Oh for the good old days when a trip to Paris brought bargains on Chanel shopping (at least for U.S. travelers). Yes, there was a time when the purchase savings nearly covered the cost of airfare. One could practically plan a trip just for shopping. Indeed, at one time, for example, Chanel prices in Paris were nearly half of that in the United States.
Photo Credit: @thetravelingal
But that isn’t the case anymore! As you’ll see from our charts below, prices around the world are virtually the same everywhere (with one interesting exception). In other words, there’s no reason to shop abroad for bargains.
As you may recall, Chanel has been working for years to reach its goal of equalizing prices worldwide. And now global harmonization, as Chanel calls it, seems virtually complete. Which for Chanel was probably a good thing, as travel was nearly non-existent during parts of the pandemic.
Photo Credit: @nadjasnowflake
That Chanel classic flap, for example, sets you back the same amount whether you’re in the United States, United Kingdom, Europe, or Asia. In other words, from a pure cost standpoint, you may as well buy at home and save the travel expenses.
Let’s not forget that equalization did not lower the prices lol. The multiple price increases over the last two years resulted in the price of a Medium Flap Bag going up a cumulative 52% since November 2019 to now retail at $8800 in the US! For 2021 alone, that bag is up 35%.
And it’s not just the United States. In the charts below, you’ll see that prices worldwide are virtually identical.
Except… Australia. But don’t go there looking for a deal. For some reason, the bags are about 6% more down under.
Photo Credit: @bajjin
Here are Chanel prices in all its major markets around the world as of December 2021:
| Chanel Classic Flaps | Current Prices in the US (USD) | Current Prices in Europe (Euros) | Current Prices in the UK (GBP) | Current Prices in Asia (HKD) | Current Prices in Australia (AUD) |
| Mini Rectangular | $4,400 | NA | £3,260 | HK$33,900 | A$6,250 |
| Classic Small Flap | $8,200 | €7,300 | £6,210 | HK$63,800 | A$12,340 |
| Classic Medium Flap | $8,800 | €7,800 | £6,630 | HK$68,200 | A$13,190 |
| Classic Jumbo Flap | $9,500 | €8,400 | £7,140 | HK$73,400 | A$14,200 |
| Classic Maxi Flap | $10,000 | €8,900 | £7,570 | HK$77,800 | A$15,050 |
| Chanel Classic Flaps | Current Prices in the US (USD) | Current Prices in Europe (Euros) | Current Prices in the UK (GBP) | Current Prices in Asia (HKD) | Current Prices in Australia (AUD) |
| Mini Rectangular | $4,400 | NA | £3,260 | HK$33,900 | A$6,250 |
| Classic Small Flap | $8,200 | €7,300 | £6,210 | HK$63,800 | A$12,340 |
| Classic Medium Flap | $8,800 | €7,800 | £6,630 | HK$68,200 | A$13,190 |
| Classic Jumbo Flap | $9,500 | €8,400 | £7,140 | HK$73,400 | A$14,200 |
| Classic Maxi Flap | $10,000 | €8,900 | £7,570 | HK$77,800 | A$15,050 |
| Chanel Classic Flaps | Current Prices in the US (USD) | Current Prices in Europe (USD) | Current Prices in the UK (USD) | Current Prices in Asia (USD) | Current Prices in Australia (USD) |
| Mini Rectangular | $4,400 | NA | $4,303 | $4,407 | $4,437 |
| Classic Small Flap | $8,200 | $8,249 | $8,197 | $8,294 | $8,761 |
| Classic Medium Flap | $8,800 | $8,814 | $8,751 | $8,866 | $9,364 |
| Classic Jumbo Flap | $9,500 | $9,492 | $9,424 | $9,542 | $10,082 |
| Classic Maxi Flap | $10,000 | $10,057 | $9,992 | $10,114 | $10,685 |
| Chanel Classic Flaps | Current Prices in the US (USD) | Current Prices in Europe (USD) | Current Prices in the UK (USD) | Current Prices in Asia (USD) | Current Prices in Australia (USD) |
| Mini Rectangular | $4,400 | NA | $4,303 | $4,407 | $4,437 |
| Classic Small Flap | $8,200 | $8,249 | $8,197 | $8,294 | $8,761 |
| Classic Medium Flap | $8,800 | $8,814 | $8,751 | $8,866 | $9,364 |
| Classic Jumbo Flap | $9,500 | $9,492 | $9,424 | $9,542 | $10,082 |
| Classic Maxi Flap | $10,000 | $10,057 | $9,992 | $10,114 | $10,685 |
Now, if you are a seasoned handbag aficionado, you are probably wondering about the tax implications in various parts of the world. Here is what you need to consider:
When buying the bag in Europe, you may be eligible for a refund of the Value Added Tax (VAT). That amount varies from 10% to 12%, depending upon location of purchase. But once you land back on U.S. soil, you must declare your purchase and pay the requisite tax. As a result, the benefit of your VAT refund may be nearly negated.
For bags purchased in the United States, however, with few state exceptions, will bear an additional sales tax, which is not refundable, for locals and tourists alike.
Photo Credit: @charming.kat
In light of this, make your trans-atlantic travel plans because you want to go. Feel free to shop. It’s always, for example, an experience shopping at Rue Cambon in Paris. Even better is a handbag full of memories of a wonderful holiday. But… don’t expect to find a real bargain. Those days are gone. At least for now.
Love PurseBop
XO
Updated: February 17th, 2022
Comments
2 Responses to “Where Can You Get a Chanel Bargain?”
This is not a like for like comparison if the US price excludes Tax and Aust price includes GST, is my understanding correct?
is there any Chanel bag that is cheaper in France?