Show The Herald Journal Logan Utah Wednesday October 16 1996 - Pago 17 Tips on making European shopping a little less taxing For A P Special Features refund regulations and lake full advantage of them The savings can lie VAT Finery for sale on the ('humps-lil- y secs in Paris Stmgct in Copenhagen Spilcn significant VAT is levied by all European Union burg in Basel and other chic liuroH‘an shopping streets may mukc you drool but their price tags make your jaw drop Don’t be intimidated The prices include Miluc Added ’Rix (VAT) ranging from 61 percent in Switzerland to 20 percent in Denmark and 242 percent on some merchandise in Slovenia The good news for tourists is that as travelers buying goods to bring home you are probably eligible for tax refunds So whether you go to Buropc with a shopping list or buy on impulse it's in d in your best interest to be (EU) nations and several non-E- U nations including Hungary Norway Slovenia and Switzerland The tax is levied on most merchandise which tourists buy to bring home but goods and services arc excluded Before leaving for Europe contact the national tourism offices for the countries you plan to visit and ask about VAT refund regulations including tax per- centages and minimum purchase amounts If you’re planning to visit and shop in more than one European country remember to compare VAT regulations well-verse- to maximize savings In most counliies you must spend a minimum amount — ranging from $15 in Sweden to $400 in Switzerland — before you are eligible lor VAT refunds In some countries the minimum must lie spent in one shop while in others the amount is cumulative So plan ahead If you yearn for a European silk tie you'll certainly find an designer ample selection of labels Hut for example if you're visithigh-quali- ty ing both Sweden and Switzerland you're heller oft buying that tic in Swe- den Although Sweden's VAT is higher 20 percent comthan Switzerland's pared to hl percent — remember you have to spend only $15 in Sweden to -- - papers hack to the Motes where you shopped Most stores will provide you qualify for a refund while Switzerland requires that $400 minimum Such planning may put a damper on impulse buying hut it will stretch your dollars So how about two ties? Or one lie and a scurf? In all countries you pay the VAT up front At the time of purchase ask the sales clerk for a VAT refund form or statement which must be presented to customs for stamping when you leave In some countries customs agents may ask to see the merchandise and its receipts so he prepared to show them when you apply for your refund papers to be stamped After clearing customs and immigration mail the stamped VAT refund with the appropriate envelopes Mailing (he forms front the airport before von hoard the plane usually helps to expedite the refund The process is made somewhat sim pier if you shop in stores that offer VAT refunds on a regular basis In addition to designer boutiques already well practiced in the ways of VAT relunds about 90 (NX) stores throughout l uiopc display “Tax-Fre- e for Tourists" window sticke ers Such stores belong to Europe Tax-Fre- Shopping (ETS) a facilitating company that maintains VAT refund booths in most of Furo)e‘s airports and ports Russia’s ‘Fur Rush’ gets crazy BUILT ON LOWER PRICES! WE LL BEiT ANY COMPETITOR S PRICE ON MERCHANdlSS IDENTICAL ON THE SPOT! MOSCOW (AP) — A lovely Russian woman tries on a sporty Italian mink jacket and smiles as she swirls in front of the mirror Then she hangs up the fur and walks away Too costly? No just not quite the right size “Three thousand (dollars) is not expensive — of course not" says Irina Vronkcvich a former model who slopped working when she married 20off com- During Soviet times Reg Get ready for the wet weather FRY CLEAN GRIDDLE 3 sizes to choose from No sticking quality steel Guaranteed not to crack chip or warp $14 97 O PICK-U- P Assorted colors Replace that old seat cover While some managed a full coat among Russian women today Men preferring sheepskin and leather coats still cling to the 'classic fur hat And it's not just Russia's newly wealthy who arc buying furs Even though the average worker earns the equivalent of about SI 50 a month — 'more at private companies in Moscow — a surprising number ! of Russians seem able to come up with the money While demand climbs production at Russia's more than 200 fur ‘farms is down 50 percent since 1990 said Viktor Chipurnoi vice president of a Russian fur trading company So Russia has been importing like mad The Soviet Union had all hut blocked out foreign fur hut (hat changed in the burgeoning new post-Sovi- Russia “We are not spoiled by things movlike the Green (anti-fur- ) ement” said Chipurnoi “It will not have an impact on Russia in the near future What happens in ' five or 10 years nobody knows The international fur exhib- ition which brought moie than 100 firms to Moscow drew shoppers and passed without the kinds of protest demonstrations it likely would have provoked in New York or London ! In the only sign of protest thru women — two English and one Russian — attempted to march onto Red Square wearing nothing but a banner that said they'd i rather go naked than wear lur I Police carted them away I hey attracted no supporters ! When furs first became more available in Russia people could ! snapped up whatever they arc Now increasingly they ’gel latest in the ! coats demanding ‘ made from the best pelts ' designs “You now need goid quality ! ! coats” : i ! a joint venture “Two or three vtars ago it was Dutch-Ukrainix- n hi-- i id easy to sell ail the " jurs Now that's finished -His company buys kirn from nanv countries 'i from Russiar Ttits ‘his awy MV Authentic oilskins Comfort 14000 to 28000 BUI'S Provides convenient heating wgas Nearly 100 fuel efficient with aN the heat used indoor Propane or natural gas off Lowest Prices We have them marked down 15 now during this sale take another 15 Off - QUAKER STATE OIL gg ih BINOCULARS Simmons 7x35 with 0 MH12T High quality Made in the USA Come complete with a $1699 value windscreen Ideal for leather canvas rubber vinyl plastic and all modem fabrics Safely removes perspiration wetness and oaor from any footwear overnight s straps 10-4- $3997 PEET SHOE DRYER Reg 28499 snsn — CACHE COOKER WITH WINDSCREEN Reg 57 95 77 & KARMAN and dependability trusted for generations BTU Radiant heat 20 years of proven performance Fast efficient outdoor use For use w20 lb propane cylinders VENT FREE GAS HEATERS case 3995 MR HEATER Our prices are the lower but during this promotion take another off £mJ your choice By Reg MENS WESTERN SHIRTS BY 20 AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK DROVER COATS GIANT COFFEE BOILER Blue Enamel 97 FLANNEL SHIRTS BY NORTHWEST Reg 4295 Snap front with western yoke INSULATED COVERALLS Irregulars Machine Washable Two-wafront zipper - SgS97 Effber tdbe or flange mount iff s1897 Reg mom Bes'eSSj the pnee Super garment Qj:!t lined with hood Snap front 4 big pockets Men's sizes 2$1897 asraxBfitfeua (3a?nr3 sra g 899 WEEDS FLANNEL JACKETS 2850 & $1 Reg for INSULATED BIBS BY CARHARTT Heavy duty 100 cotton duck Water repellent wind resistant proof Double knees $££77 02480 Reg 4995 TONGUE JACKS MOO pound cotton all sizes 100 fQiTffV y said Roland Schuch deputy director of lukafurlux $AJ97 AH - market economy of 20off SCHRADE AND BUCK KNIVES Large assortment of knives to choose from woolen coats with fur collars POWER-PUL- L 2-- SEAT COVERS many of rabbit nutria Persian lamb or other cheap fur few outside the Communist elite wore the long 'mink and sable coats popular AMERICAN 398 PROFESSIONAL GRADE MODEL 72A 2 TON 1 Safety factor Great "helper to have around Finest quality - made in the USA 12x20 bundlcd up in fur hats and thick ! ALL RED WING SHOES Reg 1925 FULL SIZE huge appetite for fur For so long it was completely unavailable” ! CANS AMMO CZ SOML bined with the decline of domes- - 30 CALIBER zrftH'i in-- £3LoCrass0 ing number of Russian women Belarus started the company “He came to America for oppor- tunity like I came here’’ said Graf “Russia and China have a I ! Indudes who drape themselves in furs for the long winter Some do worry about the cost but almost no one worries about the animal rights issues that keep Western women in wool and goose down Union disintegrated in 19V I has opened up a huge new market for furriers in Europe and North America “It’s like the Gold Rush for the furriers” said Edward Graf president of New York’s exclusive Ben Kahn furs who was in Moscow for a recent fur exposition Ilis grandfather a native of Htrlp HUGE INVENTORY OF RUBBER FOOT WEAR a tic fur farms since the Soviet JJuua£ui Prices Good Through October 25th Russian businessman Vronkcvich is among a grow- Russians’ love of furs HAS BEEN OUR REFUTATION FBQ186 PLASTIC DOT BROWN JERSY GLOVES PAIR Reg 249 |