Does Topshop accept payment in Euros? I ask because I just looked at a tag on a Topshop purchase and it was denominated in both Euros and GBP.

It was 45 GBP & 42 Euros. Or vice versa. If I changed my dollars into Euros, it would be cheaper for me (much). 50 GBP is about $80,
50 Euros is about $60. And I am planning a Topshop binge next week.

I haven't ever shopped at Topshop, but unless someone says otherwise, I would say no -- you cannot pay euro in UK. A lot of shops in Europe denominate prices in various currencies as a courtesy to shoppers who can't figure them out themselves, but they won't accept euro if the country does not. It's just a guideline.

That must be an old tag or something, as a GBP is worth about 1.5 euro. It is actually possible they are trying to trick customers from countries that use euros who don't know the exchange rate to think they are paying less than they are. I don't suppose any shop would ever do that, though (ha ha).

the answer is no...just charge your purchases on a credit card and you will avoid all the trouble of converting currency....conversions in the uk can be very costly....

your credit card company will convert the money and you will get a very good rate usually....different banks add on differnet service charges to credit card purchases, so you might want to check with your card issuer...MBNA and capital one are two of the best with no add on charge except for the one percent that mc/visa international charge...

Well - TopShop at LHR and LGW will accept euro. But in town? No.

The price tags you mentioned are similar to what you see on most books in the USA. Prices in $US, $Can., £ and sometimes euro. You couldn't go into Borders in Oregon and pay £ even tho' the price is on the book.

This looks like it's going to be fun. But are you sure you've got this right?

First, TopShop, and its sister companies in the Arcadia group, did announce they would accept Euros in their central London stores when the currency was launched in mainland Europe. So,yes, unless they've changed their policy (or you're using a particular store), you should be able to get Euros accepted . Normally at a really lousy rate, though.

They're dual-price tagging to cover their Irish stores. But VAT is 21% in Ireland, against 17.5% in the UK, and the €/£ exchange rate has hovered round 1.5 since the Euro was launched, so dual-priced tags almost always show what works out to be a higher price in Ireland. A £45 dress (inc UK VAT) would usually be tagged at €70, inc Irish VAT (it's illegal in Europe, as it should be everywhere, to display a price that doesn't include all sales taxes)

Why it's not in this case is odd. And I wouldn't bank on there being many other examples.

But if there are, and they've said they take Euros, try it.

However, Philip Green, Arcadia's boss, is Britain's first totally self-made, UK-born, billionaire. He didn't achieve that by nouvelle management techniques like being nice to customers or delegating decisions to junior staff. Least of all by letting customers outsmart him in currency arbing. He would take no pride in being seen to be philanthropic.

My guess is, if you try it, they'll point to a bit of small print saying you're not on.

I certainly wouldn't buy Euros to try this experiment. But if you had a wallet full anyway, it would well be worth trying to see what happens.

We all look forward to seeing your report back.

I would not even bother trying unless you want a load of hassle. It's a bit silly trying to use euro in London. WOuld you use canadian dollers in NYC? You will never end up with a favorable rate or bargain even if they did entertain the idea.

Elizabeth, please check the pricing again because there's no way this is right. You say the thing you want to buy is either 45 GBP or 42 euros. It doesn't make any logical sense that they would charge less if you use the euro instead of their own currency. Anytime you use a foreign currency in Europe (if you can find a store that takes it) you can bet you will ultimately pay more, not less.

Many stores that are part of an international chain will list both currencies, however, this price does not show a direct translation from one currency to the other. The price difference will reflect both the price that people will expect to pay in different countries (just as a pair of Levis, for eg, will be a lot more in the UK than the US). But also, UK prices always include the VAT, whereas the euro price probably doesn't include the VAT of the euro countries in which it might be sold. Add 20% to the euro price and you'll get a better idea of the true cost.

And Top Shop MAY take your euros (although I would be surprised), but you'll pay a terrible interest rate and the euro translation of the UK price, not the euro price shown. Otherwise we'd all be shopping in euros, wouldn't we?

Large chains like next and topshop do take Euro and dollars in central London, as do a number of restaurants and cafes. I pass the Next store outside Charing Cross Station on the stand every day and they have a sign clearly stating that they except the Euro and Dollars. Maybe you can look at there web sites for more information on this policy.

What is a Topshop?

christine in Baltimore

Christine, have a look at this:

www.topshop.co.uk

Top Shop is a fashion retailer of cheap women's clothes - cheap but very current fashion. The store on Oxford Street reckons it's the biggest single brand fashion store in the world. Much loved, not just by teenagers looking for cheap T-shirts, but also the likes of Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow.

As Kate mentioned earlier I went to a Zara in Madrid and the tags showed the price in each country with Portugal for this item of clothing being the least. I was surprised they kept the labels showing this but I have noticed this is no more in the Paris shop. I don't think portugal would pay Irish prices!

Many stores, as either a courtesy to their customers or as a rip off, take foreign currencies in London but....

you just don't know unless you do the math just how much of a rip off it is. They are free to set the exchange rates any way they want and unless you walk around with a pocket calculator and check the newspapers every day you won't know just how much they are ripping you off. Even a store like Harrod's takes USD and Euro but the exchange rate is not the greatest. International airports usually take USD and other currencies throughout the world but again at not very good rates which are arbitrarily set by management of the various stores.

There is also a scam going on, especially in Ireland which stupid tourists fall into. You go into a shop and the price tag says whatever in Euro. The merchant says you know that credit card companies charge a fee so I will write up the charge in US dollars so there is no currency exchange fee. Of course there isn't, the merchant has simply jacked up the exchange rate.

Always insist, unless you have done the math and are 1000% sure you are not being ripped off (very rare) that the charge be written up in local currency and use your credit card. Hopefully you won't be stupid enough to use the credit card of the banks which are charging an additional 2% for god knows what so you get the best exchange rate possible.

Thanks for all the interesting replies.

Flanneruk - I'll check - I just dropped of the item in quesiton to be altered & that's when I looked at the price-tag.

I won't have Euros with me unless I buy some here in NY. If the numbers on the pricetag are what I recall I may buy some & take them to see, as I can use them someplace else in any case.

Question re: what is Topshop has been answered I guess - it is an amazingly inexpensive stylish clothing store, kind of the Ikea of clothes, with lots of things that appeal to young shoppers but also plenty of things for everybody, if you enjoy hunting around, as I do.

They have major British designers do unsigned lines for them, and they also do lines derived from the styles of various eras - right now, as you can see on their website, there are some charming 40s-ish pieces. The place is loved by fashion folk. Oh, and they have a true vintage collection too, at Oxford Circus (which is the one to go to - biggest).

I love it because I mostly can't afford to shop in London right now, as exchange is so lousy. They have things I like, and in addition of course nobody much in NY recognizes them. I hope they never open a store here.

I think your question has been answered, but I'll tak anoter shot at it. The hang tag on your item of clothes is "multinational" ie designed to be used in various countries. For example in will shop in the GAP on occasion (I know, I know silly!) and the prices are in euros and pounds. That tag is designed to be used in euro countries and non euro countries suchas the UK.
If you were to ask to pay in euros and your using a credit card DO NOT DO IT. As stated above, you'll take a hit on the conversion. Some store in London will take euros and I might try to pay in cash IF the price was already printed on the tag- not if the clerk was going to "make up/convert" my pounds into euros. I don't think it's worth trying to play the eoru game unless you might use them for a later trip.

Well, this is proof of what a sad old git I really am.

I went into a range of Arcadia shops on my way home. And, yes, many have dual price tags.

But ALL of them indicate clearly the country to which they apply. The Sterling price is prefixed by UK, and the euro price by IRL. And all are at a conversion rate of about £1=€1.55 or so

So the law is clear. The offer is good only in the country concerned.

Doubtless you've found a strange example - probably merchandise intended for a Sale that was on only in the Irish shops. But even on that, you'd be required to pay the £45 in London - even if offering euros. Which would be converted to pounds at a rate that would embarrass even most loan sharks.

Nice try. But Mr Green really didn't make his pile by letting punters pull fast ones on him.

But he did make it by offering great value -in sterling or euros - for highly fashionable stuff you'll wear once or twice and never again. And you'll get the best deal from him by forgetting all about euros.

Unless you're planning on visiting the Eurozone, you'll get just as ripped off on Euro conversions in London as on Malaysian Ringgit or Polish zloty.

I do understand the likelihood that the Euro price is meant for another location & not the London shop.

To clarify my own speculation: the thing I had thought of doing, were it possible to pay in Euros, was only to pay in Euros in cash, not via any conversion made by Topshop or the credit company bank. Euros I had hypothetically bought with dollars, here in NY or in London. Not with pounds.

As to Topshop clothes - I've found things I have worn definitely more than once or twice - sweaters, jackets, blouses that I expect to wear for a few years - style-wise and construction-wise they don't seem to be so time-limited in their wearability.

Ok, looked at the tag in question: it says: GBP 45, Euro 42, IRL 78.

I'll see what happens when I go there.
If I haven't already bought the 3 things I would like on my last trip.

The 78 is probably the amount you would pay in euros, which is now the currency of Ireland.

No British retail price tag would use the term 'GBP', a term few British shoppers would understand

I think the tag actually says something more like:

UK £45
IRL €78
Euro 42.

The '42' is probably the size. Euro 42. A UK 14 or a US 12.