Prices at station shops

[whole diary]

[FremlinsMan]

...after a quick look at the prices of the pasties in the underpass, I suddenly didn't feel all that hungry any more.

You have more willpower than me; I can't pass the shop in the underpass without investing in a veggie pastie, they just smell soooo good! - highlight of my day, and worth every penny! YMMV^▸ (Your Method/Mileage May Vary)!

Your Munchies May Vary!

[ChrisB]

Rental fees for commercial space at stations are higher thann the high street, and they need to be paid for unfortunately - ditto airports. Premium space attracts higher rents.

The only national chain that doesn't seem to up their prices - certainly on food & drink - is Boots, where the same prices & offers (241s etc) are found at stations as in the high street. I guess their rents are all poled & national pricing covers these in total.

Of course, shops like M&S in stations are concessions,not run by the chain (SSP in M&S case) & thus can't pool their rents with their high street rents, hence charging more than M&S high street outlets.

[TonyK]

Some companies, (fast food for example) charge exactly the same whether in the station or out. But I get the impression that shops with offers outside (241s etc) often do not in stations/motorway services etc. I avoid trying to buy snacks at stations, preferring to get something much cheaper just outside. But to be fair, I imagine they pay very rents for space in a station which has be covered somehow.

My own strategy for long journeys. For shorter ones, it's "Don't eat".

[grahame]

from ITV

How many times have you bought a last-minute essential item at a railway station - and been shocked at how much more it costs than on the high street?

At rail stations, consumers can find convenience but it often comes at a price and businesses claim the mark-ups are because of rental costs.

But concerned customers have an ally - the boss of Network Rail, who told ITV News there's no need to charge extra.

[rogerw]

At the larger stations it also pays to shop around the various retail outlets. An example I found recently at Waterloo was extra strong mints 99p in WH Smiths, 65p in Boots

[Timmer]

Nothing compared to the sheer and utter daylight robbery taking place in Airports around the world.

[Red Squirrel]

My daughter just flew back from Naples having texted me to say she'd spent €40 (of my money!) on chocolate at the airport. Foolishly, I mentally translated that to mean 'a lot'... 

[bobm]

Rental fees for commercial space at stations are higher thann the high street, and they need to be paid for unfortunately - ditto airports. Premium space attracts higher rents.

Ironically that has not been the case at some GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) stations where some units have been paying a rent way below market rates for years and have not had to cover the cost of power or rubbish collections.    GWR is now looking at this and talking to unit owners to put the relationship on a more business like footing.   It isn't just about the rent however - in some cases the presence of a unit has other benefits - like greater station security or waiting facilities which is being factored in.

[ChrisB]

At the larger stations it also pays to shop around the various retail outlets. An example I found recently at Waterloo was extra strong mints 99p in WH Smiths, 65p in Boots

Boots seem to be the only retailer who charge the same price in their station/airport sites as in the high streets. For which reason, they get a lot of my trade. Special offers seem to be the same too!

[IndustryInsider]

Boots seem to be the only retailer who charge the same price in their station/airport sites as in the high streets. For which reason, they get a lot of my trade. Special offers seem to be the same too!

They get a lot of my trade, too.  Exceptionally good value meal deals!

[TonyK]

Nothing compared to the sheer and utter daylight robbery taking place in Airports around the world.

They have you by the short ones there, though, with the "No liquids" rule. Hence a bottle of water can cost up to £1.50, as opposed to 19p in Tesco or Lidl. Boots, as stated, still offer their meal deal, at least at Bristol Airport.

[Timmer]

Nothing compared to the sheer and utter daylight robbery taking place in Airports around the world.

They have you by the short ones there, though, with the "No liquids" rule. Hence a bottle of water can cost up to £1.50, as opposed to 19p in Tesco or Lidl. Boots, as stated, still offer their meal deal, at least at Bristol Airport.

Do you mean Superdrug Tony? No Boots at Bristol Airport sadly.

[basset44]

One thing Bristol Airport has now is a water fountain not far from Superdrug by the Toilets, just take a empty plastic water bottle through security and fill it.

The worse prices for water was at the German Airports, they also charge a refundable deposit of about 2 euros on top of about 5 euros for a standard water.

Basset

[TonyK]

Nothing compared to the sheer and utter daylight robbery taking place in Airports around the world.

They have you by the short ones there, though, with the "No liquids" rule. Hence a bottle of water can cost up to £1.50, as opposed to 19p in Tesco or Lidl. Boots, as stated, still offer their meal deal, at least at Bristol Airport.

Do you mean Superdrug Tony? No Boots at Bristol Airport sadly.

My apologies (pronounced as in "Black Adder") - I am confusing it with Heathrow, Gatwick, or somewhere else I have flown out of recently. I think, with hindsight and a discussion with my equally confused wife Viv, that it may even have been W H Smith. Others are, of course, available (retailers, that is, not wives).