pointless duty free

[Awesom Andy]

I havent' found much value in their program, unless you are throwing down large bundles of cash on the designer items we have been talking about in this thread. You need to spend about $5k+ a year there to get any value I think?

The earn/burn rates have changed a few times in the short history of the program. At the moment, it has been "enhanced" to $5 rebate per $500 spent, unless you're of a higher tier. Better than nothing, I suppose.

 

[rogerkambah]

Are you telling me the Chanel and LV handbags I picked up for the kids are not real!? He told me they were best quality.

In Venice last year I saw a big African guy outside the LV store selling sunnies and LV handbags. I was surprised LV would resort to using touts outside their store.

 

[Simo]

IMHO,

Duty Free is not the savings it use to be.

I have seen better prices at Dan Murphy's than Duty Free.

Kids in J class, My child has travelled in J class before and yes we did get some eye roles but she was well behaved and the time she cried was because she stuck her fingers in the tray table.

Understand your issue but if you want to travel kid free in all classes book a charter plane and then you can control the enviroment or book out J class or F class.

 

[Moody]

IMHO,

Duty Free is not the savings it use to be.

I have seen better prices at Dan Murphy's than Duty Free.

Is it just me or is Dan Murphy's about twice the price (taking into consideration size of bottle and sometimes the strength of alcohol) than common deals at Sydney duty free?

 

[Simo]

Is it just me or is Dan Murphy's about twice the price (taking into consideration size of bottle and sometimes the strength of alcohol) than common deals at Sydney duty free?

Some times yes...

There was one AFFer and I doing duty free one days and he said DM has the same wine on special at a cheaper price than there normal sale price at Duty Free.

 

[burmans]

Is it just me or is Dan Murphy's about twice the price (taking into consideration size of bottle and sometimes the strength of alcohol) than common deals at Sydney duty free?

I'm really struggling to equate Simo's experience here with my own. On wine I would agree that Dirty Dan's as cheap if not cheaper, but on spirits (which are highly taxed) have never been able to find an example of cheaper prices, indeed you usually pay more for a 750ml bottle at Dan's than a 1L in duty-free, even on special.

 

[sweens]

I'm really struggling to equate Simo's experience here with my own. On wine I would agree that Dirty Dan's as cheap if not cheaper, but on spirits (which are highly taxed) have never been able to find an example of cheaper prices, indeed you usually pay more for a 750ml bottle at Dan's than a 1L in duty-free, even on special.

Dans is normally a fair bit cheaper on wine than SYD DF and it can get close on spirits when it is on special e.g. last week I bought a 700 mil bottle of JW Black at Dans for $38. SYD DF price is $50 for 1 L (equivalent of $35 for 700mil) so yes slightly cheaper DF but if you consider the very high taxes on spirits in AU it is amazing that Dans can get so close.

See the www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/travel-insider-tips/cheap-duty-free-liquor-airports-31533-10.html thread for a comparison of DF prices around the world.

 

[Pacrim]

I have seriously considered doing this for some specific goods I purchase from/in the USA. Use FF miles for the flights (with AAdvantage there are not fuel fines). But the limiting factor is the $1000 limit for bringing good back to Australia. For the things I need/want, its still up to 50% cheaper to purchase in the USA. I often just buy them on-line (or phone) and buy in lot sizes that come in under the $1000 cap. Then its a matter of determining if multiple shipping costs warrants the GST exemption and in some cases its just better to buy in larger quantity and pay the GST on arrival and keep it to a single shipping cost.

I agree with previous threads that from my experience over many decades of travel to many countries, I find Duty free now not worth the trouble. The only exception are some brands of aclohol and mainly spirits. Other items, such as electronics and electrical you can get bargains in most stores and on-line. I have also found recently in Hong Kong, visiting the typical camera duty free shops, while you can get the impression that there are good discounts, you then find out you could have bought the camera at home for a lot less. The other thing I noticed over the years is that perfumes now are pretty much comparitive in price in all duty free shops worldwide relative to the exchange rate of the country. So again there are no real huge savings. Unfortunately, the joy of international travel and "so called" duty free is not what it was and never will be again.

 

[Moody]

Some times yes...

There was one AFFer and I doing duty free one days and he said DM has the same wine on special at a cheaper price than there normal sale price at Duty Free.

Yep. Agreed. Buying wine at the airport is strictly for the tourists who are either too stupid or too time poor to visit any bottle-shop.

But I picked up 2 litres of Bowmore Enigma for $99 last time I bought duty free at Sydney. Dan Murphy's doesn't have that variant online, but their price for the standard 12yo malt is $77 .... for 0.7 litres. That's the equivalent of $220 for 2 litres, so more than double the price.

Dans is normally a fair bit cheaper on wine than SYD DF and it can get close on spirits when it is on special e.g. last week I bought a 700 mil bottle of JW Black at Dans for $38. SYD DF price is $50 for 1 L (equivalent of $35 for 700mil) so yes slightly cheaper DF but if you consider the very high taxes on spirits in AU it is amazing that Dans can get so close.

See the www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/travel-insider-tips/cheap-duty-free-liquor-airports-31533-10.html thread for a comparison of DF prices around the world.

When I want to have a scotch and coke there are better options than JW ...

 

[sweens]

When I want to have a scotch and coke there are better options than JW ...

Agree there are much better options, specially without coke but as JW Black is the worlds best selling scotch it is a good benchmark!

 

[rickylee]

I don't think I have ever been tempted to pick up duty free in my monthly overseas trips, except for the occasional cologne picked up more due to convenience than a desire for genuine savings.

 

[PointyEnd]

Based in the US.
All of the fragrances I've bought (TTBOMK) are genuine.
I don't use them much so they sit in the walk in robe for a while and don't lose their fragrance a la the knock-offs.
Don't worry, I would n't suggest a dodgy retailer, but I understand your concern.
Human wee?
Eeeeeww!!!!

 

[Moody]

Agree there are much better options, specially without coke but as JW Black is the worlds best selling scotch it is a good benchmark!

I think the JW Red holds that moniker - but the overall JW range is the bestselling brand worldwide. Doesn't make me want to either drink it or buy it.

 

[leadman]

IMHO,

Duty Free is not the savings it use to be.

I have seen better prices at Dan Murphy's than Duty Free.

Kids in J class, My child has travelled in J class before and yes we did get some eye roles but she was well behaved and the time she cried was because she stuck her fingers in the tray table.

Understand your issue but if you want to travel kid free in all classes book a charter plane and then you can control the enviroment or book out J class or F class.

Just depends where you look; bought a 1l bottle of jamison 12yo for US$32 in Dhaka airport last month, DM's has it for AUD$63 for the 700ml!!!! (of course it was Dhaka!) . But there are other areas/goods to look at too. Power tools were far too cheap in the States, so converted 1/2 my workshop to 110V. Bunnings sold the Estwing hammers for $100 and i pick them up for friends at US$24 at Home Depot.

 

[burmans]

Dans is normally a fair bit cheaper on wine than SYD DF and it can get close on spirits when it is on special e.g. last week I bought a 700 mil bottle of JW Black at Dans for $38. SYD DF price is $50 for 1 L (equivalent of $35 for 700mil) so yes slightly cheaper DF but if you consider the very high taxes on spirits in AU it is amazing that Dans can get so close.

Absolutely have no issue with this, Dan's always have real value if you only buy the specials. One of the things that never ceases to amaze me though, is that for some destinations Asutralian wine is evn cheaper again overseas. NZ is a very good example (and have heard similar about UK), I know a few people who find it cheaper to buy good Australian wine and bring it back from NZ (street price, not duty free price) than buy it here, even cheaper than the high st retailers.

 

[markis10]

Absolutely have no issue with this, Dan's always have real value if you only buy the specials. One of the things that never ceases to amaze me though, is that for some destinations Asutralian wine is evn cheaper again overseas. NZ is a very good example (and have heard similar about UK), I know a few people who find it cheaper to buy good Australian wine and bring it back from NZ (street price, not duty free price) than buy it here, even cheaper than the high st retailers.

I suspect the WET has something to do with that, being a 29% add on at wholesale level.

 

[Old Dynamite]

Australian airport and downtown duty free interests were all bought up by Hong Kong interests, and since then prices, particularly alcohol, have become too high. Best to buy on arrival in UK, etc. Although good malt whisky can be bought for similar prices in supermarkets there.

 

[ethernet]

Duty free = no bargain - Dubai might be one exception. The savings are piddly, and the range piss poor. The cause is the airports are extorting the concessions. Then you see regional restrictions to boot. Game of Throne sets in DF - Nahhh
Solution for Australians : Buy online. For those who drink, home stills are affordable. I find buying retail in USA better, and buy the not-so-well-known brands that are well researched. D/F Impulse buying and the 2 fer 1.95 deals are pathetic.
My last camera came from Japan- oddly, they have just woken up to Amazon , and are now undercutting USA prices, sometimes, if ordered online.

I'd like to see Travel Insurance or taxi voucher sold in DF shops, as I don't think the tied regulation or taxation aspects should apply.

 

[dajop]

Dans is normally a fair bit cheaper on wine than SYD DF and it can get close on spirits when it is on special e.g. last week I bought a 700 mil bottle of JW Black at Dans for $38. SYD DF price is $50 for 1 L (equivalent of $35 for 700mil) so yes slightly cheaper DF but if you consider the very high taxes on spirits in AU it is amazing that Dans can get so close .

For comparison, inflight duty free on SQ are selling 1 litre of JW Black for $39 SGD, which is around $33-$34 AUD on current exchange rate, nice margin there for SYD DF, but not too surprising. I usually find that on most liquor, unless First DF in MEL (and therefore SYD DF also) have a promo/special deal, SIN DF is considerably cheaper and that's what SQ in flight have to compete with.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I am still waiting to hear from the experts the place that I can get Bundy OP run for less than $29/l. Buying that from duty free shops sure as hell will save money over dan Murphy's.

This thread is 'Pointless duty free' !! Lol