Tax back from Paris?

[pyrexia]

I KNOW, and Im wondering about the exact same thing with my new purchases! I'd prob buy them on the last day of my trip, and hang a "DND" sign on my door, to ensure that the housekeepers or anyone else dont get to come in. But then again, lugging back the orange bags to the hotel is a pretty conspicuous act!

I think if you ask, they may use plain white bags instead. Worth a shot if you're worried about people seeing the orange bag

 

[Jadeite]

Felle1984 I thought about hanging a DND sign too However I will be traveling throughout france and where ever I spot my dream Birkin I will have to purchase it and lug it around with me. I guess to keep my baby safe I will just have to leave my other purse in my suitcase and lock it. Then hang a DND sign on the door so no one can steal my SO Kelly which I also love and carry by Birkin! Okay now I'm sounding paranoid

gosh, this is really a lot of work and effort shopping and buying expensive bags! Think of all the trepidation buying, storing, shipping etc involved in the entire process of shopping in Europe.

 

[Felle1984]

Yes, Jadeite!! All for the grail bag!!

Heehee.. But it does really sound scary when i hear bad experiences with tax refund. Wonder if mailing it back in my own country is better than dropping it off at the airport's letterboxes. I'll def send it via registered post with acknowledgement of receipt option! =X

 

[ballchai]

AnythingHermes -actually if the hermes shop is sending it out for you ... you shouldn't have too much to worry about... i've had a few friends who have done the same. but i know what you mean about not having it in your hands. i had the same experience last year with my first kelly. however, for that trip the box was big and we were travelling to two more destinations after Paris... and DH didn't let me keep the box

 

[AnythingHermes]

Pyrexia I didn't even know that they had white bags. Good idea.

Felle1984 I too will be sending my detaxe form from my home where I can make all the copies and send it registered with return receipt.

Ballchai I want to keep my boxes but it will be hard if I purchase a Birkin and a Kelly. Perhaps I can take the purses with me and have them ship the empty boxes or I can buy a regular brown shipping box big enough for the boxes and tie it up with rope and lug it around with us. Of course I'll keep the purses locked in my suitcase. However, I don't think my husband will be too excited to lug around an empty cardboard box!!!

Off the subject but has anyone heard horror stories of purses being stolen out of a hotel room by hotel employee? I just want to be prepared. Thanks

 

[meowcsj]

Oh yes, in Paris, I was staying at a boutique hotel off Champs Elysees, I request no room services for the 2 nights stay to prevent anyone from entering my room.

In London, as is a 5* Softitel, thus I am more at ease.

 

[AnythingHermes]

Oh yes, in Paris, I was staying at a boutique hotel off Champs Elysees, I request no room services for the 2 nights stay to prevent anyone from entering my room.

In London, as is a 5* Softitel, thus I am more at ease.

Meowcsj we are also staying in 4* and 5* hotels but I'm still worried about theft. I think I would be paranoid in any hotel. The paranoia will end when I am home safe in my house and my goodies are stashed away....then when I leave my house I will wonder, "Did I turn my alarm on?"

 

[ueynah]

I don't know of any limit on cash refunds, as long as the merchant provides this as an option. I received a few thousand EUR refund in cash from Milan airport less than 2 years ago, so it is definitely possible.

The problem has nothing to do with the amount of cash refund, but that some merchants, e.g. Hermes, prefer to do their own refunds, or they specify refunds by credit cards / bank transfer only, so these require the tax refund forms to be posted back to them directly or to their tax refund processing company.

Btw, those folks at Heathrow Global Refund desk are not customs officers, just employees of Global.

Hi, just a quick question.

In Paris CDG airport, I have to go to the Customs Desk to get the stamp (this means they are from French customs, right?). Once the forms are stamped, then you have the option of (1) mailing the forms, or (2) take it to Global Refund which is a separate counter to get cash. So I am very puzzled by the procedure in Heathrow! If I remember correctly, the same thing is also done in Amsterdam. I have the forms stamped by Dutch customs and go through security/immigration. Then I give the forms to the Currency Exchange Counter inside to get cash. So I would think there should ALWAYS be two counters!

H refund is not processed by Global Refund nor Premiere Tax Refund. So is there no English Customs desk at Heathrow?

 

[Accessorize*me]

Hi, just a quick question.

In Paris CDG airport, I have to go to the Customs Desk to get the stamp (this means they are from French customs, right?). Once the forms are stamped, then you have the option of (1) mailing the forms, or (2) take it to Global Refund which is a separate counter to get cash. So I am very puzzled by the procedure in Heathrow! If I remember correctly, the same thing is also done in Amsterdam. I have the forms stamped by Dutch customs and go through security/immigration. Then I give the forms to the Currency Exchange Counter inside to get cash. So I would think there should ALWAYS be two counters!

H refund is not processed by Global Refund nor Premiere Tax Refund. So is there no English Customs desk at Heathrow?

There is an English Customs desk. You need to get your forms stamped at the English Customs desk and then mail back the forms.

Also, my experience is that if the company you purchase the product from uses Global Refund, and you submit your stamped forms to the Global Refund Tax Counter with your credit card, they will immediately process your forms and refund the amount to your credit card in one week.

If the company you purchase from uses Premier Tax, then the Premier Tax Counter collects all your forms, throws away your envelopes and tells you they will refund you in a month. It's been a month however, but I have not seen anything yet. In future, I will probably opt to take back whatever I can in cash at the Premier Tax Counter.

At London Heathrow, the officer advised me that the Hermes purchases in Paris needs to mailed back to Paris for tax refund. I also need to buy a stamp and drop it in the Post Box right infront of the customs counter.
Unfortunately, the SMYTHE Store in London Heathrow has a very long queue and I didn't have enough time to buy the stamps, so I brought back the forms to my home country and had them sent out via registered mail. It has been 4 weeks and still nada...

 

[robee]

It should turn up eventually. Took 3 months for me, once. Btw, did you post the forms yourself or did the Heathrow people take them away and do it for you? Whenever they took away my forms (no experience with H, but for other companies, e.g. Premier), saying they would post them, most of the time I never got the refunds

no refunds when they take it from u......
i better take note
i was in Ldn/Paris earlier this year, most of my purchase made in Ldn, i just opt for cash refund at healthrow. I almost cried when a big bill from Harrods need to go into the immigration, but the countergirl said I just need to bring in one item to show them. When at the custom, the guy said where are all the items, I said checked in, and all I need is to show u one item. He said where is the Bvlgari Fine Jewellery, LV etc. I said all in luggage Finally he stamped on the form, wheez.....

 

[Roxane]

There is an English Customs desk. You need to get your forms stamped at the English Customs desk and then mail back the forms.

Also, my experience is that if the company you purchase the product from uses Global Refund, and you submit your stamped forms to the Global Refund Tax Counter with your credit card, they will immediately process your forms and refund the amount to your credit card in one week.

If the company you purchase from uses Premier Tax, then the Premier Tax Counter collects all your forms, throws away your envelopes and tells you they will refund you in a month. It's been a month however, but I have not seen anything yet. In future, I will probably opt to take back whatever I can in cash at the Premier Tax Counter.

At London Heathrow, the officer advised me that the Hermes purchases in Paris needs to mailed back to Paris for tax refund. I also need to buy a stamp and drop it in the Post Box right infront of the customs counter.
Unfortunately, the SMYTHE Store in London Heathrow has a very long queue and I didn't have enough time to buy the stamps, so I brought back the forms to my home country and had them sent out via registered mail. It has been 4 weeks and still nada...

Was this the combined customs/refund desk before check-in/immigration, which is run by Global, or did you go separately to HM Customs? This would be really helpful to know how we can avoid letting them take our Hermes receipt and detaxe form.

 

[ueynah]

There is an English Customs desk. You need to get your forms stamped at the English Customs desk and then mail back the forms.

Also, my experience is that if the company you purchase the product from uses Global Refund, and you submit your stamped forms to the Global Refund Tax Counter with your credit card, they will immediately process your forms and refund the amount to your credit card in one week.

If the company you purchase from uses Premier Tax, then the Premier Tax Counter collects all your forms, throws away your envelopes and tells you they will refund you in a month. It's been a month however, but I have not seen anything yet. In future, I will probably opt to take back whatever I can in cash at the Premier Tax Counter.

At London Heathrow, the officer advised me that the Hermes purchases in Paris needs to mailed back to Paris for tax refund. I also need to buy a stamp and drop it in the Post Box right infront of the customs counter.
Unfortunately, the SMYTHE Store in London Heathrow has a very long queue and I didn't have enough time to buy the stamps, so I brought back the forms to my home country and had them sent out via registered mail. It has been 4 weeks and still nada...

Thanks! That makes a lot more sense as I just don't see why people are going to Global Refund desk to get their Hermes tax refund form stamped and being taken away!

 

[Roxane]

^^^ At Heathrow Terminal 3, if you pack all your purchases in your check-in suitcases, you can elect to get your forms stamped before check-in/immigration. As far as I can remember, there is only one "customs" desk run by Global. Things might have changed recently, though, which is why I asked for charification. There is another desk after immigration, but for hand-carry items only.

 

[robee]

^^^ At Heathrow Terminal 3, if you pack all your purchases in your check-in suitcases, you can elect to get your forms stamped before check-in/immigration. As far as I can remember, there is only one "customs" desk run by Global. Things might have changed recently, though, which is why I asked for charification. There is another desk after immigration, but for hand-carry items only.

for bills up to a certain amount only. the smaller checks i got straight refund and they never even look at the goods. The big bill, I have to go thru immigration and it check, stamp and process inside.

 

[robee]

Can I just ride on this thread.

How about tax refund at milan MXP airport. Can I purchase stuff from Paris, and get it process at Milan airport?

Anybody tried that before and can share what is the process like.
I am planning my holiday in Sep, either fly in to Milan or Paris and tour around the two countries.