Hermes and Seoul

[littlebag21]

Last year July 2023, while on a trip with my husband, got a Herbag in Hermes Shinsegae duty free as a walk-in with no prespend.

visited Hermes Dosan today - had a good amount of bags readily available: geta (maybe Gris perle) mini jypsiere (bleu frida), ITL 26 (dark greys), vert comics alligator c18, orange alligator Della and some others. No ML or picos and obviously no bkc.

Staff cannot be bothered to help lol especially tourists.

I'll be in Korea soon and crossing my fingers that I can score a non-qb when I'm there! I heard that Dosan may have better stock compared to the other stores?

 

[misg19]

I'll be in Korea soon and crossing my fingers that I can score a non-qb when I'm there! I heard that Dosan may have better stock compared to the other stores?

I only went to Dosan and there were many non qbs available on the walls

 

[littlebag21]

I only went to Dosan and there were many non qbs available on the walls

That's promising to hear! Do you know if I can ask directly for a non qb bag or do I have to seem interested in other items first?

 

[misg19]

That's promising to hear! Do you know if I can ask directly for a non qb bag or do I have to seem interested in other items first?

I walked straight to the bag area on the 2nd floor and you can just upfront ask for what you are looking for

 

[littlebag21]

I walked straight to the bag area on the 2nd floor and you can just upfront ask for what you are looking for

Would there by any chance for a quota bag, even if there's pre-spend involved?

 

[misg19]

Would there by any chance for a quota bag, even if there's pre-spend involved?

I’m not sure about that! But from what I’ve read on this thread, Korea is very competitive. Might be best to reserve your pre spend for your home store.

 

[Lychee_Apple]

Hello! Planning to visit Seoul this December and would like to go to the boutique at Dosan Park. Does anyone know if walk-ins are possible for both shopping and Cafe Madang?

Thanks!

 

[koala.bear]

I was there in Nov 2024, and my friend and I were able to tell the Dosan SA exactly what K we wanted and she would go to the back and check what was available. My friend spend 1:1 for a K25.

 

[Winiebean]

are there any regulars at Shinsegae? received B/K there?

 

[twinstar633]

Is the pricing the same for downtown city duty free stores (eg Lotte) vs Hermes’ standalone boutique ?

 

[Monique1004]

Is the pricing the same for downtown city duty free stores (eg Lotte) vs Hermes’ standalone boutique ?

Duty free is cheaper because there’s no luxury tax but the stock is limited. Some department stores give about 10% tax return for foreigners but the rates vary by stores.

 

[twinstar633]

Duty free is cheaper because there’s no luxury tax but the stock is limited. Some department stores give about 10% tax return for foreigners but the rates vary by stores.

Thank you.

I had a strange experience in Dior airport where the list price is higher vs downtown boutiques. So even if you remove the vat , you end up paying slightly more. Not cheaper.

I was wondering whether the list price is the same for Hermes, regardless downtown boutique, downtown duty free store or airport duty free store. The only difference should be the vat.

TIA!

 

[Monique1004]

Thank you.

I had a strange experience in Dior airport where the list price is higher vs downtown boutiques. So even if you remove the vat , you end up paying slightly more. Not cheaper.

I was wondering whether the list price is the same for Hermes, regardless downtown boutique, downtown duty free store or airport duty free store. The only difference should be the vat.

TIA!

That is very strange. The tax is not added later on in Korea so whatever the ticket price is what you actually pay so the duty free price should be lower. Especially when the luxury goods in Korea have special luxury goods tax.

 

[Sevenatenine]

Is the pricing the same for downtown city duty free stores (eg Lotte) vs Hermes’ standalone boutique ?

It was a few yrs ago for me but standalone boutique was cheaper for me since they gave me some form to turn in at the airport to get refund on the tax. And if I remember correctly, the base price is just higher in Korea duty free stores, vs US pricing even after the US tax priced in. I never really shop at duty frees in Korea for that reason, for non Korean brands. If you are based in US, I'd recommend avoiding duty free shops for luxury goods in Korea. Plus usd to krw conversion is very good right now, so even more reason to avoid dollar pricing in Korea duty free.

 

[twinstar633]

Thank you both!

That is very strange. The tax is not added later on in Korea so whatever the ticket price is what you actually pay so the duty free price should be lower. Especially when the luxury goods in Korea have special luxury goods tax.

It was a few yrs ago for me but standalone boutique was cheaper for me since they gave me some form to turn in at the airport to get refund on the tax. And if I remember correctly, the base price is just higher in Korea duty free stores, vs US pricing even after the US tax priced in. I never really shop at duty frees in Korea for that reason, for non Korean brands. If you are based in US, I'd recommend avoiding duty free shops for luxury goods in Korea. Plus usd to krw conversion is very good right now, so even more reason to avoid dollar pricing in Korea duty free.