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I have some exciting news! I purchased my first ever Chanel bag in Paris last month. This is something I’ve dreamed of for years. I’m grateful I was able to purchase my first Chanel handbag at the iconic 31 Rue Cambon location. I wanted to share my experience and how you can also save on Chanel by purchasing in Europe. I hope this post is useful for my fellow handbag lovers!
How to Save on Chanel in Paris + Shopping Experience
Which Chanel Handbag Did I Purchase?
Initially I was sure I wanted a classic double flap handbag. It’s something I’ve been eyeing for years and it seemed like the perfect staple to add to my collection. I knew I wanted a pink handbag because I’ve always coveted the ultimate girly bag. I tried on a medium classic double flap and liked it but wasn’t as in love as I thought.
Wandering through the store, I asked my sales associate about the small 19 handbag in the same color. Fortunately they had it in stock as well! I tried it on and instantly fell in love. I loved the less structured feel and material. I adore that it has two handles so you can wear it over the shoulder or hold it. I also appreciated the price difference (over €3000 less!).
Another customer asked me which one I was going with and I was still on the fence (between what I’d sought after for years and what I was loving in the moment). She said she has both and uses the 19 significantly more. She said the less structured nature of the 19 felt more causal and worked for more occasions. Her sentiments sold me on the 19. It’s funny because it kind of feels like wedding dress shopping. You save all these dresses on Pinterest but when you actually try them on, you could be shocked by what you actually love on. The fit, fabric, and feel are so important. I couldn’t be more pleased with my Chanel purchase!
What I Paid For My Chanel Bag In Paris:
European Retail Price (including 20% VAT): $6606.91 (€6100)
VAT Refund (12%): $789.48
Total Cost: $5817.43
What I Would Have Paid For My Bag In California:
Retail Price: $6400
San Jose Tax (9.38%): $600.32
Total Cost: $7000.32
Total Savings: $1182.89
In Store Experience:
My biggest concern about purchasing a bag was getting in the store. I’d read online that it can be impossible to get a slot at this iconic Chanel location. I had somewhat given up before even landing in Paris. Someone suggested asking the concierge at my hotel to make an appointment. I reached out and they attempted to make an appointment. They let me know that Chanel confirmed they aren’t taking appointments at the time but we’re welcome to walk in. I figured I’d try but didn’t have high hopes.
I wanted to shop on my actual birthday, which happened to be a Monday. My birthday is also at the end of May so it wasn’t in the height of summer travel. My guess is that helped me get in but who knows how busy Chanel is day to day. Joe and I showed up an hour after they opened for the day. We were told there was one person ahead of me before I could meet with a sales associate.
I probably waited less than 20 minutes. It was a quick turnaround to actually meet with someone! I used the time to wonder around the store and enjoy the displays. When we were introduced to our sales associate, she offered us coffee and water. Luckily the bags I was interested in were in stock. I took my time trying on the bags. I didn’t feel rushed but my SA was a little hands off. She was kind though and brought me to the iconic Chanel apartment after I made my purchase.
What Is A VAT Refund?
Value Added Tax (VAT) is a tax added to products or services by a seller. Taxes vary by country, however, there is not VAT in the United States. The percentage varies by type of product or service and by country. Even as a visitor, you must pay the VAT at the time of purchase. Visitors can request a refund when exiting the region, depending on the amount spent. I found a lot of information on VAT here.
How To Get A VAT Refund?
This was the thing that seemed most daunting to me before my trip. Luckily the stores are very used to preparing the paperwork for you. In the Chanel store, I gave my SA my passport. Someone in the back completed the paperwork with my passport information. They brought me in to pay for the bag and gave me the paperwork and receipt. They told me to present it at customs at the airport when I was leaving the EU.
For the airport portion, the experience seems to vary. I heard CDG in Paris is incredibly simple and there are machines where you can scan everything and get your refund within days. Santorini was a little bit more…DIY? When I dropped off our luggage, I asked where to go and they told me the customs spot is after TSA. We couldn’t find it so I asked in a store. They had to call the customs officer, who took his time getting there. He went through the paperwork, checked my purchase and told me that the actual mailbox was before TSA. He said we could either wait until we arrived in London to mail it or he could take it back out. He didn’t seem thrilled with the idea of taking it for us so we felt safer doing it ourselves. In London, I kept the envelope on me until I found a mailbox. The envelope was pre-paid so I didn’t have to get postage. From there, it took about a week to get to refund (directly back to my credit card).
What I Learned:
•Bring your passport. The store will need it to complete your paperwork for the refund.
•Download the Global Blue app - someone suggested this after I submitted my VAT forms and I wish I’d downloaded it before my trip. It has a wealth of information. You can look up VAT rules in different countries. They show the VAT percentage, minimum spend and how to request your refund. You can look up purchases with your number from the refund form.
•You must request your refund when you leave the EU. If you’re visiting another country in the EU first, wait until you’re actually leaving the EU to get your paperwork stamped/scanned. I visited Greece after France and then went to England. I had to get my paperwork stamped in Santorini before heading to London, even though I bought the bag in Paris.
•Keep the goods with you. You may need to physically show the item(s) to a customs officer when you submit your paperwork. I had to pull out my Chanel bag when I presented my paperwork. At the Santorini airport, the customs area was after security so I would have been out of luck if I'd packed my purchase in my checked bag.
I feel like this post was pretty information heavy! If you have any questions on how to save on Chanel or about the shopping experience, please feel free to leave a comment or message me on Instagram. I’m always down to chat. Happy shopping!
