Cheapest country to buy LV

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#466
I am visiting Prague, Budapest and Vienna next week. I have priced a bag in the US. The Marlybone pm or the Reggia list here in the Us for $1650,usd on the us website plus tax. I have checked the price on the German website, which is listed at 1120 euro ..which at the current exchange rate equals approximately $1480 usd .With further savings of the vat return...approximately 12%. My question... Would it be cheaper to purchase in Prague or Budapest ...since the currency is different? Or will they charge in euro?.. I am asking for Advice as to where I purchase?..AND... If it doesn't makes a. Substantial difference, should I purchase where I find the purse I want,:smile1::smile1:simply because who knows if it will be found in the other places! It still is cheaper than In the US, by a long shot! I do thank you all for your expert advise!
 
#467
Queenk2 said:
I am visiting Prague, Budapest and Vienna next week. I have priced a bag in the US. The Marlybone pm or the Reggia list here in the Us for $1650,usd on the us website plus tax. I have checked the price on the German website, which is listed at 1120 euro ..which at the current exchange rate equals approximately $1480 usd .With further savings of the vat return...approximately 12%. My question... Would it be cheaper to purchase in Prague or Budapest ...since the currency is different? Or will they charge in euro?.. I am asking for Advice as to where I purchase?..AND... If it doesn't makes a. Substantial difference, should I purchase where I find the purse I want,:smile1::smile1:simply because who knows if it will be found in the other places! It still is cheaper than In the US, by a long shot! I do thank you all for your expert advise!
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Queenk2 In my opinion there may not be muc of a difference, honestly if you find the bag you are looking for just pick it up as you yourself said who knows if you will find in the next store! go for it !
 
#469
Minga said:
I'm in Germany and they have the same prices like France. If you can get the VAT back it makes it all the worthwhile I also go between the Europe & the USA LV website and the price differences are different. It is nice to to compare the prices especially if you have a trip planned ahead.
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Hi !! Do you know how to do this ? Get the VAT back that is ? My husband is traveling to Germany in Nov. and i want him to pick me up a bag from LV. I looked on there website and converted the euros to dollars and its cheaper BUT.... the tax there is like 19% !! So with him paying the tax there is not much of a difference than in price .
 
#470
momof3boyz said:
Hi !! Do you know how to do this ? Get the VAT back that is ? My husband is traveling to Germany in Nov. and i want him to pick me up a bag from LV. I looked on there website and converted the euros to dollars and its cheaper BUT.... the tax there is like 19% !! So with him paying the tax there is not much of a difference than in price .
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your husband will have to ask for a tax return form at the store.he needs to let them know wether he wants the VAT back in cash or on his credit card ( small fee will be charged if he chooses to have it back on his credit card ) once he is at the airport,he will need to go to the customs desk and get the form stamped .he has to show them his passport,the original receipts and the unused purse, they don't always ask you to show them the goods but ask ur husband to put the bag in his carry on in case they do! ....once he gets this done he can go to the nearest global blue counter and an immediate refund in cash! unless he chooses to mail the stamped form from home I get it back on his credit card ...it is really easy I do it all the time and trust me its worth it ! last time I got over 200 euros back for a purse I got,amazing! and is his flying from Germany is even better as there r many customs desks ,global blue counters and they do not charge ANY cash handling fees like they do In some countries.......go to www.globalblue.com to calculate how much your refund would be since they won't give you the whole 19 % back,they will give u €114 for every €1000 you spend ;)

oh and remember that the prices you see in the European LV website already include the 19% VAT!! ,it's always waaaay better to buy in Europe :)
 
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#473
kittykatia said:
your husband will have to ask for a tax return form at the store.he needs to let them know wether he wants the VAT back in cash or on his credit card ( small fee will be charged if he chooses to have it back on his credit card ) once he is at the airport,he will need to go to the customs desk and get the form stamped .he has to show them his passport,the original receipts and the unused purse, they don't always ask you to show them the goods but ask ur husband to put the bag in his carry on in case they do! ....once he gets this done he can go to the nearest global blue counter and an immediate refund in cash! unless he chooses to mail the stamped form from home I get it back on his credit card ...it is really easy I do it all the time and trust me its worth it ! last time I got over 200 euros back for a purse I got,amazing! and is his flying from Germany is even better as there r many customs desks ,global blue counters and they do not charge ANY cash handling fees like they do In some countries.......go to www.globalblue.com to calculate how much your refund would be since they won't give you the whole 19 % back,they will give u €114 for every €1000 you spend ;)

oh and remember that the prices you see in the European LV website already include the 19% VAT!! ,it's always waaaay better to buy in Europe :)
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Thank you so very much for the great reply!!!!! This is super helpful!!! Question : How do you deal with customs ? Do you have to pay anything at customs when you return to the US ? ;)
 
#474
momof3boyz said:
Thank you so very much for the great reply!!!!! This is super helpful!!! Question : How do you deal with customs ? Do you have to pay anything at customs when you return to the US ? ;)
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If the amount exceeds $800 per person, you are supposed to declare it. When you arrive in the U.S., you will get in a line to re-enter the U.S. There is an electronic kiosk that asks several questions and even takes your photo which is then matched up to your passport photo!

One of the questions asked is whether you purchased items worth more than $800. It's either yes or no. I answered "yes" because I had items from both Chanel and LV and way exceeded that $800 per person limit. After the electronic kiosk, you get in line to see a customs agent who then looks at your passports and photos and all the answers to the questions you gave at the electronic kiosk. He then had us go over to another line where luggage and items were being inspected. I was asked what was the total amount I was declaring in U.S.dollars. I told them and they figured out the customs duty (which worked out to be about 3% after the $800/person allowed amount was deducted.) and I paid it via credit card. The agent (who was very nice) said since I had been honest and up-front with them, she wasn't going to inspect my items and every piece of our luggage to see if I had declared the proper amount. I did see agents doing that, going through every bit of luggage and searching it for undeclared items.

Looking back, I could have answered "no" to that question and possibly would have sailed through the lines and paid nothing. They don't inspect that many people. But, I prefer being honest and not taking the chance that they might decide to pick me or my daughter or husband to thoroughly search. The customs duty I paid was not worth getting caught and having to pay penalties and fines and all that.
 
#478
momof3boyz said:
Thank you so very much for the great reply!!!!! This is super helpful!!! Question : How do you deal with customs ? Do you have to pay anything at customs when you return to the US ? ;)
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well i only declared the first time because I wasn't sure but then I was told I didn't have to since this was my personal stuff,and it makes sense otherwise I'd have to declare my watches ,jewelry,bags every time I travel .Plus I always end up wearing my new bags after getting the VAT refund so I guess this is prob why I was told not to declare them since they were not considered "brand new " anymore.From what I understood you declare unused stuff and what you bring for others as gifts.are you traveling with your husband? if he s going by himself ,I d recommend him to declare it just to be safe,because it's true they almost never check but what if they do! it's not worth the drama and the extra fees he would have to pay,better safe than sorry at the end it's only 3 % of the final price after the VAT refund ,still good! good luck!
 
#479
It's definitely France.
Also if you buy in France but live in another country, you get 12% tax refund at the airport for your purchases of 180 euros or more.

This is because your purchase is considered an export.
 
#480
fabuleux said:
It's definitely France.
Also if you buy in France but live in another country, you get 12% tax refund at the airport for your purchases of 180 euros or more.

This is because your purchase is considered an export.
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Hallo, good to hear! I hope a friend can help me to buy since she will be visiting France for vacation. But how can I find out the prices in France? TiA.
 
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