Euro coins and notes may not be in circulation yet but the euro is already causing confusion on receipts and price tags.
For instance, two tickets for Port Authority at the Gate Theatre, Dublin, last week, cost £34. The euro equivalent on the receipt reads #26.52. The correct conversion should read #43.17. The computer used the euro to pounds rather than the pounds to euro equation.
Some shops have also introduced dual pricing. At Habitat, a black sheepskin rug costs £359.52 or #456.50. However, if consumers wish to purchase a set of pink napkins, they will pay £2.41 per napkin (#4.25) according to the price tag. The correct euro price should read #3.06. To be fair to Habitat, the napkins appear to be an exception and most euro pricing is accurate.
In Easons, O'Connell Street, Dublin, the euro has not yet made its debut on price tags. However, price tags still have tales to tell. Copies of Customer Service for Dummies are variously priced £19.50 or £20.40. Costumers can also purchase The EMU Factbook (everything you needed to know about the euro), researched in spring 1998, before the introduction of EMU, for £12.40. Or, for the really keen, a hardback copy of EMU in Perspective - "a highly readable guide for the Eurobaffled in search of the real dynamics of the EMU" - retails for £23.75. Those who want to save money and still become euro literate can content themselves with converting the above prices to euros.
Across the street, Clerys seems to have got its euro sums right, although all price tags do not include euros. For instance, sunglasses, reduced from £29.99 (#38.03) were reduced to £9.99 with no euro equivalent.
In Penneys, O'Connell Street, a floral skirt costs £14. But the T-shirt behind it is proudly European at £4 or #5.08. Pyjamas and slippers do not merit euro conversions, but sweatshirts cost £8 (#10.16).
There is no legal obligation on retailers to display dual prices. The Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs has put together a voluntary code of practice. Retailers who sign up to the code agree that they will not seek any advantage from the changeover and that their dual pricing will be correct using a six-digit conversion figure.
Under the code, retailers agree to display dual prices from October 1st this year to March 9th next year.