Jzlerner

Very random question but if anyones flying through T5 in the next few hours please do let me know if the Macallan Folio 7 is in stock in the boutique and if so how much stock is left. I've been hearing rumours it's available and it would be worth booking a flight just for that. Thanks!

mikeyfly

Very interested in this too ! In T5 Friday AM but likely too late for you

Jzlerner

If anyones flying tomorrow I would still appreciate the info. Thanks!

jamesreid978

They only sell to people leaving the UK, just an FYI of anyone thinking of booking a cheap domestic to pick one up.

Also worth having a conversation with the staff, a desirable bottle (one which sells for greater than retail price) I enquired about was out of stock once, but after speaking with the sales guy for 5 minutes or so about whisky and my collection, he remembered they did in fact of one in stock in the back...

So just enquiring if they have stock, you might be told no, but that doesn't always mean they don't have stock.

spursdebs

If you go on the Heathrow app you can contact the shops and ask yourself. Click on whatever shop you want and it has a contact us link.

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/lhr-london-heathrow-airport/id427951859

muscat

Definitely worth a flight if you can buy it for the RRP of �348 and then (attempt to) sell online for �1995 !

Jzlerner

The app doesn't appear to list the boutique. Do you have a contact number for them?

Jzlerner

Yep. That's why I'm interested to know if they do actually have stock and brushed me off or if it actually hasn't come in yet.

danmushman

in theory, what if someone booked the cheapest reward international flight available that day, visited the boutique, then and decided they felt unwell so left T5 and went home? Haven't bough duty free for years but I assume they give you the goods at the point of sale, and not at the jetbridge like some US airports?

sammyg901

you're supposed to get it refunded, my family missed a flight at Gatwick and were told to do so before being escorted out

In reality you'd be very unlucky to be caught, especially at T5 as you can self offload via the transit to and from C gates.

danmushman

yeh LGW would be trickier as you have to be escorted out. As you said at T5 you can just leave via the normal route. I guess you walk through customs, but even then what are the chances

ratechaser

Are we advocating tax fraud on this thread...?

Jzlerner

So as it happens I became an expert in this yesterday. I got to customs and literally had this thought. I went through the red channel to ask. Here were the questions:

Hi, I'm thinking of bring into the UK a bunch of whiskey. I know my personal duty free allowance is 4 liters. If I bring in 5 what tax will I have to pay.
Agent: you'll have to pay tax on 5 liters (which may or may not be correct I don't know but it seems ridiculous to have the pay the total and not the excess)
Me: how much is the tax?
Agent: don't know, we'll tell you when you do it.
Me: that doesn't make sense. Imagine I have a 700ml whiskey bought for �300 40%ABV. How much tax am I paying if I bring in excess of my allowance for that.
Agent: we'll work it out when it happens.
Me: nonsensical! It's a set tax rate not whatever you feel like on the day! I'm asking to know before because if you decide to tax me 80% on a bottle what's the point. If it's 20% than it's likely worthwhile. So whats the tax rate?
​​​​​​Agent: we'll work it out when it happens
Me: if I purchase duty free upstairs can I just abondon my flight and exit?
Agent: no, you'll be arrested. It's illegal.
Me: why?
Agent: because you never intended to take the flight, just to get the duty free items.
Me: fair enough. What if I do all the above but declare it and pay taxes?
Agent: still illegal.
Me: why? Buying duty free and then paying duty. What's the issue?
Agent: you'll be arrested.
Me: what if I buy duty free fly out of the UK and then get on the next flight back in?
agent: illegal. You'll be arrested
me: what if I go, stay abroad for a week then come back?
Agent: you'll be arrested.
Me: so how can anyone ever buy any (non consumable) duty free items when they have the full intention of bring it home after their holiday.
​​​​​​agent: mumbles


​​​​​To point out, this is a summary. I was more polite in person and the agent was more annoying than they sound above.

I also should mention when I initially walked in I said straight away "I have nothing to declare I just have some customs questions for the future".

They were really genuine questions. If I can buy a limited bottle for �300, sell it for �1000 next day, I'm more than happy to pay 20% tax and being in as many bottles as I can carry. If I'm not being told the tax rate how can I work it out?

Needless to say after 15 minutes of incompetency I was searched for "raising suspicions" which to be honest is fair, I can't fault them on that but it is utterly ridiculous that the place you are supposed to declare imports cannot provide the tax rates for those very imports.

Jzlerner

After re reading my post I do want to stress again before I get absolutely hounded, I was polite in person. The impoliteness you see above is what was going through my head and what came out of my mouth was something along the same lines but a politer version

danmushman

interesting
I think pretty standard if you go over your personal allowance they'll tax you on the whole amount
Not sure what the issue is if you take your flights and return to the UK? Any specific guidance on this?