Best way to 'detax' after H in Europe

[momoc]

The general rule of thumb is you will always get more with choosing credit card than cash because they charge extra service fees on cash. I know for a fact Global Blue does that.

The benefit of cash though is you can get the money there and then. It’s always possible that they mess up and cash means not having to chase them later in occasions when there is an issue with credit card refund.

 

[nymeria]

Credit card absolutely. You can also have Hermes ( or any other store) to do the Global Blue for you there at the store- they actually are encouraged to offer you this, as you take the refund then and there to your card ( and therefore have the money to continue to spend ). If you so this, however, you MUST still get the paper stamped at the airport on your way out.( takes no time). If you do not, they will take the money back from the card.
You can look at the conversions, but it usually is better to buy and then have refunded in the local currency, as you so not lose the additional 1-3% on the cc conversion.

 

[Prinipessa]

I am sorry to hear about not getting your VAT return in Amsterdam. I plan on going there soon, and I planned to make a purchase or two.

I had no problem with refunds from the store in De Bijenkorf, they have a Global Blue office on the top floor of the mall and you can get your form stamped right at the time of purchase. I had problems with my purchases from the store on Hooftstraat, I had those forms stamped at the airport and mailed, but Global Blue said the store refused the refund.

 

[auntynat]

I travel to Europe three to four times a year as my head office is in Paris, and I’ve been doing this for over ten years. Chanel, Astier de Villatte, Cire Trudon through to small stores like Sabbia Rosa I always opt for credit card, local currency. It takes a little longer but I have never had a problem, just a few delays a couple of times. I have a had a claim go missing once when I took cash in person at Galleries LaFayette or Le Bon Marche (cannot remember which) as I wanted to see how the process worked. The paperwork was not received on time post my leaving Europe so they charged me the amount I received in cash, then about a month later they credited it back. Lesson learnt for me and now I always go card.

 

[princessmin]

Does anyone have any experience on how to de-tax when leaving Europe via cruise ship? Next fall we will be going on a lengthy trip, flying from the US to Paris (where I am going to try for a Birkin). From Paris we travel to Venice to board a cruise ship which will take us from Venice to several countries, some in the EU, some not, with final disembarkation in Israel. We will stay in Israel for a few days and then travel to London for a few days before returning to the US. I have not been able to find good information on whether there are customs officers at the port in Venice to stamp my papers, or since we have other stops I have to have them stamped at the last EU port. I had through that I could have them stamped in London but realized that won’t work since I will have left the EU zone and then re-entered. Does anyone have a similar experience and can share what they did?

Thanks!

 

[azukitea]

Does anyone have anyone updates regarding detax process for France to UK (post brexit)? especially interested to know if there are now kiosks at Eurostar at Gare du Nord

 

[FreddieMac]

Does anyone have anyone updates regarding detax process for France to UK (post brexit)? especially interested to know if there are now kiosks at Eurostar at Gare du Nord

There are kiosks just past passport control - I detaxed on a Sunday and received the refund about a week later directly to my card. FSH did all the paperwork and scanned/accepted instantly at kiosk.

 

[azukitea]

There are kiosks just past passport control - I detaxed on a Sunday and received the refund about a week later directly to my card. FSH did all the paperwork and scanned/accepted instantly at kiosk.

Great to hear and thank you---Does the Kiosk has closing time and manned by a person? Or is it just a Pablo machine... My Eurostar train is going to be the very late one (9pm on a Friday but guess I will be at the station by 8pm latest) and wonder if the customs person will work late till then?

 

[Everlong]

Great to hear and thank you---Does the Kiosk has closing time and manned by a person? Or is it just a Pablo machine... My Eurostar train is going to be the very late one (9pm on a Friday but guess I will be at the station by 8pm latest) and wonder if the customs person will work late till then?

I used the Pablo machine at the Marseille airport and it was operating 24 hours a day. All you need is your receipt with your barcode. The machine didn't ask to scan my passport or boarding pass. I totally prefer this Pablo machine since it's quick, efficient, doesn't ask to examine every single purchase for a lenghty period of time. I received my refund to my credit card about a week after scanning the receipt.

There may be some instances where you will need a customs agent to manually stamp your form if one of your receipts is a very big purchase and the Pablo machine doesn't accept it. If your form needs to be stamp you will also need to mail it to get your refund the old fashioned way. I am sure a custom agent will be available at 9 PM, if needed.

 

[FreddieMac]

Great to hear and thank you---Does the Kiosk has closing time and manned by a person? Or is it just a Pablo machine... My Eurostar train is going to be the very late one (9pm on a Friday but guess I will be at the station by 8pm latest) and wonder if the customs person will work late till then?

They’ve clearly made the decision a Gare Du Nord to go the automation - four machines and an agent lurking in their office available in case manual intervention is needed

One would like to think manned times are coordinated with trains, but I couldn’t vouch for it!

 

[azukitea]

I used the Pablo machine at the Marseille airport and it was operating 24 hours a day. All you need is your receipt with your barcode. The machine didn't ask to scan my passport or boarding pass. I totally prefer this Pablo machine since it's quick, efficient, doesn't ask to examine every single purchase for a lenghty period of time. I received my refund to my credit card about a week after scanning the receipt.

There may be some instances where you will need a customs agent to manually stamp your form if one of your receipts is a very big purchase and the Pablo machine doesn't accept it. If your form needs to be stamp you will also need to mail it to get your refund the old fashioned way. I am sure a custom agent will be available at 9 PM, if needed.

They’ve clearly made the decision a Gare Du Nord to go the automation - four machines and an agent lurking in their office available in case manual intervention is needed

One would like to think manned times are coordinated with trains, but I couldn’t vouch for it!

Thanks both for sharing your experience. Seems like it is a very good automated process!

(in the old days once the custom officer manually stamps the VAT form, the form would need to be dropped off at a mail box nearby inside the airport)

sorry to ask so many questions as it has been a long while since I was able to claim VAT

 

[FreddieMac]

Thanks both for sharing your experience. Seems like it is a very good automated process!

(in the old days once the custom officer manually stamps the VAT form, the form would need to be dropped off at a mail box nearby inside the airport)

sorry to ask so many questions as it has been a long while since I was able to claim VAT

No trouble,I had as manyquestions as you beforehand!

For me the machine approved the refund and there was nothing further to do.

Also be aware that the H détaxe receipt will confirm how much you can expect back - much less than VAT rate!

 

[_gelato_]

There are kiosks just past passport control - I detaxed on a Sunday and received the refund about a week later directly to my card. FSH did all the paperwork and scanned/accepted instantly at kiosk.

Does this mean in France you still pay the full price and then get the tax refund after you get home (and have used the Pablo machine)?

 

[FreddieMac]

Does this mean in France you still pay the full price and then get the tax refund after you get home (and have used the Pablo machine)?

Correct, full Euro retail. So you at least benefit from lower prices and exchange rates before refund! Refund was issued directly in £.

 

[_gelato_]

Correct, full Euro retail. So you at least benefit from lower prices and exchange rates before refund! Refund was issued directly in £.

Wow didn’t know this! I take it then that this also means we don’t pay any UK VAT or customs upon arrival in the UK since we already paid tax in France? Or do we still pay UK VAT and customs upon arrival then claim the EUR tax refund?