Duty free shops at Ercan v Supermarkets

judyr


Joined: 07/07/2009
Posts: 956

Message Posted:
16/12/2011 10:00

It has been a couple of years or so since I have flown from Ercan and wonder if someone can advise if it is still cheaper to buy goods at the airport or whether the supermarkets are now more competitive. The goods I want to buy are 2 x 200 cigarettes and 2 x Whiskey/Bourbon. Thank you

tania


Joined: 09/12/2011
Posts: 116

Message Posted:
16/12/2011 10:25

carton ciggies €20 a few months ago. don't know currrent supermarket prices

don't know about the booze

billlfc



Joined: 04/11/2008
Posts: 69

Message Posted:
16/12/2011 10:37

silk cut at supermarket costs 85 tl a cartom, where duty free is about 65 tl.



not sure about booze

NCMan



Joined: 19/09/2009
Posts: 670

Message Posted:
16/12/2011 10:55

Cigs @ Ercan are between £15-£20, depends on what you smoke.

Jovial_John


Joined: 31/01/2009
Posts: 1024

Message Posted:
16/12/2011 11:42

Do NOT buy booze at Ercan if you will change aircraft in Turkey. Your booze will be confiscated by Turkish Customs when you go through the boarding gate. If you will stay on the same aircraft then you are OK.

andre514


Joined: 05/10/2010
Posts: 763

Message Posted:
16/12/2011 12:22

an oddity of the duty-free shps at ercan is that you can buy these cheaper goods

both on departure but also on arrival too ...and without all that boarding-card nonsense



jovial john, surely drink is not confiscated in turkey if you are a transit passenger?



can somebody explain why the privately-recruited guards at the trnc/dhekelia crossing

are so stroppy, is the british army really there to protect eu finances?

blade


Joined: 19/06/2010
Posts: 1286

Message Posted:
16/12/2011 12:41

Booze wise the Roc supermarkets are cheaper than the supermarkets in the north.

NCMan



Joined: 19/09/2009
Posts: 670

Message Posted:
16/12/2011 12:46

Ref Msg 6.

They are not privately recruited guards, they are Sovereign Base Customs.

Jovial_John


Joined: 31/01/2009
Posts: 1024

Message Posted:
16/12/2011 13:59

andre514



Turkish Duty Free shops place liquids in a special security bag - if you don't have this bag then you cannot take liquids onto a plane in Istanbul. If you change carriers and collect your luggage in between then you can put your Ercan duty free in your case for checking in.

I flew Turkish Airlines from Ercan to Bangkok and was transit at Istanbul; at the final security check before boarding the BKK plane they confiscated 1 litre Bacardi bought at Ercan and then told me I had time to buy another at Istanbul Duty Free. They poured the Bacardi away in front of me.

Ercan is not unique in allowing the purchase of duty free on arrival - Thailand and the Philippines at least are the same - but I have found Ercan to be the cheapest duty free anywhere, arriving or departing.

andre514


Joined: 05/10/2010
Posts: 763

Message Posted:
16/12/2011 17:35

message 8 ncman,



yes they are base customs but I don't think they are members of uk forces



they are local cypriots...but any idea why they are so rigerous?



I can only imagine the uk wants to give nicosia no excuse it condones any

"smuggling"



better that than having to pay rent I suppose, provided they can work out a

formula for whom to give it to

Happy Hussar


Joined: 01/10/2008
Posts: 318

Message Posted:
16/12/2011 17:47

Jovial John, do they not have security bags at any of the Duty Free shops at Ercan? If they did have them, would it then be OK at Istanbul?

Tony

tomsteel


Joined: 22/06/2009
Posts: 482

Message Posted:
16/12/2011 18:39

All crossing points between the TRNC and SBA are controlled by HM Customs and Revenue staff - led by a UK-based officer. The 'grunts' at the sharp-end merely enforce orders. If you have a beef, take it up with the head man, not here. Having worked in the SBA in '96-'97 and had daily import dealings with them for equipment import/return to USA/UK, I found them informative, professional and helpful. My dealings with them over the past 3 years has not changed that opinion.

Jovial_John


Joined: 31/01/2009
Posts: 1024

Message Posted:
16/12/2011 19:29

I have no idea but I doubt it - other people were carrying bags clearly marked "Istanbul Duty Free" and although their bags were inspected nothing was taken. On a previous occasion I bought Gran Marnier from Istanbul (you couldn't get it here) and it was put inside a transparent bag and then into a carrier bag - checked but no problem.

Erkin


Joined: 15/06/2011
Posts: 339

Message Posted:
16/12/2011 20:30

If you are travelling onward from Turkey, it is best to inform the Duty free shop to seal the bag, once that is done, Turkey can not take it of you, I have done that a few times and had no problems, as most duty free shops are to lazy to check border passes as they presume that you are only flying to Turkey.

andre514


Joined: 05/10/2010
Posts: 763

Message Posted:
16/12/2011 22:50

tomsteel,



I hear what you say and I am sure they are all highly professional,

but it does seem peculiar it is all so strict, like that 40 fags business

which is something the gc's cooked up by themselves isn't it?



currently the south is very upset because uk defence minister just

said the two bases are to stay despite all rumours to the contrary



anyhow, the word from one city expert is that if the euro finally fails,

(and I'm NOT gloating...I simply have trouble not projectile vomiting

when I hear all the rubbish emanating from certain eurozone bigwigs)

new drachmas won't be produced ...euro notes will be overprinted