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 In
most foreign countries, consumer protection laws
are different from those in the U.S. With the
exception of certain protections under the Fair
Credit Billing Act, the laws of the country in
which you make the purchase prevail, so be sure
that you understand all the terms of the sale,
including shipping arrangements, before you sign
a sales slip.
You may be surprised when you purchase items
overseas to find that some merchants have
"no refunds" or "all sales
final" policies. In some countries no
exchanges or refunds are normally given unless
the merchant promised them in advance. Get
refund or exchange policies in writing! Use the
following tips to help ensure that you'll still
be happy with your purchases when you return
home:
Keep your receipts and any documentation of
purchases in a safe place. Overseas sales slips
may just list a total purchase amount without a
breakdown of the charges, so you may want to ask
for an itemization of your purchases.
Ask specifically about return and exchange
policies. These may not be posted and can be
very different from the U.S., where many stores
promise "satisfaction guaranteed." (If
no policy is posted, you should assume no
refunds or exchanges are allowed.) If the
merchant agrees to accept returns or exchanges,
get it in writing. Also confirm who will pay
shipping and customs fees in the case of
returns. Without a written agreement that the
merchant will pay these fees, they will be your
responsibility.
Before you travel, familiarize yourself with
U.S. customs policies regarding prohibited and
restricted items. Some items such as elephant
ivory, fireworks, fur, leather, fruits and
vegetables, or "pirated" music
cassettes or computer software, may be
prohibited or restricted by the U.S. Customs
Department.
In addition, some states prohibit the
importation of certain types or amounts of
liquor or agricultural items. Prohibited items
may be confiscated and you may be subject to a
fine if you try to bring them into the U.S. For
more information on prohibited or restricted
items, refer to the U.S. Customs brochure, Know
Before You Go, also listed on this web site.
If you purchase an item with your credit card
and are unable to bring it into the U.S., your
credit card company is not obligated to give you
a refund and will probably not be able to get
one for you from the merchant. Also be aware
that in some countries, items such as artwork
may require an export license. This may incur
additional fees. Ask before you buy.
Beware of prices that are "too good to be
true" and merchandise that may be
counterfeit. Some U.S. citizens have bought
jewelry or expensive rugs or artwork overseas,
only to find out they were not as valuable, or
were of a lower grade or quality than they
thought or than the merchant represented them to
be. If value or originality is a key factor in
your decision to purchase an item, make sure to
get a professional, independent appraisal in
writing before you buy gemstones (see
web site on gem stones), artwork, or any
other expensive items.
If you buy anything valuable, get a complete
written description of the item including
promises about origin, quality, grade or
content, signed and dated by the store manager
or owner. If you do not have complete
documentation, you may have little recourse
should the item prove to be less valuable than
you thought. Even with documentation, your
credit card company may not be able to get a
refund for you. Remember, the Fair Credit
Billing Act usually does not protect you in
disputes over the quality of goods or services
bought overseas.
If the merchant provides certificates of
authenticity or appraisals, keep them with you
as you travel. Do not have them shipped with the
merchandise. Shipping purchases to the U.S. If
you decide to have items you buy abroad shipped
back to the U.S., get complete shipping details
in writing from the merchant, including a
shipping date, and how it will be shipped.
Understand that if your purchase is shipped by
boat, it may take a couple of months to receive.
To help your purchases survive the trip intact,
ask the merchant to confirm in writing that your
purchase will be packaged for shipping.
For information on shipping you purchases home
safely, see our web page on shipping.
Insurance can protect you in case your purchase
is lost or damaged in shipping. Get written
details of what is covered, including who will
be responsible if the item arrives damaged or is
lost, and instructions on what to do if that
happens. If you don't have written confirmation
and there is a problem with the shipment of your
merchandise, your credit card company may not be
able to secure a refund for you. Duties or
customs fees on items that are shipped back to
the U.S. are your responsibility, not the
merchant's. If you later return an item, the
merchant is unlikely to refund those fees.
V.A.T. refunds: In some countries, especially in
Europe, you can get a refund of Value Added Tax
(VAT) you paid on items or services purchased
there. (A value added tax is similar to a sales
tax.) You may want to contact the embassy of the
country to which you're going for information on
this tax before you leave.
If you think you may be entitled to a VAT
refund, you must normally apply for the refund
before you leave the country where you bought
the items. You may be able to get VAT forms from
the stores where you bought your purchases, or
you can get them at the airport or train
terminal. You must get the forms stamped by the
Foreign Customs Officer at the airport or train
terminal. VAT taxes may be refunded on your
credit card or by check, depending on the policy
of the store where you bought the item.
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