Boarding pass check to buy a Coke (AMS)
Jan 16, 2017 | 5:37 pm
#1
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Boarding pass check to buy a Coke (AMS)
I hope this is the right place...
There is a shop inside of Schiphol Departures called "Dutch Food Gifts" that has a lot of specialty items, lots of cheese. It also happened to be the most convenient place for me to buy a Coke. So I grab a Coke, went to the front, handed the register woman the Coke, grabbed my 2.50 euros, then she asked to see my boarding pass. She then proceeded to ask me my nationality then asked me for the 2.50 euros.
It was early, I hadn't slept the night before, so I complied with all requests. What happened here? Was I unknowingly used for some corporate data collection? Or is a lot of their stuff duty free, meaning I was just a victim of formality?
https://www.schiphol.nl/en/page/airport-maps/
Departures > #41 darker blue (next to the casino)
There is a shop inside of Schiphol Departures called "Dutch Food Gifts" that has a lot of specialty items, lots of cheese. It also happened to be the most convenient place for me to buy a Coke. So I grab a Coke, went to the front, handed the register woman the Coke, grabbed my 2.50 euros, then she asked to see my boarding pass. She then proceeded to ask me my nationality then asked me for the 2.50 euros.
It was early, I hadn't slept the night before, so I complied with all requests. What happened here? Was I unknowingly used for some corporate data collection? Or is a lot of their stuff duty free, meaning I was just a victim of formality?
https://www.schiphol.nl/en/page/airport-maps/
Departures > #41 darker blue (next to the casino)
Jan 16, 2017 | 9:24 pm
#3
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My guess is that the shop is primarily duty free with prices therefore being lower for passengers to some destinations.
She might have also been concerned about whether liquids purchased in the airport would be allowed on your flight or whether there would be a gate check for contraband liquids just before boarding. I don't know whether AMS does this for some destinations, but I've seen it elsewhere, for example at PVG.
She might have also been concerned about whether liquids purchased in the airport would be allowed on your flight or whether there would be a gate check for contraband liquids just before boarding. I don't know whether AMS does this for some destinations, but I've seen it elsewhere, for example at PVG.
Jan 17, 2017 | 3:07 am
#6
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All shops at Schiphol (incl those selling Dutch "delicacies") require to present the BP for purchase (regardless of whether you actually buy without taxes or not) and collect nationality data for statistical purposes.
The F&B outlets (Starbucks, Grab & Fly, etc) don't do so. If you bought your beverage at Grab & Fly, they'd (most probably) not ask for your boarding pass.
The F&B outlets (Starbucks, Grab & Fly, etc) don't do so. If you bought your beverage at Grab & Fly, they'd (most probably) not ask for your boarding pass.
Jan 17, 2017 | 3:12 am
#7
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Jan 17, 2017 | 7:37 am
#8
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Thanks for the responses, I appreciate it.
It was a 500mL bottle... not that that makes it much better. Considering the near parity of the USD and Euro, I really didn't think much about it as airport shops in the US tend to rip you off as much as they can. A few years ago it would have been $3.50 or more, that would have angered me after I think about it.
Lovely airport, except for my inability to go to the Sbarro's pizza (couldn't get into Departures 1).
It was a 500mL bottle... not that that makes it much better. Considering the near parity of the USD and Euro, I really didn't think much about it as airport shops in the US tend to rip you off as much as they can. A few years ago it would have been $3.50 or more, that would have angered me after I think about it.
Lovely airport, except for my inability to go to the Sbarro's pizza (couldn't get into Departures 1).
Jan 17, 2017 | 1:55 pm
#9
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Duty free; It's supposedly only for passengers and not for employees working at the airport. That's why they ask for a BP. Everyone seems to do it nowadays, even if you buy a bottle of water.
However 2.50 for a 0.5L bottle of Coke....
However 2.50 for a 0.5L bottle of Coke....
Jan 18, 2017 | 11:48 pm
#10
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Originally Posted by old Schiphol website
Hasnt duty-free shopping been abolished?
Government regulations were changed in 1999 and true duty-free shopping was abolished for travellers within the EU. Passengers travelling to destinations outside the EU could and still can make duty-free purchases however.
In order to prevent passengers having to pay different prices depending on their destination, the retailers at the airport have agreed to harmonise the prices for EU and non-EU destinations. The VAT amount that consumers travelling within the EU would normally pay on products is now borne by the retailers themselves. This enables prices to be kept lower, and allows all departing passengers at Schiphol to shop at duty-free prices.
Why does the retailer ask to see my boarding card?
The retailer has a legal obligation to register the difference between taxable and duty-free sales. This difference is based on the passengers destination: within or outside the EU. Moreover, the retailer needs to be certain that the purchaser is actually a passenger, and not someone working at Schiphol since Schiphol employees are not eligible for these duty-free benefits.
Are there any exceptions?
Two different prices are charged for tobacco: for destinations within the EU (same as local prices) and for destinations outside the EU (duty-free and thus cheaper). Thats because the EU doesnt allow price reductions for tobacco. There are also a few categories that are not subject to the normal regulations, such as books, magazines, flowers and flower bulbs, which are all taxable even for passengers travelling to destinations outside the EU.
Government regulations were changed in 1999 and true duty-free shopping was abolished for travellers within the EU. Passengers travelling to destinations outside the EU could and still can make duty-free purchases however.
In order to prevent passengers having to pay different prices depending on their destination, the retailers at the airport have agreed to harmonise the prices for EU and non-EU destinations. The VAT amount that consumers travelling within the EU would normally pay on products is now borne by the retailers themselves. This enables prices to be kept lower, and allows all departing passengers at Schiphol to shop at duty-free prices.
Why does the retailer ask to see my boarding card?
The retailer has a legal obligation to register the difference between taxable and duty-free sales. This difference is based on the passengers destination: within or outside the EU. Moreover, the retailer needs to be certain that the purchaser is actually a passenger, and not someone working at Schiphol since Schiphol employees are not eligible for these duty-free benefits.
Are there any exceptions?
Two different prices are charged for tobacco: for destinations within the EU (same as local prices) and for destinations outside the EU (duty-free and thus cheaper). Thats because the EU doesnt allow price reductions for tobacco. There are also a few categories that are not subject to the normal regulations, such as books, magazines, flowers and flower bulbs, which are all taxable even for passengers travelling to destinations outside the EU.