I’m sure most of you that work in an office have a daily routine of going to the local deli for a sandwich at lunch time. I, no different from anyone else, frequent the local Super Value in Deansgrange, Co. Dublin each weekday lunchtime.
Generally I was pleased with their service, although on most occassions, you weren’t entirely sure how much a sandwich would cost on a day to day basis. But at least you knew the threshold. A typical brown, plain chicken with tomato, lettuce and onion would never cost more than €3.30, but could sometimes cost as little as €2.90. How this price fluctuated is beyond me….
Anyway, yesterday I went to the same store for lunch and got the usual sandwich, same as always. Today however, they were letting everyone know that the price of sandwiches had increased. I thought to myself, ah sure a couple of cents, there’s nothing wrong with that, they provide a good service anyway…… But I have to admit, when I received the sandwich and saw the price I was quite shocked, mind you not as shocked as the guy I work with, who too got his usual sandwich.
My sandwich had increased in price by €0.50, bringing it to €3.80. Some of you people that work in Dublin city centre, probably think this is a fair price. But this is a price from a supermarket in the outskirts of Dublin. For €3.80, I expect to be able to sit down in the place and enjoy my sandwich in nice surroundings. The local (Dun Laoghaire) O’Brien’s sandwich bar costs €3.90 for the same sandwich, that’s if you have it in and it’s cheaper if you take away!
The guy who was with me, I’m not sure what he got, but I know it consisted of Tuna, saw an increase by €1.40!!!!!!!!!! No wonder he was so shocked!
I really don’t know how Super Valu can justify this increase, they just keep saying - It’s our new prices.
Even though we are probably at the mercy of this deli, because there is very little around Deansgrange, I think we will be looking for an alternative, just out of principle.
I think if the whole country made these decisions about extortionate prices, the country as a whole would be a cheaper place to live… It takes all of us to do it though, not just a few of us!
