Buying International: Another VAT Thread

[NAUI1982]

I’m heading to Poland on business and flying through Amsterdam. I’ll have a long layover both on the way to Poland and on the way back, plus a weekend in Warsaw for some downtime.

I plan to visit Gassan in Schiphol Airport, and I’m also considering checking out some ADs in Poland.

The last time I bought some luxury goods was in Italy, where I used Global Blue for the VAT refund. It worked fine, but it was a bit of a hassle. With the dollar much stronger against the Euro now, I’m hoping for better savings this time around.

A few questions for the experienced travel shoppers out there:

1. In a Rolex Boutique (either in an airport or Poland), is the price listed with VAT included, or are the prices somewhat “adjusted” to reflect a more USD-friendly exchange rate?
2. Does Gassan at Schiphol Airport waive VAT on the spot, or would I still have to go through the Global Blue refund process?
3. I’ll be leaving Poland at 6am, before the VAT office opens. Can I handle VAT validation in Amsterdam during my layover, since it’s my final departure from the EU?
4. For Poland ADs, is the VAT process similar to Global Blue, or do they waive it on the spot?

Bonus question: Has anyone recently gone through this VAT refund process when buying a Rolex in the EU? If so:

• How smooth was the process at the airport?
• How long did the refund take to appear in your account?
• Any tips for dealing with early morning flights before VAT offices open?

Any other advice is welcome (inventory constraints included), but if I get lucky, I’m a buyer, and if not, no harm done!

Thanks in advance!