Dubai Duty-Free

[SebD]

Hi,

I'm traveling to Thailand via Dubai and am looking for a new mobile phone (and maybe a netbook or tablet PC). Phone I've got my eye on is a T-Mobile 4G Slide.

Am I likely to find one in Dubai duty-free?

Is there much of a saving to be had (as I haven't bought from a duty-free for over a decade)?

Thanks for any advice.

[WilliaminBKK]

You may want to give them a quick ring and ask the price and model of the item you are looking for, http://www.dubaidutyfree.com/index.asp

And then compare to prices in Thailand, http://www.powerbuy.co.th/Default.aspx

Powerbuy will give you a general idea of prices, of course there are lower priced shops. Warranty issues in both Dubai and Thailand if that is a concern for you.

[SebD]

You may want to give them a quick ring and ask the price and model of the item you are looking for, http://www.dubaidutyfree.com/index.asp

And then compare to prices in Thailand, http://www.powerbuy.co.th/Default.aspx

Powerbuy will give you a general idea of prices, of course there are lower priced shops. Warranty issues in both Dubai and Thailand if that is a concern for you.

Thanks William.

I'll check those sites out (I was always of the understanding that cellphones, PC's etc were no cheaper in Thailand than here, in UK, but I'll certainly take your advice).

It's a pity about the warranty as you'd think, in this age of global travel, that an international company would offer an international guarantee for their products - particularly in instances whereby the product specification doesn't differ , wouldn't you?

Thanks for your help.

[champken]

I would suggest to you that what you are looking for you will find cheaper in the UK, apart from fags and booze, i don't think duty free has many bargains at all, and with the current exchange rate as it is, Thailand definitely wont be cheaper and what you buy will come with an inferior guarantee

[SebD]

I would suggest to you that what you are looking for you will find cheaper in the UK, apart from fags and booze, i don't think duty free has many bargains at all, and with the current exchange rate as it is, Thailand definitely wont be cheaper and what you buy will come with an inferior guarantee

Cheers, champken.

Your view on buying from Thailand confirms my own experience when my daughter wanted to buy her first iPhone and was shocked to find it was, on average, £5 more in Thailand than in the UK (and that was when we were getting over 70Bht to the £).

I was hoping to make a "small killing" in Dubai duty-free though, have you any experience of buying electronics there, at all (I haven't - which is why I'd really appreciate first-hand advice and experience).

Can't believe there aren't savings to be made cuz UK VAT, alone, should account for 20% of the cost - plus whatever "duty" the UK Gov also applies to imported 'phones and other electronics.

The T-Mobile is supposed to be around £200 in UK, so I'd hoped to save at least £40 in VAT - and I can do myself some liver damage in LOS for £40

[bubba]

Every time I have shopped around at Dubai duty free, the prices looked higher than just about anywhere else. I still don't get all the hype about the wonderful Dubai duty free shopping experience when, for example, the iPad leather smart cover sells for US$100 there, or about 30% more than in Thailand.

From what I could see, booze was reasonably priced, but everything else was priced much higher than average at other airports' duty free. Prices in the malls are even higher. Shopping in Dubai? Looks like a bunch of hype to me, but hype fairly well describes Dubai in general.

[JayBlake]

Every time I have shopped around at Dubai duty free, the prices looked higher than just about anywhere else. I still don't get all the hype about the wonderful Dubai duty free shopping experience when, for example, the iPad leather smart cover sells for US$100 there, or about 30% more than in Thailand.

From what I could see, booze was reasonably priced, but everything else was priced much higher than average at other airports' duty free. Prices in the malls are even higher. Shopping in Dubai? Looks like a bunch of hype to me, but hype fairly well describes Dubai in general.

Maybe a better deal could be had shopping at the duty free in UK departure airport.

[ragandboneman]

I travel through Dubai Airport at least ten times a year, as the other posters have said there is no savings to be made on electronic goods there.

Last year I purchased a Macbook Pro, after pricing Thailand, Dubai, and online I found the best deal at Dixons shop in Birmingham Airport UK. Don't think they're even called duty free any more, as you can purchase from them even if you are flying within the UK, as long as you have a boarding card.

If you want to you can purchase on you're way out and they will hold the item for you on you're return, or even post it for you within the UK. Also will take an order over the phone, as in my case.

Regards

[SebD]

I travel through Dubai Airport at least ten times a year, as the other posters have said there is no savings to be made on electronic goods there.

Last year I purchased a Macbook Pro, after pricing Thailand, Dubai, and online I found the best deal at Dixons shop in Birmingham Airport UK. Don't think they're even called duty free any more, as you can purchase from them even if you are flying within the UK, as long as you have a boarding card.

If you want to you can purchase on you're way out and they will hold the item for you on you're return, or even post it for you within the UK. Also will take an order over the phone, as in my case.

Regards

Thanks Steptoe.

This is madness, that "duty free" is no longer "duty free" cuz the greedy beggars just load the price in pursuit of more profit. Whatever happened to law and order? I'm "old-school" and can remember when the savings on stuff picked up at duty-free could pretty much pay for the flight (as well as being old enough to remember watching Steptoe & Son - on a black'n'white TV).

What sort of percentage saving did you make on your Macbook? Cus if it's not much, I'm better off just buying my £200 phone than spending hours trawling the net to save a pittance.

Disappointedly yours.

Seb.

[PattayaParent]

I would suggest to you that what you are looking for you will find cheaper in the UK, apart from fags and booze, i don't think duty free has many bargains at all, and with the current exchange rate as it is, Thailand definitely wont be cheaper and what you buy will come with an inferior guarantee

Cheers, champken.

Your view on buying from Thailand confirms my own experience when my daughter wanted to buy her first iPhone and was shocked to find it was, on average, £5 more in Thailand than in the UK (and that was when we were getting over 70Bht to the £).

I was hoping to make a "small killing" in Dubai duty-free though, have you any experience of buying electronics there, at all (I haven't - which is why I'd really appreciate first-hand advice and experience).

Can't believe there aren't savings to be made cuz UK VAT, alone, should account for 20% of the cost - plus whatever "duty" the UK Gov also applies to imported 'phones and other electronics.

The T-Mobile is supposed to be around £200 in UK, so I'd hoped to save at least £40 in VAT - and I can do myself some liver damage in LOS for £40

If you're non-resident in UK you can get the VAT back.

[ragandboneman]

I travel through Dubai Airport at least ten times a year, as the other posters have said there is no savings to be made on electronic goods there.

Last year I purchased a Macbook Pro, after pricing Thailand, Dubai, and online I found the best deal at Dixons shop in Birmingham Airport UK. Don't think they're even called duty free any more, as you can purchase from them even if you are flying within the UK, as long as you have a boarding card.

If you want to you can purchase on you're way out and they will hold the item for you on you're return, or even post it for you within the UK. Also will take an order over the phone, as in my case.

Regards

Thanks Steptoe.

This is madness, that "duty free" is no longer "duty free" cuz the greedy beggars just load the price in pursuit of more profit. Whatever happened to law and order? I'm "old-school" and can remember when the savings on stuff picked up at duty-free could pretty much pay for the flight (as well as being old enough to remember watching Steptoe & Son - on a black'n'white TV).

What sort of percentage saving did you make on your Macbook? Cus if it's not much, I'm better off just buying my £200 phone than spending hours trawling the net to save a pittance.

Disappointedly yours.

Seb.

Okay SebD,

I have dug out my receipt from last year to illustrate the savings in Dixons UK Airport shops.

Initial cost then of MacBook Pro 15 inch. 1469.00 (sorry no pound sign on this keyboard)

Airport adjustment - 218.79

Managers discount - 42.82

Applecare for above 3 years 279.00

Airport Adjustment - 36.39

Total 1450.00

So really I got the Applecare thrown in for free or thereabouts.

You are not alone in remembering Steptoe on a Black and White TV.

Best Regards

[SebD]

I travel through Dubai Airport at least ten times a year, as the other posters have said there is no savings to be made on electronic goods there.

Last year I purchased a Macbook Pro, after pricing Thailand, Dubai, and online I found the best deal at Dixons shop in Birmingham Airport UK. Don't think they're even called duty free any more, as you can purchase from them even if you are flying within the UK, as long as you have a boarding card.

If you want to you can purchase on you're way out and they will hold the item for you on you're return, or even post it for you within the UK. Also will take an order over the phone, as in my case.

Regards

Thanks Steptoe.

This is madness, that "duty free" is no longer "duty free" cuz the greedy beggars just load the price in pursuit of more profit. Whatever happened to law and order? I'm "old-school" and can remember when the savings on stuff picked up at duty-free could pretty much pay for the flight (as well as being old enough to remember watching Steptoe & Son - on a black'n'white TV).

What sort of percentage saving did you make on your Macbook? Cus if it's not much, I'm better off just buying my £200 phone than spending hours trawling the net to save a pittance.

Disappointedly yours.

Seb.

Okay SebD,

I have dug out my receipt from last year to illustrate the savings in Dixons UK Airport shops.

Initial cost then of MacBook Pro 15 inch. 1469.00 (sorry no pound sign on this keyboard)

Airport adjustment - 218.79

Managers discount - 42.82

Applecare for above 3 years 279.00

Airport Adjustment - 36.39

Total 1450.00

So really I got the Applecare thrown in for free or thereabouts.

You are not alone in remembering Steptoe on a Black and White TV.

Best Regards

A good saving of not far below a one-way air ticket, in steerage.

I better get on the phone to Gatwick and Dubai duty-free, I think.

Thanks for the info.