Paris question.. please help!

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#46
If anybody is still interested, FSH had a gold 35 Birkin togo or clemence this morning, my parents are there right now looking for a 35 etoupe birkin for me but no such luck!!
 
#49
Heathrow also has VAT counters after you have been through check-in and security. There are never any lines there, even at the height of the summer! As long as you have the items you purchased to show them as proof the process is really quick. I bought my birkin in Paris and was never going to check it in with the rest of my luggage anyway!
I was told in FSH when I bought my bag that Hermes did not do VAT cash back, only credit card. Hope this helps.
 
#50
mayavenue said:
I was told in FSH when I bought my bag that Hermes did not do VAT cash back, only credit card. Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

You are right! I just looked at my VAT return and it does say credit card only and they charge an additional 4%! It's been about 5 weeks and I still have not seen my return. Not sure when it will happen!
 
#51
mayavenue said:
I was told in FSH when I bought my bag that Hermes did not do VAT cash back, only credit card. Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

Hermes in France does not do cash back because they process their own refunds, but if you buy Hermes in other EU countries, e.g. Italy, they use a commercial tax refund company (I think it is Global), which does give you cash back at airports, and depending on your purchase amount and country, the tax refund could be as high as 12-13%.
 
#52
Hi sfshopgirl, who charged you the additional 4% - is it the credit card company?

sfshopgirl said:
You are right! I just looked at my VAT return and it does say credit card only and they charge an additional 4%! It's been about 5 weeks and I still have not seen my return. Not sure when it will happen!
Click to expand...
 
#53
Sorry if this has been asked already...could not find the answer.

If you purchase at at one of the stores in Paris and ask them to ship to your home in the US, do you still get the VAT refund or is that totally out the window?

Thx!!
 
#54
Based on the threads here, you do get the VAT back but keep in mind that you will be charged by US Customs for the value of the bag. Again, I read here that the US Customs rate for the Birkin is 10%. In my mind, it's a total wash.

My order is arriving next month, according to the SA in FSH. I am debating about whether to ship or carry it back into the US because I'll be traveling there in May. But I don't know that I'll have the guts to bring the bag in undeclared, though. The fear of penalties or worse, confiscation would no doubt make me feel extra guilty so I might has well be wearing a big "G" on my forehead!
 
#55
One other thing - I read in one of these threads that the VAT gets taken out automatically when you have the bag shipped. I'll see if I can find the thread and post it here.

Or I'll just post what happens to me next month if I decide to ship the bag.
 
#57
some people tell the VAT refund for paris is 25% and others tell me its 14% for paris whats the actual % i would get back from Hermes? And will I have to declare it on y way back to the usa? I want a Lindy
 
#58
You can try and do a search on the forum, it is a very useful function.

In any case, the VAT you should get back from H Paris is close to 10%, unfortunately I cannot help regarding the declaration to USA, other members might chime in, HTH!

barbie444 said:
some people tell the VAT refund for paris is 25% and others tell me its 14% for paris whats the actual % i would get back from Hermes? And will I have to declare it on y way back to the usa? I want a Lindy
Click to expand...
 
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