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Are Luxury Brands

Cheaper in Paris?
By Diane Marz 32 Comments

One question I get asked frequently is,

“are luxury brands cheaper in Paris? and
“Are designer bags cheaper in Europe?”
Today, I'm excited to answer your burning
questions about the pricing of designer
brands and bags in Paris and Europe.
Paris is home to many luxury fashion
houses, including household names such
as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Givenchy,
Hermes, Chloe, YSL and Celine just to
name a few. Plus, there are hundreds of
smaller designers and brands in Paris.
It’s no wonder that people travel from all
over the world travel to Paris for the
ultimate shopping experience. If people
from around the world travel to Paris just
to go shopping, it begs the question, are
luxury brands really that much cheaper in
Paris?

Diane wearing a Neverfull MM Louis Vuitton Damier

Ebene Canvas

Table of Contents

The short answer is yes, luxury brands

are cheaper in Paris. If you are looking
for a designer handbag, belt, accessory,
clothing, etc then Paris is the place to
go!  Let’s dive down to the nitty-gritty and
explain why luxury brands are cheaper in
Paris and Europe. Brands that are
created in Europe are cheaper because
when these luxury goods are shipped all
over the world there is an import tax, duty
tax and transportation cost associated
with it.

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Pin this Image!

For Example: take a Hermés, Birkin Size

30 bag with Togo leather, the price in
Paris is €7,000, which would be
equivalent to $8,228 USD. However, in
the USA the price for a Birkin is $10,900
+ Sales Tax =  $11,650.16 (NYC).  If you
buy this same bag in Paris, you will save
roughly $3,422. If you are making a
luxury purchase, the amount you will
save by purchasing a bag in Paris makes
the trip worth it. Think of it like getting a
free trip to Paris! 

Update as of 2022, With the Euro and the

USD being almost equal, you will save
even more money shopping in Europe!

The same theory applies for countries

such as Singapore, Hong Kong, and
many others. Shop preloved luxury
handbags.

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Which Luxury brands are

cheaper in Paris?

Hermés Birkin Size 35 Togo Leather

The best rule to follow when identifying

which brands and bags are cheaper in
Europe is to check to see whether that
brand is actually made in Europe. If the
brand is made in Europe, it will be less
expensive. If the brand is made in
America and you are buying it in Paris,
you’ll have to pay the import Tax, thus
making it more expensive. Some of the
most popular brands that will be cheaper
in Paris include, Chanel, Louis Vuitton,
Givenchy, Balmain, Christian Louboutin,
Pierre Cardin, Yves Saint Laurent (YSL),
Roger Vivier, Thierry Mugler, Dior, Jean
Paul Gaultier, Hermès, Lanvin, Chloé,
Rochas, and Céline.

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Many people don’t know this, but twice a

year by law Paris has sales. This is the
only time of the year brands are able to
put their products on sale. If you are an
avid shopper I recommend scheduling
your trip around these events. In the
summer the sales start the last
Wednesday of June, and in the Winter
the sales start the second Wednesday in
January. Many of the top luxury fashion
houses have put their products on sale!

Keep in Mind, if you’re looking for that

classic Birkin from Hermes or the
Neverfull from Louis Vuitton, these bags
never go on sale. If you are looking to
shop like a Parisian, I've also written an
article about where Parisian's shop. 

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Recently I've written an entire article

about how Louis Vuitton handbags are
cheaper in Italy, Paris, and Europe.

Chanel Handbag in Paris

Do you receive the tax refund

on luxury goods in Paris?
The great news is that if you spend over
100.01 Euros you’re entitled to the tax
refund process in Paris. The tax refund
includes luxury goods! Most of the time
the sales associate will automatically fill
your paperwork, but in case they don’t
make sure you ask! You are only eligible
for the VAT tax refund process in Paris if
you are a non-european citizen and are
not part of the EU. Here is a quick
breakdown of the qualifications:

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Spend more than 100.01 Euros in

the same store, the same day
Cannot be a member of the EU
(European Union)
Must be older than 16
Must not be in France longer than 6
months
Make sure you have your passport
with you the time of the purchase
Have your item readily available to
show the customs officer at the
airport / train station

When you are processing the tax refund

paperwork you have the ability to get the
VAT tax back immediately in cash or you
can have it added back to your credit
card which can take up to 3 months.

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If you want cash back immediately, you

receive 10.8% of your purchases back as
long as you depart from the EU within 21
days. If you decide to wait and have it
refunded on your credit card, you will
receive 12% cash back.If you decide to
add the tax refund back to your credit
card, sometimes I can be processed very
quickly such as 2 weeks and other times
(especially during the busy season) it can
take up to 3 months. 

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Don’t forget To take your tax refund

paperwork and the envelope to the
airport! Once you arrive at the airport,
find the tax refund kiosk, scan the
document and drop it off in the ‘mailbox’.
Depending on what your tax refund
scans says, you may not need to drop
your paperwork in the mailbox. Please
ask the customs officer if you have any
questions. When you arrive at the airport,
there will be ‘mailboxes’ at these
locations:

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level, gate E

At Paris-Charles de Gaulle: Terminal 1:

CDGVAL level, hall 6, Terminal 2A:
Departures level, gate 5, Terminal 2C:
Departures level, gate 12, Terminal 2D:
Departures level, gate 6, Terminal 2E:
Departures level, gate 4, Terminal 2F:
Arrivals level, Terminal 3: Departures
level, airside.

I'm mentioned this before in other

articles, I highly recommend you take a
photo of your phone of all the VAT tax
refund paperwork. I would love to hear
your experiences with shopping for luxury
brands and bags in Paris, did you find it
was cheaper in Europe? 

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Sincerely Petite in Paris,

Diane 

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32 Comments

Nino says:
at

thank you this was very helpful.

Reply

Diane Marz says:

at

You’re welcome Nino!

Reply

Bryan The Artist says:

at

Hi!

I stumbled upon your site and I’m so

excited to be in Paris very soon (6
months away) lols

I see you have noted the Winter Sale for

January 2023, please keep me posted for
Summer Sale as I’ll be traveling July 2-7,
2023

Thanks Diane!!

Reply

Diane Marz says:

at

Hello B,

Thank you for your message! The

summer sales dates have just been
announced and they are from June 28,
2023, to July 25th 2023

Hope you have a great time shopping

in Paris!!

Best,
Diane

Reply

JC says:
at

Your info is a bit out of date. The dollar to

euro is almost 1:1 and you no longer
need to mail anything. You just scan the
form they give you and that’s all. The
machine even tells you you’re all set, as
well as the customs/duty agent. Currently
in Paris CDG Nov. 2022.

Reply

Diane Marz says:

at

Hello JC,

Thank you for your message, I updated

the article to reflect the exchange
information and the CDG airport
update! I really appreciate you sharing
this information!

FYI to other readers, some locations

other than the CDG airport (train
stations) do require you to drop the
forms still in the “mailbox”

Kind Regards,
Diane
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