The Wolfman Posted November 20, 2021 #1 Share Posted November 20, 2021 My wife and I will be going to Marseille on a cruise next year for our 25th wedding anniversary. She has set her sights on buying a Chanel handbag which I understand is in the region of £5000. I’ve done some research and understand that we can get the VAT back on the bag and Chanel are very experienced in completing the appropriate paperwork at the point of sale. The problem I’m encountering is that the next part of the jigsaw seems to be that you have to present the goods and receipt at a customs point at the exit to the country. Now of course this is easy in an airport but I’m not finding much information about how to do this if one is a cruise passenger. I would really appreciate any thoughts and guidance on this please as VAT on £5000 amounts to quite a few pounds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PORT ROYAL Posted November 20, 2021 #2 Share Posted November 20, 2021 1 hour ago, The Wolfman said: My wife and I will be going to Marseille on a cruise next year for our 25th wedding anniversary. She has set her sights on buying a Chanel handbag which I understand is in the region of £5000. I’ve done some research and understand that we can get the VAT back on the bag and Chanel are very experienced in completing the appropriate paperwork at the point of sale. The problem I’m encountering is that the next part of the jigsaw seems to be that you have to present the goods and receipt at a customs point at the exit to the country. Now of course this is easy in an airport but I’m not finding much information about how to do this if one is a cruise passenger. I would really appreciate any thoughts and guidance on this please as VAT on £5000 amounts to quite a few pounds. Contact point. https://customsnduty.com/france-customs-office-marseille-port-bureau-france/ Think the French TVA (VAT) is about 21% Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Wolfman Posted November 20, 2021 Author #3 Share Posted November 20, 2021 29 minutes ago, PORT ROYAL said: Contact point. https://customsnduty.com/france-customs-office-marseille-port-bureau-france/ Think the French TVA (VAT) is about 21% This is super - thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davecttr Posted November 20, 2021 #4 Share Posted November 20, 2021 £5000 😲 It would be cheaper to take a cruise to Kusadasi and visit the genuine fake Chanel handbag shop. It just over the road from the genuine fake Rolex shop 😉 2 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianI Posted November 20, 2021 #5 Share Posted November 20, 2021 There is also the little matter of UK duty when importing goods. Extract from gov.uk website You can bring in other goods worth up to £390 (or up to £270 if you arrive by private plane or boat). If you go over your allowance you pay tax and duty on the total value of the goods, not just the value above the allowance. You may have to pay import VAT and customs duty if you exceed your allowance. Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian1 Posted November 20, 2021 #6 Share Posted November 20, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, davecttr said: £5000 😲 It would be cheaper to take a cruise to Kusadasi and visit the genuine fake Chanel handbag shop. It just over the road from the genuine fake Rolex shop 😉 Got my genuine Prada shoes there 10 years ago,still going strong.Listen for the sales pitch "hey big b----x Asda price." Edited November 20, 2021 by brian1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PORT ROYAL Posted November 20, 2021 #7 Share Posted November 20, 2021 As my DW says, the main difference between Prada and Nada, is “the owner knows”. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian1 Posted November 20, 2021 #8 Share Posted November 20, 2021 26 minutes ago, PORT ROYAL said: As my DW says, the main difference between Prada and Nada, is “the owner knows”. TBH, the leather is as soft as kid gloves and the soles have no signs of wear,although they may be made of old tractor tyres. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
picsa Posted November 20, 2021 #9 Share Posted November 20, 2021 5 hours ago, The Wolfman said: My wife and I will be going to Marseille on a cruise next year for our 25th wedding anniversary. She has set her sights on buying a Chanel handbag which I understand is in the region of £5000. I’ve done some research and understand that we can get the VAT back on the bag and Chanel are very experienced in completing the appropriate paperwork at the point of sale. The problem I’m encountering is that the next part of the jigsaw seems to be that you have to present the goods and receipt at a customs point at the exit to the country. Now of course this is easy in an airport but I’m not finding much information about how to do this if one is a cruise passenger. I would really appreciate any thoughts and guidance on this please as VAT on £5000 amounts to quite a few pounds. Is it worth the hassle to recover the 21% VAT in France and then pay the 20% VAT when you arrive back in the UK? (I am assuming that you are not intending to break the law by smuggling it back into the UK). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian1 Posted November 20, 2021 #10 Share Posted November 20, 2021 7 minutes ago, picsa said: Is it worth the hassle to recover the 21% VAT in France and then pay the 20% VAT when you arrive back in the UK? (I am assuming that you are not intending to break the law by smuggling it back into the UK). There are probably illegal chanels to do that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zap99 Posted November 20, 2021 #11 Share Posted November 20, 2021 6 hours ago, The Wolfman said: My wife and I will be going to Marseille on a cruise next year for our 25th wedding anniversary. She has set her sights on buying a Chanel handbag which I understand is in the region of £5000. I’ve done some research and understand that we can get the VAT back on the bag and Chanel are very experienced in completing the appropriate paperwork at the point of sale. The problem I’m encountering is that the next part of the jigsaw seems to be that you have to present the goods and receipt at a customs point at the exit to the country. Now of course this is easy in an airport but I’m not finding much information about how to do this if one is a cruise passenger. I would really appreciate any thoughts and guidance on this please as VAT on £5000 amounts to quite a few pounds. You will need to pay VAT when you bring it into the UK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zap99 Posted November 20, 2021 #12 Share Posted November 20, 2021 4 hours ago, davecttr said: £5000 😲 It would be cheaper to take a cruise to Kusadasi and visit the genuine fake Chanel handbag shop. It just over the road from the genuine fake Rolex shop 😉 No need to buy a fake. The African market traders in Vigo sell genuine ones for a tenner.🤣 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrierjohn Posted November 20, 2021 #13 Share Posted November 20, 2021 2 hours ago, picsa said: Is it worth the hassle to recover the 21% VAT in France and then pay the 20% VAT when you arrive back in the UK? (I am assuming that you are not intending to break the law by smuggling it back into the UK). If you check on line I am sure someone will be offering them cheaper than in France, and maybe even with a black friday discount. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zap99 Posted November 20, 2021 #14 Share Posted November 20, 2021 7 minutes ago, terrierjohn said: If you check on line I am sure someone will be offering them cheaper than in France, and maybe even with a black friday discount. But then you can't tell folk that you Paid £5k in the Chanel shop. I got this for a hundred quid on eBay don't have the same effect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PORT ROYAL Posted November 20, 2021 #15 Share Posted November 20, 2021 Obviously. The OP is looking to secure a new limited edition release. However, it is known limited editions sell out quickly to collectors, aficionados and those wanting to sell on at a profit. Therefore, suggest the OP opens a dialogue with the Marseille outlet, to ensure the required piece, or pieces, are reserved and available on arrival. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thejuggler Posted November 22, 2021 #16 Share Posted November 22, 2021 I've claimed VAT back twice on cruises. Norway the Customs Officer came on board, you presented the paperwork and they paid you there and then. Iceland the retailer provided a duplicate receipt and the form and envelope. Form filled in and envelope dropped in a postbox at the port office. Many weeks later there was a credit to the account details provided. Needless to say this was about 10 years ago and there are now various eu vat back apps: https://www.globalblue.com/tax-free-shopping/traveller-app1 https://savintaxfree.com/en/ There is usually a service charge payable which reduces your refund so you need to check this detail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeanlyon Posted November 23, 2021 #17 Share Posted November 23, 2021 Forgive me, but I just cannot believe paying £5K for a handbag!! 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian1 Posted November 23, 2021 #18 Share Posted November 23, 2021 1 hour ago, jeanlyon said: Forgive me, but I just cannot believe paying £5K for a handbag!! Yeah,but it's one of those bags for life. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PORT ROYAL Posted November 23, 2021 #19 Share Posted November 23, 2021 (edited) 2 hours ago, jeanlyon said: Forgive me, but I just cannot believe paying £5K for a handbag!! For some, this is just an entry level price. Same goes for a good piece of jewellery, or car, a house, or a cruise. If it’s what one wishes and the price is X and if one is happy to pay, then so be it. Edited November 23, 2021 by PORT ROYAL Typo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian1 Posted November 23, 2021 #20 Share Posted November 23, 2021 And you get reward points at Tesco Sloane Square. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancashire_cruisers Posted November 23, 2021 #21 Share Posted November 23, 2021 I have a collection of Mulberry handbags, not as expensive as Chanel but not cheap either, and some of them are in daily use (well pre-COVID they were 🙂). I do look after my bags and they will outlive me and on a pay per use basis come out fairly close to the cost of a bag for life! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zap99 Posted November 23, 2021 #22 Share Posted November 23, 2021 8 minutes ago, brian1 said: And you get reward points at Tesco Sloane Square. But can one still fiddle the VAT?.🤔 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Bill Y Posted November 23, 2021 #23 Share Posted November 23, 2021 33 minutes ago, PORT ROYAL said: For some, this is just an entry level price. Same goes for a good piece of jewellery, or car, a house, or a cruise. If it’s what one wishes and the price is X and if one is happy to pay, then so be it. One is constantly amazed by just how much money appears to be sloshing around. But we have always remarked that the jewellery shops etc on the ships and in the Caribbean would not be there unless they returned a hansom profit for all concerned. Yet other commentators say the country is on its knees. I guess it will always be the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian1 Posted November 23, 2021 #24 Share Posted November 23, 2021 12 minutes ago, zap99 said: But can one still fiddle the VAT?.🤔 One doesn't pay any tax in Sloane Square old chap. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeanlyon Posted November 23, 2021 #25 Share Posted November 23, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, PORT ROYAL said: For some, this is just an entry level price. Same goes for a good piece of jewellery, or car, a house, or a cruise. If it’s what one wishes and the price is X and if one is happy to pay, then so be it. Oh I agree, but I just can't fathom that a handbag can cost £5K. Jewellery - yes. Would anyone know it wasn't a fake one? i wouldn't. Edited November 23, 2021 by jeanlyon 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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