How much I actually saved purchasing in Paris.

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M

MeredithP1

Chanel ~ Chloe ~ LV
O.G.
Aug 1, 2007
55
253
#1
I wanted to share my experience, not complaining, just sharing what we actually saved for anyone interested.

I purchased a Mini Classic Tweed bag for 4600 Euros.
With the conversion rate, I paid $5015 euros before tax (I wasn't charged tax, see below for commentary).

This same bag in Denver, Colorado is $4800 with a sales tax rate of 8.81% tax which would be $5222.88.

So, in summary, I saved $207.88. Certainly happy that we paid less, but I honestly was thinking it would be a bit more. But hey, I got to get my Rue Cambon white bag experience checked off my bucket list! :)

Regarding the VAT tax refund: I was not charged any tax at all, they did the VAT tax paperwork for me in the store. When I went to the airport and scanned the barcode, it said invalid and I had to go to the customs agent and he said the tax refund had been automatic when purchased as I never paid the tax to begin with.
 
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#2
I thought all EURO prices included VAT unlike the US prices. You then get the already included VAT when you go home which roughly I believe comes to be about 12% back with service charges for France. The last time I went to Paris was a year ago and also my cousin and aunt just came back a few weeks ago and it was the same.
 
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#3
FlairBear said:
I thought all EURO prices included tax unlike the US prices. You then get the already included VAT when you go home which roughly I believe comes about to be 12% with service charges for France. The last time I went to Paris was a year ago and also my cousin and aunt just came back a few weeks ago and it was the same.
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Oh, that is interesting! This would be fantastic! Then I should see another $500 or so in savings.
 
#5
FlairBear said:
You definitely save buying bags in the EU, so in addition to vacationing and seeing the world, I go for the shopping.
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I was telling my fiance that bags are less expensive in Hawaii as well, though I've heard that isn't the case for Chanel but I think BV is about 12-15% less in Hawaii and then there's only a 4% tax so I'm thinking that pretty much covers the cost of the plane ride, at least for one of us.
 
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#10
FlairBear said:
I thought all EURO prices included VAT unlike the US prices. You then get the already included VAT when you go home which roughly I believe comes to be about 12% back with service charges for France. The last time I went to Paris was a year ago and also my cousin and aunt just came back a few weeks ago and it was the same.
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Yep, this is correct. Our listed prices in the EU include VAT - the list price is always the total you pay at the register (unlike the US where anything from zero to almost 10%, depending on the state, is added at checkout as sales tax).

Then there is a VAT refund of around 10-12% for non-residents when you leave the EU. Some stores will give you this refund in advance, usually big department stores, but you still have to scan your VAT form when you depart the EU. I haven't seen this done previously at a Chanel boutique, or actually any single-brand boutique. They just do the paperwork for you.

Then of course you must declare your purchase when re-entering your home country, and it will depend on what you bought and where you re-enter how much you are charged in duties. The US has an exemption of $800 per person duty-free.

Chanel seems to have brought their EU pricing very close to US pricing, so shopping Chanel here in Europe is not the kind of savings it once was.
 
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