I have an active quote for my Pochette Métis, but Fashionphile is telling me that any customs and duties applied to my shipment to them will be split 50/50. So they pay up front, then cover half the cost, with the other half coming off my quote. If there's a way to avoid Fashionphile getting assessed customs/duties for importation of my bag, I'd love to know how to do it.
Official worldwide thread - Tips/Advice for customs, VAT, etc...
- Thread starter mercx5
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I’ve never had that happen, there must be a dollar threshold? I dunno, US citizens can import up to $800 without paying duty and I’ve shipped bags worth more than that without having to pay anything.
These are the reasons I am very careful about who I will buy from outside the US. I find it better to use Harrods or 24S where all that is included and refundable upon return. It's just not worth it to me. Sometimes other places are a little cheaper, but you get screwed on customs etc.
To make it easier when you make your first purchase sign up for the global blue right there when processing and then every time you shop it gets added to your purchase list automatically. It was really cool so by the time I was at the Madrid airport in July I just scanned the QR code and boom, it validated everything and went to my gate. No receipt, no nothing as it was already on my app. A couple of days later I got my refunds back.
Interesting! My current dilemma is that I have a 7am flight out of Barcelona and I read that the VAT refund office doesn’t open until 6am - so I would basically miss my flight because you’re supposed to do the tax refund procedure before checking in baggage.
I wonder if the kiosks are open 24 hrs?
No, no, its automated. There's two ways to do it. See, when you purchase your items, go the cashier somewhere in the store, they process your paperwork, then add it to the app (Gotta do for different stores), then at your last location after shopping, like Hermes, LV, etc., you will go to the little offices scattered throughout the city, they process the paperwork so when you get to the airport, there's a bank of machines, that ask you questions, etc. scan your QR code, then off you go. You don't need to show your purchases, queue in line, etc. It'a refund tracker as you have already validated it at the customs (Global Blue Office). It's really easy nowadays.
ETA: You get notifications every time you purchase something and it's added to Global Blue. Each major shopping center has these offices scattered throughout the city. I find Spain to be the easiest place to get refunds. Or
Go to globalblue.com, set up your on line account, present it to the shops, it keeps track of your purchases, select which card you want your VAT refunds to be sent to. You get a digital Shop Tax Free Card and you present that whenever you shop in the EU. You won't have to fill out documents by hand anymore. You can validate at Customs or Kiosk.
When you are in Paris, the main thing is getting your paperwork processed and then at the Global Blue offices for validation. GB keeps tracks of your purchases and then reminds you of what to do.
In a nutshell, Global Blue keeps track of your purchases so when you get to the airport, go the Kiosk and follow the instructions (since it has all the info already if you processed your purchases at each location at the VAT office).
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Wow, this was really helpful! I’ve been going back and forth trying to figure out if I needed to forgo the shopping this time or change my flight, haha. Thank you for the explanation!
Okay, I have another dilemma... I read on global blue’s website that for Barcelona: “Only Global Blue Tax Free Forms issued in Spain accepted.”
I’m planning to shop in Paris since there is no Goyard in Barcelona (that I’m aware of), but would I be able to use Global Blue’s France offices if I fly out of Spain as my last stop?
I edited my post for more instructions. Once you get your digital Shop Tax Free card you will be good to go. It's all interconnected.
Here's what it says on my digital card:
Once you sign up with Global Blue, you no longer need to fill forms out by hand, you just swipe your card, and information is automatically entered, it keeps track of your purchases, your form of refund payment is already on there since you signed up for GB, entering your preferred method of refund on card, every time you purchase you get a receipt you can it to your Apple Wallet. So when you shop each time (in Paris, you get an email and you follow the instructions and it tells you what you need to do). wait until you leave Barcelona but you see a talley of all purchases so when you get to the Kiosk, you answer the questions on the Kiosk or your just fill in the information and off you go. PLUS you get discounts on top of that. It's a digital customs validation at the kiosk.
Oh yeah, also at the Kiosk it's the digital tax free validation
Does Global Blue charge a lot for this service? Do you receive less of a refund?
I’m not sure but I got all my VAT back but they probably charge something in the back end but the convenience outweighs anything. I didn’t have to wait for the airport customs to open, I just went to the Kiosk and just scanned mr phone and off I went.
I did my refund before and they have some admin fees charges so your refund is slightly lesser. There's new refund ways that you can check and read about before you travel. Might be helpful
