PriceWatch: There were queues out the door when Starbucks opened its first outlet in Dublin city recently but at least one patron was not best pleased by what greeted her when she finally reached the cash desk with her grande latte. Liz Dyer has been in touch to complain about what she describes as Starbucks' "stellar" prices.
"A couple of weeks ago and before Starbucks opened you compared takeaway coffee prices in Ireland and the most expensive listed cost €2.95. Suddenly Starbucks comes to town and is charging €3.30. Obviously this is going to make other coffee shops think they can get away with charging similar amounts. I'd like to know how they came up with that price."
When we contacted Starbucks to find out, the company said prices in Dublin "reflect our commitment to providing the highest quality coffee; our approach to ethical sourcing and the costs of offering a relaxing, inviting environment in our stores".
The statement went on to point out that prices started at €2 and the company only buys "from the top 10 per cent of quality Arabica coffees".
A quick survey of coffee shops in the Dublin 2 area shows that it is indeed big bucks at Starbucks. A 16oz grande latte costs €2.65 in O'Brien's on College Green while further up the road in Barnies, the price is €2.90 - expensive, true, but still more than 10 per cent less than Starbucks.
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COMIC PRICE DIFFERENCE Kristine O'Brien from Cork was in touch to complain about "a ridiculous price difference between music shops in Cork". Recently she went in search of the latest Fr Ted DVD box set. In the Virgin Megastore in Queen's Old Castle it was selling for €69.99. She went a few shops down to HMV where it was selling for €49.99. "Unbelievable!" she says. It gets worse. We checked out amazon.co.uk who will deliver the DVD in question to your door for just over €45.
DRIVING A HARD BARGAIN Carmel Costigan from Clonmel owns a 04 Golf which recently needed its first service. In the first garage she visited she was quoted €250-€300, a price which "horrified" her. In the second garage she was given a quote of €220. "Finally I contacted Pierse Motors in Tipperary Town. Their figure was €160, which is where I had the service done. It pays to shop around," she says.
