland and that he has no friendly shop just around the corner from him anymore.......

Tired old argument, long proved false.

Supermarkets were going to kill off the corner shop
Department stores were going to kill off the corner shop
Discount shops were going to kill off the corner shop
Online shopping was going to kill off the corner shop

Next?

Calibos

[facepalm]

Shelflife

Gurgle wrote: »

I agree with the customer, sell it at (or under) the RRP or don't sell it at all.
Any problems you have with your supplier are between you and your supplier.


Tired old argument, long proved false.

Supermarkets were going to kill off the corner shop
Department stores were going to kill off the corner shop
Discount shops were going to kill off the corner shop
Online shopping was going to kill off the corner shop

Next?

Why should a supplier be allowed dictate the customers selling price, esp when they dominate the market? should a tap manufacturer be allowed to put on their packaging this tap fitted for €50?

Its an abuse of position in the market place.

We arent too far away from shops not selling them at all so where will the non credit/debit card holder get their topups then?

Tired old arguement long proved false ? seriously ? Have you walked down the main street of any town lately and seen how many shops have closed down?

mikemac1

Xtravision never brought in this charge over the years

Go to them

I'm surprised at this OP, I remember this surcharge being everywhere 5 or 6 years ago but I thought it was long gone

ScouseMouse

mikemac1 wrote: »

Xtravision never brought in this charge over the years

Go to them

I'm surprised at this OP, I remember this surcharge being everywhere 5 or 6 years ago but I thought it was long gone

Quite right! Go to Xtravision! They accepted the price increase and did not add a surcharge. Fair plays Xtravision !

Below and linked HERE is a cut and paste form business.journal.ie. Makes GREAT reading. Xtravision are a really clever company whose business model we should all follow :rolleyes:

Any fool can give stuff away......

THE HIGH COURT HAS appointed an interim examiner to the movie rental chain Xtravision.

The company had sought court protection from its creditors due to its difficulty in paying its debts, Movies.ie reports.

David Hughss of Ernest and Young was appointed the company’s examiner after an independent accountant’s report found it had a reasonable prospect of survival.

RTÉ reports that the independent review also found that the majority of the company’s 180 stores across Ireland and Northern Ireland are profitable.

The issue will be brought before the court again for a full hearing next month.

mikemac1

The inevitable decline of Xtravision has been talked about for over a decade.

It wasn't the mobile surcharge that put them in trouble

ScouseMouse

mikemac1 wrote: »

The inevitable decline of Xtravision has been talked about for over a decade.

It wasn't the mobile surcharge that put them in trouble

No it wasn't - I agree with you. But not passing on the cost increase of any product is asking for trouble. There is only so much a business can absorb.

Hopefully Xtravision will survive - but they have to make money. Accepting cost price increases for their products which mean they will make less and less on what they sell will not help them survive.

Gurgle

superscouse wrote: »

But not passing on the cost increase of any product is asking for trouble.

I seem to recall I stopped renting DVDs when they were €5.75 a night and 50% didn't work because the disk was scratched to fcuk.

You seem to be suggesting they could have profitably stayed in the movie rental business by increasing the price?

ScouseMouse

Gurgle wrote: »

I seem to recall I stopped renting DVDs when they were €5.75 a night and 50% didn't work because the disk was scratched to fcuk.

You seem to be suggesting they could have profitably stayed in the movie rental business by increasing the price?

Scratched DVDs?

€5.75 ?

Sorry, I dont know what you are talking about.

If I sell Ford cars and Ford increase the cost price by 5%, I would have to pass it on to the customer. Should I carry on selling at the original price and lose it out of my pocket?

If case of Budweiser costs me 20 euro wholesale and Bud increase that to €22, should I take the hit and keep my selling price the same?

Bord Gais buy gas on the international markets. If the international cost price goes up, so does what the customer pays. Is that unreasonable?

This is what I am talking about. Don't know what old damaged dvd's has got to do with this !

thesandeman

If case of Budweiser costs me 20 euro wholesale and Bud increase that to €22, should I take the hit and keep my selling price the same?
[/Quote]

If a shopkeeper is silly enough to buy a case of Bud which is flashed at 20euro for 22euro then of course they should.
Some smart retailers will buy it in order to get customers into their shop in the hope they will buy other things while they are there. The same goes for phone credit.

Nobody is compelled to sell credit. If it's costing money then pull out. If it brings customers in then just accept a smaller profit on that tiny percentage of your business.

sceptre

superscouse wrote: »

If I sell Ford cars and Ford increase the cost price by 5%, I would have to pass it on to the customer. Should I carry on selling at the original price and lose it out of my pocket?

Depends on whether by passing on the increase you'll sell more, the same, less or zero. Generally retailers will have a reasonable idea (though there are plenty who appear not to). 3% of something is more than 5% of nothing, after all.

foggy_lad

Londis on o'connell st near abbey street tried to charge me a euro for two ten euro top ups last week. I walked across to Easons and got them at the marked price with no extra rips off charge.