You’re not the only one wondering if duty-free shopping is actually worth it.
walk through a newly renovatedairportfeels a minute like walking through a mall in an upper - midway - class neighbourhood . There are juice brook and conception - driven crybaby shops . The floor has a sheen to it that catches the flash of direct lightbulbs hanging overhead . And amidsculptures and wall painting , theseairportsare full of clothes designer depot , such as Louis Vuitton and Hermes , luggage store like Tumi and Samsonite , and beauty stores selling everything from constitution to consistence lotion .
As someone who scrambles around the airdrome looking for the most amount of food for the least amount of money , wearing a sweatshirt that says " NEW ORLEANS , " with my hair in a bun that looks like a rats ’s nest , I ’ve never been too interested about stopping at the gamy - conclusion stores that airports have to propose . Nothing about my show says " designer , " and certainly nothing about my wallet aver " luxury . "
So who is actually shop at these stores , and what are they buying ? I ’m not the only person wondering . In a situation on ther / traveling subreddit , one mortal ask how it ’s even possible for some of these stores to stick around in business organisation .
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" I feel like every time I ’m at an airport I walk by wads of stores without a single shopper , " the billet reads . " Everything from Gucci to toy stores and everything in between . How do these places stay in business ? Like who walk into an airport and decides to buy a $ 5,000 Gucci purse ? And I ca n’t imagine split is crummy in an airport ? I ’m honestly starting to recall luxury brands just use these stores as a form of billboard . Any insight would be much appreciated , thanks ! "
Everyone was spry to prompt the poster that robust people do , in fact , live . " I cerebrate you ’ll have to arrive to a realization there are many travelers who are right smart more wealthy than us . If hoi polloi can pay $ 8,000 on business sector class fare and $ 25,000 on first class menu , they can utterly afford a $ 5,000 Gucci bag . "
And that ’s so fair ! It is sometimes easy to forget that fertile people are real . But these type of airport memory are n’t exclusively for the rich . Some people shared that they could regain something they want cheap at the drome than they could back home . One someone shared that they were capable to purchase a Nintendo Switch while they were traveling overseas . They " realized while there it was almost $ 200 cheaper than back home " in Canada .
Another someone write that they tend to " stockpile up on toiletries and cosmetics when we are at duty - innocent as well , " because they can buy products that are n’t usable in their own country .
Many people noted on the thread that buy big tag items can also help salve money , as duty - devoid shops are tax - spare — and that sumptuousness items are sometimes cheesy in drome afield than they are at local computer storage . " That $ 5000 Gucci purse might be $ 8000 back wherever that traveler is from , " one commenter wrote .
" Whenever I want to buy something designer ( ordinarily purses , perfumes , and dark glasses ) , I do it at an airdrome for this intellect , " another commenter added .
So , it turn out that those of us who do n’t interpret the point of the luxury shop and eminent - end shop in airports are just in too downhearted of a taxation bracket . If you ’ve catch the cash to purchase sumptuousness items , it turns out that you’re able to economize a pretty nice chunk of change by cause that designer bag at the airdrome . And then you could say , " Yeah I got this in Paris ! " without clarify that you got it at the Paris drome .
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