Google Store in London
 

Has anyone checked out the Google store-in-a-store over in London at Tottenham Court Road's Currys-PC World store?

Does anyone know whether they carry the Google Pixel (Chromebook) in store and whether you can also do a VAT refund for purchases there?

I think this will be better in the London/UK forum, so moving there.

I work in the area so if nobody has seen it I can call in some day and investigate for you.

PC World offers VAT rebates to eligible travellers, so I can't imagine this one would be any different.

Many thanks for the kind help - I won't be flying straight out of the EU from Heathrow so not sure whether I will qualify, but could you just check to see if they stock the new (2015 model) Google Pixel Chromebook or whether they need to be pre-ordered/sent by post?

That way I wouldn't be heading there for nothing if in fact the Pixel cannot be bought in-store. Many thanks once again. ^

The store won't refund the VAT at the point of purchase but you'll be able to claim it back when you leave the EU area.

PC World (man, you need to watch what you say in there...) do have a click and collect service, so it may be worth seeing if they have the model you want on their website do you can do this.

Thanks - will do my best to sort this out, though it will mean lugging the full packaging around until my final flight out.

I checked the online store (PC World) but found no mention of the Pixel. I'll still check to see if Google does mail orders direct once I fire up the VPN...

Turns out they do sell it online but unfortunately you cannot do the VAT refund for products ordered on the internet.

Will anyone be visiting the Google store in London in the near future?

Depends what you mean by 'ordered'.

The crucial question is where the transaction occurs.
If the purchase happens in store, with it just being an order/reservation, that is fine for a VAT reclaim.
If the purchase happens online, and you are just collecting in store, then it is distance selling and not eligible for VAT reclaim.

PC World suport both.
You can certainly use their reserve and collect service (where the transaction is completed in store) and get the VAT back.