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Q: Is the Beijing Capital Airport's duty free the cheapest in the world?
I'm going to be flying to Europe soon and will be stopping in Dubai. On the way back, I'd like to buy some cosmetics at duty free. Should i buy them at the duty free in Dubai or in Beijing? Someone told me before that Beijing has the cheapest and biggest duty free area in the world but I don't know if I believe this.
Some airports have duty free prices online. If you are looking after specific products you can try to find them and compare prices.
In my experience, "Duty Free" means "We've raised the prices to you pay more but less is paid to the government". Some countries, the duty free area's in airports actually requires you to go have the tax refunded, so the actual price is lower than the sticker price.
I've also found that in Europe, the countries with highest taxes is where there is most to be gained, as big corporations adjust their retail price so the prices are the same after sales tax.
As the saying goes, "Duty free doesn't mean profit free!". I'd be pretty surprised if Beijing Capital had the biggest duty free shopping area in the world. I've never seen anything beyond the usual stuff that is in every other international airport in the world plus a couple of Chinese souvineer stores. Prices weren't anything special either, although I wasn't really looking too hard and basically glanced on my way to the lounge.
Pretty sure if you want to do some serious shopping you're still meant to go to Hong Kong, yes?
I dont think so. If it was so you wouldnt see all chinese people buying so much stuff in other countries, so, why they don't buy stuff in Bjing airport? Answer is obvious.
High income chinese are good buyers but no sh*t they will spend their money in chinese airports when they have the chance to buy stuff when coming back home from other countries. Whichever the country is.
