Originally Posted by
criso
There is a price on the shelf, if you are travelling to the EU or choose not to hand over your boarding pass, that is the price you pay. This at least for the items I buy regularly, is the same as I would pay on the high street. When you get to the counter, you hand over you boarding pass and if flying outside the EU, a discount is applied equivalent to the vat.
Thank you criso this is good to know! I knew about the scandal but I wasn't sure what the current situation was. I did call boots T5 earlier today who confirmed that it would be VAT off. I also just checked some of the items in CWS' photo (thanks CWS!) on the website and the price is the same. So if they will deduct VAT from that, with the amount I need to get for the in laws, the savings should be enough to get something expensive to drown my sorrows!
Side note: Boots lady said that they can't reserve things, but you can order online and pick up there. But then you pay the online price and not VAT free which sort of defeats the purpose. She did offer to check the stock they had which is kind of useful.