A love of high-end fashion and a love of international travel often overlap. Both require considerable expendable income and aesthetic curiosity, and both fashion and travel have a sense of glamor to them, which compounds on itself when the two are combined. After all, what feels better than someone asking where you got your bag and you getting to say, “Oh, this old thing? Paris.” That’s not the only advantage of shopping while traveling internationally, though: it can save you a lot of money, especially if you live in the US and are headed to Western Europe.
The same designer bag almost always costs a significantly different price depending on which currency you’re using, and although an increasingly global luxury market has lead to brands trying to bring their cross-market prices into closer alignment, there are still some big gaps. In order to find out where you can get the best deal, we tracked down local prices for a half dozen of the world’s most popular bags in the world’s biggest luxury markets in North America, Europe, Asia and Oceania. Whenever available, we found the prices in local currency on brands’ websites and then converted them to US dollars for the most accurate comparison; for some of the brands whose websites don’t offer full international prices, we found prices in USD at third-party retailers for bags available to ship to our markets.
Beyond just currency fluctuations and the vagaries of global MSRPs, there’s also the Value-Added Tax, commonly referred to as the VAT, when shopping on vacation in Europe. If you do your paperwork correctly at both your point of purchase and departure airport in both continental Europe and Great Britain, you’ll be refunded anywhere from 5% to 25% of your purchase price on luxury goods of all sorts. In the UK and France, the VAT refund is up to 20%, which is an enormous discount off the already below-US prices that current exchange rates provide, especially for bags that rarely, if ever go on sale. If you’re traveling to Western Europe from anywhere in the rest of the world, you should consider stocking your closet. (You can also check out our detailed guide to VAT refunds and processes across the world’s most popular shopping destinations.)
Right now, recent British political uncertainties over the Brexit vote have significantly weakened the British pound, which makes the UK a better deal for vacationing US shoppers than usual. When it comes to European bag designers, though, France (and other eurozone Western European countries–MSRPs are usually the same throughout) is still the best place to buy. Check out our full results below.
Chanel Classic Flap Bag – Medium
Lowest Price: $5,095 in Canada
You aren’t entitled to the full VAT tax refund in any EU nation. The VAT tax is generally 20% and you can get back most, but not all, of it. 12% in France, 12.2% in the UK, 11.4% in Germany, 13.5% in Finland, 13.9% in Ireland, 13.9% in Portugal and only 4.9% in Switzerland. You can find the rest of the countries in the EU and calculate your refund through this handy site: http://www.globalblue.com/customer-services/tax-free-shopping/refund-calculator/?_ga=1.135125681.1890223799.1473436373 It’s also a good idea to sign up for an account with Global Blue if you do what I do and only buy your designer bags abroad. Then you get a card with all of your information attached so it just needs to be swiped at checkout and it fills out the forms for you so it’s one less step in store. You then just need to bring the forms to the airport and have customs stamp them and send them back to Global Blue. You have to make sure to have the paperwork stamped at the airport in the LAST European Union country you are visiting before coming back to the States though. If you take advantage of favorable exchange rates, the often substantial price differences overseas, the VAT tax refund and the fact that sales often drop in Europe before they do here in the States, you can save upwards of 40% on designer bags. That’s also not even taking into account sales tax in the U.S. which can reach upwards of 9%-10% on the West coast.
I expected that Selfridges would result in much cheaper bags for me right after the Brexit vote but I was disappointed. When I calculated all the fees and the exchange rate, it seemed relatively close to US price for many bags.
Hi,
Sorry to bother you, but I also was just planning on making some purchases on the Selfridges website. I am new to the site, and am a bit confused on how you were able to save some money/how did you know prices are lower than the UK for a lot of items. I am planning to have my item shipped in the US. What foreign currency (USD, Euro, etc.) did you click on the website? If you don’t mind, would you be so kind as to walk me through the steps on how you were able to save so much? Would really appreciate your help 🙂
I chose an item then compared the same item’s price on a USA site. I factored in the local state sales tax and used this for comparison. Using xe.com I converted £ to $. Since I wrote the original post Selfridges has adjusted many prices (St Laurent Tributes especially) and some items are no longer shipping to USA but don’t let that stop you from comparing. British brands like Ted Baker and Burberry still cheaper on Selfridges USA site. Might only be $200 on a $2000 Bag but hey, that’s $200 in your pocket!!!
WOAH – THANK YOU!!! I just checked out the USA Selfridges site. Burberry is cheaper on their site than the USA Burberry site. A Canterbury tote is $1250 on the USA Burb but only $790 on Selfridges!! $460 difference.
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Some designers, like Gucci, make it very easy to get prices in Swiss francs on their web sites. Others are much more difficult. Would be happy to help as I regularly browse the designer shops on and near Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich.
For comparison (in this case shoes, not bags), my new Gucci Jordaan embroidered loafers cost 560 Swiss francs. The U.S. price is $670 PLUS sales tax, depending on where they’re bought. Given that the Swiss franc and U.S. dollar are essentially on par, buying in the U.S. means a $200 bump in price. IMO, that’s a pretty hefty difference!
And for bag comparison, my Gucci Tian Boston Supreme (larger size) costs 1410 Swiss Francs. U.S. price is $1850. With the two currencies pretty much equal, buyers in the U.S. do pay a significant premium.
Candace
8 years ago
So…are these comparisons minus the VAT or should we subtract the VAT from the prices you have listed?
These are local MSRPs–VAT refund would be on top of the listed information. (We’re working to get all those numbers and expand the data in the post in the near future.)
No. VAT is built into the sales price. At least in EU. For example, I purchased a Chanel wallet on a chain for €1500 a few years back. I was charged €1500 and then six weeks later I got the VAT refund of back to my credit card.
It will be difficult to get accurate information on the VAT refund, though, since there’s usually a service fee that you need to account for, and the service fee is not always a % of the value purchased. In the UK, the big department stores encourage you to claim your refund only after you’re done with all your shopping, since an element of the service fee is charged per transaction you have with the tax refund desk at Harrod’s or Selfridges. So two people buying the same bag could have completely different net purchase prices on their bags post-refund, if one person claimed for their refund for the bag alone, and if the other consolidated their purchases before making a claim. So the best you can probably have, for the UK at least, is a % range of the refund you’ll get.
C
8 years ago
Love this feature! Thanks for doing the math.
Sparky
8 years ago
Cheapest place for Chanel is Hong Kong. I was there and bought a Boy for nearly $1000 less than USA. I found this price calculator online and its accurate: http://www.chanelprices.com
Really? When I went I thought everything was the same at non luxe places .. I also did not check out too many high end places. Next trip will for sure!
Sparky, Can you send me a link to this screen capture, please? I visited chanel.com but it’s more like a look book without the price details or possibility to place an order.
Might not be much help because prices are only displayed if you are in Hong Kong connecting through an HK server. You can take a look at the link I posted above for a site that compares worldwide prices. Good luck!!
Amazing to know. I was there in July and the prices seemed the same, but I was looking at accessories. I’ll have to choose more wisely next time!! (And make sure my husband isn’t with me! ?)
Susan
8 years ago
This is good to know!
Could you add the Kelly to the list please?
Hermes prices are difficult to come by, but in general, brands’ pricing structures hold true: if one of a brand’s bag’s is least expensive in a particular market, that’s usually true of its other bags as well.
comfortista_style
8 years ago
Wow, didn’t expect the price for Chanel in China to be less than in the US
Chanel recently realigned its global pricing to encourage Asian (and especially Chinese) consumers to shop at home rather than on holiday and facilitate eventual online sales, so it’s probably ahead of the curve as far as Asian pricing goes.
akm
8 years ago
Also check out the brands that have lowered prices in Hawaii to compete with the Asian market.
I’d appreciate it you wouldn’t mind sharing which brands you know of that have Asian market pricing in Hawaii :). Thanks so much!
HelloHappylife
8 years ago
How is it cheaper if you have to pay 5X more just to fly to another country? I’m all about good deals but I don’t see the point unless I already have a trip planned. Very interesting to see thought!
You can look into luxury websites that ship to your country duty free and use the table to assess if the prices still make sense. There’s quite a few, like LuisaViaRoma, Farfetch, etc. So you don’t even have to fly to get a deal!
Yeah my friends from europe/asia come here to shop because it’s cheaper so that’s interesting to me!
Lana
8 years ago
Are these the prices after the VAT refund? I don’t understand how that works – when/where to submit paperwork and to who. I would love to start being able to plan purchases around trips though!
I don’t believe these are the prices after the refund (they are sticker price). When you purchase an item in Europe you’ll get a receipt that needs to be stamped and the sales person will take care of that for you. They ask for your passport I recall. Then you take that along with your receipt to the airport when you’re flying home to where there are clearly marked tax refund stations. You can wait in line and have someone do it for you or you can mail the paperwork from the airport. That’s how I remember it.
The paperwork has to be stamped by either customs in the EU or in the USA and sent back to the company your refund is through. So either way you have to wait in line. If you do it in the States though, U.S. Customs will charge you 8%-12% for importing the bag because you have to declare it in the process.
Tiffany
8 years ago
If only I saw this before my recent trip to Paris… though I will add that Longchamp (although it’s not a premier designer)is significantly cheaper in France than in Canada. I paid 35% less – and that was before the VAT refund.
Tip – if you don’t have other VAT refunds to do, just purchase it in the airport where they take off 9.5% VAT (vs. 12%) immediately. It’s less $$$ but it saves you the hassles of the long VAT refund line up and paperwork. 😉
I totally agree about longshot. However, you can fill out all your paperwork in advance and then mail it at the airport. They feel that should be quicker.
TwiggyM
8 years ago
Chanel just had a price increase in the UK due to the Brexit situation so the price is now about £3600 or something for the Classic Flap medium size (could it possibly be £3650? I don’t remember the exact price).
crescent
8 years ago
In my country, they add luxury tax to designer goods so bags are always cheaper overseas. We take advantage of trips to Europe and the US to buy bags cheaper.
janelle
8 years ago
The Australian price for chanel classic flap medium size (however, they call it large size here in au, for the 26cm one) is actually AUD6800. There seems to be a price reduce last year due to exchange rate (so that I heard anyway). I just got my baby yesterday!!!
Justice J. Srisuk
8 years ago
Wow. Poor Australia always gets screwed when it comes to luxury pricing. Not only that, most of the major fashion houses choose not to offer their entire collections in their Australian boutiques.
There’s a YouTuber named Mel in Melborrne who has to travel to France to get her bags as she gets both a better deal as well as a luxe handbag company’s entire product line instead of only a limited selection.
Try living further south in New Zealand. Were even more screwed! 🙂
Arana
8 years ago
This is a great idea! Whenever I’ve traveled, I find France / Italy and Hong Kong to be the cheapest. Dubai is usually over priced for US and European brands, except if you shop during the shopping festival or Ramadan, when the deals are unbelievable. How about doing a post on best deals on brands in the US? That would help me decide which bags to ask my friends to get for me..
Katrina
8 years ago
One surprising thing I’ve found was that, with the foreign exchange rates, you could find American brands like Proenza Schouler at cheaper prices than if you buy them in the US. Look for sites that deliver duty paid. I got my PS11 at about 20-25% cheaper than if I bought it in the US on Farfetch. I had a voucher for 10% off, but even without it, it would have still been cheaper than buying the bag within the US.
Tin
8 years ago
All i know is that asia has the highest price when it comes to designer brands..poor us!
kk78
8 years ago
Perfect timing as I am headed to Western Europe on Tuesday! I have been thinking about which items to buy for weeks. Hoping to snag a LV evasion piece and maybe something else. Dying to pick up a Chanel bag but even in euros the price is so hard to justify.
Slim
8 years ago
London Heathrow has great deals. I usually shop for great buys on Cyber Monday and right after Christmas. Purchased most of my bags with 25 – 30% off
right in the good old USA!
Sorry for the confusion. I bought a YSL bag at Neiman’s and saved about $800 on sale. I bought a Fendi and also saved about $800 at Bergdorfs in NYC. I bought a Chanel WOC at Hethrow airport and saved over $800. The WOC was $1700 at Heathrow. I bought a Chanel double flap in Paris and saved about $800 with the VAT refund. The best sales on designer buys happens around Cyber Monday in November.
I think she meant that London Heathrow has a lot of great deals. In addition, on Cyber Mondays and other holiday shopping days designer handbags are marked down 25-30% on American shopping sites.
I travel frequently for work and I am in Paris once a year and yes the prices on all bags are lower but alas Hermes still will not sell me a Kelly. The boutiques even have Birkins and Kellys out on display that are not for purchase …. crazy.
Scottsdale Kim
8 years ago
Great price for Chanel is the boutique within Nordstrom in Portland, OR. No sales tax and you can earn Nordstrom notes if you use their credit card.
However, I just checked on line for Chanel at the Portland Nordstom and Chanel is not coming up.
Elizabel
8 years ago
Hi, any chance you can include Bottega Veneta in this? Thank you for a great article!
KK
8 years ago
I think that HongKong will be a better comparison than China, since every single imported stuff that gets into HongKong are way cheaper than in China
lovemyfashions
8 years ago
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Jess
8 years ago
I can’t believe Australia made it on the list and for Saint Laurent!!!
Agreed! I cannot believe that something (Designer I mean!) is cheaper in Australia than rest of the World
May Li
8 years ago
Chanel CF Medium price in China has already been changed to 31,200CNY instead of 29,800 – which is $4,679
kindled
8 years ago
Actually, Argentina is suuuuuuuuper cheap. There’s a ~20% VAT but also you can get a ~30% discount by bringing U.S. cash and exchanging it there, because the Argentinian government sets the official exchange rate at an artificial rate, whereas you can exchange it in country at a much better deal. Luxury brands have to use the official exchange rate in pricing, so you get a 30% discount by trading USD in country, plus the VAT back.
Audrey K
8 years ago
I have been contemplating buying a Givenchy Antigona from one of the U.K. sites and I’m a little reluctant despite the potential for a decent savings ($400+). I’m always worried the item will be some how damaged in shipping, or there will be a defect and I have to go through the trouble of sending the bag back. What do you guys think?
Matches Fashion, LuisaviaRoma, Farfetch… I live in Canada and I only shop those stores online and they’re all in Europe. Most have free returns if you’re not satisfied and some even refund your duties paid as well (which are included in the prices).
Thanks for replying! I’m actually really curious about Matches Fashion! I came across them several months ago and was eyeing the Antigona then but wasn’t ready to pull the trigger on it, even though the price was right! Their international shipping and return policy is actually a lot more clear than other larger retailers, which is shocking. I’m learning toward ordering from them or from Harvey Nicholas’s which is a Harrods competitor in London. Their price, and Matches Fashion are similar. Harrods on the other hand, is more in line with many of the big U.S. retailers like Neimans or Saks. I wonder what the deal is with the price discrepancy?
That’s always a risk with any online purchase. Check your store’s return policy for overseas purchases, some of them offer free returns even for international shipments. Even if they don’t, most reputable stores should have a clear process for returns. Most good online stores are also very careful about packing their shipments (too careful, in some cases) as it’s also in their interests to ensure that the product gets to the customer in pristine condition. But, like I said, there is always a risk, however small, that something goes wrong in the shipping process.
Thanks so much for your feedback! Your right most reputable retailers are pretty good about inspecting items before they’re shipped and will pack items carefully. I suppose I’m just a paranoid shopper. I generally see all my bags in person before buying them so I’m able to look for any issues with it!
Jennifer McGee
8 years ago
Great post….would love to see more incl Goyard; YSL shopper tote; Chanel WOC; anything Prada
jg
8 years ago
It would be good to mention that Australia has its GST (Goods and Services tax) built into all its prices, unlike the USA where you have to add tax to the prices.
Loulisa
8 years ago
London is a great place to get luxury bags. I remember when I visited I was able to buy several bags at Harrods and discovered some other brands too like Susurro Ldn which has been my obsession since.
Kathy cronick
6 years ago
I bought a purse in France and the store told me all I had to do was go to the airport, show my receipt and I would get my vat. I stood in 2 lines for over an hour! Finally they told me I had to go back to the store, that was where I would receive the VAT! How do you get your money back? Where do you go? (BTW, I was on my way home, too late to go back to the store.
You need to get the store to provide you with paperwork and signature, and you need your passport. Than you take the paperwork and signature to the airport, with a portion you fill out and sign. Than you go to refund line and get your cash. If you convert it you also pay a fee. It ends up being 9% all together.
If you purchase at a dept store like Harrods and Selfridges than they do the paperwork for you. But you still need to bring that to airport for refund.
You don’t receive vat at store, you receive paperwork. Some countries like Italy give it to you, and some like UK you have to ask for paperwork. Any purchase over 40.00 you can get paperwork for.
I also shopped in France, specifically the Chanel store. The saleswoman completed my VAT paperwork and told me what I needed to do. When I got to the airport I gave them the receipt and VAT paperwork. It took about 4-6 weeks to receive my refund. The process was surprisingly seamless.
You can receive Cash right away. Or wait for it on a credit card. I’ve heard people claiming it never came on credit card.
Meg Joshi
6 years ago
Why isn’t Italy included in the countries list?
Althea Henry
6 years ago
Question Hermes bracelets cheaper in Paris ?
Ana Liezel Dimalanta
6 years ago
May I suggest that you also check the prices in Russia? They have good prices for luxury bags
Marissa
6 years ago
this list should be updated though…. 2018 price for medium flap Chanel in China is now 40k RMB equivalent US$5800 which makes it $200 more expensive than current USA price
Evelyn Kuah
5 years ago
Hello, just wondering if its cheaper to get Prada in Paris or London? As Prada is not covered in the article. Thank you.
Kathy Oscar
3 years ago
Years ago I purchased my Givenchy Antigona at Harrod’s for significantly less than I would have paid in the US. Did the same in purchasing from Gucci in Italy. Doing the paperwork at the airport and at the point of sale is important!
Jean F.
3 years ago
Where can I purchase a Gucci belt on line for a reasonable price? The double G’s. I am I the States. Thank you.
Javeli
2 years ago
What about all airport duty stores in Asia … like Thailand …
Sarah
2 years ago
No longer any VAT refund upon departing the UK. Another of Boris’ unfathomable decisions.
You actually get 12% refund from France. You do not get back the full VAT.
What about italy?
Only in airport duty free do you get the full refund. Otherwise all shops will take a percentage as a handling fee
I would head to The Mall in Florence: https://wordpress.com/mallratsite
I will update! The reading I did was not clear on that.
You aren’t entitled to the full VAT tax refund in any EU nation. The VAT tax is generally 20% and you can get back most, but not all, of it. 12% in France, 12.2% in the UK, 11.4% in Germany, 13.5% in Finland, 13.9% in Ireland, 13.9% in Portugal and only 4.9% in Switzerland. You can find the rest of the countries in the EU and calculate your refund through this handy site: http://www.globalblue.com/customer-services/tax-free-shopping/refund-calculator/?_ga=1.135125681.1890223799.1473436373 It’s also a good idea to sign up for an account with Global Blue if you do what I do and only buy your designer bags abroad. Then you get a card with all of your information attached so it just needs to be swiped at checkout and it fills out the forms for you so it’s one less step in store. You then just need to bring the forms to the airport and have customs stamp them and send them back to Global Blue. You have to make sure to have the paperwork stamped at the airport in the LAST European Union country you are visiting before coming back to the States though. If you take advantage of favorable exchange rates, the often substantial price differences overseas, the VAT tax refund and the fact that sales often drop in Europe before they do here in the States, you can save upwards of 40% on designer bags. That’s also not even taking into account sales tax in the U.S. which can reach upwards of 9%-10% on the West coast.
Very detailed explanation! This is exactly what I do when I (used to) travel and purchase abroad.
Exactly, so are the UK prices in the article wrong because UK’s VAT return shld be between 10-12% only?
No, these are the prices after currency conversion but before VAT returns.
This information and blogpost right here is GOLD. Thank you
Now if only travel was free, I could afford to snatch one up 😉
You are very welcome!
Selfridges ships to the USA for a flat rate, that includes the importing/customs fee.
I expected that Selfridges would result in much cheaper bags for me right after the Brexit vote but I was disappointed. When I calculated all the fees and the exchange rate, it seemed relatively close to US price for many bags.
Go on the US version of the site.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! Prices are lower than the UK on a lot of items. I just bought some shoes. Will follow up with a Burberry bag too.
Hi,
Sorry to bother you, but I also was just planning on making some purchases on the Selfridges website. I am new to the site, and am a bit confused on how you were able to save some money/how did you know prices are lower than the UK for a lot of items. I am planning to have my item shipped in the US. What foreign currency (USD, Euro, etc.) did you click on the website? If you don’t mind, would you be so kind as to walk me through the steps on how you were able to save so much? Would really appreciate your help 🙂
I chose an item then compared the same item’s price on a USA site. I factored in the local state sales tax and used this for comparison. Using xe.com I converted £ to $. Since I wrote the original post Selfridges has adjusted many prices (St Laurent Tributes especially) and some items are no longer shipping to USA but don’t let that stop you from comparing. British brands like Ted Baker and Burberry still cheaper on Selfridges USA site. Might only be $200 on a $2000 Bag but hey, that’s $200 in your pocket!!!
WOAH – THANK YOU!!! I just checked out the USA Selfridges site. Burberry is cheaper on their site than the USA Burberry site. A Canterbury tote is $1250 on the USA Burb but only $790 on Selfridges!! $460 difference.
Thank you for that wonderful tidbit!
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Google is paying 97$ per hour! Work for few hours and have longer with friends & family! !mj288d:
On tuesday I got a great new Land Rover Range Rover from having earned $8752 this last four weeks.. Its the most-financialy rewarding I’ve had.. It sounds unbelievable but you wont forgive yourself if you don’t check it
!mj288d:
??
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Thank You!!!
How about Italy, is it the same price as France?
For all the bags I checked, Italy and France were the same.
Did you include Germany in your comparisons? I’m always shocked by how low the prices are there, but I’m not sure that holds for luxury goods.
I don’t think this is an overall comparison — it doesn’t have airport stores in Thailand which has one of the cheapest luxury goods.
Hi Amanda, I sent you the price of Birkin 30 cm in Canada an hour ago, it is not for sale, by no means only for a fresh update to add to your chart
Fresh B 30 cm in Clemence leather $11,340 CAD
Although I won’t be traveling anytime soon, this is very interesting to see!!
Maybe next time, add Swiss Francs? Swiss franc prices for many designer bags are lower than in the UK (when converted to USD equivalents).
I will definitely look into that!
Some designers, like Gucci, make it very easy to get prices in Swiss francs on their web sites. Others are much more difficult. Would be happy to help as I regularly browse the designer shops on and near Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich.
For comparison (in this case shoes, not bags), my new Gucci Jordaan embroidered loafers cost 560 Swiss francs. The U.S. price is $670 PLUS sales tax, depending on where they’re bought. Given that the Swiss franc and U.S. dollar are essentially on par, buying in the U.S. means a $200 bump in price. IMO, that’s a pretty hefty difference!
Valentino lock shoulder bag is around US$1700 in Europe but close to $2300 PLUS tax in USA (add another $200). Mega price difference.
And for bag comparison, my Gucci Tian Boston Supreme (larger size) costs 1410 Swiss Francs. U.S. price is $1850. With the two currencies pretty much equal, buyers in the U.S. do pay a significant premium.
So…are these comparisons minus the VAT or should we subtract the VAT from the prices you have listed?
These are local MSRPs–VAT refund would be on top of the listed information. (We’re working to get all those numbers and expand the data in the post in the near future.)
No. VAT is built into the sales price. At least in EU. For example, I purchased a Chanel wallet on a chain for €1500 a few years back. I was charged €1500 and then six weeks later I got the VAT refund of back to my credit card.
It will be difficult to get accurate information on the VAT refund, though, since there’s usually a service fee that you need to account for, and the service fee is not always a % of the value purchased. In the UK, the big department stores encourage you to claim your refund only after you’re done with all your shopping, since an element of the service fee is charged per transaction you have with the tax refund desk at Harrod’s or Selfridges. So two people buying the same bag could have completely different net purchase prices on their bags post-refund, if one person claimed for their refund for the bag alone, and if the other consolidated their purchases before making a claim. So the best you can probably have, for the UK at least, is a % range of the refund you’ll get.
Love this feature! Thanks for doing the math.
Cheapest place for Chanel is Hong Kong. I was there and bought a Boy for nearly $1000 less than USA. I found this price calculator online and its accurate: http://www.chanelprices.com
Really? When I went I thought everything was the same at non luxe places .. I also did not check out too many high end places. Next trip will for sure!
Screen capture from Chanel HK site (sorry the pic is so big). Medium size. Women were shopping in there as if it was Target. Crazy!
Totes visiting on my next HK trip! Thank you
Sparky, Can you send me a link to this screen capture, please? I visited chanel.com but it’s more like a look book without the price details or possibility to place an order.
Main HK site: http://www.chanel.com/en_HK/
Might not be much help because prices are only displayed if you are in Hong Kong connecting through an HK server. You can take a look at the link I posted above for a site that compares worldwide prices. Good luck!!
Amazing to know. I was there in July and the prices seemed the same, but I was looking at accessories. I’ll have to choose more wisely next time!! (And make sure my husband isn’t with me! ?)
This is good to know!
Could you add the Kelly to the list please?
http://a-woman-of-a-certain-age.com/2016/08/classic-kelly/
Check out pursebop.
Hermes prices are difficult to come by, but in general, brands’ pricing structures hold true: if one of a brand’s bag’s is least expensive in a particular market, that’s usually true of its other bags as well.
Wow, didn’t expect the price for Chanel in China to be less than in the US
Chanel recently realigned its global pricing to encourage Asian (and especially Chinese) consumers to shop at home rather than on holiday and facilitate eventual online sales, so it’s probably ahead of the curve as far as Asian pricing goes.
Also check out the brands that have lowered prices in Hawaii to compete with the Asian market.
I’d appreciate it you wouldn’t mind sharing which brands you know of that have Asian market pricing in Hawaii :). Thanks so much!
How is it cheaper if you have to pay 5X more just to fly to another country? I’m all about good deals but I don’t see the point unless I already have a trip planned. Very interesting to see thought!
Right ✅
You can look into luxury websites that ship to your country duty free and use the table to assess if the prices still make sense. There’s quite a few, like LuisaViaRoma, Farfetch, etc. So you don’t even have to fly to get a deal!
I think a lot of people know they are traveling to a certain country or have a friend or family doing so, so they plan their purchases that way 🙂
Exactly! I go to Europe generally twice a year (summer & winter) so I keep a Pinterest board going of what bags I want to get when I’m there.
Yeah my friends from europe/asia come here to shop because it’s cheaper so that’s interesting to me!
Are these the prices after the VAT refund? I don’t understand how that works – when/where to submit paperwork and to who. I would love to start being able to plan purchases around trips though!
I don’t believe these are the prices after the refund (they are sticker price). When you purchase an item in Europe you’ll get a receipt that needs to be stamped and the sales person will take care of that for you. They ask for your passport I recall. Then you take that along with your receipt to the airport when you’re flying home to where there are clearly marked tax refund stations. You can wait in line and have someone do it for you or you can mail the paperwork from the airport. That’s how I remember it.
The paperwork has to be stamped by either customs in the EU or in the USA and sent back to the company your refund is through. So either way you have to wait in line. If you do it in the States though, U.S. Customs will charge you 8%-12% for importing the bag because you have to declare it in the process.
If only I saw this before my recent trip to Paris… though I will add that Longchamp (although it’s not a premier designer)is significantly cheaper in France than in Canada. I paid 35% less – and that was before the VAT refund.
Tip – if you don’t have other VAT refunds to do, just purchase it in the airport where they take off 9.5% VAT (vs. 12%) immediately. It’s less $$$ but it saves you the hassles of the long VAT refund line up and paperwork. 😉
I totally agree about longshot. However, you can fill out all your paperwork in advance and then mail it at the airport. They feel that should be quicker.
Chanel just had a price increase in the UK due to the Brexit situation so the price is now about £3600 or something for the Classic Flap medium size (could it possibly be £3650? I don’t remember the exact price).
In my country, they add luxury tax to designer goods so bags are always cheaper overseas. We take advantage of trips to Europe and the US to buy bags cheaper.
The Australian price for chanel classic flap medium size (however, they call it large size here in au, for the 26cm one) is actually AUD6800. There seems to be a price reduce last year due to exchange rate (so that I heard anyway). I just got my baby yesterday!!!
Wow. Poor Australia always gets screwed when it comes to luxury pricing. Not only that, most of the major fashion houses choose not to offer their entire collections in their Australian boutiques.
There’s a YouTuber named Mel in Melborrne who has to travel to France to get her bags as she gets both a better deal as well as a luxe handbag company’s entire product line instead of only a limited selection.
Try living further south in New Zealand. Were even more screwed! 🙂
This is a great idea! Whenever I’ve traveled, I find France / Italy and Hong Kong to be the cheapest. Dubai is usually over priced for US and European brands, except if you shop during the shopping festival or Ramadan, when the deals are unbelievable. How about doing a post on best deals on brands in the US? That would help me decide which bags to ask my friends to get for me..
One surprising thing I’ve found was that, with the foreign exchange rates, you could find American brands like Proenza Schouler at cheaper prices than if you buy them in the US. Look for sites that deliver duty paid. I got my PS11 at about 20-25% cheaper than if I bought it in the US on Farfetch. I had a voucher for 10% off, but even without it, it would have still been cheaper than buying the bag within the US.
All i know is that asia has the highest price when it comes to designer brands..poor us!
Perfect timing as I am headed to Western Europe on Tuesday! I have been thinking about which items to buy for weeks. Hoping to snag a LV evasion piece and maybe something else. Dying to pick up a Chanel bag but even in euros the price is so hard to justify.
London Heathrow has great deals. I usually shop for great buys on Cyber Monday and right after Christmas. Purchased most of my bags with 25 – 30% off
right in the good old USA!
I would be interested in knowing how this is done. I see a London Heathrow website, but no way to shop there online. Help please.
Also, Cyber Monday is the first Monday after the Thanksgiving holiday, which is celebrated her in the USA.
I was there in person 2014. Instead of getting a VAT refund, the discount/tax is already in the price. You don’t have to complete forms.
I’m confused. You said you that purchased most of your bags with 25%-30% off right in the good old USA. How did you do that from the USA?
I live in the USA. . I vacation in Europe every two years. Hope this clears up the confusion.
Thanks slim, I get it now. 🙂
Sorry for the confusion. I bought a YSL bag at Neiman’s and saved about $800 on sale. I bought a Fendi and also saved about $800 at Bergdorfs in NYC. I bought a Chanel WOC at Hethrow airport and saved over $800. The WOC was $1700 at Heathrow. I bought a Chanel double flap in Paris and saved about $800 with the VAT refund. The best sales on designer buys happens around Cyber Monday in November.
I think she meant that London Heathrow has a lot of great deals. In addition, on Cyber Mondays and other holiday shopping days designer handbags are marked down 25-30% on American shopping sites.
Yes, thank you exactly what I meant.
I travel frequently for work and I am in Paris once a year and yes the prices on all bags are lower but alas Hermes still will not sell me a Kelly. The boutiques even have Birkins and Kellys out on display that are not for purchase …. crazy.
Great price for Chanel is the boutique within Nordstrom in Portland, OR. No sales tax and you can earn Nordstrom notes if you use their credit card.
They also carry YSL, Gucci, etc.
However, I just checked on line for Chanel at the Portland Nordstom and Chanel is not coming up.
Hi, any chance you can include Bottega Veneta in this? Thank you for a great article!
I think that HongKong will be a better comparison than China, since every single imported stuff that gets into HongKong are way cheaper than in China
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I can’t believe Australia made it on the list and for Saint Laurent!!!
Agreed! I cannot believe that something (Designer I mean!) is cheaper in Australia than rest of the World
Chanel CF Medium price in China has already been changed to 31,200CNY instead of 29,800 – which is $4,679
Actually, Argentina is suuuuuuuuper cheap. There’s a ~20% VAT but also you can get a ~30% discount by bringing U.S. cash and exchanging it there, because the Argentinian government sets the official exchange rate at an artificial rate, whereas you can exchange it in country at a much better deal. Luxury brands have to use the official exchange rate in pricing, so you get a 30% discount by trading USD in country, plus the VAT back.
I have been contemplating buying a Givenchy Antigona from one of the U.K. sites and I’m a little reluctant despite the potential for a decent savings ($400+). I’m always worried the item will be some how damaged in shipping, or there will be a defect and I have to go through the trouble of sending the bag back. What do you guys think?
Matches Fashion, LuisaviaRoma, Farfetch… I live in Canada and I only shop those stores online and they’re all in Europe. Most have free returns if you’re not satisfied and some even refund your duties paid as well (which are included in the prices).
Thanks for replying! I’m actually really curious about Matches Fashion! I came across them several months ago and was eyeing the Antigona then but wasn’t ready to pull the trigger on it, even though the price was right! Their international shipping and return policy is actually a lot more clear than other larger retailers, which is shocking. I’m learning toward ordering from them or from Harvey Nicholas’s which is a Harrods competitor in London. Their price, and Matches Fashion are similar. Harrods on the other hand, is more in line with many of the big U.S. retailers like Neimans or Saks. I wonder what the deal is with the price discrepancy?
That’s always a risk with any online purchase. Check your store’s return policy for overseas purchases, some of them offer free returns even for international shipments. Even if they don’t, most reputable stores should have a clear process for returns. Most good online stores are also very careful about packing their shipments (too careful, in some cases) as it’s also in their interests to ensure that the product gets to the customer in pristine condition. But, like I said, there is always a risk, however small, that something goes wrong in the shipping process.
Thanks so much for your feedback! Your right most reputable retailers are pretty good about inspecting items before they’re shipped and will pack items carefully. I suppose I’m just a paranoid shopper. I generally see all my bags in person before buying them so I’m able to look for any issues with it!
Great post….would love to see more incl Goyard; YSL shopper tote; Chanel WOC; anything Prada
It would be good to mention that Australia has its GST (Goods and Services tax) built into all its prices, unlike the USA where you have to add tax to the prices.
London is a great place to get luxury bags. I remember when I visited I was able to buy several bags at Harrods and discovered some other brands too like Susurro Ldn which has been my obsession since.
I bought a purse in France and the store told me all I had to do was go to the airport, show my receipt and I would get my vat. I stood in 2 lines for over an hour! Finally they told me I had to go back to the store, that was where I would receive the VAT! How do you get your money back? Where do you go? (BTW, I was on my way home, too late to go back to the store.
You need to get the store to provide you with paperwork and signature, and you need your passport. Than you take the paperwork and signature to the airport, with a portion you fill out and sign. Than you go to refund line and get your cash. If you convert it you also pay a fee. It ends up being 9% all together.
If you purchase at a dept store like Harrods and Selfridges than they do the paperwork for you. But you still need to bring that to airport for refund.
You don’t receive vat at store, you receive paperwork. Some countries like Italy give it to you, and some like UK you have to ask for paperwork. Any purchase over 40.00 you can get paperwork for.
I also shopped in France, specifically the Chanel store. The saleswoman completed my VAT paperwork and told me what I needed to do. When I got to the airport I gave them the receipt and VAT paperwork. It took about 4-6 weeks to receive my refund. The process was surprisingly seamless.
You can receive Cash right away. Or wait for it on a credit card. I’ve heard people claiming it never came on credit card.
Why isn’t Italy included in the countries list?
Question Hermes bracelets cheaper in Paris ?
May I suggest that you also check the prices in Russia? They have good prices for luxury bags
this list should be updated though…. 2018 price for medium flap Chanel in China is now 40k RMB equivalent US$5800 which makes it $200 more expensive than current USA price
Hello, just wondering if its cheaper to get Prada in Paris or London? As Prada is not covered in the article. Thank you.
Years ago I purchased my Givenchy Antigona at Harrod’s for significantly less than I would have paid in the US. Did the same in purchasing from Gucci in Italy. Doing the paperwork at the airport and at the point of sale is important!
Where can I purchase a Gucci belt on line for a reasonable price? The double G’s. I am I the States. Thank you.
What about all airport duty stores in Asia … like Thailand …
No longer any VAT refund upon departing the UK. Another of Boris’ unfathomable decisions.