Originally Posted by
mdj1
I want to purchase a couple of items from tiffanys in t5. I will save about £1000 off the high street price and there is a 10 to 20% price increase coming in the middle of January as well.
What are you talking about? It makes NO DIFFERENCE in T5 where you are flying.
If flying in the EU, the shop pays the VAT on your behalf.
If flying outside the EU, the shop keeps the VAT as extra profit, presumably paying a large slug to BAA.
In either case, except for buying cigarettes or certain booze items, the price you pay is the same.
In fact, if flying back to the UK with the item, then strictly speaking you WANT to be flying to an EU destination, because the VAT is then paid. Otherwise, flying back in from, say, Switzerland, Customs has the right to stop you and insist you pay the VAT and the additional fine on top.