Watches at Airports

[Mr P and R]

I was rushing through T3 at Heathrow and very quickly cast an eye over the watches in Mappin & Webb. The watches were priced at about 10% less than retail but I didn't have time to discuss or negotiate with the assistant.

What do you think, is this their discount on the retail price, the effect of missing some tax (but not all of VAT?)or combination of both. The watch I am after is still cheaper at 'thewatchcource' but if I can beat Mappins down then it looks much better.

Does anyone have any experience of buying watches on departure at Airports (I will be flying out of EU quite regularly for the next month or so)?

[CraigW]

i bought a bvlgari ergon at Geneva airport, I'd had a fairly good look around in uk, best i'd seen was (at the time) £2300. With effort I could have got about £2150 I think. In Gnva airport it was (approx) £2100 and i got it for £1925.

Worth a haggle

[phumy]

They should be exactly less 15% VAT, each time ive been through there thats always been the case. Thats why its "tax free"

[HarryW]

phumy said:

They should be exactly less 15% VAT, each time ive been through there thats always been the case. Thats why its "tax free"

So when you show your boarding card for an EU destination they either say 'not for you sir' or add the 15%VAT onto the sticker price.................

[Soft Top]

HarryW said:

phumy said:

They should be exactly less 15% VAT, each time ive been through there thats always been the case. Thats why its "tax free"

So when you show your boarding card for an EU destination they either say 'not for you sir' or add the 15%VAT onto the sticker price.................

No the VAT free is OK, (although they do still charge VAT as we often buy electronics for the company at airports and get double VAT back discount). It is the Duty products such as alcohol, perfume,(I think), and tobacco that you can't buy when travelling to EU destinations.

[cyberface]

HarryW said:

phumy said:

They should be exactly less 15% VAT, each time ive been through there thats always been the case. Thats why its "tax free"

So when you show your boarding card for an EU destination they either say 'not for you sir' or add the 15%VAT onto the sticker price.................

Presumably why the watch shop at Geneva airport is so damn LUSCIOUS Good for watch geeks that CH isn't in the EU!

Even if the staff that work there are a bit rude and I often get the 'look down the nose' treatment... even if I'm wearing a Breguet and making the effort to speak to them in French. I guess it's because I don't do banking business in CH and only go there to ski, so on the way home I'm looking pretty much like a bearded ski bum, regardless of watch or inclination to purchase!!!

What would be interesting is whether larger discounts (other than 'duty free') can be had from that airport shop, for either more expensive / complicated watches (£10k+) or for less 'common / desirable' (e.g. steel Rolex, Omega speedy pro / PO). I've been told that NO, it's the least bargain-tastic outlet in the city, and if you really want a bargain in Geneva, head out into town and to the independent watch boutiques. But speak French and look the part. I guess snobbery exists everywhere, huh?

[BigAlinEmbra]

cyberface said:

HarryW said:

phumy said:

They should be exactly less 15% VAT, each time ive been through there thats always been the case. Thats why its "tax free"

So when you show your boarding card for an EU destination they either say 'not for you sir' or add the 15%VAT onto the sticker price.................

Presumably why the watch shop at Geneva airport is so damn LUSCIOUS Good for watch geeks that CH isn't in the EU!

No, but it is in the EEA, so isn't entirely separate for the purposes of pan-European taxes.

[notacharles]

Switzerland is not in the EEA but is a member of EFTA