zzz: your reply is great. And since I am not a know-it-all, I too have learned from what you wrote. What a great idea they had and found that niche in the market. I was thinking such must have been the case because that GR/TAX FREE EUROPE sticker is ubiquitous. I guess we all should be lucky to get something back, even if they do take a lot of commission with it and try to word it in such a way you really don't think twice about it. I remember on one trip to Italy I bought two suits and a really nice pair of Ferragamo shoes at Ferragamo's flagship store in Firenze. At that time, late 1999, the prices there were still better than anything I had seen in Manhattan. With the Tax Free sale, I did get money back at Roma-Fiumicino before I got on the plane. I had to be happy knowing I, at least, paid LESS than if I had purchased the same thing on 5th Avenue and even if there were sales on in the USA. Even though I had the merchandise in my suitcase, the woman at the Tax Free refund place didn't bat an eyelash to see the stuff and she stamped everything and once I got past passport control, I got the money in cash -- but I still surmise they took some at that point too. What were you looking to buy? A big sale means they get more, but if it helps, a little is better than nothing at that point, right? And if you get that expensive item when it's on sale, you'll save just a little more.

Eye Spy: glad that for once I was not on the receiving end with advice :-)<BR>I still owe you for the &quot;maatjes&quot;.<BR><BR>I'm not planning to buy anything, because I live in Europe now.<BR>But before then I would bring back clothing, car parts, furniture, watches, you name it, all free of VAT. Get the invoice, have it stamped at the airport, mail it back to the supplier, get the refund. <BR>Sometimes one had to educate the store but it went smooth, especially when credit cards became commonplace in Europe, so all they had to do was credit your card at the end. No need for a check or wire transfer.<BR><BR>Obviously, a lot of people were not aware of the proceedure, till GR (and some others) came into the picture.<BR><BR>Incidentally, thousands of foreign tourists don't pay sales tax when shopping in the US. The percentage is not as high as most VAT, but the principle is the same.<BR>