Be Smart and Save on Your Duty Free Shopping

Some people think that duty free shopping doesn’t let you save after all. Though merchandise sold at duty free shops are exempted from customs tax, and shop owner’s savings out of this is presumably should be passed on to you, the travelling shopper, no one exactly knows if this is really the case. Still some other noticed that most shops are not duty-free after all, but just duty-reduced.

But duty free shopping can mean a considerable amount of savings on your purchases if you know how to do it right. This article will give you tips on how to shop smart and get the most value out of your every dollar. Hopefully these tips will help you enjoy a successful and hassle-free duty free shopping experience no matter where in the world you are traveling to.

When duty free shopping, it is a good idea to know how much an item normally costs in retail stores. This will get you on top of the situation which can help you see how much of a bargain you are getting. It always pays to know how much the item is selling for back home. Don’t make the mistake of buying an item at duty free shops only to know that it is available for a lot lesser locally.

Shop around and compare prices. Of course this is the most practical thing to do if you have so much idle time in between or before your flights. If you won’t take the time to take a look around and compare prices, you will never know which shop is giving you the best deal.

Avoid impulse buying. Know what you want to buy ahead of time. This is quite challenging if you are on an airline offering in-flight duty free service which allows you to shop from the comfort of your aisle or window seat. Arm yourself with determination not to give in for unplanned purchases and you’ll be fine.

To get the most total dollar savings, buy big-ticket luxury items like fine jewellery and technology gadgets. Tobacco and liquor are also a few of the best items to purchase because they are tagged with high duty rate so, in a sense, you get a bigger saving.

Know each country’s duty free shopping rules so you won’t be charged with taxes on items purchased above the allowable limits. Each country may have different rules and it is smart to educate yourself about those restrictions. You need to know the policies of the country you’re traveling to or from before you shop. In Australia, an adult traveler is permitted to enter the country with A$900 worth of goods. The goods include gifts, souvenirs, electronics, fragrances, jewelry, and sporting goods, but exclude alcohol and cigarettes obtained overseas or purchased in Australia on a duty free basis. Travelers under 18 years of age and aircrew are allowed of up to A$450 worth of goods.

You can’t go wrong with your duty free shopping if you will keep these tips in mind. You can get as much as 50% discount on some luxury items so the next time you travel, why not take a look at those duty free shops?