How expensive is life in the Canaries?

[Guanche]

I had a phone call from my son in Barcelona today, "Dad I'm in the ferretera how much wood do I need for my bed" at this point I must say the other week he bought a bed from Ikea,. When he got it home he found out the slats on which the mattress rests came separately at the price of 40€. Back to the point.

My first thought was ' how the sweet Jesus do I know! hasn't he got a tape?' Then I thought 'no he hasn't' Anyway we managed to sort it out and he needed about 17 meters of 7 by 2 by 97.5. I said that it was going to cost an arm and a leg as he would have to buy a saw to cut it to length. "I'll get back to you" he said as the phone went dead.

Twenty min later he rang "got it 8€" Now knowing Tenerife prices I automatically assumed that was 8€ for a meter or so. No that was the price of the lot and the man cut it for him! Now I only know Leroy prices for DIY timber and I have no doubt that the same wood in 2 meter lengths would be at least 8€ thats 9 pieces 72€. Even if I bought a plank of rough sawn planed it and cut it myself It would be in the 25 € mark

Thought I'd share

[Nova]

I know, it's ridiculous!  I had exactly that experience when I wanted voiles to replace the manky curtains in the bedroom of my rented apartment.  In Tenerife, Textiles Sur wanted to charge by the metre, total cost about 130€ for the one window/patio door.  The next time I went to the UK I returned with 4 voile panels in my suitcase at £8 each - total £32, perfect!  Even with import costs, I don't see how housey things in Tenerife - can be so much more expensive, unless they're just ripping us off 

[Perikles]

We are living on an island in the Atlantic with no significant pine forest. All building wood has to be imported. No surprise that wood is expensive.

[Guanche]

Ripping us off I suspect. Didn't you try 'El Kilo' Nova they seem to be head and shoulders cheaper for that sort of stuff.

[Guanche]

We are living on an island in the Atlantic with no significant pine forest. All building wood has to be imported. No surprise that wood is expensive.

Agreed P but Uk prices for timber are only slightly cheaper than here. And certainly not as cheap as Barcelona appears to be.

[Perikles]

The UK is another island in the Atlantic! 

[Guanche]

Is an island an island if it's attached to a continent by a tunnel? If not YOU GOT ME!

[Perikles]

Is an island an island if it's attached to a continent by a tunnel? If not YOU GOT ME!

It is effectively if all imported timber is transported by ship from Norway.

That looks like a good answer, but I have no idea of its validity, and I'm not inclined to research it on a Saturday evening when the wine was opened at 18.00 

[poker]

Here for a lot of stuff eBay is my friend .
Even if I have to wayt a few weeks for it to arrive. 

[Guanche]

Don't you get stung for the postage though, Poker.