Travelers often discover amazing bargains on gold or jewelry, items handmade by local artisans, and things normally heavily taxed by the US government. A limited amount of these can be brought home by those traveling abroad without payment of extra monies.
How much can you save with duty-free shopping, and is it worth it? If you’re going to be traveling, should you be thinking about what you can bring back, how much of it, and plan to save money by avoiding payment of duties on imports?
It used to be a major benefit to many who traveled, but several changes have taken place, so now we have to say “it depends”.
Some of the things travelers most commonly look to save money on are jewelry, electronics, liquor, perfumes, cigarettes, and designer replica items.
Jewelry might be the best remaining bargain among these, for most people. However, just because something is reported to be of great value and you are told you are getting a bargain, it may not be so. It can be difficult to have items properly appraised in some countries, so you may be taking a big risk in buying high-end items like diamonds. However, lesser stones and gold can very often be had for much less than similar items in the States, so they can represent a very good deal. One other thing to consider though: prices vary greatly from one town to another, even within the same country. In order to learn where the best bargains can be found, you might want to ask cruise line employees or others who may be in the know. They may be able to give you the best advice about which ports to shop.
Many travelers are interested in buying knock-off handbags or other designer items. However, you should be aware that these are illegal and can be confiscated by US customs. And if you believe you are buying authentic items at a deep discount, pay close attention! It’s a matter of buyer beware and there are many counterfeits out there.
Electronics are another popular category. Again, watch out for counterfeits are possible. Even if the item is genuine, you may find that if there are any problems, the warranty is too expensive or almost impossible to enforce. They can be a great bargain in some Asian countries, though, so if you do decide to take a chance on overseas electronics, do yourself a favor and check prices in the US before you go so you’ll be in a better position to recognize whether they are worth the risk and if you are really saving money.
Liquor is another item that used to be popular to buy duty-free, but may not be such a bargain. Since the airlines have increased restrictions and fees, it will cost you more to get it back home if you are flying, and may not be worth the added cost. You might find it cheaper at a discount place near your home. However, for those who are driving and can transport the bottles themselves, the costs can still be a bargain.
Overall, travelers often find that many categories of goods purchased overseas may be somewhat less expensive, but are also often of inferior quality. If the difference is slight, buyers may choose to overlook defects, especially if they can save a large amount. But be savvy and check prices before you travel, since very often goods turn out to be no less expensive than the same items on sale in domestic outlets.
Perhaps the safest way to approach vacation shopping in the same way we recommend people shop for antiques. We always caution them (unless they are resellers and know the market) not to buy things simply because they believe an item is “worth more” and represents an investment, but rather to choose pieces based on the value they put on it themselves. Do you love it enough that you want to buy it anyway?
In the same way, you should probably consider your vacation shopping not as a means to “save money” by getting things cheaper, but instead consider each item based on its real worth to you. You are much more likely to be satisfied in the end if you purchase a piece of jewelry you would not part with for any price (whether it represents a profit or not) just because you absolutely LOVE it, and it is a memento of a special vacation.
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