Any experience of out-bound Duty Free?

Posted by: Gavin B on 16 November 2015

We're about to fly out of Heathrow, and as my daughter is asking for a new iphone for her birthday / Christmas, I thought I'd look at the prices at Dixons Duty Free shops.  There seems to be some savings over normal purchases.

 

Does anyone have any experience of doing this?  Presumably there's no duty to pay when you re-enter the country.  Does it affect the value of other gifts we might bring back through customs? (I.e. would we have a reduced limit)

Posted on: 16 November 2015 by ChrisSU

If they ask you to show your boarding pass, tell them you will for a 20% discount.

Posted on: 16 November 2015 by Huge

I rather suspect there will be duty to pay when you import it through customs on the way back (if they catch you).

The .gov.uk websites may give you a definitive answer.

Posted on: 16 November 2015 by George F

Tax evasion costs lives ...

 

Pay the Tax due and you are an honest citizen ...

Posted on: 16 November 2015 by dave marshall

My local airport operates a scheme whereby duty free purchases on the way out are collected upon returning to UK.

 

Not sure whether this extends to electronics, but worth checking before you're due to fly.

Posted on: 17 November 2015 by Gavin B

Thanks for the replies, folks (including George's semi-implied slur)

 

The Gov.uk page for info is here: https://www.gov.uk/duty-free-g...-from-outside-the-eu

 

Aside from the usual allowances for fags 'n' booze, the limit for other goods is £390.  If a single item is above this limit, duty is due on the whole amount for that item.  This takes the Dixons price sufficiently close to other available prices to make it not worth the hassle.

Posted on: 17 November 2015 by Graham Clarke

The prices for electronics in places like Dixons at Heathrow Duty Free certainly don't reflect the reduction based on VAT.  I think it's a con, really.

 

Suggest you look up prices at your destination.  I found buying iPads and iPad Mini cheaper in the US than duty free UK.  But if US is your destination, bear in mind that the prices shown on line don't include sales tax which varies from state to state.

Posted on: 17 November 2015 by Willy
Last did it in 2001 for a Hi8 camcorder. Bought in T2 at Heathrow and picked up on my return journey. Was cheaper than anywhere else at the time. Think it was Dixon's. There was no additional charge as I'd already cleared customs prior to picking it up.

Willy.
Posted on: 17 November 2015 by Guy007
Originally Posted by Graham Clarke:

Suggest you look up prices at your destination.  I found buying iPads and iPad Mini cheaper in the US than duty free UK.  But if US is your destination, bear in mind that the prices shown on line don't include sales tax which varies from state to state.

+1 US or Canadian prices much better for UK folks, especially where the provinces/states sales tax is lower and will likely by under the UK declaration threshold.  Issue is if buying a laptop the keys are in different locations, not an issue on iphone/ipad.

 

Also slight tangent, for all the stores if you have something specific in mind, you can generally call ahead 1-2 weeks and have the store bring it in and you pick it up on the way out, you just need to know Model numbers/sizes etc. Mappin & Webb prices are better for watches too.

 

Note - I don't live in the England anymore, but still visit.

Posted on: 17 November 2015 by BigH47

Also remember to check if associated chargers and allied items are multi mains voltage too.