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

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#721
dreamer637 said:
So the cash refund is better than cc refund? I bought my chanel in France and decided to get the refund on the credit card... I flew back home from Heathrow. Im confused on how they use the exchange rates and how it works. :/ .
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Just curious, what does your VAT receipt indicate ( the one that requires the stamp and or electronic validation from the last Euro country you visit before leaving )? The one they gave you at the store, when you selected the credit card option? If you divide the rebate amount into your purchase amount that will give you the percentage.

I was just at both Hermes and Chanel in Paris and the VAT amount in currency is displayed, not the %, and they are both different - the rebate on the Hermes purchase was greater than on Chanel ( again divide the rebate currency into your total purchase). Also, the rebate on my purchase at Jimmy Choo in Paris for shoes was the highest ( same for my DH for shoes at another store). I selected the credit card option for all purchases and have a no conversion fee cc.
HTH
 
#722
South Beach said:
Just curious, what does your VAT receipt indicate ( the one that requires the stamp and or electronic validation from the last Euro country you visit before leaving )? The one they gave you at the store, when you selected the credit card option? If you divide the rebate amount into your purchase amount that will give you the percentage.

I was just at both Hermes and Chanel in Paris and the VAT amount in currency is displayed, not the %, and they are both different - the rebate on the Hermes purchase was greater than on Chanel ( again divide the rebate currency into your total purchase). Also, the rebate on my purchase at Jimmy Choo in Paris for shoes was the highest ( same for my DH for shoes at another store). I selected the credit card option for all purchases and have a no conversion fee cc.
HTH
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under the box 'detaxe refund' it says 444.60, but it doesn't say the type of currency. Im guessing its in euros and then they convert that amount to dollars and then that's my refund? If I remember correctly I chose to get the refund back on my cc because the rate was better ( 13%cc refund vs 11% cash refund)
 
#723
South Beach said:
Just curious, what does your VAT receipt indicate ( the one that requires the stamp and or electronic validation from the last Euro country you visit before leaving )? The one they gave you at the store, when you selected the credit card option? If you divide the rebate amount into your purchase amount that will give you the percentage.

I was just at both Hermes and Chanel in Paris and the VAT amount in currency is displayed, not the %, and they are both different - the rebate on the Hermes purchase was greater than on Chanel ( again divide the rebate currency into your total purchase). Also, the rebate on my purchase at Jimmy Choo in Paris for shoes was the highest ( same for my DH for shoes at another store). I selected the credit card option for all purchases and have a no conversion fee cc.
HTH
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Within the same country, different brands offer different VAT refund rates even though the VAT rate is the same due to the refund admin fee tabulated into the refund rate.
 
#724
It's my understanding that the amount on the VAT document would reflect the rebate in the currency you selected ( lower right hand portion from Chanel) when you made the purchase. In my case I selected Euro vs. USD, so my rebate will be adjusted as it goes through my cc, in the same manner my purchase was. There are some FAQ's at the premier tax free web site as well. HTH.
 
#725
So I am very confused and not sure if I did this process correctly. I arrived at CDG terminal 2F. The detax dept is downstairs before security. When I tried to scan my form at the Pablo kiosk, it gave me a red sign and said I needed to see an official. I took my item to the window and the official asked for my passport, boarding pass, VAT form and asked to see my bag. She then scanned my form and said I was done. She said I didn't need to mail anything. She says her scanning the form was like an electronic stamp and since my form has the barcode I don't need to mail anything. I'm so confused by this because everything I read here says that I must drop the form in the box. I even went back down and asked her again if her scanning was the same as the Pablo kiosk. What should I do? I'm already at my gate. Do I need to find a drop box somewhere?
 
#726
texas87 said:
So I am very confused and not sure if I did this process correctly. I arrived at CDG terminal 2F. The detax dept is downstairs before security. When I tried to scan my form at the Pablo kiosk, it gave me a red sign and said I needed to see an official. I took my item to the window and the official asked for my passport, boarding pass, VAT form and asked to see my bag. She then scanned my form and said I was done. She said I didn't need to mail anything. She says her scanning the form was like an electronic stamp and since my form has the barcode I don't need to mail anything. I'm so confused by this because everything I read here says that I must drop the form in the box. I even went back down and asked her again if her scanning was the same as the Pablo kiosk. What should I do? I'm already at my gate. Do I need to find a drop box somewhere?
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Update...I started freaking out the more things I read so I ended up finding a travelex counter and the gentleman scanned my form to check to make sure customs did process it correctly. He then had me put it in my premier tax envelope and drop it in the global blue bin. He said premier can be dropped there too with or without an envelope. Crossing fingers that everything works out. I feel better knowing that I dropped it off. Took pics of it too prior to dropping off.
 
#727
yah you don't need to send/drop off the form cuz everything is scanned thru the Pablo kiosk .... but do follow up cuz for global blue you can check the status of your refund online their website. I think there is a doc number on the forms that you use to track. and if after 4 weeks and you still don't see anything make sure to give them a call.
 
#728
hehegrl said:
yah you don't need to send/drop off the form cuz everything is scanned thru the Pablo kiosk .... but do follow up cuz for global blue you can check the status of your refund online their website. I think there is a doc number on the forms that you use to track. and if after 4 weeks and you still don't see anything make sure to give them a call.
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As I stated in my post, the kiosk didnt work for me. I didn't get the green all done sign but the red sign saying I had to speak to customs. She scanned my form and looked at my passport and item. She said I didnt have to mail it, but I had read everywhere that it had to be mailed. Travelex told me to mail it and that I didn't need to include my receipt.
 
#729
texas87 said:
Update...I started freaking out the more things I read so I ended up finding a travelex counter and the gentleman scanned my form to check to make sure customs did process it correctly. He then had me put it in my premier tax envelope and drop it in the global blue bin. He said premier can be dropped there too with or without an envelope. Crossing fingers that everything works out. I feel better knowing that I dropped it off. Took pics of it too prior to dropping off.
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I just wanted to give you ladies an update on my premier tax refund. As you know I did the whole customs process on Tuesday, 9/29. I just randomly checked my credit card statement online, and my refund posted to my account on 9/30. 24 hours after I did the process at the airport, how crazy is that. I have never heard of the VAT refund process being so quick. The conversion rate they used was quite a bit off though. 1 euro to 1 usd on 9/30 was around 1.117 and I got 1.0651. Either way, I am so happy that I got my refund and that it occurred so quickly. I thought it would take months at the least. In total I saved over 1k purchasing my bag in Paris
 
#730
Hi I need someone to help me, I purchased my jumbo double flap in Florence Italy for 4750 € i believe. How ever I wasn't given a bill, the only thing they gave me was the document to receive the vat back. Because I didn't have a bill, I couldn't receive the money right away at the airport. I needed to send it in the mail and dropped it in the airport's mailbox. Because I had to give the form to the tax refund, I stayed with no proof of purchase. I've sent an email to the store in Italy, but get no reply. I am devastated with this situation.. Don't know what else to do. Should I go to Montreal's Chanel representant?
 
#731
Fatimasantos said:
Hi I need someone to help me, I purchased my jumbo double flap in Florence Italy for 4750 € i believe. How ever I wasn't given a bill, the only thing they gave me was the document to receive the vat back. Because I didn't have a bill, I couldn't receive the money right away at the airport. I needed to send it in the mail and dropped it in the airport's mailbox. Because I had to give the form to the tax refund, I stayed with no proof of purchase. I've sent an email to the store in Italy, but get no reply. I am devastated with this situation.. Don't know what else to do. Should I go to Montreal's Chanel representant?
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I had asked Chanel Rome why I wasn't given a separate receipt for my purchase and was told that a copy of the VAT refund form is to be kept for personal reference since the receipt is printed on it. The only reason I was refused a cash refund at CDG airport was due to the fact that the word duplicate was printed and Travelex refused to honor it. I was given the refund about 6 to 8 weeks after dropping the form in to the VAT refund box.

Did u take a picture of the refund form? If yes, I guess you can use it as proof of purchase if you need any repair assistance from Chanel.
 
#732
Thank you for letting me know that I still will receive the Vat back, just need to be patient. I finally received a response from Florence and she told me the same thing, that I needed to keep the second copy of the Vat as proof of purchase. Because I didn't the only thing she sent me an email with the info of the Vat paper. I was disappointed cause I couldn't understand why Chanel Italy couldn't make copies of your bill. I've bought my Gst in Montreal and they gave me two bills, one with the price and another without. I guess that we have no choice if we choose to save money, we have to live with simply a copy of the Vat refund. Thank you
 
#733
Hi everyone, so this is a newbie question for an infrequent traveler. This is the first time I've bought a bag from outside the U.S. If I just bought a classic jumbo in navy in Panma since the price here is $500 cheaper than the U.S. including tax. Would like have trouble with the airport security if I bring my bag with me in my carry on? I wanted to bring the entire bag in its gift wrapped self without the shopping bag.
 
#734
Hi everyone, I would like to ask a question regarding duty, When you bring back stuffs you bought from Europe entering back to USA, how much do you pay for custom duty? for instance, designers leather bags wallets or watch?
 
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