I Prefer Paris: Paris Shopping Tips

I write a monthly column about Paris for www.travelagentcentral.com, a website for upscale travel agents. I am reprinting last month's article because I thought it would be useful to my readers.

Paris Shopping Tips
One of the most joyous activities in Paris is shopping. Whether it’s the designer boutiques of rue St. Honore, the grand department stores Printemps or Galleries Lafayette, or some special trinket from a unique boutique, there is something for every one.

Here are some insider shopping tips to make your experience even better.

1. Store Hours & Closings
Most stores are open Monday to Saturday, closed on Sundays. Department stores, and shops in more commercial areas like the Opera are open 10AM-7PM. Areas like the Marais and St Germain des Pres, the individual boutiques are usually open from 11AM-7PM.
Sundays – the only place where stores are open on Sunday is the Champs Elysees and the Marais. Stores are usually open 11-7 but some in the Marais open later, sometimes after 12PM or 1PM.

Most food shops & gourmet stores- small neighborhood food shops like cheese stores, butchers, fish stores, chocolate shops, patisseries, etc. are open Tuesday through Saturday, and Sunday 8AM till 2PM. Some fish shops, butchers, and cheese shops will close for an hour or two in the middle of the day for lunch. Store opening hours vary between 8AM & 10AM till 7PM or 8PM.

2. VAT/Tax Refund

If you spend 175 euros or more in one shop, you are entitled to a tax refund. It usually varies between 10 & 15%, depending on the store’s administrative costs. It can be refunded to your credit card later on or given to you in cash, in whatever currency you prefer, at the airport. You must do this before you go through security. Also you must present your passport or have the number when making the purchase at the shop.

3. Sales

Unlike the United States, where there are sales all year round, sales in France are regulated by the government and happen twice a year during summer and winter. Winter sales usually start the first Wednesday in January and summer sales the last week of June and sales last about 4 to 5 weeks. Stores can be fined heavily for having sales at other times than the government allows. However, last year the government let shops have an extra two weeks out of the year to let them have additional sale days. Some of the upscale boutiques will have private or un announced sales about a month before the government sales, whereby when you are in the shop, the sales people will discreetly tell you there is a sale going on or there will be red dots on the pricetags. One exception is that stores can have a sale of certain items marked “Promotion” with 20-30% off all year round.

4. Store Etiquette

• When you walk into a shop, always say “Hello/Bonjour”

•    Don’t ask how much something is without saying “Hello/Bonjour”
•    Don’t go into a clothing or non-food shop eating or drinking
•    Don’t touch things in the window without asking
•    Ask the sales person if they speak English and don’t automatically assume they do.

5. Sizes

European clothing and shoe sizes are different than American sizes, so either know what size you are before you arrive, or have a size converter printed out from the internet or on your phone.

Bon shopping!

Coming soon: Eye Prefer New York Tours

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte’s professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 3 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.

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