France/Spain: shopping for unique gifts not found in the U.S.

better deal if bought in France or about the same price as you encounter in the US? Almost always more expensive.

You need to get the VAT refunded for it to be less expensive than in the US. Even then it's not sure it will be less. You need to study prices for whatever you want before you leave the States. If you do decide to go shopping, it's easiest to detax by getting everything in one store, such as a department store, and then go to the detax desk for instructions.

You then need to declare it to US Customs on return and pay any duty requested by them. Luxury items are pretty sure to exceed your duty allowance.

It all seems a bit of a minefield. Wouldn't it just be easier for stores to check your passport and then adjust the tax accordingly at point of sale? If you buy a new watch/handbag etc for yourself and you are wearing/using it do you still have to declare it at customs? Do you only have to declare if you have had the tax deducted?

Well, it might be easier and more efficient for us if VAT were deducted at point of sale, but just think of the millions in lost revenue. It's just like rebates, an overwhelming majority of people never actually cash in the rebate – cha-ching! Unless you're buying something expensive, you're probably not going to go through the hassle of collecting a VAT refund...I never have. Also, governments aren't interested in efficiency...they're interested in jacking with people. :) As for US Customs, you need to declare all purchases (in US $ including tax). I think estimates are okay if you don't know for sure. It doesn't matter if you're wearing it. There is a personal exemption...can't recall the $ limit.

Shoni, I made two purchases where they deducted the tax at point of sale. You still need to file papers at the airport and they inspect the goods. I suppose they want to be sure you are not just purchasing items for friends or family who live in Europe (?).

See: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/what_you_declare.xml and http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/paying_duty.xml Why would it make a difference if you were wearing the item? You still bought it abroad.

I've bought bulky things that I don't want to carry around with me in Germany on several occasions, mainly down comforters, pillows and kitchen things from the WMF stores. I have discovered that the stores will ship the items home for me free of charge in lieu of me collecting the VAT tax which I always thought was a hassle and I rarely ever followed through on this at the airport. Also, I have nothing to for these items when re-entering the country. I have also traveled for months in Europe, purchased small things and shipped them home at my own expense when their bulk/weight got to be too much for my backpack :-) and I know that shipping prices are quite pricey for Europe to US destinations so I consider the free shipping in lieu of collecting VAT tax to be a convince and economically it makes sense for me. I also agree with ALL of the other posters who have said to check prices carefully in the US before you go b/c I have rarely encountered bargains for similar items in Europe. The US is the land of the big discounts. When I shop in Europe I look for things that I wouldn't be able to purchase at all in the US or something where the quality is superior than what you can get in the US.

Edit note. I have tried to stick the word into the first paragraph, last sentence 5 times. I even copied the entire sentence into a word document, pasted it into my response again and it still does not show up... I have refreshed my browser and it doesn't show up. I even changed browsers and it doesn't work. I added a * t* to the the word go in another sentence and this worked in an edit for this post. Weird. Any ideas? sentence should read:
Also, I have nothing to for these items when re-entering the country.

Help, this is getting freaky. I typed the word that I am trying to type 2 X into my edit note to you all and it shows up when I'm typing it but it doesn't show up when I post. I see that Nigel successfully got the word to show up in his post. I'm not even going to try again but the word that I needed to insert starts with the letter d--read Nigel's post.

I just got back from France/Switzerland. We checked in 2 bottles each of wines. Claimed it . No one asked or checked or charged us anything. Found out this information: Only 20% of wines from France are exported: the most expensive or the bad cheap ones. Then, you are charged around $20.00 for a 5.00 Euro wine. We had a wine tasting. that's your best bet. Try to get two Rose, they are amazing and unable to find in the USA (by the way they taste nothing like our Roses, dont spend more than 10.00 euros. A Bordeaux and maybe splurge on a Burgundy. It's better for you to check it in than mail it to the states. check out the winemonger.com.

Mike, I'm chiming in again that your really need to know your prices. I liked a certain Miss Dior perfume while we were staying six months in Paris. However, it was less expensive for my cousin to buy it for me in LA and bring it over to me, than for me to buy it in Paris. On the other hand, LV may be less expensive if you get it detaxed, following the procedure.

IMHO, French and Spanish wines and liquors are best experienced there - too much hassle to get home (I don't want my clothing permanently stained with vino). Yes, I know, you can't get the REALLY good wines here, but 90% of the experience is drinking it in the country it belongs in. There are other unique things that are less hassle and just as fun to bring home - from Spain, I brought smoked paprika (only 2 euros per can, about $15 here) and saffron. French linens are always a good gift. Side note story: In Paris, I was approached by a Chinese tourist asking about "Woolite." I was a little confused by the question. But eventually I figured out that she wanted me to go into the LV store and purchase her a "Wallet" - the Parisian shop owners set limits on the number of purchases for foreigners (apparently to dissuade those who buy and recreate fakes). So don't buy too many!

"Yes, I know, you can't get the REALLY good wines here." You can get some really good wines here: Willamette Valley pinot noir, for one.

While I haven't necessarily been in the market for any "luxury" items, I've found that it's becoming more and more of an international economy. For the most part, everything offered abroad, I can also buy in the US. I've purchased bottles of finer wines in both Italy and Spain in the past. Though less abundant in the US, I have been able to find the same wines here.

Yeah, I'm with Kent on good wine here: According to Wine Spectator, 5 of the world's top 10 are California wines. And you can find nearly all top wines from anywhere right here. But the point that some things seem best when enjoyed locally where produced does have some merit...it's all part of the vacation experience. I'm sure more than one French tourist in Laguna Beach has thought that the California wine they just enjoyed with dinner was better than anything found in France (well, maybe not).

An interesting and unique gift to purchase is artwork. If you can find something of good quality at a good price, buy it!