Official worldwide thread - Tips/Advice for customs, VAT, etc...

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#826
bakeacookie said:
Thank you for this explanation!

ETA: If you have to pay, how do you pay it? Could you use a credit card? I don't carry that much USD when I travel, nor do I own checks.
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You're welcome! You can pay with a credit card.

I just got back from Europe last week and went through the whole process again. This time, after I declared the amount we brought back which was over $1,600 ($800 for me + $800 for the DH), they moved me over to Customs where they asked a few questions, asked to see my receipts, but then didn't charge me anything. They said the DH and I would have owed just a small amount so they wouldn't bother with it. Yay!
 
#827
bakeacookie said:
Thank you for this explanation!

ETA: If you have to pay, how do you pay it? Could you use a credit card? I don't carry that much USD when I travel, nor do I own checks.
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bakeacookie, btw, I found the best deals on Longchamp and on Louis Vuitton in Europe. I saved 33% on LV (not including sales tax that I would have to pay on LV in the U.S.) and saved around 45% on Longchamp Le Pliage, maybe 30% on Longchamp cuir items. The other brands I looked at (Gucci, Burberry, Chanel, etc.) were similarly priced to what they are in the U.S., even after taking the VAT refund into consideration. Yes, you will probably still save 10%, but it wasn't worth it to me to have to haul the items around risking damage or theft, and then rack up extra customs charges potentially. I didn't check out every luxury brand of course so there maybe others that are good deals right now, or items that are on sale.
 
#828
youngster said:
bakeacookie, btw, I found the best deals on Longchamp and on Louis Vuitton in Europe. I saved 33% on LV (not including sales tax that I would have to pay on LV in the U.S.) and saved around 45% on Longchamp Le Pliage, maybe 30% on Longchamp cuir items. The other brands I looked at (Gucci, Burberry, Chanel, etc.) were similarly priced to what they are in the U.S., even after taking the VAT refund into consideration. Yes, you will probably still save 10%, but it wasn't worth it to me to have to haul the items around risking damage or theft, and then rack up extra customs charges potentially. I didn't check out every luxury brand of course so there maybe others that are good deals right now, or items that are on sale.
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Good to know!

I think Hermes is about the same percentages for leather goods like LV. I know I saved a ton on my Evelyne, but silks weren't with buying in the UK.

I know I'm buying LV for myself and mom, the savings alone outdo any customs duty because of how much it costs here with tax.

Certain items are definitely cheaper here or with no difference. But all the leather goods I'm eyeing have a significant difference, so I have to double check to see if I'm still saving money even if I pay duty.
 
#829
bakeacookie said:
Good to know!

I think Hermes is about the same percentages for leather goods like LV. I know I saved a ton on my Evelyne, but silks weren't with buying in the UK.

I know I'm buying LV for myself and mom, the savings alone outdo any customs duty because of how much it costs here with tax.

Certain items are definitely cheaper here or with no difference. But all the leather goods I'm eyeing have a significant difference, so I have to double check to see if I'm still saving money even if I pay duty.
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LV was definitely worth buying abroad. The only issue was that many, many things were sold out or out of stock due to tourists scooping them up. I ended up with just one SLG that I was looking for. I'd hoped to score an additional SLG and a twinset/pochette but they only had a couple of colors and neither was the one I wanted. I kind of wondered if LV might be planning a European price increase and has let their stock dwindle in anticipation of that (?) You might think about what your 2nd and 3rd choices might be, just in case though you might have more luck if you are going to France than I did in Italy.

Hopefully, the dollar will stay strong for you too. The exchange rate makes a huge difference but the benefit gained by the strength in the dollar was eaten up when certain brands raised their prices 20% earlier in the year (coughChanelcough). :p
 
#830
youngster said:
LV was definitely worth buying abroad. The only issue was that many, many things were sold out or out of stock due to tourists scooping them up. I ended up with just one SLG that I was looking for. I'd hoped to score an additional SLG and a twinset/pochette but they only had a couple of colors and neither was the one I wanted. I kind of wondered if LV might be planning a European price increase and has let their stock dwindle in anticipation of that (?) You might think about what your 2nd and 3rd choices might be, just in case though you might have more luck if you are going to France than I did in Italy.



Hopefully, the dollar will stay strong for you too. The exchange rate makes a huge difference but the benefit gained by the strength in the dollar was eaten up when certain brands raised their prices 20% earlier in the year (coughChanelcough). :p
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I'm willing to make a list, I'll be happy with anything on my wish list. I'll have to contact the duty free boutique to see if they have it too.

And you just reminded me to keep an eye out for the price increases. I'm going next year so I might have to see if their increases ruin the savings difference. Hopefully no crazy increases anytime soon haha
 
#831
bakeacookie said:
I'm willing to make a list, I'll be happy with anything on my wish list. I'll have to contact the duty free boutique to see if they have it too.

And you just reminded me to keep an eye out for the price increases. I'm going next year so I might have to see if their increases ruin the savings difference. Hopefully no crazy increases anytime soon haha
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I'm also hoping no crazy price increases too. I'm going back to Europe next year as well. :D

One thing you might consider is converting some dollars into Euros now to lock in the current exchange rate (it's around $1.11). You can order foreign currency through your bank and generally the exchange rate is really pretty good. At my bank, you pay maybe 2 cents over the offical rate with no fees if you order around $750 or so. I did this a few months ago as I wanted to lock in the exchange rate for at least a portion of our expenses and have some Euros in our hands as soon as we got off the plane. So, I converted about $1000 U.S. dollars into Euros at about $1.14. We used the money for cab fares, train tickets, museum tickets, meals, small gifts, etc. We still put larger purchases and such on credit cards for the points/miles but having some Euros locked in at a good rate was really nice. I have some leftover that we'll be taking back with us next year!
 
#832
honey on boost said:
Agreed ^ I brought back four bags and only claimed one when we returned from Paris. Keep it in its shopping bag until you get your stamp for your vat refund then use it as your personal item or stuff it in your carry on.

Also, if you're traveling with someone you can combine your amounts..ex: my husband and I can claim $1600 worth of items without getting charged customs.
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I was thinking about this too. Is there any way when you get VAT in the EU that they can "alert" customs in your home country that you bought something valueable?
 
#834
foxgal said:
I was thinking about this too. Is there any way when you get VAT in the EU that they can "alert" customs in your home country that you bought something valueable?
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I don't think they do. My husband was worried about the same thing until he saw the line at customs once we arrived in the US. They pick people randomly to search their luggage. I always make small talk and they let me right through.
 
#835
Hi all! I was wondering if anyone could tell me if it's normal to be charged VAT from the UK to USA + get charged customs/duties from DHL. Usually VAT is deducted and I understand customs/duties are my responsibility, but I don't understand why I'm being charged tax twice from ordering from the self-portrait-studio website.
 
#836
I had VAT drama leaving London back in September and the girl at the counter wouldn't give me the refund because the forms had XXXX for part of my credit card number. She was so nasty and rude. But anyway, when I got home I mailed the forms and wrote in my credit card number. This was probably the first week of October. What are the chances of me ever seeing that refund?
 
#837
kerrilynn1982 said:
I had VAT drama leaving London back in September and the girl at the counter wouldn't give me the refund because the forms had XXXX for part of my credit card number. She was so nasty and rude. But anyway, when I got home I mailed the forms and wrote in my credit card number. This was probably the first week of October. What are the chances of me ever seeing that refund?
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Did they stamp your paperwork? I think you need a stamp for them to process the VAT refund.
 
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