Is that so? I dont understand what the rules are about requesting the tax back? I assume that it's entirely voluntary because of the amount of effort required to process the claims. In a larger store, its probably one job. So it has to be a part of customer service...i.e...we do it so you will shop here.

The Blue Forms are kind of tricky...every place that has given me the Global Refund cheque (but one) has accepted my form for a complete refund. So you definitely do not HAVE to use the global blue form....Karstadt is one example that i can think of off the top of my head.

The one shop that didnt cash the global tax form also gipped me on the amount of tax refund. On the form they wrote in like 4 euros when i was entitled to 9+. As a consequence, i dont think i will be shopping there just on principle

Places near the border (Karstadt Lorrach for one) will take the Global Blue forms back for a full refund, despite the forms saying "no refund in store" on them. Places away from the border usually look at you funny and can't work out why you're (a) not in the airport already and (b) aren't American.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/27/yo...shortcuts.html

And now we gotta worry about having TOO MANY choices.

Sheesh.

Shop carefully y'all

I am a student here from USA (just got here 2 weeks ago) and am shocked out how ridiculously priced everything is in Switzerland. I see people on here saying they wouldnt go to Germany to buy groceries, why not?! I took the tram (Basel) to the border and walked to Lidl and bought 45EUR worth of groceries for the week which would have cost me well over 100 CHF. Its defenitly been a learning experience so far...

Hi, So I asked yesterday to Carrefour Segny:

They would only do the tax refund (detaxe in french) from purchases above 170euros.
They don't want to do it for "perishable things" (ie food shopping).

They also display a "Global Blue Tax refund" sticker, but the lady said you dont have to do it.

Also, she said they don't refund the full VAT but only 12%, immediately.

So I suspect a weird profit margin or abusing strategy.


In any case they dont do it for the food (so they say).


Maybe we can ask a "facture" (bill) and still get the normal export. I dont know that yet.

They are charging for a service, it cost money to provide, drive to Germany if you think it's a better deal.

From Vaud?

Now that I know the french expression (thanks!) I found this official page. At the bottom of the page there's also a link to multi-language PDF document.
Interestingly food is not mentioned as an exception, therefore I suspect that Carrefour just doesn't want to do the tax refund. (Or the employee in question was too lazy to do it...)

Exactly, the best deal on offer to you is in France .