Buying experience at Loewe Milano, VAT refund in Switzerland

[hedkandi]

Finally bought my grail - a medium Puzzle at LOEWE La Rinascente at the Piazza del Duomo in Milano, Italy.

Our Sales Consultant was amazing!* She pulled out the medium sand from the back. I totally forgot about this colour and was almost ready to purchase the caramel. Offered us bottled water. Held my bag while we went to visit the duomo.

The VAT refund office is Global Blue on the 6th floor. I used my US passport (triple citizen) because of my current residence.**

Since I was flying out of Switzerland, I had to get the stamp there. I took the train from Milano to Switzerland. Got off at Chiasso station, walked to the tax refund office, got my digital stamp, then continued on another train.

At the Zürich airport, I submitted the stamped form and receipt. I opted to have the refund back to a credit card. It does say on the form if exiting Italy, only cash is available.

That’s it! So glad I finally made the purchase and with a VAT refund, to boot.

Original price - 2800€
VAT refund to card - 336€ (~12%)

*Look for Joia! I believe this is her WhatsApp/local number: +393403462375. Email is [email protected]. Got her permission to share.

**I read that somehow US Customs finds out if you’ve claimed any VAT refund so I declared it (I always declare anyway so was prepared to pay duties) but the Customs Officer didn’t make me pay any duties. YMMV.

 

[pearlgrass]

Congrats on your new score!

 

[Seeeca]

Finally bought my grail - a medium Puzzle at LOEWE La Rinascente at the Piazza del Duomo in Milano, Italy.

Our Sales Consultant was amazing!* She pulled out the medium sand from the back. I totally forgot about this colour and was almost ready to purchase the caramel. Offered us bottled water. Held my bag while we went to visit the duomo.

The VAT refund office is Global Blue on the 6th floor. I used my US passport (triple citizen) because of my current residence.**

Since I was flying out of Switzerland, I had to get the stamp there. I took the train from Milano to Switzerland. Got off at Chiasso station, walked to the tax refund office, got my digital stamp, then continued on another train.

At the Zürich airport, I submitted the stamped form and receipt. I opted to have the refund back to a credit card. It does say on the form if exiting Italy, only cash is available.

That’s it! So glad I finally made the purchase and with a VAT refund, to boot.

Original price - 2800€
VAT refund to card - 336€ (~12%)

*Look for Joia! I believe this is her WhatsApp/local number: +393403462375. Email is [email protected]. Got her permission to share.

**I read that somehow US Customs finds out if you’ve claimed any VAT refund so I declared it (I always declare anyway so was prepared to pay duties) but the Customs Officer didn’t make me pay any duties. YMMV.

Congrats on your Puzzle! It’s beautiful in Sand.

I have a similar itinerary planned to exit the EU by train and fly home to the US from Zurich. Is the Global Blue office at the Milano train station or in La Rinascente mall? Also, is the only place to get a digital stamp at the Chiasso station and where do you submit paperwork in the Zurich airport for the refund? Thanks so much!

 

[hedkandi]

Congrats on your new score!

Thank you! I hope I don’t jinx it by saying this is my last bag since I finally got it!

 

[hedkandi]

Congrats on your Puzzle! It’s beautiful in Sand.

I have a similar itinerary planned to exit the EU by train and fly home to the US from Zurich. Is the Global Blue office at the Milano train station or in La Rinascente mall? Also, is the only place to get a digital stamp at the Chiasso station and where do you submit paperwork in the Zurich airport for the refund? Thanks so much!

Thank you!

The Global Blue office for the initial paperwork is on the 6F of La Rinascente.

I don’t know for sure if the only place to get it is in Chiasso. I think so because you have to get it stamped when you leave the EU, since CH isn’t part of the EU, and I believe it is considered a border town.

I was told a Customs Officer MAY come on the train but the Train Managers didn’t even know about that so I just went down in Chiasso to be certain. You need your passport and the receipt. They’ll tell you to check your receipt for the outbound stamp after. I confirmed before leaving. It was quick so I made the next train about ~7 mins later. I didn’t go straight to Zürich after and stayed a few stations from Chiasso so it wasn’t a problem to stop there.

The Zürich airport has a tax refund office after getting your outbound stamp on your passport. Arrive extra early because the security queue was long and slow, the passport queue was okay, but then for me, there was another train to Gate E after the tax refund office. There was also a queue at the tax refund office. After the train, another queue to stamp your passport. I literally made it to start of boarding even though I got to the airport 2.5 hours before boarding time. Tbf it was a weekend.

Happy to help!

 

[Seeeca]

Thank you!

The Global Blue office for the initial paperwork is on the 6F of La Rinascente.

I don’t know for sure if the only place to get it is in Chiasso. I think so because you have to get it stamped when you leave the EU, since CH isn’t part of the EU, and I believe it is considered a border town.

I was told a Customs Officer MAY come on the train but the Train Managers didn’t even know about that so I just went down in Chiasso to be certain. You need your passport and the receipt. They’ll tell you to check your receipt for the outbound stamp after. I confirmed before leaving. It was quick so I made the next train about ~7 mins later. I didn’t go straight to Zürich after and stayed a few stations from Chiasso so it wasn’t a problem to stop there.

The Zürich airport has a tax refund office after getting your outbound stamp on your passport. Arrive extra early because the security queue was long and slow, the passport queue was okay, but then for me, there was another train to Gate E after the tax refund office. There was also a queue at the tax refund office. After the train, another queue to stamp your passport. I literally made it to start of boarding even though I got to the airport 2.5 hours before boarding time. Tbf it was a weekend.

Happy to help!

Thanks so much for the details and guidance! This is so helpful!