Duty free is one of the biggest scams going and the Advertising Standards Authority should get involved. The description implies a lower price as no tax is paid which is misleading.
Every few years they get caught out when a newspaper runs a story showing a bottle of whisky being sold cheaper in a local off licence. Then they get their act in order for a while and run an advertising campaign showing favourable comparisons. Once interest dies down, prices go back up.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/archives/ne...-free-rip-off/
The big DUTY FREE rip-off
Airport ‘discount’ shops dearer
By DANIEL JONES, Consumer Editor
31st July 2015, 11:01 pm Updated: 5th April 2016, 6:48 pm
HOLIDAYMAKERS expecting a bargain in airport duty free are in for a shock.
Prices there are as much as DOUBLE what they are on the web or high
street.
Airport bosses boast their prices offer “great value” tax free savings —
meaning many families assume they are getting the best deal.
But a Sun investigation has found hundreds of bigbuy purchases are as much as
50 per cent cheaper on websites such as Amazon or big name stores.
For example, Calvin Klein Be eau de toilette is £44.70 at World Duty Free, the
chain in most airports straight after security checks.
But it is under half that at Amazon, at £20.69, and almost half price in Boots
at £25.
Many of the biggest price differences were on gadgets, which varied by more
than 70 per cent.
A top-end Eclipse hair styler made by GHD costs £123.30 at World Duty Free but
£109 from website Urban Retreat.
The iPhone 6 seems to be a bargain at £673.99 from Heathrow’s Dixons Travel,
down from its High Street price of £789 at PC World.
But savvy shoppers can bag an even better price from Amazon – £659.
While a Casio Baby-G Grey/Green Watch costs £70.80 at the World Duty Free
chain at Gatwick, 70 per cent dearer than Amazon, which sells it for £47.39.
Guy Anker, from MoneySavingExpert.com, said: “There’s a false assumption
duty-free is always cheapest, largely due to canny marketing ploys from
airport stores.
“Do some research before you fly to nail the best possible price.”
The Sun also found a range of perfumes, booze and books were also cheaper on
the high street and online.
A 50ml bottle of Giorgio Armani Si perfume costs £43.60 at Gatwick, but £39
from Asda.
And a one-litre bottle of gold Russian Standard Vodka was £24.99 from the
World Duty Free chain at Gatwick, compared to £22 from Asda.
Also at World Duty Free a 70cl of Pimm’s was £14.99 but £12 at Tesco, though
at Heathrow only a special offer made it £9.99.
Burberry sunglasses cost £149.17 from Sunglass hut at Heathrow, but the same
pair are just £98.03 from Amazon.
The only item on which shoppers are guaranteed to make a saving is tobacco,
which is typically 50 per cent cheaper in airports.
A Heathrow spokesman said: “Shopping at Heathrow gives passengers access to
VAT free pricing across a range of fantastic brands.”
Gatwick did not respond to The Sun’s questions.
The rise and rise of fly-buy bargains
THE world’s first airport duty free shop opened at Shannon Airport in 1947.
The shop’s founder Dr O’Regan claimed that after a passenger had left passport
control, they had left the country and its tax obligations.
But it wasn’t until the 1960s that the concept of airport shopping started to
develop, after American entrepreneurs started DFS (Duty Free Shops), one of
the world’s largest and most influential retailers.
Then in 1999 EU rule changes meant only those flying outside the EU could get
duty free prices, so airport shops simply paid the tax themselves to avoid
losing custom.