Airport shopping

[KARL]

It seems to me that, in Europe at least, airport shopping is invariably relatively expensive. Ignoring cafeterias, etc., does anyone know a European airport where gifts, gadgets, confectionery, alcohol or tobacco are less expensive than a shop or (usually large) competitively priced supermarket (sometimes offering tax-refund options) in the country concerned ? The recently introduced UK facilities for buying on departure and collecting on return (effectively copying the inbound duty-free shops which have operated for decades in a few other countries) are an improvement by eliminating carrying stuff out and back, but even with this the UK airport shops are more expensive than foreign ones anyway. Does anyone diasagree with me that (outside the UK) it is financially better to buy off airport ?

[gilf]

I think one of the problems is that your somewhat of a captive audience, unable to check prices. I think you find that the shops in Airports tend to charge the full retail price minus tax which in many cases is more expensive than a cheaper price with tax in a shop which has offers etc.

[Pinotage]

Airport shops have always had a reputation for being way overpriced. Some years ago BAA recognised this and as they developed their shopping centres bound retailers their to charge exactly the same as their high street branches (minus any tax free) and offer all the same benefits. So you can be sure if you buy duty free from Dixon's you are getting the same thing at a discount price over the high street.

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Few foreign airports have branches of high street store so its not easy to compare prices. I agree that in most cases its cheaper to buy in the country rather than its airport, but many people who use these airports are on business and just do not have the ability to go shopping dudring their trip.

[FredPuli]

Within the European Union you pay tax whether you buy in an airport or not; the goods are really not tax free, just discounted in airports sometimes. The same applies to tax refunds. You cannot get tax refunds as a British traveller inside the EU. Outsiders visiting can, assuming they are taking the goods out of the EU. Within the EU the tax varies; it is impossible to generalize. 'TVA' ( French VAT) is higher than ours so most goods not produced locally are likely to be dearer. Tax on tobacco is just being enormously hiked up there so wherever you but you may save little, if anything now. Otherwise I find that there you get a better choice, no dearer off -airport (and often cheaper); something particularly notable with wines. Everyday French wines are much cheaper than here; really good ones are commonly and surprisingly, as dear or dearer than here