Duty | Tax | Customs for International shopping {VAT refund}

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#646
Mumof2mOnstErs said:
The processing agents, Premier Tax or Global Blue are partners chosen by the merchants. How the service fee is charged which results in no getting the full VAT refund is also not something we as customers can decide. For cash refunds at some airports like France, there is commission charged as handling fee per refund form refunded by the cash refund agent. My personal experience in Paris CDG in 2013, 2014 and 2015 tell me that there is no consistency in how much is being charged as commission and refund from which merchant does not require a commission.
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Ic, thanks a lot for the explanation
Really help me as a first time travller
Thanks again
 
#647
Mumof2mOnstErs said:
There are some stores, e.g., the 3 department stores in Paris that allows one to take the cash refund before the customs stamps. Although you have the cash refund in hand, the risk level is the same as cc refund. One doesn't get the cc refund if the refund forms are not stamped by the customs or/and received back by the processing agent. In the case of cash refund, you will be charged for the cash refund you have taken if the refund forms are not stamped by the customs or/and received by the processing agent.
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Thanks, that's what I thought too. There is a cash refund point somewhere around the Chanmps d'Elysee, not in a dept store. When I was in LV many years ago, the SA told me about this. It might have since disappeared but I thought it was weird (since I've only ever gotten my VAT at the airport).
 
#648
callalili said:
I'm referring to service charge by the tax refund company. Is it true that different tax refund company charge different service fee? Is there any option for me to choose either globalblue or premier tax in Chanel boutique? Or should i buy from departmental store since they might have option for me to choose either to use globalblue or premier tax company?
Another thing, do you know whats the price of easy flap now in Europe? I cant afford the classic, can only eyeing the lower range of Chanel now
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Chanel boutiques are thru Premier tax, but in the dept store, idk if you choose or it's exclusively globalblue. From my experience, I just preferred globalblue because they were quicker (and thus exchanged when the euro was stronger). Idk if there's a different % return based on premier vs globalblue. ThisVNChick is referring to this: http://www.globalblue.com/customer-services/tax-free-shopping/refund-points/ Just choose your country and you can see the offices.
 
#649
ryland345 said:
Chanel boutiques are thru Premier tax, but in the dept store, idk if you choose or it's exclusively globalblue. From my experience, I just preferred globalblue because they were quicker (and thus exchanged when the euro was stronger). Idk if there's a different % return based on premier vs globalblue. ThisVNChick is referring to this: http://www.globalblue.com/customer-services/tax-free-shopping/refund-points/ Just choose your country and you can see the offices.
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I was in Paris in early October and made purchases through Printemps and Le Bon Marche. Bon Marche used Global blue and Printemps used premier tax. The exchange rate for my refund was higher from premier tax and refunds were faster too. The rate was 1.28 when I made my purchases but, global blue only gave me 1.14 for my refund. Premier tax gave me 1.21. They don't refund u in euros, they convert at their own exchange rate and refund.
 
#650
ryland345 said:
Chanel boutiques are thru Premier tax, but in the dept store, idk if you choose or it's exclusively globalblue. From my experience, I just preferred globalblue because they were quicker (and thus exchanged when the euro was stronger). Idk if there's a different % return based on premier vs globalblue. ThisVNChick is referring to this: http://www.globalblue.com/customer-services/tax-free-shopping/refund-points/ Just choose your country and you can see the offices.
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bagreedy said:
I was in Paris in early October and made purchases through Printemps and Le Bon Marche. Bon Marche used Global blue and Printemps used premier tax. The exchange rate for my refund was higher from premier tax and refunds were faster too. The rate was 1.28 when I made my purchases but, global blue only gave me 1.14 for my refund. Premier tax gave me 1.21. They don't refund u in euros, they convert at their own exchange rate and refund.
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It is the merchants and not the consumers who choose the processing agents. Le Bon Marche and Lafayette use Global Blue while Printemps uses Premier Tax.

I believe the processing agents refund in EUR to credit card but it will be posted to your credit card statement in your local currency by your card issuing company/bank with the amount of EUR stated, unless they apply dynamic conversion currency (DCC) which is something that is technically not allowed without our consent. Although your card may say there is 0% foreign currency fee, VISA/Mastercard and probably AMEX charge a processing fee that will usually be passed on to card holders by the banks and they have their own buy and sell spread. For a 100 EUR purchase and 100 EUR refund that is processed for the same card on the same day, you will realise that you have to pay more in USD and get a refund less in USD.

Pace of refund to your credit card does not matters actually. As mentioned in my previous posts, when waiting for a refund, you will want to wish for EUR to strengthen (i.e., 1 EUR to get you more of your home currency) and your home currency to weaken (i.e., 1 unit of your home currency to buy you less of EUR), this is the way to ensure a higher rate in refund.

I believe all of you felt refund need to be faster as EUR was weakening and USD was strengthening as you waited for the refund.
 
#651
"It is always up to the customs officers whether they will charge you or not. I used to be one ages ago and we have the discretion to waive you on or make you pay. If you tried to sneak one in and get caught, you will suffer pretty serious consequences. Everything from paying hefty fines to having the purse seized to always being flagged every time you travel for the next few years. I always declare my purchases. Yes it is a pain to line up again to pay the duties but it is a small inconvenience." (MrsJDS)

From post #3754 in the following Hermès thread:

http://forum.purseblog.com/hermes-shopping/paris-trip-for-hermes-bags-457159-251.html
 
#652
I've received my taxes refund from Chanel within exactly 1 week from leaving Paris. And the process was so easy and stress free I coukdnt believe it.
Still waiting on the refunds from Burberry and LV though..
 
#655
So I am actually going on a student exchange program to Norway this coming August till January 2016 and will definitely be going to Paris and Milan for some shopping. I have read up on the VAT refund process and basically I am supposed to get a refund once I get out of the EU right?

To my knowledge, Norway is NOT included as part of the EU although it does have many ties with the EU. I am wondering if during my semester break, I leave for a short trip to Paris, should I claim my tax before going back to Norway? Or wait till the end of my whole exchange program?

I will be making further trips back and forth throughout Europe during this period, so I'm not sure if I can only do my shopping at the end when I leave Norway for good. Or if I can do shopping in Aug, claim the tax refund, go back to Norway, and then continue flying back and forth from EU to Norway within the 5 months I am there.

I wanted to do my shopping earlier in August, and by the end of the trip it would have exceeded the 3 month policy. Any help from TPF-ers who have experienced this? Thanks! :D
 
#657
Can i ask the VAT tax refund rate for cash refund at departmental stores like Lafayette, Printemps and Le Bon Marche ?

Is it 10.8% for cash refund?

And what's the VAT tax refund rate for cash refund at the airport if i purchased my item at LV boutique?

Is it 10.8% plus additional 3 euros per receipt as handling fee?

Thank you.
 
#658
Hey guys I have questions about VAT refunds in Europe. I'm traveling with a bunch of college students to several countries in Europe starting in London and ending in Barcelona. I'm planning on going to Louis Vuitton in Rome and buying small purchases since we will be traveling literally every couple days from city to city so I don't want to haul any big things around. We're going to Paris and that's the last city before we depart from Barcelona to the US. So I figured with only one more city, it wouldn't be much of a problem hauling bigger things anymore as I plan to purchase a GST from Chanel and maybe a Delightful from Louis Vuitton. So my question is, what is this whole deal about VAT refund? As far as I know, the sales associates will fill out a form for you and you show them your passport to prove you're a tourist? And also, if these items were bought from Rome and Paris, could I still show my forms to the customs in Barcelona where I will depart from? Is there a place in the airport that I have to go through separately to get my forms stamped, also how long is the process? I'm traveling with a group so we all get to the airport at the same time and all that so I can't exactly be as flexible with my time. Please help, if anyone has experienced VAT refund before could you please walk me through this? Sorry that was so long. Thank you so much.
 
#660
Sorry this thread has too many pages for me to go through and it seems kind of all over the place to me.

I have questions about VAT refunds in Europe. I'm traveling with a bunch of college students to several countries in Europe starting in London and ending in Barcelona. I'm planning on going to Louis Vuitton in Rome and buying small purchases since we will be traveling literally every couple days from city to city so I don't want to haul any big things around. We're going to Paris and that's the last city before we depart from Barcelona to the US. So I figured with only one more city, it wouldn't be much of a problem hauling bigger things anymore as I plan to purchase a GST from Chanel and maybe a Delightful from Louis Vuitton. So my question is, what is this whole deal about VAT refund? As far as I know, the sales associates will fill out a form for you and you show them your passport to prove you're a tourist? And also, if these items were bought from Rome and Paris, could I still show my forms to the customs in Barcelona where I will depart from? Is there a place in the airport that I have to go through separately to get my forms stamped, also how long is the process? I'm traveling with a group so we all get to the airport at the same time and all that so I can't exactly be as flexible with my time. Please help, if anyone has experienced VAT refund before could you please walk me through this? Sorry that was so long. Thank you so much.
 
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