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30/09/2009Shopping in Paris

Shopping in Paris Ah, Paris. City of light. A destination for lovers. The capital of… shopping? Explorer Publishing shows us why.

That’s right, alongside romance and refinement, this is a city known for its fabulous retail culture. Here you will find the full range of shopping experiences, from department store chic to local shopping malls, open air markets and fantastic independent boutiques.

Fashion forward shoppers will love exploring the Marais and St-Germain, arty-types can find all manner of independent galleries up around Montmartre, lovers of luxury should make their way to the chichi avenue Montaigne while those seeking a different perspective can journey to the ethnic centre of Belleville in the 20th arrondissement, or Chinatown in the 13th.

Wherever in the city you are drawn to, it is worth keeping in mind the timing of Paris’ two big sale periods before making any rash purchases. Over six weeks at the end of January and June, the whole city moves in to official sale mode. Reductions of up to 75% on all end-of-season stock makes for some amazing bargains with tourists flying in from all over the world to get in on the act.

Sales aside, the cost of living in Paris – though less expensive than that of London and New York – is by no means cheap. How expensive it is exactly depends largely on the neighbourhood which you choose to call home; you’ll find that property, food, restaurants and bars are all more costly in well-to-do arrondissements like the 8th and the 16th compared to some of the city’s eastern quarters such as the 19th and 20th. Prices on items such as white goods, electronics and homewares compare favourably with other European countries but unfortunately, the great deals to be found in Hong Kong and Singapore do not generally apply in Paris.

As for store assistants, be prepared to be meeted and greeted to within an inch of your tolerance. Expect a bonjour and au revoir and, in between, many questions regarding whether you need help, some special product, a skirt in another colour or size... you get the picture. So much attention can be disconcerting for those just wanting a quiet browse, however, simply letting staff know you would just like to be left to look usually cuts off any over-enthusiastic advances.

Paris has two main rates of VAT tax. The base rate stands at 19.6%, with a reduced rate of 5.5% that mainly applies to cultural and food products. Some products, like medicines, face no tax costs at all.

From high fashion to health food, Paris has your retail requirements covered so get ready to test that credit card to the max. Bon shopping!

Online Shopping
Just as with the rest of the world, Paris has become enamoured with the world of online shopping. Just start up your home computer to organise purchase and delivery of groceries, music and CDs, furnishings, paintings, home appliances, or even artist materials. Practically every site will deliver, with some, like FNAC, offering free postage within France. Others will charge delivery under a certain dollar purchase while others will still charge delivery based on weight and your chosen method of freight: over-land courier services are naturally less expensive than air freight. When the time comes to pay, have your credit card at the ready – these are universally accepted. Some companies will also accept money transfers from Paypal accounts.

Goods from international locations are generally not subject to rigorous inspections from French customs officials and, unlike Australia which bans import of many food types, there is very little that cannot be imported. As with most countries, rare and endangered animals and firearms are obvious exceptions.

Refunds & Exchanges
Shoppers have significant rights when it comes to refunds and exchanges in France, so it is worth making yourself aware of them. At the most basic level, many shops will have signs in-store advertising their refund and exchange policies. If not, it pays to ask at the cash register at the time of purchase what your rights are when it comes to exchange of goods. Legally, customers who have bought products with a pre-sale defect that is undeclared, and which renders them unuseable, have rights to a replacement, or a partial or total refund. If a defective product causes damage then the trader is responsible for the damage caused by the goods.

Even during sales, traders are required to replace or refund goods with hidden defects. The only exception is when the goods have been acknowledged by the store to be faulty prior to sale. It is legal for traders to make goodwill gestures and give additional guarantees by saying ‘If you’re not satisfied bring it back for a full refund’. If these promises are made in any advertising in-store, in the public domain or even on receipts, they must be adhered to. If not, the trader is liable for misleading advertising.

Consumer Rights
As with the rest of Europe, there are laws protecting the rights of consumers. The website www.citizensadvice.org.uk has links to the French consumer rights site with translation available in English. This is a free service which provides free and independent advice so is worth considering should you have specific questions, or have encountered service or consumer activities that you believe infringed your rights.

Another site is www.eej-net.info, which provides information on consumer rights in France and Germany. This also has an English-language option. If things do go awry take steps to contact the vendor personally to try and rectify any problems. If this fails, contact the Direction Générale de la Concurrence, Consommation et de la Répression des Fraudes (DGCCRF) at www.minefi.gouv.fr/dgccrf, or L’Union Fédérale des Consommateurs (UFC) at www.quechoisir.org to register your complaints. Even simply warning the shopkeepers that this is your next step may be enough to resolve any issues.

Photo: la PosteShipping
Being one of the world’s premier shopping destinations, shipping goods internationally presents little problem in Paris. For small items the government-run postal service, La Poste (www.laposte.fr), can often be the best. Packages are available for secure, express, air or regular mail deliveries to all countries and continents. Keep in mind that as the package weight gets heavier the post becomes less economical; sending a single bottle of wine to Australia from Paris may set you back as much as €50. In these cases sending in bulk through larger courier companies may prove a cheaper option.

The well-known international shipping companies, FedEx (www.fedex.com), DHL (www.dhl.fr) and UPS (www.ups.com) operate within France at prices comparable to those in the UK and the US. Many art galleries and furnishing stores can help organise shipping (for an extra charge) so it is worth asking before buying. Prices vary considerably depending on the boutique, and most are happy to give quotes before you seal any deals.

How To Pay
As in most international destinations, shoppers have a wide range of payment options at their disposal. The euro is accepted everywhere, but bear in mind that paying in large denominations for small items is frowned upon. Cash is also often the only form of accepted payment at markets and street stalls. When it comes to credit cards, standard rules apply, with Visa and MasterCard widely accepted, and American Express and Diner’s Club slightly less so. Those with a European bank account can also debit directly from their account using EPS, which allows users to tap their pin code into an electronic handset in lieu of signing a receipt. International debit cards, however, are not accepted.

Don’t make the mistake of relying on payment in alternate currencies and travellers’ cheques, which will be refused across the board with few exceptions. French cheques, however, are a different story and unless a sign is posted stating a policy of refusal, they will be accepted in all situations. Ticket restos, essentially subsidised restaurant vouchers offered by French employers, can be used in all Paris restaurants displaying a sticker of acceptance.

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/people/ShadowgateBargaining
If you find the thrill of the barter equal to the excitement of the purchase, Paris is definitely not the city for you, so get a flight to Marrakech. Attempting to talk down prices in retail and department stores will, on the whole, win you nothing but disdain. Exceptions can be found in some smaller, independent art galleries where multiple purchases may result in a small markdown: be polite, not pushy. A charming manner can also earn dividends with vendors at the weekly food markets that pop up on different days throughout Paris, where small offerings of extra produce are not uncommon.

Desperate for the opportunity to test your skills of persuasion? The permanent flea markets on the city’s outskirts are jammed with antique and second-hand merchants willing to play the game. However bargains are not what they once were – floods of tourist buses spilling foreign visitors into the markets have resulted in a rise in prices and a decrease in real haggling. Where big ticket items are concerned, cars – both new and used – offer the best opportunities for negotiation, but don’t expect to knock off more than about 5% from the original price.


Reprinted with permission of Explorer Publishing from Paris Complete Residents' Guide.


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