Study: shopping in Germany still significantly cheaper than in the Netherlands
A recent price comparison study conducted by Kassa has revealed that shopping in Germany, particularly for drugstore items, remains much cheaper than in the Netherlands. The study highlights significant price differences not only for daily groceries and fuel but also for health and beauty products such as hair dye, toothbrush heads, and facial creams. These savings often surpass the value of "1+1" promotional offers found in Dutch drugstore chains.
The comparison, which involved thirteen popular brand-name products, showed that German prices are generally half the cost of their Dutch counterparts. Kassa compared prices at Kruidvat in the Netherlands and DM in Germany. For the same products, Kruidvat shoppers paid 161.69 euros, while those shopping at DM paid just 73.75 euros for identical items.
For example, Oral B toothbrush heads (4-pack) were priced at 27.99 euros at Kruidvat, compared to just 13.45 euros at DM. Additionally, Kassa took into account various "1+1" deals at Kruidvat, which offer consumers two items for the price of one. Despite these promotions, Kassa found that shopping at DM still saved over 40 euros, with a total of 116.35 euros spent for the same products.
In a survey of 2,500 respondents, Kassa found that 65 percent of people occasionally shop across the border, with many heading to Germany for groceries, fuel, and drugstore items. Nearly 40 percent of these shoppers reported saving more than 50 euros on each trip.
Further analysis by Kassa showed that shoppers from Utrecht could still save 20 euros by driving to Emmerich, Germany, to purchase their drugstore products and refuel on the return journey.
Experts attribute the price differences to higher taxes and excise duties in the Netherlands, but they also point to an increase in prices not entirely explained by inflation or rising energy costs. Research by Follow The Money has suggested that large manufacturers can leverage their market power to set different prices in various countries, allowing them to achieve higher profit margins in the Netherlands at the consumer's expense.
