Howiepix Posted February 18, 2011 Share #1 Posted February 18, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I had an email this week from Heathrow airport, letting me know that I could now buy Leica equipment from the Dixons shop at the airport. It seems they offer a reserve and collect service please see link. BAA Heathrow: Technology The price for the M9 seems good at £4125. Has anyone any experience of this? I personally doubt the service will be as good as the dealers we all know and love. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 18, 2011 Posted February 18, 2011 Hi Howiepix, Take a look here Buying Duty Free. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaapv Posted February 18, 2011 Share #2 Posted February 18, 2011 Dixons?? Hmmm..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted February 19, 2011 Share #3 Posted February 19, 2011 If you intend to use it in UK you will have to pay VAT no? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted February 19, 2011 Share #4 Posted February 19, 2011 That's the whole point about buying Duty Free. You pay significantly less than on the High Street. Usually. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
57andrew Posted February 19, 2011 Share #5 Posted February 19, 2011 Dixons?? Hmmm..... +1 !!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted February 19, 2011 Share #6 Posted February 19, 2011 That's the whole point about buying Duty Free. You pay significantly less than on the High Street. Usually. Yes but not for use in the UK if the buyer lives there otherwise he'll have to pay VAT or a fine to the Customs if i'm not wrong (but i might be). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexmann Posted February 19, 2011 Share #7 Posted February 19, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) This is what it says at the bottom of the product pages: "Prices subject to change due to currency fluctuations but are correct at time of publishing. Airport prices shown are available exclusively after security control. Passengers travelling to a final destination outside the EU may be required to pay tax on purchases at arrival to destination and /or if items are brought back to the UK. All stock subject to availability." The last sentence is all you need to know. Regards Alex Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted February 19, 2011 Share #8 Posted February 19, 2011 Yes but not for use in the UK if the buyer lives there otherwise he'll have to pay VAT or a fine to the Customs if i'm not wrong (but i might be). No. If I buy a bottle of scotch or after shave in Duty Free, that is the end of the matter. I don't get charged anything when I leave the airport. I will look to see if the Duty Free Allowances allow for such expensive purchases for UK subjects - there will be a website somewhere. Happy to stand corrected if I am wrong. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted February 19, 2011 Share #9 Posted February 19, 2011 No. If I buy a bottle of scotch or after shave in Duty Free, that is the end of the matter. I don't get charged anything when I leave the airport... Never say no to a lawyer my friend. Just kidding i know almost nothing in English law. But the usual explanation is there are allowances... which have nothing to do with expensive items like M9 most probably. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted February 19, 2011 Share #10 Posted February 19, 2011 Beware of customs folks Interesting experience here: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/customer-forum/167878-leica-store-paris-quickest-vat-refund.html#post1616434 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
masjah Posted February 19, 2011 Share #11 Posted February 19, 2011 You can bring things into the UK bought VAT or duty free only if the quantity is within the customs concession limits. (A litre of so of spirits, and so on.) I'm not sure of the concession limit for "ordinary" goods (thiat is, ones which attract only VAT and not excise duty) but I'm absolutely sure that it's nowhere near as high as £4k; more like £250 per person. So you'd have to pay VAT to pass (legally) through UK customs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted February 19, 2011 Share #12 Posted February 19, 2011 Duty Free and Tax Free The following products are classed as Duty Free items: Liquor Tobacco Pure Perfume All other items are classed as Tax Free. On July 1, 1999 changes to the Duty-Free and Tax-Free laws that apply to European Union countries came into effect. However, you can still buy a wide range of Duty and Tax-Free goods when you travel abroad. If you are flying outside the European Union you are entitled to your full allowance of goods at Tax and Duty Free prices. If you are flying within the European Union you are entitled to Tax Free prices on fragrances, cosmetics and skincare; photographic and electrical goods; fashion and accessories; gifts, jewellery and souvenirs. There are no longer any allowance restrictions on these Tax Free items. Duty Free & Tax Free Shopping Allowances from the EU / Duty Free Allowances from Outside the EU - Heathrow Airport Guide Note to travellers to the US or Far East... When travelling from outside the EU to the UK you are allowed to bring in the following, provided you travel with the items and do not intend to sell them. 200 cigarettes, or 100 cigarillos, or 50 cigars, or 250g of tobacco 4 litres of still table wine 1 litre of spirits or strong liqueurs over 22% volume; or 2 litres of fortified wine, sparkling wine or other liqueurs 16 litres of beer 60cc/ml of perfume £300 worth of all other goods including gifts and souvenirs Please note: From Dec 1 2008 you can 'mix and match' products in the alcohol category, and the tobacco category, provided you do not exceed your total allowance. For example you could bring in 100 cigarettes and 25 cigars, which is 50 per cent of your cigarette allowance and 50 per cent of your cigar allowance. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted February 19, 2011 Share #13 Posted February 19, 2011 Just for the record, Dixons were Leica dealers for donkey's years through their Wallace Heaton subsidiary. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted February 19, 2011 Share #14 Posted February 19, 2011 I don`t understand why people are trying to avoid taxation. That is what keeps the government going and the government provides you with what you need, free education,free health care, old age pensions, national defense and countless other things. Since government has no money to provide these nice things, it must "borrow" your funds to cycle them to more worthy people. So if you don`t like the system, why do you put put people in office who insist on recycling your money? I just don`t understand. The whole thing seems great to me. Or perhaps you believe others should pay for the benefits and you should only collect. The attitudes of some people. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted February 19, 2011 Share #15 Posted February 19, 2011 ...perhaps you believe others should pay for the benefits and you should only collect... Or we know that we pay for others' benefit and we think we deserve to collect from time to time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted February 19, 2011 Share #16 Posted February 19, 2011 Do you never travel abroad, Toby? Do you buy stuff "out of state" to take advantage if lower prices elsewhere? Do you have an accountant to fill in your IRS form? Do you take advantage of all your allowances? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gabriel Posted February 19, 2011 Share #17 Posted February 19, 2011 You cannot buy tax or duty free at UK airports if you are travelling within the EU. However I believe that the the Airside shops will sell items with a discount equivalent to the VAT therefore the item is not tax and duty free and can be reimported into the UK legally. This used to be the case but please check with the airport shopd by phone. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gabriel Posted February 19, 2011 Share #18 Posted February 19, 2011 You cannot buy tax or duty free at UK airports if you are travelling within the EU. However I believe that the the Airside shops will sell items with a discount equivalent to the VAT therefore the item is not tax and duty free and can be reimported into the UK legally. This used to be the case but please check with the airport shops by phone. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edmond_terakopian Posted February 19, 2011 Share #19 Posted February 19, 2011 I had an email this week from Heathrow airport, letting me know that I could now buy Leica equipment from the Dixons shop at the airport. It seems they offer a reserve and collect service please see link. BAA Heathrow: Technology The price for the M9 seems good at £4125. Has anyone any experience of this? I personally doubt the service will be as good as the dealers we all know and love. Last week Dixons at T5 had 4 or 5 M9 bodies, in both colours, in stock. Also the X1 and some compacts. Couldn't see any lenses though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted February 19, 2011 Share #20 Posted February 19, 2011 You cannot buy tax or duty free at UK airports if you are travelling within the EU. Not sure how this squares with Andy's quote from above: "If you are flying within the European Union you are entitled to Tax Free prices on fragrances, cosmetics and skincare; photographic and electrical goods; fashion and accessories; gifts, jewellery and souvenirs. There are no longer any allowance restrictions on these Tax Free items." Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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