School supply prices vary widely across retailers, survey finds

A price comparison by the Lower Austria Chamber of Labour found significant differences in the cost of school supplies, particularly filled school bags, filled pencil cases and craft cases. The specialist trade was not necessarily more expensive, ORF reported.

For many standard products, the differences were minimal. Some coloured pencils and erasers were even cheaper at specialist retailers.

Filled school bags showed the widest price range, costing between 80 and 210 euros. Filled pencil cases ranged from 11 to 35 euros. A craft case cost an average of 19 euros at specialist retailers, compared with 11 euros at retail chains.

However, the chamber said that comparing prices for filled products was only meaningful to a limited extent because the contents, materials and quality can differ. Consumers looking to save money should also watch for discount offers around the start of the school year.

Price should not be the only consideration, the chamber said. School bags should fit ergonomically and have reflectors. Very cheap products can also prove more expensive if, for example, pencils break easily. When buying paint boxes, consumers can check whether individual colours can be replaced.

Price changes from the previous year varied by product. At retail chains, increases ranged from 0.6 to 21.2 percent, while prices at specialist retailers rose by up to 2.36 percent. The survey was conducted in mid-July at seven shops in St. Pölten, Mödling and Mautern in the Krems district.