Holidaymakers fleeced by high street stores like Boots and Superdrug over travel-sized toiletries
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HOLIDAYMAKERS are being fleeced by high street giants over travel-sized toiletries.
A Sun investigation has uncovered scores of examples where leading stores such as Boots and Superdrug are using strict hand-luggage rules to pick the pocket of air passengers for extra cash.
Sky high prices are being charged for shrunken versions of popular items as customers are often reluctant to decant from larger bottles.
Our findings come as millions of Brits prepare to jet off on their summer holidays abroad.
At Boots, for example travellers can buy a , but just yards away the same product in
That’s a mark up of around 275 per cent.
Security limits us to 100ml of shampoo, toothpaste and other toiletries in our hand luggage.
We found a series of other miniature travel-sized items on sale at significantly higher prices than larger containers still within the 100ml limit.
Again at Boots a , highlighted in a display of “travel essentials” products.
But a similar 75ml can of Gillette Mach 3 Extra Comfort Shaving Gel can be bought in another part of the same store
Similarly, at Superdrug at while just a few aisles away you can buy a - a saving of almost a third.
The story was the same at Wilko where we found a miniature
- a saving of 15p on an item containing three times the toothpaste.
The budget retailer is also selling a alongside other travel-sized products - while a of the same deodorant was on sale for just a £1 within the same store.
Martyn James, of consumer website Resolver, urged holidaymakers to plan ahead to avoid paying for expensive miniatures.
He said: “Depressingly, it is becoming even more expensive to buy your toiletries airside at high street retailers than it was a few years ago.
The smaller 25ml version can sometimes be even more expensive than a 75ml version
Emma Coulthurst, travel commentator from TravelSupermarket
“This cynical fleecing of cash strapped holidaymakers is outrageous and exploits the security rules shamelessly. How can it be that you pay more for less?”
Emma Coulthurst, travel commentator from holiday price comparison site, TravelSupermarket, added: “Avoiding the cost of checked-in bags and travelling with only hand luggage is a great way to save money and travel lighter.
“But, at times poor holidaymakers may be surprised to learn how much more per millilitre they are paying for that 25ml tube of toothpaste which they’ve grabbed airside or on the high street.
"The smaller 25ml version can sometimes be even more expensive than a 75ml version.
“If you are only away for a couple of days, you can avoid those premium prices by buying reusable miniature bottles and decanting your shampoo, conditioner and shower gel into them.
“This keeps you travelling light and leaves more room in the required sealable plastic bag for some everyday priced products (which you’ve hopefully already saved money on by buying as a three for two deal) such as your 75ml tube of toothpaste; just make sure you’ve used it before you go so you can squeeze it down”.
A spokeswoman for Boots said: “Minis are a great way to try a product for the first time. Our customers also love the convenience of our travel-sized toiletries as they save space and weight in luggage. We also sell reusable miniature bottles for customers who prefer to decant their own products.
“The manufacturing of travel-sized toiletries is different to full sized products and we work closely with our suppliers to minimise the cost. We want to offer our customers affordable products and regularly have great offers including 3 for 2.”
A spokeswoman for Superdrug added: “Our aim is to offer our customers a wide choice of convenient products and we currently have a 3 for £3 promotional offer across travel-sized products to give our customers better value.
“We also offer a wide range of empty bottles and jars for those who want to decant products from larger packs. ”
A spokeswoman for Wilko said: “Wilko aims to free up hard working families to be the best they can be, which means looking after their hard earned cash, giving them the best choice of products at the best prices.
“We offer a great range of products in different styles, sizes and formats to give our customers the most flexibility and choice. Many people prefer the option of taking miniatures on holiday as they save space, are light weight in luggage and mean you don’t have to pay for hold baggage.
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"Plus, we also sell reusable empty miniature bottles should customers prefer to decant their own products.
“We work closely with our suppliers to ensure we minimise the costs of manufacturing and this is reflected in the price of the products we sell.
“To provide our customers with even further value, we offer stay low prices on many products in our holiday range including sun cream as well as permanent three products for the price of two offer.”
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