Unknowingly bought Fake Duty Free Jewelry whilst abroad

Neomi

Would very much appreciate some help.
Whilst on holiday in Jamaica, I fancied buying myself some Tiffany's Jewelry so I went on the tiffany.co.uk website to find a list of approved sellers in Ja. Found one and consequently purchased a $300 bracelet - I thought the going price for this type of jewelry.

After a week on wearing the bracelet, the clasp broke and so I went to the tiffany's store to get it fixed. However, I was then told that the piece was a fake. I purchased using the Fair FX card, if that makes a difference. Is there anyway to get my money back? Especially given that this store is approved by tifffany's themselves?

browneyedbazzi

If you had purchased the item with a credit card they would have refunded you but prepaid cards won't (correct me if I'm wrong but as credit isn't involved the usual rules don't apply).

You could complain to Tiffany, explaining that you purchased from the store because it was listed as an approved seller and they may be willing to give you something as a goodwill gesture - I don't believe they are obliged to do anything but they might in order to protect their reputation and brand image (they may delist the store or take action against them to prevent others being affected as well).

aimee21j

I did the same when I wanted to find a Tiffany's in Barcelona. I have just been back on the Tiffany Website and cannot find any stockists listed for Jamaica. Which website did you look at?

wealdroam

aimee21j wrote: »

I did the same when I wanted to find a Tiffany's in Barcelona. I have just been back on the Tiffany Website and cannot find any stockists listed for Jamaica. Which website did you look at?

OP says they used "the tiffany.co.uk website".

Enter Jamaica in this screen and you will see four stores.

All four stores are marked as "Owned and operated by an authorized Tiffany & Co. retailer".

Hintza

OP did you declare it for duties and VAT upon your return to the UK?

Enfieldian

Hintza wrote: »

OP did you declare it for duties and VAT upon your return to the UK?

And this is relevant to the original post how?

McKneff

Enfieldian wrote: »

And this is relevant to the original post how?

You should know by now E, there's always one:D

Hintza

Enfieldian wrote: »

And this is relevant to the original post how?

That might require a bit of lateral thinking. Keep trying!

browneyedbazzi

If you paid VAT and duty on the piece of jewellery based on it's genuine retail value when you brought it in and it turned out to be worthless could you reclaim the VAT/Duty??

shaun_from_Africa

browneyedbazzi wrote: »

If you paid VAT and duty on the piece of jewellery based on it's genuine retail value when you brought it in and it turned out to be worthless could you reclaim the VAT/Duty??

I very much doubt it for a couple of reasons.

When you pay import duty it is normally on the value paid for goods and not their "true" value. (unless HMCE think that the receipt has been undervalued to evade the duty).
A couple of years ago I purchased a job lot of aviation crimping tools from a bankrupt business in Florida and paid just over $1000 for these (about £550 at the time).
They were all new and boxed and the manufacturers retail price for these was about $4200
I declared these when returning to the UK and had to pay VAT and duty on the purchase price of £550 and not their retail price of £2300.

Another reason is that if you could reclaim the duty, it would be extremely easy to fiddle the system.
Buy a genuine item for £1500, bring it back and pay the duty then take a fake copy to a jewellers and get a letter stating that it's only worth £100 and use this to reclaim the taxes.

browneyedbazzi

I didn't think it was likely because HMRC really don't like giving anyone money back lol

The only other thing I can think Hintza is hinting at is that if it wasn't declared/duty paid etc, then kicking up a fuss about it now might bring OP to the attention of HMRC and land her in trouble for smuggling said article....reporting folks to HMRC for little indiscretions is a fairly easy way to get a bit of revenge