best shopping deals in paris and italy?
Apr 21st, 2016, 08:56 AM
#1
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best shopping deals in paris and italy?
Hi,
I'm planning a trip to Paris and Rome, Florence and possibly Venice Italy this summer, in July...I've been before to all those places and love them....this time, I am hoping to do some shopping and wonder if anyone can recommend where to get the best deals or discounts at those locations? I had been to the outlets The Mall and Space Outlet over 10 years ago near Florence and found great bargains at Space Outlet on Prada ($10 euro ties, etc) and my husband bought a jacket from Armani at a good deal....wondering if those locations still have good deals?
Also, this time wondering if Louis Vuitton and Hermes and some of the other higher end brands have deeper discounts at certain places? is it cheaper to buy in France compared to buying the same item in the US?
I'm planning a trip to Paris and Rome, Florence and possibly Venice Italy this summer, in July...I've been before to all those places and love them....this time, I am hoping to do some shopping and wonder if anyone can recommend where to get the best deals or discounts at those locations? I had been to the outlets The Mall and Space Outlet over 10 years ago near Florence and found great bargains at Space Outlet on Prada ($10 euro ties, etc) and my husband bought a jacket from Armani at a good deal....wondering if those locations still have good deals?
Also, this time wondering if Louis Vuitton and Hermes and some of the other higher end brands have deeper discounts at certain places? is it cheaper to buy in France compared to buying the same item in the US?
Apr 21st, 2016, 10:21 AM
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no, it is not cheaper to buy in France, it is usually more expensive. The only exceptions I have seen are when some particular discontinued model may be on sale during the summer sales, for example, and it costs a lot more in the US. That isn't Vuitton or Hermes as I have not ever looked at their goods, but something like Mephisto shoes.
YOu are never going to find a discount Vuitton or Hermes store, nor some store giving a discount on a real product that you won't get at the flagship. Why would they do that?
Hermes does have sales twice a year at the Palais des Congres (not in stores), one in January and one at end of June or beginning of July. I don't think Vuitton ever has sales per their website
<<Stores claiming to sell Louis Vuitton handbags as outlets are not associated with Louis Vuitton. Indeed Louis Vuitton products are exclusively sold in Louis Vuitton stores and through Louis Vuitton official website www.louisvuitton.com. You must also know that Louis Vuitton never marks down prices, and unless they are second hand, discounted Louis Vuitton items found on the Web are highly suspicious.>>
YOu can get Armani seconds at lots of shops, that's not unusual. You can get Armani seconds goods in Paris, for that matter, at discount stores on rue d'Alesia.
Maybe you could find something better to do with your money.
YOu are never going to find a discount Vuitton or Hermes store, nor some store giving a discount on a real product that you won't get at the flagship. Why would they do that?
Hermes does have sales twice a year at the Palais des Congres (not in stores), one in January and one at end of June or beginning of July. I don't think Vuitton ever has sales per their website
<<Stores claiming to sell Louis Vuitton handbags as outlets are not associated with Louis Vuitton. Indeed Louis Vuitton products are exclusively sold in Louis Vuitton stores and through Louis Vuitton official website www.louisvuitton.com. You must also know that Louis Vuitton never marks down prices, and unless they are second hand, discounted Louis Vuitton items found on the Web are highly suspicious.>>
YOu can get Armani seconds at lots of shops, that's not unusual. You can get Armani seconds goods in Paris, for that matter, at discount stores on rue d'Alesia.
Maybe you could find something better to do with your money.
Apr 21st, 2016, 10:31 AM
#3
I responded on your other thread, so check that for comments on outlet shopping near Florence.
Whatever you do, don't buy fake merchandise on the street no matter how tempting and "real" it might look. The fines are steep if you're caught. And if you buy authentic merchandise, make sure you keep all of your receipts until you get home.
Whatever you do, don't buy fake merchandise on the street no matter how tempting and "real" it might look. The fines are steep if you're caught. And if you buy authentic merchandise, make sure you keep all of your receipts until you get home.
Apr 21st, 2016, 11:18 AM
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I have found some bargains at the half yearly Paris sales. I bought several items 50% off at Gerard Darel and Pablo (Darel's lower price affiliate) That particular brand is a good fit for me and I thought 50% off was great!
A friend shopping with me that trip got a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes half off as well.
A friend shopping with me that trip got a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes half off as well.
Apr 21st, 2016, 02:09 PM
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The best place to find bargains on Hermes ties is eBay. The secondary market is well-defined and internally policed by the sellers (who will provide descriptions of how NOT to get duped by a fake).
The main reason you'll do better in the US on pricing than in Europe is the VAT. If you ship to the US from the European seller, then you can get the transaction without VAT (if they're willing to do this) but the shipping charge may still make the total more than the price you'll pay in the US.
Premium brands command premium prices and fight to ensure discounters and gray marketers aren't falsely trading on their names (see Tiffany Inc. v. Costco, the numerous cases filed against Tuesday Morning).
If it's too good a price to be true, it's not true - don't buy the Rolex with quartz second-hand movements . . .
The main reason you'll do better in the US on pricing than in Europe is the VAT. If you ship to the US from the European seller, then you can get the transaction without VAT (if they're willing to do this) but the shipping charge may still make the total more than the price you'll pay in the US.
Premium brands command premium prices and fight to ensure discounters and gray marketers aren't falsely trading on their names (see Tiffany Inc. v. Costco, the numerous cases filed against Tuesday Morning).
If it's too good a price to be true, it's not true - don't buy the Rolex with quartz second-hand movements . . .
Apr 21st, 2016, 04:59 PM
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In general prices in the US are less than in europe.
You can still get good quality leather goods in Italy in great style for not bad prices (but will be a lot more than basic brands in the US) but these are NOT name brands which are very careful how they discount items from previous seasons or styles that never sold.
Or you can get a ROLOX watch like a friend of mine did in chinatown - for I think $20. There were poor tourists in the back buying obvious fake brand name at high prices - since they had no idea of the workmanship on the real item.
You can still get good quality leather goods in Italy in great style for not bad prices (but will be a lot more than basic brands in the US) but these are NOT name brands which are very careful how they discount items from previous seasons or styles that never sold.
Or you can get a ROLOX watch like a friend of mine did in chinatown - for I think $20. There were poor tourists in the back buying obvious fake brand name at high prices - since they had no idea of the workmanship on the real item.
Apr 21st, 2016, 11:04 PM
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"shopaddict on Apr 21, 16 at 7:50pm
I should have mentioned not a 'bargain' but are Louis Vuitton bags any cheaper in France or Italy compared to US? Like even a few hundred dollars cheaper"
Yes, they're less in France. I've been buying them there regularly since 1980. Just go on the Louis Vuitton website for France and get the price in Euro and then go on the U.S. website and compare the prices. Go on xe.com for an approximate conversion rate and then remember that you'll also get detaxe of about 10% when it all boils down, but will have to add sales tax to the U.S. price. Remember though that duty free is max $800. when you come back into the U.S.
For example, to just pick an LV bag in random, however one that I'm not personally interested in, if you take the Alma B in monogram and buy it here in L.A., it would come to $1,317 total with the sales tax added. If the same bag is bought in France, it comes to approximately $909.75 (including the detaxe). That's a $407.25 savings.
However, my favorite place for high end handbags is Honolulu. Valentino had 25% off, including its new collection. I just picked up a bamboo-handled Gucci, a few weekends ago, for less than what it would have cost in Europe. I did the math on it. Plus sales tax there is only 4.7% as opposed to 9.75% here in L.A. They're allowed to sell at a lower base price there than here on the Mainland. But, I live in L.A. and can zip over for a few days of R&R and also shop and see friends and then zip home. I'll be back in Paris this summer, but won't need to look for that Gucci bag as I figured I'd find it in Honolulu.
Happy Travels!
I should have mentioned not a 'bargain' but are Louis Vuitton bags any cheaper in France or Italy compared to US? Like even a few hundred dollars cheaper"
Yes, they're less in France. I've been buying them there regularly since 1980. Just go on the Louis Vuitton website for France and get the price in Euro and then go on the U.S. website and compare the prices. Go on xe.com for an approximate conversion rate and then remember that you'll also get detaxe of about 10% when it all boils down, but will have to add sales tax to the U.S. price. Remember though that duty free is max $800. when you come back into the U.S.
For example, to just pick an LV bag in random, however one that I'm not personally interested in, if you take the Alma B in monogram and buy it here in L.A., it would come to $1,317 total with the sales tax added. If the same bag is bought in France, it comes to approximately $909.75 (including the detaxe). That's a $407.25 savings.
However, my favorite place for high end handbags is Honolulu. Valentino had 25% off, including its new collection. I just picked up a bamboo-handled Gucci, a few weekends ago, for less than what it would have cost in Europe. I did the math on it. Plus sales tax there is only 4.7% as opposed to 9.75% here in L.A. They're allowed to sell at a lower base price there than here on the Mainland. But, I live in L.A. and can zip over for a few days of R&R and also shop and see friends and then zip home. I'll be back in Paris this summer, but won't need to look for that Gucci bag as I figured I'd find it in Honolulu.
Happy Travels!
Apr 22nd, 2016, 02:01 AM
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The Mall is way better than it was 10 years ago and you will certainly find some bargains which you even better when you take the tax rebate into account.
Bear in mind that The Mall and many shops in Italy use Global Blue or a similar refund service. The IVA or sales tax rate in Italy is 22% so the gross refund is 22/122 or roughly 18%. Global Blue then applies a 30% administrative fee so your actual rebate works out at roughly 12.6%. This administrative fee is a bit of a rip-off as part of it is shared with The Mall. Whenever I have the opportunity to reclaim the tax I always do it direct with the shop so I can obtain the full amount. The process is a little more complex and unfortunately not everyone is prepared to do it - at The Mall you have to use Global Blue.
Bear in mind that The Mall and many shops in Italy use Global Blue or a similar refund service. The IVA or sales tax rate in Italy is 22% so the gross refund is 22/122 or roughly 18%. Global Blue then applies a 30% administrative fee so your actual rebate works out at roughly 12.6%. This administrative fee is a bit of a rip-off as part of it is shared with The Mall. Whenever I have the opportunity to reclaim the tax I always do it direct with the shop so I can obtain the full amount. The process is a little more complex and unfortunately not everyone is prepared to do it - at The Mall you have to use Global Blue.
Apr 22nd, 2016, 02:30 AM
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Last time I had great bargain was in Minneapolis - mall of America.
When coming home, my wife was astounded at the amount of clothes I had bought and her jaw dropped when I told how much it had cost.
So for us Belgians and French we ike shopping for clothes in the US.
Cannot help on Vuitton bags, if I were to buy one, I'd buy a fake one. (Some say fake Vuitton is a theft, I consider selling the real Vuitton at the price they ask is the theft. Do I Sound like a good commnunist ?).
When coming home, my wife was astounded at the amount of clothes I had bought and her jaw dropped when I told how much it had cost.
So for us Belgians and French we ike shopping for clothes in the US.
Cannot help on Vuitton bags, if I were to buy one, I'd buy a fake one. (Some say fake Vuitton is a theft, I consider selling the real Vuitton at the price they ask is the theft. Do I Sound like a good commnunist ?).
Apr 29th, 2016, 10:57 AM
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It's true about the cut of the shirts. American men's shirts are cut straight, so not at all fitted to a slim person's body. My husband can only wear European or Asian shirts if he wants to look good, as he is slim and needs a shirt that has contours to fit his slim-ness. American shirts are built for people who overeat and have big guts. Sorry, it's true.
At any rate, there are few bargains in France on clothing except during the twice-yearly sales, and even then the prices are higher than what one can find almost any day in the USA.
If you want to shop online which is what most French people I know do, go to ACHICA.com or EricDress.fr or other French bargain websites. You can get great stuff there, and some of it is deliverable overseas.
At any rate, there are few bargains in France on clothing except during the twice-yearly sales, and even then the prices are higher than what one can find almost any day in the USA.
If you want to shop online which is what most French people I know do, go to ACHICA.com or EricDress.fr or other French bargain websites. You can get great stuff there, and some of it is deliverable overseas.
Apr 29th, 2016, 11:23 AM
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St. Cirq, your self-loathing never ceases to amaze. You do know that living in France will never make you not American, don't you?
You do live in France, right?
Meanwhile, the tragedy of slim American men going shirtless, or wallowing in enormous tents, continues...
You do live in France, right?
Meanwhile, the tragedy of slim American men going shirtless, or wallowing in enormous tents, continues...
May 6th, 2016, 09:29 AM
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LOL luckily now in the US they make slim fit and extra slim fit shirts for men at most places..my husband prefers the regular slim fit, he likes his a bit roomy..
Looks like I will be in Paris and Italy during the July sales, when and where?!!?!
Looks like I will be in Paris and Italy during the July sales, when and where?!!?!
May 6th, 2016, 10:11 AM
#18
I found Prada bags in Italy to be far less than in the US; Ditto Furla, though it is farther down the food chain than you are looking at.
The Furla bag had a bit of the weave come undone after I got back to US; they replaced it via the NY store. As with Coach, at least in the old days, great customer service.
Newbe was that swipe really called for?
The Furla bag had a bit of the weave come undone after I got back to US; they replaced it via the NY store. As with Coach, at least in the old days, great customer service.
Newbe was that swipe really called for?
May 6th, 2016, 10:25 AM
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annw, are you serious??
In response to this remark:
< American shirts are built for people who overeat and have big guts. Sorry, it's true.>
and so many others, yes, my "swipe" was entirely necessary, thanks for asking.
In response to this remark:
< American shirts are built for people who overeat and have big guts. Sorry, it's true.>
and so many others, yes, my "swipe" was entirely necessary, thanks for asking.
