Five Tips to Save Money on Luxury Brands by Shopping in Paris

I used to hate on luxury brands, but as I’ve gotten older, I now appreciate and understand their value. I’ve found that since I started investing in a few staple luxury pieces, I’m not purchasing as much “stuff” as I used to. At the same time, I do recognize it is a huge privilege to be able to afford luxury goods, and there is truly no better place to purchase luxury than in Paris! In this post, I’ll be sharing five of my best tips when shopping for luxury goods in Paris!

List Price is Cheaper than in America
It is generally about 10% to 30% cheaper to buy luxury goods in Paris (even when you convert USD to €!) than list price in America.

Take Advantage of the VAT Refund
If you’re a non-EU citizen, you are eligible to receive about 10-13% of the VAT (Value Added Tax) back (I recommend getting your refund via credit card as it is slightly higher than the cash one).

Don’t Forget Your Passport
Make sure to bring your passport with you to the luxury stores (no photos or printed photocopies will be accepted). If you end up buying something, the sales associate will need to reference it to process the VAT refund.

Pay With Your Physical Credit Card
Make sure to pay with your physical credit card (vs. Apple Pay) for easier processing for the VAT refund.

Process Your VAT Refund Before You Leave Paris
Keep a look out for the VAT refund kiosks at the airport or international train station. Make sure to do this prior to boarding! It’s fairly quick to scan and process (so long as there are no issues with your paperwork), but it can potentially take a while if it’s crowded, so plan accordingly!

Happy shopping!

xo,
Keshia