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How not to get ripped off
at duty free
免税购物如何避免被宰？
离航班起飞还有一个小时的时间，你已经在一家时髦的机场餐厅吃过点心了，也许你甚至考虑过在机场做个快捷护理。
But the siren's call of duty-free shopping is too strong.
但是免税购物的诱惑力真的太大了。
"Sometimes, we stop by the duty-free shop because we think we are getting a deal. Other times, we are bored before our flights and just want to kill some time," says Scott Mayerowitz, editorial director at The Points Guy, an aviation-focused travel website. "Occasionally, we find items that we can't get at home."
“有时候，我们去免税店是因为我们觉得能省钱。或者，我们在飞机起飞前太无聊了只想（在免税店）消磨时间，” Scott Mayerowitz说，他是一家以航空业务为重点的旅游网站——The Points Guy的编辑部主任。“偶尔，我们也会发现一些在国内买不到的东西。”
But before you open your wallet, Mayerowitz says, do a little research to make sure you're not getting ripped off -- start by reviewing TPG's study on duty-free shopping, which showed wild fluctuations in prices for the same item across duty-free shops worldwide.
但是在打开钱包之前，Mayerowitz说，你可以做一些小调查来确保你没有被骗——首先你可以参考一下TPG对于免税购物进行的研究，该研究显示，同一种商品的价格在世界各地的免税店会出现巨大的差异。
该研究收集并比较了六大洲50家机场的13种流行商品（孟买蓝宝石杜松子酒、约翰尼·沃克·蓝标苏格兰威士忌、雅诗兰黛高级晚霜和万宝路香烟等）的免税价格。
什么是免税？
A customs duty is a tariff or tax imposed on goods transported across international borders, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection.
根据美国国土安全部海关和边境保护局的说法，关税是对跨国运输的货物征收的税或税收。
The "duty" you avoid is the import tax that applies to local retail sales in the country where the duty-free shop is located. It's usually some combination of value-added tax (VAT) and sales tax.
免税的“税”是指适用于免税商店所在地的零售销售的进口税。通常是增值税和销售税的结合。
"Duty free" connotes the absence of these local taxes on retail items purchased in special economic zones where sales and value-added taxes (VAT) are not collected, says shopping expert Andrew Schrange, co-founder of personal finance community site Money Crashers.
个人理财社区网站Money Crashers的联合创始人、购物专家Andrew Schrange表示，“免税”意味着免除在不征收销售税和增值税的经济特区购买零售商品的地方税。
免税真的能省钱吗？
一般来说，你最好了解一下本国的和你将要访问的国家的价格水平。Mayerowitz说：“因为免税并不总是意味着这是个划算的交易。”
Because duty-free retailers are not obligated to pass tax savings to the customer, many set prices just below local prices, says Schrange. "Pricing varies by shop and jurisdiction, but shoppers shouldn't expect deep discounts," he says.
由于免税零售商没有义务将节省的税款让渡给顾客，许多零售商定价会略低于当地价格。他说：“价格因商店和司法管辖区而异，消费者不应该对获得大幅度的折扣抱有太大希望。”
Depending on the local tax structure, though, the savings can be significant on certain items -- up to of 20% or even 30%, in jurisdictions with high VAT rates. "Savings are especially noticeable on 'vice' goods such as alcohol and cigarettes, since those items tend to be taxed at higher rates," he adds.
不过，根据地方税结构的不同，在增值税率高的司法管辖区，某些商品的折扣力度比较大——高达20％甚至30％。他补充说：“酒精和香烟等'不良嗜好‘商品上的折扣尤其引人注目，因为这些商品往往要征收更高的税率。”
Schrange建议道，提前熟悉前往国家的免税购物规定将使你获益匪浅。
Some countries have limits on how much you can buy before taxes kick in, which may have to be paid once you return home. You can usually learn the limits by checking with the border patrol or customs agency in the country you're visiting.
在一些国家，超出一定限额后需要交税，回国后你需要立刻支付这些费用。通常，你可以通过与目的地的边防或海关机构联系来了解这些限额。
哪些是免税购物的最佳地点？
According to The Points Guy's research, you'll find the best prices on alcohol in the Caribbean, cosmetics and fragrances in Europe and tobacco products in Asia. The overall cheapest airport for tax-free goods is Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (KUL). The most expensive airport overall is Santorini, Greece (JTR).
根据The Points Guy的研究，你会发现，在加勒比地区买酒，在欧洲购买化妆品和香水以及在亚洲购买烟草是最实惠的。在所有机场中，马来西亚吉隆坡机场（KUL）的商品最便宜，希腊圣托里尼机场（JTR）的商品最昂贵。
免税购物的最大优惠是什么？
Heubel建议顾客去寻找大件的免税专属商品并留意可能降价30%的特惠销售。
While liquor and tobacco are generally better value buys at duty-free shops, according to Schrange, "I would say this: Duty-free items might be a good price but always factor in the hassle. Is saving $4 on a bottle of vodka worth it if you then have to carry it with you through two more airports and a car ride home?"
尽管在免税店购买烟酒是十分实惠的，但Schrange说：“我是这样想的，在免税店购物可能很实惠，但也会带来不便。假设你要转机两次再开车回家才能带回一瓶只便宜4美元的伏特加，这样做值得吗？”
在免税店应该注意什么？
"Cosmetics and other luxury goods [like clothing] don't reliably offer the same value, and in many cases may actually be more expensive at duty-free shops than at superstores or street markets in town," says Schrange.
Schrange说：“免税店的化妆品和其他奢侈品（如服装等）并不能保证相同价值。有时免税店的商品价格实际上会比大型超市和街边商店的更高。
That's because clothing is normally lightly taxed. "You can find better deals in town, especially if you're in a country where street vendors are common and haggling is expected." He also suggests shoppers steer clear of souvenirs, calling them "notoriously rip-off-prone."
这种情况出现是因为服装税通常比较低。你能在城里完成购买，尤其是你所在国家街头小贩十分常见并且允许讨价还价的时候。”他还建议消费者避开贩售的纪念品，称它们因暴利而臭名昭彰。
他建议：“如果你想从国外带一些小饰品或纪念品回家，最好在到达机场前购买。”
怎样确保你在免税店得到了优惠？
一般来说，你最好了解一下本国的和你将要访问的国家的价格水平。Mayerowitz说：“因为免税并不总是意味着这是个划算的交易。”
Because duty-free retailers are not obligated to pass tax savings to the customer, many set prices just below local prices, says Schrange. "Pricing varies by shop and jurisdiction, but shoppers shouldn't expect deep discounts," he says.
由于免税零售商没有义务将节省的税款让渡给顾客，许多零售商定价会略低于当地价格。他说：“价格因商店和司法管辖区而异，消费者不应该对获得大幅度的折扣抱有太大希望。”
Depending on the local tax structure, though, the savings can be significant on certain items -- up to of 20% or even 30%, in jurisdictions with high VAT rates. "Savings are especially noticeable on 'vice' goods such as alcohol and cigarettes, since those items tend to be taxed at higher rates," he adds.
不过，根据地方税结构的不同，在增值税率高的司法管辖区，某些商品的折扣力度比较大——高达20％甚至30％。他补充说：“酒精和香烟等'不良嗜好‘商品上的折扣尤其引人注目，因为这些商品往往要征收更高的税率。”
Schrange建议道，提前熟悉前往国家的免税购物规定将使你获益匪浅。
Some countries have limits on how much you can buy before taxes kick in, which may have to be paid once you return home. You can usually learn the limits by checking with the border patrol or customs agency in the country you're visiting.
在一些国家，超出一定限额后需要交税，回国后你需要立刻支付这些费用。通常，你可以通过与目的地的边防或海关机构联系来了解这些限额。
我应该如何支付免税商品的费用?
"We always suggest using a credit card with no foreign transaction [issues] when overseas, to get the best exchange rates," says Mayerowitz. And, if you're paying in cash, say, to use up whatever local currency you have leftover at the airport, when the cashier asks if you want to pay in dollars or the local currency, always pick the local currency. That's because if you opt to pay in dollars, the merchant converts the purchase from the local currency.
Mayerowit表示:“我们总是建议，在海外时使用不存在外汇交易(问题)的信用卡，以获得最合适的汇率。” 比如说，你想在机场用完剩下的当地货币而选择了现金支付。当收银员问你是用美元还是当地货币支付时，一定要选择当地货币。这是因为如果你选择用美元支付，商家会将购买的商品由当地货币转换为美元结算。
The catch? The exchange rate may be terrible, and they may charge an additional fee for the service.
知道这有什么猫腻吗?如果你用美元支付，汇率可能很高，并且商家可能会为此向你收取额外的服务费。
THE END
原文链接:
https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/duty-free-shopping/index.html?from=singlemessage
编译：罗悦菲、马林、马寒冰、郦丹萍
排版：马林
审核：刘佳
