First off, LOEWE and taxes…that’s already a combo that makes my wallet cry a little. I mean, LOEWE *anything* ain’t exactly cheap. We’re talking investment pieces, you know? The kinda shoes you only wear on, like, *really* special occasions, or maybe just to the grocery store to flex on the other shoppers (no judgement, I’ve totally considered it).
So, the “duty-free” and “tax-free” thing? Yeah, that’s where it gets kinda murky. It’s like, technically different, but practically…well, depends on where you are. That one snippet about “DUTY FREE 免除了 消費稅、關稅、菸酒稅” (thanks for the Chinese lesson, internet!) kinda explains it. Duty-free is supposed to be *everything* tax-wise, which is usually at airports. Tax-free is… well, potentially just VAT refund, or something similar.
That bit about checking in luggage with tax-free items from Japan? Hmmm, that’s interesting. I wonder if you can, like, buy a pair of LOEWE x On sneakers at the airport, chuck ’em in your suitcase, and then declare ’em as tax-free when you get home? I’m picturing some elaborate smuggling operation, maybe with strategically placed socks and sweaters. Probably not legal, probably wouldn’t work. Just a thought.
And then there’s FARFETCH and Mytheresa and Saks… they’re all selling LOEWE shoes, but are they tax-free? Proooobably not. They *might* have sales, or offer free shipping (which is basically the same as a small tax break in my book, tbh), but full-on tax evasion? I mean, tax *avoidance*? Probably not.
The LOEWE x On collab… those are cute! But *are* they worth dodging taxes for? I mean… maybe. Depends on the colorway, right? I’m partial to the ones that look like they were designed by a unicorn who just ate a rainbow.
Honestly, trying to navigate this whole tax-free shoe thing is giving me a headache. Maybe it’s easier to just accept that you’re gonna pay taxes and find a good coupon code. Or, you know, rob a bank. (Don’t actually rob a bank).
