02-07-2016, 01:10 PM
That seems highly YMMV.
According to VAT refund rules it doesn't have to be in the box but it does have to be new, unused and available for inspection.
I found out the hard way with an expensive pair of hiking boots that I had put into checked baggage before I tried to get the VAT refund. The guy argued a receipt alone wasn't good enough. After all I could have given the boots to an EU resident. He then added that even if I'd worn the boots on the trip home he'd have disallowed my claim on the grounds that I was "using" them in the EU, they were no longer "new" and thus I was being validly taxed on the "value added" from wearing them.
Perhaps this also depends on whether the VAT refunder works for the government (they have an incentive to disallow claims) or works for a sub-contractor (they have a monetary incentive to allow claims because their income is a percentage of the amount refunded.)
All-in-all I have to decide (1) if the high cost of Rimowa is worth it for my usage and (2) if so if it's worth the added hassles of buying outside of Canada.
According to VAT refund rules it doesn't have to be in the box but it does have to be new, unused and available for inspection.
I found out the hard way with an expensive pair of hiking boots that I had put into checked baggage before I tried to get the VAT refund. The guy argued a receipt alone wasn't good enough. After all I could have given the boots to an EU resident. He then added that even if I'd worn the boots on the trip home he'd have disallowed my claim on the grounds that I was "using" them in the EU, they were no longer "new" and thus I was being validly taxed on the "value added" from wearing them.
Perhaps this also depends on whether the VAT refunder works for the government (they have an incentive to disallow claims) or works for a sub-contractor (they have a monetary incentive to allow claims because their income is a percentage of the amount refunded.)
All-in-all I have to decide (1) if the high cost of Rimowa is worth it for my usage and (2) if so if it's worth the added hassles of buying outside of Canada.