Big TAX FREE shopping spree at John Lewis - getting the booty back to the Middle East

[feesh]

I'm pregnant with twins, and going back to England next month to buy everything I'm going to need for them. The main bulky item will be the pushchair or travel system.

Our airline is very punitive for excess baggage, so I was thinking of sending it back via the Excess Baggage Company instead, as I have used them in the past with great success.

The only thing is, we want to buy the stuff under the 'Tax free for tourists' scheme, which John Lewis subscribe to.

I know that we can claim the tax back at the landside Amex office in LHR Terminal 4, but does anyone know if I am then committed to flying WITH the goods myself, or is it OK for me to send them on after that with the Excess Baggage Co?

Sorry, I meant the landside Travelex office, not the Amex office.

My understanding is that yes, you have to have the stuff physically with you and available for inspection, because they have to ensure that the goods are physically leaving the country and you havent ebayed them in the UK. However EBC might be able to give you some sort of export certificate that would suffice. I would call and ask them as they surely have to come across this situation the whole time.

Thanks, I will do that :)

Not sure of the legalities but whenever I've claimed tax back landside they've never accompanied me to check in to make sure I've checked it in!

There may have been something in one of the forms I signed though but I can't remember anything.