How do you avoid the Duty Free shops at International airports?

[Fantic125]

I just pretend I have Tourette's as I walk through and people get out the way pretty quickly.

It gets me to the Lounge a bit quicker and I have some fun on the way.......








(and before you go pounding the keyboard, yes I am aware how PC my comment is..... )

 

[harvyk]

Something which I do wonder about the DF shops been mandatory, what if the detector goes off as you exit the store?

Whilst stores are on somewhat shaky ground if they try and detain you for shoplifting just because one of the detectors goes off when you exit, at least they have the argument that you must have agreed to the stores terms and conditions of entry because you voluntarily chose to enter the store.

But with making going through a DF store a mandatory part of leaving the country, if the detector goes off when you leave the store stating you've stolen something, can they actually do anything (eg detain you until police arrive). I know that DVD's from the local rental store will set of the detectors next door a wollies, so there are things which you may own which could set off those detectors.

 

[harvyk]

Just to follow on from my previous post, it would not be unreasonable for someone to take a product which they have purchased elsewhere through the mandatory DF store whilst still in it's original packaging. So just because a overly keen store manager finds a product in your bag of the same make and model as they have on the shelves it doesn't mean that you didn't purchase it elsewhere.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Something which I do wonder about the DF shops been mandatory, what if the detector goes off as you exit the store?

Whilst stores are on somewhat shaky ground if they try and detain you for shoplifting just because one of the detectors goes off when you exit, at least they have the argument that you must have agreed to the stores terms and conditions of entry because you voluntarily chose to enter the store.

But with making going through a DF store a mandatory part of leaving the country, if the detector goes off when you leave the store stating you've stolen something, can they actually do anything (eg detain you until police arrive). I know that DVD's from the local rental store will set of the detectors next door a wollies, so there are things which you may own which could set off those detectors.

Interesting take. I've never noticed if there are any T&C's and certainly never thought about what the options are if you don't agree to them.

 

[JessicaTam]

Interesting take. I've never noticed if there are any T&C's and certainly never thought about what the options are if you don't agree to them.

Maybe next time I will ask to see them. If they include an option to search my bag, then I will ask them to show me how to get to the gate without going through the store. Or perhaps get them to escort me through - every time. :mrgreen:

 

[diningdecadence]

I sometimes stop at the champagne stand as I don't have platinum status/ fly first. I do wonder if the staff are on sales commission as i find they are very friendly/helpful compared to Australia but don't see how the sale would get allocated to them with different counter staff.

slightly side note- has anyone read the coffee shops in UK train stations and why the coffees are so expensive? Think its in freakonomics or one of those type books.

 

[drewbles]

I'm glad you wrote this. I thought it was my imagination last time when I felt like my path was blocked by shoppers.

Exactly this. When I know where I'm going (I'm the kind of person who tends to walk whilst looking at a sign rather than stopping in the middle of everyone and causing a mid-airport collision) I despise it when people just stop and block the path.

I've often said major hubs like airports (and indeed shopping centres) need two lanes in each direction: strolling, where you can stop and scratch whatever bits of yourself that you like, and an 'express' where you keep walking to the next 'exit'. Like traffic. Although like traffic, people invariably ignore it

 

[boomy]

SYD duty free is so busy this morning, reminds me of chadstone on Boxing Day. Had to make so serious maneuvering to get to the Flounge

 

[Bindibuys]

I did wonder if the staff are on commission at the DF stores.
Arrived Syd 26th May from Sin, there was no shoppers at the duty free, (nor anyone waiting at immigration ) all the staff were lined up at the edge of the pathway holding baskets. Someone called out - "hey there is only 2 of them" I replied, you should have seen the previous leg, I was the only one.
Needless to say, I did not stop to shop.

Off topic - what do 4 flight crew do for 14+ hours when they only have 1 passenger in F? (sorry I slept 80% of the journey, so wondered what they did)

 

[Alanslegal]

Because of the intrusive placement of the DF store at SYD international arrivals I refuse to even bat an eyelid and zoom straight through to Immigration.

 

[Skyring]

Off topic - what do 4 flight crew do for 14+ hours when they only have 1 passenger in F? (sorry I slept 80% of the journey, so wondered what they did)

Take turns to fly the plane, I would imagine.

 

[Limewood]

Duty free either walk past or buy booze sometimes.

Mrs Lime different story, she likes them for some reason... even after she buys an extra suitcase to bring home her booty.

 

[Bindibuys]

Take turns to fly the plane, I would imagine.

I was in 1A (sin/syd) and 1F (zhr/sin), so yes there was some traffic coming and going out of the coughpit LOL.

 

[Flywithd]

I was in 1A (sin/syd) and 1F (zhr/sin), so yes there was some traffic coming and going out of the coughpit LOL.

What does that joystick do captain???? :mrgreen:

 

[seanpodge]

Given MEL is my home port, I do find the positioning of the duty free shop overly antagonistic. I still have bought things there, but I would've bought them anyway whether I was herded through the shop or the shop was more politely positioned, so this is just another black mark against the management of MEL. There's also the one a bit further along that is in the centre of the walkway and so most people will have to take the long way around to avoid it. I realise that they have to pay the bills, but how the sales agreement appears to have no requirement for the operators to focus on running an airport first and foremost shows how good the government was at driving a hard bargain when they sold the airports off.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Because of the intrusive placement of the DF store at SYD international arrivals I refuse to even bat an eyelid and zoom straight through to Immigration.

Or do what I do,calculate what I am saving purchasing at my destination.....on my way out of course!!

 

[prozac]

Given MEL is my home port, I do find the positioning of the duty free shop overly antagonistic. I still have bought things there, but I would've bought them anyway whether I was herded through the shop or the shop was more politely positioned, so this is just another black mark against the management of MEL. There's also the one a bit further along that is in the centre of the walkway and so most people will have to take the long way around to avoid it. I realise that they have to pay the bills, but how the sales agreement appears to have no requirement for the operators to focus on running an airport first and foremost shows how good the government was at driving a hard bargain when they sold the airports off.

Sometimes I wonder what would happen if you bumped into it knocking a few bottes to the floor? OH&S wouldn't be impressed by bleary-eyed passengers injurying themselves in slip & falls.