Duty Free refunds or returns – how do you arrange them?

Duty Free refunds or returns on faulty goods, is the most difficult problem to solve, because you are probably on the other side of the world when you find out that you need to make a claim.

We receive emails every day asking for a refund or a credit for damaged goods bought in Duty Free stores, even though Duty Free on Arrival does not actually sell goods to anyone!

Information for Duty Free shopping
Check before you buy!

Perhaps these mails come to us because it is difficult to track down your airport store or that the retailer duty free information is not so easy to find?

We also receive many complaints about confiscations by airport security. Unfortunately, this is the way of the world these days and without wishing to defend over-zealous security staff it is really up to the traveler to know the rules in advance.

Here’s a list of tips to help you, before you shop, so to avoid any problems……………………..

– Any liquids, however small, really need to be packed in a plastic STEB Security Bag with your receipt inside. It doesn’t matter where you are flying to, domestic or international, just ask the store to properly pack your goods.

Duty Free Security
Airline Security Rules are different to Customs Rules

– If your store says “it is not necessary”, be cautious and ask why! Security rules for personal possessions, on-board baggage limits or the Customs Regulations, are completely separate issues from the Tax-Free or Duty Free shopping rules , but many people still confuse the two.

– Your personal possessions, such as make-up, tooth paste, fragrances etc, come under slightly different security rules to those applied to your airport or airline shop purchases. The clear plastic bag required is different, for starters. This is important to know when connecting flights “in-transit” to another destination with your shopping.

– Always get a receipt, wherever you purchase. And check it! Especially if you paid by card. We know you are in a rush to get to the gate, but we have lost count how many times we have been asked to help people get duty free refunds due to mis-charging errors.

– Check which currency you are paying with and the exchange rate you are getting. Ideally before you get to the check-out and watch out for a payment method known as DCC, dynamic currency conversion.

– Don’t be afraid to ask the store staff about where you can return your goods and get a refund if you have a problem. But ask this before you leave the store and ideally before the cash desk. Get a business card or the retailer’s address at the time.

– For electronics, ask about the world-wide guarantee/warranty for the product at the time of purchase. Ask to see the guarantee, before you buy.

Cruise info duty free
Liquors on board?

– Did you check if your Cruise Line lets liquors purchased on-shore, aboard ship? It’s too late after you have left the store downtown! Ask before you go ashore.

– When you bought that nice Perfume or make-up, you tested the product in store then took a nice new sealed pack with you to the check-out. And off you went to the gate, probably only opening it once settled in your seat on board. Open the product in the Terminal, before you go to the Gate.

– Buying food products, and food means things like Olive Oil, Vinegar, Olives, Chutney or other local delicacies.. all great gifts from your travels. But, all or most come under the Liquids-in-transit rules! It is better to buy these types of products “airside”, i.e. after passing security, than before. Otherwise, your Extra Virgin, might not even get as far as the departure lounge! And if you get them home ok, are you allowed to import foodstuffs into your arrivals destination?

This is most of the key tips we can think of for now, if there are more, please contact us.

If you want to find the details of your Travel Retailer, here’s a pretty comprehensive list to help you. To change the language, just hit the flag you need at the top of the page.

Duty Free iPhone
Is it a good deal?
Meantime, a real Duty Free bargain is the one that gives you no problems and a lot of pleasure… so check before you buy at our Duty Free and Tax-Free global information and shopping guide.

Duty Free Shopping complaints – returns – confiscations

Duty Free complaints
Perhaps we can help you?

We receive numerous Duty Free Shopping complaints about returns, refunds, faulty goods and especially the confiscation of liquids.

There is a myriad of rules associated with Duty Free and some of the problems experienced are due to travelers not knowing the rules beforehand.

The other difficulty is that you buy in one place and then fly off to another, this could mean that your goods are on the other side of the world from where you purchased them. Not an easy problem to solve.

It can also be quite difficult to track down the Retailer where you purchased and to find out how to make contact with them.

We do not sell any goods from our site, all we do is offer an information service for those wishing to research and buy on their travels.

Duty Free on Arrival is entirely independent from all Travel Retail Operators, we have no association or bias towards one or the other. So, you will get a completely impartial appraisal to your question.

Our mission is simply to offer useful information and tips, so that you can get the best out of the shopping on your travels.

If this helps people to get the bargains they were hoping for, then we are doing our job! Happy shopping, because a satisfied shopper comes back again!

Feel free to contact us, post or check before you fly on our global shopping guide.

Internacional: 

Para buscar tiendas libres de impuestos, catálogos y precios, ingresa tu ciudad, aeropuerto o país de destino y haga clic "Go". Cuando encuentre la información de su destino haga clic en el icono rojo de Aduanas para la búsqueda restricciones aduaneros. 

Para encontrar lojas duty free e os preços, inserir aeroporto ou destino, click e Go! A cota de isenção alfandegária refere-se ao seu país de chegada e não ao país de partida. Os regulamentos alfandegários podem ser encontrados clicando no botão aduaneiro para a esquerda ou procurando seu país de destino.

Facebook Arrivals Duty Free photo albums and global store guide

Please feel free to view our Facebook Arrivals Duty Free photo albums, where we keep an up to date record of the many stores visited around the world. This gives you an exact photo representation of the stores in many locations and by different travel modes.

The albums are separated by the Duty Free shopping categories, such as in airports, on airlines, by ferry or cruise ship or crossing the border by land. We also have a section for Tax free shopping, Tax Refund Shopping and the various rules.

Arrivals Duty Free Facebook photos
Check before you fly our Facebook photo albums of Duty Free stores around the globe

We are adding photos to our Facebook Arrivals Duty Free albums all the time, but we are always short of accurate pictures from new destinations. So feel free to contact us with your images for display.

Many people want to shop duty free, but travelers have many questions about what they can buy and where. If you have a question or a story about shopping on your travels, please contact us, this will help us and all our readers.

You can tag us @arrivalsdutyfree or just search for Duty Free on Arrival we can also be found on Twitter and Instagram by the same name.

Our mission is to help you when you wish to go Duty Free Shopping, so any information you provide will help us all.

To search for stores or rules by destination, just go to our global directory for detailed information. Browse Duty Free stores by Country in our shopping guide for more detail.

If you want to search in another language, just click the flags at the top of the page to check before you fly in your own language.

Duty Free on Arrival ® Duty Free na Chegada ® Duty Free a la Llegada ® Registered Trademarks 2009 All rights reserved/icons © www.dutyfreeonarrival.com 2016