Dog Gear cheaper in the US or Germany? - Page 1

I am going to Germany at the end of this month and our club is in need of some new scratch pants, my helper wants the Gapay pants with Jacket set.  I was figuring I can get this cheaper in Germany, but wasn't sure with the exchange of the Euro.

Anyone have any ideas?  Thanks!

Also I do have a spot available still to bring a dog back from Frankfurt direct to SFO if anyone is going to be importing and wants to save a bunch of money!

I would try to find a German vendor for Gappay online and check the prices against those here. Beware the value-added tax (VAT) as it may well destroy any savings you may have made.

Best Regards,

Bob-O

Based on what my friends in Europe have told me, Gappay products cost about the same in Germany as they do in the USA. If you want to buy really cheap Gappay products, go to the Czech Republic where Gappay originates.

What is this tax your are talking about?  When I come back on the flight through customs?  Aren't I allowed a certain amount of good that are untaxed?

Everytime I have been to Europe it was via a military flight of some sort, so this is new to me, even though I lived in Europe for 6 1/2 years!

I have flown many times to the Caribbean, and have never been taxed.....  please share!

The German government applies a VAT to all goods that are sold to the end user. This is a type of sales tax and can range from about 7% to 19% depending on the article type and how much "value" was added in it's different stages of manufacture. Sometimes, some of this money can be recovered if one is willing to apply for this refund in the case of the purchaser being from another country and removing the articles for use in that country. I never spend enough money there to make it worthwhile.

If you were part of the American military this tax may not have applied to you-I really can't say. I just know that for the rest of us it has to be paid for anything purchased there. Louise has a good point-perhaps it is worthwhile to approach the source and determine whether they will export directly to the U.S.A. and pay the customs charges here-if any apply.

Regards,

Bob-O

Are you still in the military? If so yo can buy a form (I forget what it's called) from the USO to get out of paying a VAT tax on a specific purchase.  I think they cost about $5.  A lot of people we knew would get them for Cuckoo clocks that they bought.  I am not sure if all vendors accept the forms so you'd have to make sure....

You proabably paid the VAT but just weren't aware of it if you bought German stuff.  It's factored into the bottom of the bill just like our normal sales tax.

Thanks, I thought I was going to have to pay something after claiming purchases.  I am sure every country has their taxes in one form or another!

I am no longer in the military, but when I was, we did buy everything duty free on the base, and of course anything we bought "in town" was regular prices.

Thanks again!

Unfortunately the exchange rate between the Euro and the US$ may be killer.  The US$ is pretty weak against some foreign currencies so it really reduces your buying power when purchasing goods overseas.

Good luck!  If you find any deals, don't be afraid to share!

KariM,

any U.S. traveler to Germany can get the Value Added Tax (VAT) back. Here is a link on how to:  www.germany.info/relaunch/info/consular_services/otherconsularservices/taxeng.html

As a German, it had always bothered me that the European Union offers this "gift" to U.S. residents (not only Germany, all Euroepan Union countries) for nothing in return. The VAT is actually the sales tax. European visitors never get the sales tax back. If you can not get your form stamped at the airport, you need to go to the nearest consulate for that stamp, don't forget that.

Chris

If you don't know which consulate is responsible for your area, just let me know the state you live in and I tell you!

Ebinger sells his own brandname equipment, very popular in Germany: www.hundesport-ebinger.de/de/shop.htm

When there is  BB, we used to buy a lot from him. www.bb-markt.com/

Or Schweikert of course: dogtra-deutschland.de/sites/index.php

some Gappay: www.hundesport-friemelt.de/

and more: http://www.humke-hundebedarf.com/kategorie3/53810497760f05502/index.html

I hope that gives you a general idea about prices. You need to detuct 19% VAT.

Chris