Paris Around

Duty free items are those that can be purchased when crossing national borders. These items are taxes and duties free so they are generally a lot cheaper compared to regular retail stores. They are for export only and must be taken out of the country where they are purchased. What follows are top tips on how you can make the best out of your duty free shopping experience. Be a happy and satisfied duty free shopper!

Do not purchase over the allowable limits of goods or else you’ll be slapped with charges. In the US, you are allowed to return with up to $800 worth of merchandise, whether they were purchased duty free or not. There’s a charge of 3% for the first $1,000 over the $800 limit so you better be careful. In Australia, the limit is A$900 for adult travelers and $450 for travelers below 18 years old. Two adult family members who reside in the same address may pool duty free concession if traveling together.

Price differences depend largely on geography and currency conversion rates. Sometimes it is better to purchase in your local currency rather than redeem your money for dollars. Currency conversion fees may be higher than you think.

Compare shops, especially if you’re buying fragrance and cosmetics items. Sometimes, prices of these items are a cheaper at local retail stores. Duty free shops are originally set up to sell items tagged with higher duties like tobacco and liquor. Focus your buys on big ticket items to get the biggest value of your money.

Do some research and know the price of the items locally. This will give you an idea how much of a bargain you are getting.

Keep your purchase invoices ready to avoid delays in the customs.

You can’t reenter the country you are shopping the items from unless you’ve met the required length-of-stay outside the country – usually 48 hours.

Save yourself from headaches and possible tax charges by knowing the rules of the countries you are traveling to and from.

It pays to check Carry-on Luggages (LAGs) restrictions with your airlines if you are transiting and plan to buy perfumes, fragrances, cosmetics, or any other liquid, gel, or aerosol products. They should be carried in sealed, tamper-evident bags.

Shop duty free at the end of the trip. Carrying too many luggages can slow you down.

Be aware of the tax refunds you are entitled to when leaving the country where you bought the items from. In Europe, duty free shops double as VAT-free shops. In Australia, GST is refundable. Take advantage of these refunds.

Airport holds all duty free items you purchased until the plane is about to depart. This is to make sure that you do not use or consume the items you just bought while still in the country. Keep this in mind so there’d be no disappointments.

Duty free shopping can be a successful, memorable, and fulfilling experience. But, it can also be a very unsatisfactory one. These tips can help you enjoy your shopping while traveling internationally. Do yourself a favor and keep these in mind. You never know just when these tips come in handy.