Are airport duty free electronic stores worth visiting?

[d000hg]

I'm toying with the idea to get a tablet for email/web access while away for a couple of weeks... I don't need a full PC but do need to keep in touch and use web-based apps like Jira and forums as well as gmail and (ideally) Skype.

I figured a tablet might be a better option since it's small & light, but was wondering if it's worth just looking at the airport to get one cheap - or is that a myth and buying online is still cheaper?

ps: I don't care if you think tablets are dumb. That's just the backstory

[DimPrawn]

I assume you are flying outside the EU?

[Incognito]

I fly through Heathrow weekly to various eurozone countries. They all markup. Dixons tax free will promise to beat a highstore price, but I think you'll still get it cheaper on amazon, etc.

I'm off to the US next week though, I think they'll be cheaper there. Still don't know whether or not to get an ipad 2. I still use my first gen daily with no issues.

[d000hg]

I assume you are flying outside the EU?

Yeah sorry, Dubai.

[SueEllen]

Depends what you are getting.

The cheapest prices are the same as online prices i.e. cameras. Lots are more expensive. For example a Kindle was more expensive at the airport than getting it online by £4.

Plus you don't have the full range of items.

[Pondlife]

I assume you are flying outside the EU?

WHS

UK Duty Free is a waste of time IMHO.

If you're flying outside the EU then it's probably cheaper at your destination.

Why not google for local places online before you get there to check.

[Sysman]

If you are not careful you'll end up paying just as much as high street prices. I paid full whack for a Sony short wave radio in Heathrow (on the other hand I couldn't find that model anywhere else except Tottenham Court Road, which would have meant a costly detour). The shop pocketed the VAT I shouldn't have had to pay on top of its normal profit.

The time I bought a Psion out of Manchester Airport wasn't good either. Yep, I made a goodly saving, but when it broke within weeks I needed to fly back there to physically take it back to the shop. It didn't have a European wide warranty. Nah - it wasn't worth the cost of lost working hours plus return flight to get fixed. For all I know that might have been two return flights - one to drop it off, the next one to pick it up.

The moral is:

• Check the prices carefully
• Check the warranty

I came to the conclusion that with careful shopping you can get the savings anyway.

P.S. I thought you were trying to cut back on expenditure.

[d000hg]

If you're flying outside the EU then it's probably cheaper at your destination.

Why not google for local places online before you get there to check.

I find searching for local stores in foreign countries a bit tricky, they tend to written in foreign... plus I don't really know how to search for online stores in a given country (apart from USA which is easy).

[Pondlife]

I find searching for local stores in foreign countries a bit tricky, they tend to written in foreign... plus I don't really know how to search for online stores in a given country (apart from USA which is easy).

I'm pretty sure it's called an iPad in most languages.

Plus since it's Dubai, language shouldn't be an issue for websites.

[SueEllen]

I find searching for local stores in foreign countries a bit tricky, they tend to written in foreign... plus I don't really know how to search for online stores in a given country (apart from USA which is easy).

I use google but then I only tend to look within the EU due to problems with warranties. Plus you will find that is plenty of price fixing so even being able to read and translate various foreign languages doesn't help.


And as sysman said if you are looking to cut down on expenditure buying new gadgets is not the way to go. (If you have to buy it ebay off your old junk first.)