Alcohol-related question for those who are SINing or have SINned ;)

[JohnK]

For NZ the best bet is what GDSman posted as those prices are difficult to beat if you use the pre-order frequent buyer offer.

Hmmm.... I had a look at their prices before my last trip in January and was very disappointed.

Jim Beam Black Label 1L, regular price $NZ36.95 (~$A33.90) and with 20% discount $NZ29.56 (~A27.11). SYD airport price 2 for $47. I know this brand and a few others were on special at SYD airport but the regular price in NZ DFS is very high.

Also I don't look at the exchange rate $NZ->$A used on their website (~$1.1285) as this is not the realistic exchange rate. If you use a credit card it will be around $1.09, if you buy cash at banks it will be around $1.08 and if you use exchange bureaus it will be around $1.05. YMMV.

 

[Altair]

Hmmm.... I had a look at their prices before my last trip in January and was very disappointed.

Jim Beam Black Label 1L, regular price $NZ36.95 (~$A33.90) and with 20% discount $NZ29.56 (~A27.11). SYD airport price 2 for $47. I know this brand and a few others were on special at SYD airport but the regular price in NZ DFS is very high.

Also I don't look at the exchange rate $NZ->$A used on their website (~$1.1285) as this is not the realistic exchange rate. If you use a credit card it will be around $1.09, if you buy cash at banks it will be around $1.08 and if you use exchange bureaus it will be around $1.05. YMMV.

Hi John,
Yes it can happen like that when SYD DF do the 2 for specials, and like over here you can mix them up with bottles of the same distributor.
For most of what I look for NZ is cheaper and I do look in NZD. I will also admit that SYD DF also have a greater range of goods where I do buy from there because I was after a less popular type of liquer.

 

[Zoom]

Just had a look in the duty free shops downstairs in Singapore Airport - couldn't find Makers Mark. It is $27.20 per litre on Christmas Island at the supermarket (the whole island is duty free).

Absolut Vodka (in all its flavours) is $13.10 per litre.

Canadian Club whisky is $15.50 per litre (did score it at $11.00 per litre last November though)

Winfield Gold cigarettes are $14.50 per carton (yes per carton ie $1.45 per packet).

Great place to go for liver and lung disease. Pity the duty free limits back into Oz are so low. Cheers.

 

[Febs]

Thanks Zoom, much appreciated.

Re: Christmas Islands prices... :shock: Not bad! Reminds me of a brief stopover in Vanautu a while ago...ridiculously-cheap alcohol and cigarettes.

I wonder if (being a "territory" of Australia) the duty-free limits apply when coming from Christmas Islands? :mrgreen:

Actually on that note, does anyone know what are duty-free prices are like in PNG? It's possible I'll have a trip there later this year.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Mr_Gimlet]

There is a moderately useful resource at Duty Free Price Guide that compares the prices etc across various airports and airlines. It's not very good on less common stuff like Makers Mark bourbons, but it is quite handy on benchmark products and gives you an idea of what their other prices will be like. Remember that duty free is pitched to reflect savings to locals: so duty free in a country with high sin taxes and sales taxes eg London will be more expensive than somewhere with low taxes eg Dubai.

I am also reminded of Douglas Adams' comment on duty free shops: "shops than can charge much less than high street stores, but very rarely do"

 

[JohnK]

Remember that duty free is pitched to reflect savings to locals: so duty free in a country with high sin taxes and sales taxes eg London will be more expensive than somewhere with low taxes eg Dubai.

And keep in mind in places like Greece if you buy alcohol, like Chivas or Dimple, at flea markets it is cheaper than buying duty free at ATH airport or even SIN