I am just wondering if handbags by French designers are less expensive in Paris than in the USA. Thanks for the help.

some are less expensive esp. if you qualify for vat tax back.. galeries lafayette carries purses from known designers that never get exported to usa. don't forget their 10% discoount coupon available at the store or your hotel.

I'm sure they are. For ex., Longchamps, the small nylon shopping sac: at La Samaritane with a discount on certain colors plus the 10% tourist discount, I got it for 40 euro. Here in the US the same bag is selling for $100.

I bought that same bag for my sister in law for xmas. I bought it in Maastricht, Netherlands and I only paid 46 euro with no discount,etc. The bag retails for 96 at Saks.com...so Paris prices are probably pretty standard compared to the rest of europe, but the prices are still much more reasonable than the US prices. The other thing is that many styles will never be available in the states... so you may end up with a unique bag. Happy bag shopping....

If you mean higher end such as Louis Vuitton, you'll find that the price is similar in the US and Europe. You do however get the VAT back if you purchase in Europe. I bought a bag from Gucci in the States and on a visit to Gucci in the UK the saleswoman couldn't believe that the style wasn't offered in London. So I guess it really depends on what sells in what market. The other thing you should consider is if the bag needs to be returned for any defects, this happened to me upon my return to the States with a purchase from Galeries Lafayette in Paris and it was not a nice experience. <BR><BR>If you decide on a higher ticket item go directly to the store, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Fendi, you'll find it's easier to deal with if you have a problem when you get home.

Thanks to all for your advice and information.