FASHIONS change but not the rip-off prices. There may be new stock for autumn/winter on the rails, but some retailers in Ireland still haven’t turned over a new leaf.

Consumers who hoped that the benefit of the long-term buoyancy of the euro against sterling would have finally filtered into their pockets are still being disappointed. Despite a nine-month fall in the value of the pound, some retailers are still charging Irish customers up to 45% more than the equivalent sterling price.

The euro has been worth at least 74p since January 1, meaning £1 has equated to no more than €1.35 in the past nine months. Since the end of March the pound has been worth less than €1.28 and is now valued at just €1.24. Some stores, however, are still multiplying their sterling price by as much as 1.79 to arrive at the euro price equivalent.

Some shops used to display price tags with both sterling and euros, making it easy to calculate the extent of the currency rip-off. But most of these now carry euro-only stickers, or have ripped off the sterling total on dual-price tags. Others have used black markers to scribble over the original sterling figure, making it difficult for Irish customers to realise that they’re being fleeced.

Staff at Laura Ashley had either torn off or blacked out the sterling prices on the chain’s home furnishings. But a stray tag or two revealed the huge differential between Irish prices and those charged in UK branches.

A “Lucie” king duvet cover is priced €125 in Ireland while the sterling price is £70, which equates to less than €87. On other items with dual-price stickers the euro price was between 40% and 45% more expensive.

Items from Kookai’s new autumn/winter collection in Dublin stores were priced on average 25% dearer than the actual equivalent of converting the sterling price. A grey patterned blouse was marked at ¤55 when its sterling price converts to less than ¤44. In Monsoon, a £180 purple bridesmaid dress was ¤280, which is ¤57 more than the exchange rate.

Oasis’s Irish prices were around 21% more expensive than the sterling on tags that hadn’t been removed or blacked out. The sterling price on a Lulu Berry dress retailing at €113 was still visible under the black marker and at £75 works out at €20 cheaper.

Even stores with a reputation for low prices are not averse to charging Irish customers that bit extra. H&M, a Swedish chain, had a purple cap-sleeved top priced at €7.90 in its Dundrum outlet, but it costs only £4.99 (€6.16) in the UK.

Dermott Jewell of the Consumers’ Association of Ireland, said: “We are being absolutely fleeced. It’s brazen and a defiant attitude that they are going to maintain these high prices. Until it’s changed, consumers need to start a boycott. It’s the only way that this is going to stop. Consumers need to acknowledge they are being ripped off and the only way it will stop is by customers walking away and leaving the products in those stores.”

Last April a Sunday Times survey showed how online retailers were also charging Irish customers up to 20% more than those paying in sterling. This weekend Kookai said: “The price represents the costs of doing business in that area. Overheads are far greater but prices are still close to the main competitors. We can’t do an exact exchange because we have to keep profit margins on products. The price is not just different in Ireland, it’s different everywhere.”

Monsoon said it based euro prices on “a conversion chart designed by the international buying team which may not reflect euro conversion”. The euro price was set periodically and couldn’t be changed every time there is a change in conversion.

Hacan Anderson, press officer at H&M’s head office in Sweden, said: “Prices are set according to different aspects by the buying office. The price can vary from country to country and it depends on a lot of different reasons, such as taxes and transport costs. Our goal is to give the customer a good deal.” and ensure the customer gets a good offer." Oasis said it had no comment and Laura Ashley was uncontactable.

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