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What To Know Before Duty Free Shopping?

May 13, 2023

WHAT IS DUTY FREE?

Duty-free refers to the act of being able to purchase an item in particular circumstances without paying import, sales, value-added, or other taxes. Duty-free stores are an enticing perk of international travel.

These retail businesses sell merchandise that is exempt from duties and taxes with the understanding they will be taken out of the country for use. Many popular duty-free items found in airport shops include liquor, chocolate, and perfume.

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE DUTY FREE SHOPPING?

1/The real savings are in alcohol.

The heaviest-taxed areas of all our lives are things like liquor and tobacco products. They naturally are going to have the biggest savings, because you’re escaping either duty or sales tax, or both, depending on the regime in a particular country.

2/If you’re in the market for makeup, look for freebies.

Cosmetics brands sweeten deals by creating special travel-size versions of popular items or offering freebies with your purchase as a perk. Your standard-size lipstick may cost about what you’d pay at home, but at duty-free, the brand may throw in an extra gift.

3/Find items you can’t buy anywhere else, especially spirits.

For some brands, making limited-edition items available only in duty-free stores is a way to reel in new and existing customers.

4/Candy is a nice present, but you won’t save cash on it.

Prices on sweets will vary where you go around the world due to local market factors, so you may be able to find wherever cheaper than you would at a Duty Free Shop. 

The biggest perk of buying desserts at duty-free is that it’s an easy last-minute gift idea.

5/Take advantage of international brands you can’t find at home.

Duty-free stores study their customer base’s demographics and fill their shelves with items curated to appeal to groups traveling through certain airports. That means fliers may encounter products they wouldn’t normally at their hometown mall.

6/Skip the sunglasses.

As with chocolates and candy, the most persuasive case for shopping for sunglasses at the airport is the convenience. If you forgot your Ray-Bans at home while en route to Cancun, at least you can get some before you hop on the plane. Richardson isn’t sold on buying shades at duty-free for cost purposes, though, saying there’s no massive bargain

7/Research, because some items may not be cheaper at duty-free at all.

Retailers may offer higher discounts in some markets than in others. If you have time before your flight, it may be in your best interest to compare prices among different concourses. But calculating whether an item at duty-free is less expensive than it is elsewhere is a complicated dance.

Come to Las Vegas Sun Hotel & Casino, do some savvy shopping and bring home remarkable presents for your loved ones or yourself.