This has happened just one time too many. I'm in a clothes shop, check the price on the tag, trot up to the till to pay.
Cashier: That will be €XXX
Me: Oh - I thought it was €XX
Her: No, that's the sterling price.
Me: Oh why is the sterling price on it, because this is Ireland and the Euro is the currency here?
Her: It is on the tag. (Euro price she means)
Me: Where?
Her: Here. (points to miniscule print on the back of the tag.)
Me: You know what. I've changed my mind.
This happened to me yesterday in Miss Selfridge. The worst offender is Oasis. The last time I was in Oasis I asked the very snotty manager why Oasis didn't just change their misleading tags. Oh there's no way we're going to do that she sniffed dismissively. Oasis is a huge chain - Ireland is a really small market to us. There's no way the tags will be changed. We don't have to - it's not the law.
Readers, I have never returned to Oasis. They're obviously well aware that this is upsetting their Irish customers - but they've taken a deliberate decision not to change their price tags. If they think so little of their Irish customers that they're willing to openly admit that they won't even CONSIDER changing their tags to clearly reflect our currency - but are perfectly happy to accept our money - then what the hell are we doing handing over our Euro to them?
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I've rung Consumer Affairs about this before. They're fantastic, but there's not a lot they can do, because there's no legislation to support them. Hopefully there will be soon - but I suspect only if we, the consumer, kick up enough fuss about this issue. The fact that it's not the law just makes the situation even worse I think. These shops won't do it for their customer. They will only do it if they're forced by law to do it. That's disgusting.
Let me know your feelings
