beware of shopping claims on board

[hrhdhd]

I'm wondering if there's a problem with inflating prices in St Thomas. A few years ago DMIL & I bought David Yurman bracelets at a shop listed on the David Yuman website only to find out we paid more than what it cost in the states. I've bought David Yurman in Grand Cayman, Cozumel & the Bahamas and it's always been a huge discount off the price compared to the USA.

I have bought David Yurman in St. Thomas at 10% off and, of course, with no sales tax. And fortunately, one's duty-free exemption is higher for purchases in St. Thomas. I'd like to know how much your "huge" discount was on the other islands you mention.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

We're in the minority here, but my husband and I received better deals in St. Thomas than we would have in Dallas. My pink sapphires and diamond ring (identical to one at Jared Jeweler's in Dallas) was $600.00 less in St. Thomas. We took it there (Jared) for appraisal, and they even said "yes, you got a good deal." Two years later, we went back, and bought a ring for my husband. Same white gold and diamond band at Jared sold for $300.00 more, to which again, we got a good deal. We took the rings in for a cleaning (as we do before every cruise) and the jeweler even thought we'd purchased them there (Jared.) We also saved more since we paid no sales tax. We purchased our rings at Cardow in St. Thomas. No, we don't have a problem not buying local.

 

[Tay N Evie's Mom]

I have bought David Yurman in St. Thomas at 10% off and, of course, with no sales tax. And fortunately, one's duty-free exemption is higher for purchases in St. Thomas. I'd like to know how much your "huge" discount was on the other islands you mention.

In Grand Cayman I received 20% off a $1500 bracelet and in addition didn't have to pay tax on the purchase. In the Bahamas I bought DMIL, DSIL and I matching bracelets. I had originally bought them at Neiman Marcus and planned to give them as Christmas presents, but I saved enough in the Bahamas that one of the bracelets would have been considered "free" based on Neiman Marcus prices, so I took them back to the store when we returned.

 

[JCerniglow]

I plan to do all of my shopping at cardow. they have always treated me well. But I am in love with the effy bracelet. that I will buy locally.

 

[hubbard53]

I planned to buy a Rado watch in St. Thomas . . . what a disappointment. Yes, there was a BIG discount but the price was marked up over US retail. Same for sunglasses. I broke mine prior to the cruise and was going to buy a new pair for $199 before leaving. Then I thought, "I bet these are cheaper in the islands" so waited... the SAME pair was $275! My wife and i just laughed and left the store.

I thought all of St. Thomas shopping was a scam. We went to a wine shop to stock up and 3 of the 4 bottles rang up higher than the price marked on the bottle. The cashier's response was 'oh, the marked price is a mistake. Someone must have switched the tags". Pathetic.

 

[JJsmama]

Where are you all 'shopping' for ideas before your cruise? How do you know what will be available? I would like to get some ideas.

 

[llqool]

I was disappointed that on our Baltic cruise the cultural talks (on Faberge etc) were also shopping spiels given by the vendor. This time, though, the shop traveled with us on the ship....they had a bunch of expensive Russian lacquer ware and other items that they were hawking on the ship, saying don't waste your precious shore time shopping. Well, we are not big shoppers, so we didn't waste our precious time on shore *or* on the ship. But it would have been nice to have another source for the cultural information.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

I know this is "industry standard" but it really seems like a tacky practice for DCL to be involved in. We don't go to the shopping presentations but they manage to make their presence known anyway through the navigator and tv. I was horrified to see the cruise shopping people standing on the gangway hawking their shopping maps to the disembarking passengers. Just gross.

If Disney has taught us anything it's that they are more than willing to lower themselves to be in line with "industry standards".

 

[southerngirl528]

But it would have been nice to have another source for the cultural information.

Can't speak for the European cruises but on the Alaska cruises the naturalist on board gave several fascinating talks in the Walt Disney theatre. Super informative.

As for the shopping recommendations? Bleh. The few times I've checked out the shopping in the Caribbean I was entirely turned off. Pushy salespeople and ridiculously inflated prices. In that atmosphere ain't no way I would lay down serious cash for something that might not even be the real deal. There are an awful lot of fakes out there. Not saying that's what they have in the stores but with the kind of atmosphere there, it surely seems possible. JMHO. I'm keeping my big money purchases closer to home.

 

[llqool]

Can't speak for the European cruises but on the Alaska cruises the naturalist on board gave several fascinating talks in the Walt Disney theatre. Super informative.

Yes, we had experienced that on the Alaskan cruises, and there was even a ranger on board in the kids' clubs. So our hopes/expectations were high. But in the Baltics, the talks were at the core all a sales spiel (and were given by the sales people that were brought on board for these sailings). I *think* that on our eastern Med cruise the year before, there was a "real" historian type person who gave some talks, but that was such a port intensive itinerary that we never made it to one of the talks.