9.Re: Buying Louis Vuitton..cheaper in Paris than USA?
16 years ago
You can only get a refund at the last stop of any EU nation. Last stop means the last embarkation EU country before leaving foryour home country.
LV has factories in France and Italy. It's cheaper only in countries where LV bags are made. UK is always expensive, never get it in London.
It's true that you must tell the LV retail shop that you are claiming VAT. They'll fill up a form for you, demanding for your passport. They will tell you the instructions where to claim your cash refund (usually airport). At the airport example in London, go early 4 hours before check-in, look for the VAT queue, give them the form. They will stamp on the form and mail it to the respective VAT address. You'll get back a cash refund or credit card deposit.
VAT refund is what makes buying branded handbags worthy in Europe. Without it, rich Japanese tourists will fly over the Pacific Ocean to LA to buy.
I have no idea why LV bags are expensive in UK. Probably is the Pound and Euro conversion...not sure. Tourists don't flock to London to buy LV handbags.
LV wallets selling at 200+ Euro at the Paris outlet (Champs Elysees). I don't it's cheap but it is still cheaper than any outlets outside France/Italy.
My last visit to Paris was in mid Oct 2007 and saw this couple from China. The man bought many ladies handbags, men's bag and wallets. He's probably one of the 100 millionaires from China. Not sure if he claims any VAT refund, didn't see him getting the LV staff to process the VAT forms.
