TRUTH About **TAX-FREE** Luxury Shopping ✈️ 

Hi friends! For me, buying abroad isn’t really worth it these days. By the time I’ve factored-in the duties, bank charges and currency conversion (unless the item is LOTS cheaper than in London), things always work out more than if I buy them at home. MY VERDICT: If you’re going to shop abroad (whether you claim tax-back or not), you’ll need to declare your goods when you get home. So it’s ALWAYS good to claim back your sales tax (in the country you bought the goods) before you fly home as you should still make a saving, however big or small. However, it can be a faff claiming-back tax and (sometimes) things are cheaper at home. Additionally, you’ll have to pay customs taxes when you land in your home country, so it might not be worth the effort for you. xx

Sophie, there are machines in europian airports to get your money back. I have been shopping recently in Paris. 20% VAT refund if you sucсeed. You ask the shop to ship home what you bought with detached 20% VAT . I am from Switzerland, at home I pay Swiss VAT, it is 7,7%. The second way, the shop works only with Tax Blue Global, it means you get only 12%VAT refund. The office is in Paris, they make your Tax papers in order, your scan them at the airport and it is up to your customs, to pay or not to pay.

I always learn something when I watch your videos. Although I am well traveled ( 58 countries) and much older we can always learn. Thank you for quality videos.🥰

Hi Sophie, I just came back from Paris and did some shopping over there . I only go there by Eurostar because the tax claim is as easy as ABC😊. The sale assistant in the boutique does all the work . All you need to do is go through the customs on the way back to London or elsewhere and scan the QR code in one of the machines. It’s done within seconds. So easy

Last year September, USD was very strong that going to duty free was more expensive than going to the local store in that country. I was shocked how much I saved buying LV in Korea during that time because I save 30 percent of the retail price.

PICTURE THIS: Here in Brazil if you work 40h/week your monthly salary in minimum wage is R$1.300,00 A Chanel bag costs around 60-80 thousand Brazilian Reais here, that's around 46x the minimum wage you make a month In England working 40h/week you'll be making around £1.500,00 minimum if I'm not mistaken, and a Chanel bag costing 8-10 thousand is already crazy for people there, meaning that's around 6x a minimum wage salary, so everytime Chanel talks about Price Harmonization I feel like girl..... Buying in Europe it's about 30% chaper converting the currency though, because all the taxes we have here

Great video Sophie! Here is what I have found to be personally true based on several comments in you video. (1) I always check my home, USA website, and compare the price to the item I am interested in when traveling in Europe. I have found about a $200-400 USD savings, not including US sales tax on the items, on the LV bags before any refunded VAT. (2) I have found it easier to do the VAT paperwork directly at the boutique, refund amounts have varied. (3) The best part about purchasing a handbag or luxury item while on vacation is 100% the story you can tell about the bag. (4). One thing that wasn’t mentioned is that purchasing while on a vacation influences what we name a our bags, if your the type to name them. I have Bonnie Prince Louis and Amhlaidh Dunedin for bags I purchased in Scotland and Vittoria for a bag I purchased in Venice!

I was in Lisbon in October and my husband purchased a luxury watch. They store did all the paperwork and VAT refund in the store. At the airport we simply had to have it verified that the item was leaving the country at one of those kiosks. Rather simple. I have to agree with you on the last point I also enjoy purchasing such items while on holiday for the memory. Each time I wear the item I am reminded of a lovely holiday :)

Hi Sophie! What a timely video. Thank you for your consistently amazing videos. I just returned to Australia from London & Paris and make the following observations: 1. Use 28 degrees credit card for fee-free international transactions (although there was a $5000 limit on our card) 2. LV in Paris and Nice were about 20% cheaper than Australia after tax (service was so so) 3. Chanel in Paris was about 10% cheaper than Australia after tax but they had limited stock (after lining up for 1.5 hours we found out that they didn’t have anything I wanted. Only 1 mini flap in stock) 4. Gucci in Paris and Monaco were absolutely wonderful - amazing customer service and plenty of stock. Saved 15% compared to Aus. 5. We scanned the tax forms at the airport when we left France and did not have any issues. Was not asked to show goods to customs. Still waiting for my refund to come through. I was tempted to purchase a Chanel mini bag in Monaco (albeit not my no. 1 choice of colour) but one factor that stopped me was my relationship with my wonderful Chanel sales associate back home. She’s fantastic and always tries her best to source the style/colour that I’m after. I’d rather save my money and wait for a style/colour that I really want than buy something overseas for the sake of saving 10% from a store where I have zero loyalty with. I think the sales associates over there know that we’re not going to be regulars so their service was mediocre. Lastly - thank you so much for always doing such informative videos. I look out for new videos on a daily basis and re-watched so many ahead of my Europe trip for research purposes! You always give such practical and genuine advice. I really wish I could have met you when I was in London - you shared a new Harrods shopping video right after we left! I specifically went to check out the Dior decorations after seeing it in your video. Have an amazing year ahead and keep being your fabulous self ❤️ Much love, Annie xx

The one thing that surprised me when I bought fine jewelry in Paris, you don’t get the full VAT back. I guess certain products aren’t fully reimbursed. They don’t mention this when you buy the item.

Stunning jumper. And I’m so excited for your new video. Much love & a happy and healthy January for you and David. 🫧❤

I just did this! Wow the timing. I purchased a few things at Louis Vuitton in Dublin Ireland Jan 17th. I forgot my passport when I was in the store but the SA was so nice and took my US drivers license instead. With that filled out receipt, I went to the airport to the tax free desk and dropped off the paperwork. She told me it would take 1-2 weeks to receive the money back. Easy process.

I'm so glad you did this video! We're looking at going to Paris to get my first chanel bag for my 40th birthday this year (!) and it would be the worst to get some crazy tax bill at the end of it all!

I have saved thousands of USD over the years shopping in Europe due to price differences & VAT refunds. But, since the UK dropped the VAT refund in January 2021, I try not to make any big purchases in the UK because it is painful to pay so much in taxes - unless the item is still less expensive than in California & it is an item that I’m sure I won’t be able to get in the states. Buying a special item while on holiday is my way of having a “souvenir” or momento of the trip. Every time I see that item or use it, I’m always reminded of the good times with my hubby & kids. I always declare all my purchases to customs & have been very fortunate to not be charged duty for those items. Although, if I were charged duty, the overall price would have still been less than purchasing it here in California. Currency exchange rates and prices of items are always changing though, so I always try not to get lured into purchasing an item on vacay unless it is a cost savings when all the fees are added up. This includes going through the process & hassle of claiming a VAT refund. I’ve had good experiences with this in the UK (before 2021), France, & Italy. Most major airports make it streamlined & easy to submit. You just need to do a bit of research before you head to the airport.

I purchased a Gucci bag in Rome this summer. I saved about $1,200 US dollars. My friend bought a Prada bag that was $800 dollars less expensive . Like you said it all depends on the pricing in the country, currency conversion, tax refund and whether or not you have to pay taxes in your home country.

I am guessing that the experience differs from country to country, but my experience in Paris was wonderful. I found it very easy to claim TVA back at CDG airport. I did end up saving on my trip, even after declaring at customs in the US.

Totally agree with Amy 😊🌸😊. Unfortunately, there are so many downsides of shopping here in Australia, despite wanting to shop local. Many of the stockists here tend to have exclusive sales contracts on brands, so the monopoly created on pricing often means no competitive pricing, and then only supply a fraction of the range, so shopping international is kind of a necessity sometimes. One recent example I can think of was trying to purchase a sports duffel bag a few weeks ago (for a fun road trip to visit some training sites with my sports team lol), but none of the major sports brands stocked the ‘roller’ version of their duffle bags in Australia, so I ordered from the UK...one concern that has prevented a few international purchases has been the currency conversion charges. For online purchases that do not have the checkout process in my local currency, the charges can be quick to add up. I am however, only familiar with my banking institution and PayPal for online payments, so other providers may have reduced fees. Always love a video about savings, thank you so much 😊

I only buy abroad for styles I couldn't get locally or if the saving is really significant. I do want to caution that some brands do not accept returns or exchange for items purchased outside the country, so it is best to be really sure that any item purchased abroad is a keeper.

Hi Sophie! I just came back from a trip last month from Europe and I will say that I saved a fair amount on an LV handbag. 1) the price was $1400 less than had I purchased in the US. 2) I did not have to pay my high sales tax saving me over $600. 3) I used a credit card that does not charge for currency conversion. 4) I received almost $800 back on the VAT a week later on my card. 5) I bought a bag that I cannot even purchase in my state due to regulations. 6) Even with customs and duties upon return I still saved a lot. The only thing I would caution is to price compare before buying. I wanted to buy a piece of jewelry there but I found that it was not worth it- so it was completely brand and item specific. Do your homework to see if it is worthwhile! I will say the airport run around was a bit of a hassle but completely worth it in my situation. I purposely gave myself an extra hour from check in time to figure it out and it ended up being less. Now that I know what to do- the next time should be even better!

Super early today 😭😭 I’ve never commented before but I’ve been watching your videos for 4 years. My favourite at your Christmas vlogs ♥️

Great video! I have used the tax refund a couple of times now , in Paris and Vienna at Louis Vuitton. The SA pretty much does all the work for you and then the forms just need validating when exiting the country. However I always use a credit card to purchase with 0% on foreign currency which saves ££ in conversion ❤

Hello again Sophie. It always is a pleasure to watch your videos. I have worked as an interpreter for years and that kept me busy traveling all around western Europe and northern America nearly every month, - except now since Covid-19 started. With an EU passport, I am able to get VAT refunded outside the EU countries. The "Global blue " system works well. The shop, where you buy something, gives you a form, and you can easily get the refund at the airport, - now and then directly in cash, but more often you´ll notice the amount on your credit card within one month. I´d recommend this to anyone. Only, if the item is notably cheaper than back home or you see something you know cannot be found at home. Otherwise, there is no point in carrying it. There is one small thing that is irritating: At the airport, at the Global Blue desk, the attendant/officer has the right to ask you to show the items you purchased. If the item(s) do not take up much space, you easily have them in your hand luggage. In case the item is large or you really got carried away, and have many smaller packages, it is a problem. Your suitcase has already been checked in and disappeared out of sight. You cannot carry hand luggage that weighs a lot. No use to pay for extra luggage. Years ago, in northern Europe there were 2 Global Blue desks at 2 airports and they were meant for 1) checking in with all your luggage, 2) checking in with hand luggage only. By now they might not exist anymore. My mother turned out to be a VAT expert, just for fun. During my years at a boarding school in Britain, she had fun, not visiting me, but wondering, if Selfridges had still something she had not bought. When you travel, enjoy your trip, the scenery, the local food, the new customs, and meeting new people. It is lighter to travel without heavy luggage. Says someone, who these days always travels with hand luggage only. I buy only items I can wear myself during the trip.

I’m based in Australia, so agree with the Australian point of view. It’s all about the choices and also the sentiment of the trip❤

I purchased a Gucci scarf in Ibiza last year, had everything stamped in store by the sales assistant. I filled in all the forms, asked at the airport where to take it, there was a postbox. No-one told me I needed to get another stamp at the airport prior to posting, so I just posted it 🙈 I contacted the tax people after a couple of months as I’d not heard anything and that’s when they informed me I need another stamp at the airport prior to posting. The item would have been a great deal had I been able to get the tax back, but actually cost me more in the end 😫 I’m not sure I’d risk it again and just buy local in the UK.

It’s a bit over 30% for taxes and duties in Canada, so my shopping at Harrods cost me A LOT, becuz aside from this 30% the exchange rate etc is a thing too. Unless you r in love with a UK exclusive item or France etc, not worth it.

From my experience the savings you make is very brand and country dependent. What I mean is, brands are almost always the cheapest in the country where that brand is actually from. Ex: Burberry in the UK can be significantly less expensive than elsewhere , Bottega Veneta in Italy, Ralph Lauren in the US, etc. the other thing I would note is that some brands you can make wild savings and some you can’t, it is very brand dependent. For example, Max Mara can be literally 50% of the price over in Europe vs. the US, so it always makes sense to buy that abroad even without the tax savings. Thanks for the video!

I’m in the US so the exchange rate can be make or break for if it’s worth it. My bank doesn’t charge currency conversion fees but this can vary depending on your card. But I will say I did save hundreds when I went shopping in Paris. I wish I was more prepared and had saved up to buy more 😂 I saved about $500 on an LV bag and Chanel shoes. Hoping the exchange rates are still favorable when I venture overseas this summer.

Hi Sophie, this is a really interesting discussion. As a Singapore-based tourist who made her first tax refundable purchase in Italy last year, it was definitely worth the price saving, even before currency conversion. However, I found the VAT refund experience very confusing due to 2 issues. 1) the admin fees! it's not clear how much you'll be charged for this, once you're at the VAT refund office and it's therefore hard to check the final receipt that they give you at that point. 2) if you're trying to get a VAT refund at an airport in the EU but you have to transit through another EU country before leaving the EU, the VAT staff may be difficult/nasty and tell you that you need to get the refund at the last EU destination you're in. For example, I was flying from Italy to Singapore and stopping in Finland for just an hour before leaving the EU, and the Italy VAT refund staff member almost refused to process my refund because Italy was not my last EU location. Worse still was the fact that the transit in Finland was at midnight, so that made it even more confusing because that's technically a new business day... Anyway thanks again for bringing up some salient points around purchasing tax-free overseas! Pity the UK's ceased its tax-free policies ):

For me the hassle and stress of being in queues and running from office to office at the airport make it not worth it. The times I tried to do it, first, you have to show the items you bought in one place and stamp the receipt, then get to another to get the claim papers, it was too stressful, taking the joy of actually buying something. Nowadays I avoid anything that adds extra stress to my already stressful life. It might be easier in places like Eurostar where they are prepared for most customers using it to go shopping, but generally, adding bank commissions, currency, etc, it's not worth it to buy if it's something you have available at home.

I would also say that as someone from Scotland we don’t necessarily have the luxury boutiques. The closest is london/Manchester which is over 6-8 hours drive or a flight so sometimes it’s easier when on holiday

In regards to the point about going to Hawaii to buy luxury goods from california, at least in the US, sales tax differs by state, i.e. 9.5% in LA, 4% in Hawaii. So for example, a medium CF costs $8800 + tax in the US, this would carry a $484 difference in total if purchased in Hawaii vs. California. The difference is not worth making a special trip, but if one was already going to vacation in Hawaii, might as well take advantage of the savings. Before the latest round of price increases at Chanel that harmonized everywhere else to the US, it was actually cheaper to buy Chanel bags from Paris or Spain because of VAT refund and currency difference, even after accounting for custom duty upon declaration, but I don't think this is still the case now. I've only ever done tourist tax refunds in Japan, and over there you can get a tax refund of 8% on any purchases above 5000jpy (~$40) in participating stores, and the refund is either processed during check out or, in the case of department stores, at a designated office where you get cash refunded back to you.

Basically for me if im buying new in store ( which I rarely do at these rates) its worth it. When it comes to some brands in the US our sales at Nordstroms which carry brands like Moncler (never on sale in store) you can find items at around 40 percent off. You have to do the work and search online. Bergdorf also has some crazy sales on Givenchy at times. Global Blue is great but the store has to participate. You should upload your details to the app to have your passport safely at the hotel whilst you shop. The app will create a shopping passport for you that you show at the store they can scan it or just write down your PP number. If you're in France you can use the machines at Charles De Gaul to get your refund. Don't wait in line the form that the store gives you has a barcode. Just have it filled out at the store first and scan the barcode in at the machines which are located in several terminals (global blue shows up on google maps). Not all store participate and I had to pay tax on a phone I bought. Most outlet malls and large stores like Galleries Lafayette have information offices where they take your receipts and fill out the forms for you. You definitely have to go out of your way and schedule time to benefit. Just keep your receipts in your purse and they will fill the forms out for you, they are not fussy about it seeing the items in my experience. Theres always a line and people on holiday are very chatty so have 15-30 mins available to do this. I think you're right its worth it for certain items but I find my bags second hand. I'm not at your level yet! Oh btw I got back from France the 5th and already have my refunds in my bank account.

I always do shopping outside the UK because of the tax free shopping and currency conversion. I use the starling card and there is no fee for currency conversion. It's safe and easy as I can load money from my debit card onto it and add it to my apple wallet. I must admit, I never declare at customs when back in the UK because I never knew!

Even without tax refund, the price of an LV in europe is already so much cheaper compared to asia (in 2019). In addition i feel that the quality is better - for LV. I never have any issue when i purchase in europe but when i buy in my country, i found a hole when i got home and had to go back to exchange for a good piece etc. i feel like the perfect pieces are sold in europe will the not so perfect elsewhere where customers snap them up anyway …

i just came back from japan to Hong Kong home and they have a really easy tax refund! they all do their tax paperwork as you shop and only need to show passport when purchasing and no need to do anything at the airport :) i also remember Korea was also the same ^^

Hello Sophie! In my case it is worth it, let me tell you why: I’m living in Switzerland 🇨🇭 and here the taxes are 7% if I buy in Italy the tax are 23% so for ex: if I would like to buy a Dior joy mini which is 2900€ ( in swiss they are more expensive) if I do tax refund I receive back 16% which is really worth it! If you need something I can buy for you and send you by post or corrier

I saved about £500 buying a couple of LV bags in Budapest. I used a Revolut card which means you don’t pay any bank card fees abroad.

It is definitely worth it for Brits buying in Europe especially as the £390 allowance applies to purchases made outside EU. So you can claim back on a pretty significant amount if buying within the EU so long as goods are made in EU

Hi Sophie. I’m based in Japan and get paid in Yen. The savings I make buying in Europe are HUGE. There’s a reason so many asian people shop in Europe. But, it depends on the brand ! I saved 600$ buying new Prada sneakers in Barcelona vs here. There is a 40% surcharge buying here . But recently Louis Vuitton had their Yayoi Kusama collection right? I did the math and it’s actually cheaper to buy here in japan than to buy overseas (for me). But generally, it’s much cheaper to buy from the country that the brand is based in.

Thank you Sophie for this very informative video😊 You mentioned at some point something about having to pay tax upon coming home for the purchased items abroad. Could you please explain this a bit more in detail? Does is mean that it is mandatory for UK citizens to declare any purchases made abroad at the UK immigration when returning to the UK? Like bags, clothes, shoes, and other things they might have bought while traveling? And they are then asked to pay UK tax for each and every items? Sorry if this is a strange question or if I have simply misunderstood something here. I just mean that would make traveling and buying things abroad so much more complicated! I had heard some time ago that in Germany pple are generally asked to declare all purchases made abroad at the airport. If you get picked for a random check and if you have for example a new laptop purchased aboard, you need to show a receipt for it, and so on. Really daunting. However, From what I heard most pple neither declare nor do they get randomly picked, so end up getting lucky. But I guess it depends on which airport you are at. So the controls can be strict or less strict. I was wondering how the situation in the UK is? Sorry for the lengthy comment 😅

Make sure the retail store signs the paperwork. Cartier forgot to sign the paperwork they fill out. I got my refund to my credit card but they charged back my credit card the refund amount. It took months to resolve and get my money back. A friend of mine had to forfeit her VAT in Greece for fine jewelry. Her flight departure was early and the customs desk was closed and she could not get the stamp to file the paperwork. If you have an early or late flight beware of the risk of the customs office being closed.

i'm definitely shopping on my next trip despite price being worth it or not. for me it's always about having something different that also transports me back to the memory of the trip.

Good points 🙂. It really does involve several factors. Thanks for sharing.

Even if you go to a store to fill out the tax paperwork at the actual store, you still have to find the right place to drop off the paperwork at the airport or train station. I find it worth it and refrain from buying any high value items in the UK to save 20% VAT. Use a credit card with zero foreign transaction fees.

Best to understand what your country's maximum amount of duty free goods you can purchase, then weigh up the total costs vs buying it full price in your home country. For me the maximum amount is a mere AUD900 and then you end up paying taxes above this amount when you bring the item back into the country. I rather buy something special that I can't get back home (which is a lot) and not bother with claiming the tax back. Of course I would claim the tax back on some stuff, but I find I'm lining up for ages in queues all for a tiny tax refund...

Fantastic video!!! You have got me thinking!!! Not so straight forward ... My head hurts just thinking about it 😂 ... Liz from 🇺🇸

galeries lafayette in paris has a very efficient process for filling the VAT forms out on its second floor. it was easy for me to ask staff at ORD where i needed to submit the forms; not sure about CDG.

I’m from the US. I went shopping in Paris where it is cheaper. However, because i was leaving from Barcelona, I had to get my French forms stamped there and get it mailed out. It has been 5 weeks and I’m still waiting for my refund.

I would say for me, as a Canadian, the process of purchasing luxury goods abroad and declaring them at Canadian customs is a stressful one and a money-losing proposition. Even if the price of an item purchased TAX-FREE is considerably lower, once the current foreign currency conversion rate of approx. 39% (USD), 50% (EURO), 70% (GBP🤯) is added to my credit card, I am already feeling the pain. Add in the fact that Canadian Customs will charge an extra 14.975% for GST+QST (our version of the VAT) and approx. 18% Duties on top of the full converted Canadian Dollar value and I am often looking at a surcharge of 30-50% over what the item would have cost if purchased at home. One is left with a decision to make as to whether you don't declare and sneak in the goods and pray you don't get caught OR you pay and cry. It is EXCEEDINGLY frustrating and turns me into the biggest window shopper while traveling. If something catches my eye, I can only hope it is available on that brand's Canadian website because it is SLIM pickings at their physical stores in Quebec.

Mark 10:37 You cannot buy tax free goods in Hawaii and bring it into the U.S. You can only buy duty free if you go from the U.S. on a direct flight out of the country/flying to an international destination. Hawaii is one of the fifty states.

Keep 'em coming Sophie! xxx

My husband just got back from The Netherlands and got me the YSL College bag for $992 less than what I would pay for in Los Angeles. When he came through customs he wasn't even asked to declare anything. I don't know if it's because we have Global Entry or because they didn't think he would be luxury shopping even though he was carrying a large YSL bag.

That 390 allowance is only for shopping to Ireland. If you are travelling to mainland Europe, you get your full refund with most stores with a passport and use the scanners at the point of departure. I’m Irish living in the uk. So I buy small things in Dublin to get tax back with planet Tax. Then mainland EU for larger goods. That s mostly planet blue which you just scan at the machines. With currency conversion and tax back it is very much worth it.

I don’t think there is a significant financial benefit for US citizens buying abroad for conversion reasons, especially USD to EUR. I would consider buying abroad for, like you said, memories of a trip and for the customer service. I find US luxury shop employees to be extremely rude, in general, and if you’re a person of color…good luck having a pleasant experience and not being treated like you’re about to rob the place.

I lost on tax free shopping after Brexit, now when I travel I have to take my european and british passports, but I still can’t see anything I want since starting travelling

Sophie, if I come from America to UK and buy something larger or bulky, can I have it shipped back to US? Is it still taxed?

I got my celine belt in Barcelona and because of the £390 limit I would have been charged £100 in customs and would have got about €50 back from the tax refund

Something that's a bit of a mystery to me: say I buy something in the US that costs me....100 USD. I claim the tax back at the airport or in store and let's say I get refunded...15 USD. When I get back to my own country and go through customs, do they calculate the amount due based on the 100 USD or on the 85 USD ?

I'm a French person living in Canada, meaning I can't get a vat refund (or at least that's what I've always been told) but i will be charged duties upon my arrival in Canada regardless. It's extremely frustrating and if I'm buying something I have to budget that part too. It's much more simple to just buy at home and avoid the headache.

Hey, I never got my tax back in Copenhagen because the tax office was closed. Paris was super easy, you just scan in a machine so it was super easy. I would say France (French luxury brand) is the only place where it's cheaper than the U.K. I got a woc and it was over £200 cheaper than the U.K with tax back

The taxes are significantly less in Hawaii than in California. Each state in the USA has different tax rates. And they’re both USA, so no import consideration.

Question on one of the comments you read out. Why would someone have to pay taxes in the US if they purchased in Hawaii and then flew back to California? Both are USA.

Great video Sophie

Hi Sophie! Greetings from Croatia! ❤️

Also, sometimes, I just want 1 bag not an entire vacation across the world to get it. 😂

I think they purposely make the process of the tax refund hard, they could have everything in one location if they wanted to.

Hi, I.m From USA, (please forgive me) I’m traveling to Milan in September. I plan to purchase a designer bag. $600 to $ 800 is a significant savings to me. I’ll have to do more research.

is it really worth it to go through all of that hassle to save some money? like waiting a couple of months seems exhausting...idk...i would rather just spend money on food and experiences abroad

Hi lovely. I hope you’re doing wonderful.

Based off just reading the title (I might write a second comment after watching), I disagree. I bought my Kelly to go in November and got it for the equivalent of 3230 euros (approx 4725 cad) after vat back, which is a savings of (price was 3610 when I bought it) 380. Not even to mention the fact that they don’t sell the Kelly to go in Canada and buying it online would cost me between 9000 -15000 cad… P.s. if they do sell in Canada, can someone tell me the price? I’m curious as I’ve never met someone in Canada with a KTG they bought in Canada.

I only buy items if the final price and fees are lower than where I reside.

Is Gucci definitely cheaper is Italy ?

Just hide receipts or email them instead and remove tags as thebag is yours anyway. Who will know where you bought it from? I shipped lots from USA that way or through friends.

Excellent topic Sophie. My friend who travels to Paris annually always says Chanel is cheaper in Paris, but I have no desire to visit that city even though I speak French it’s just not worth it for me to pay for flight and hotel just to buy a bag, then when I get back to Canada have to pay a hefty duty charge, our limit if you stay a week is only 1500$ CAD. I just shop here in Toronto , yes it’s more expensive but at least I’m not stressed about tax refund process and duty charges when I return home.

don't bother buying from states , Dubai, Qatar no real savings too much import taxes personally I stick to blighty

Hi Sophie!

LOL Hawaii and California is the same country 😅

All I know is im probably never going to the UK because of this greed