The Israeli Consumer Council receives countless complaints each year regarding the Duty Free stores in Ben Gurion Airport . The large number of complaints indicate the lack of public awareness regarding the tax exemption quotas that apply to products that are purchased in these stores. The consumers' complaints reveal, among other things, that they are tempted to purchase products that are part of quantity discounts ("Buy three products- get one free") without knowing that some of the products that they have purchased using the discount are not tax exempt, due to deviation from the exemption quota.
While shopping, consumers have difficulties translating the tax laws into clear directions that tell them how many tax exempt items they can actually purchase. For example, the law states that a person leaving the country is allowed to purchase 250 grams of tax exempt cigarettes, but in Duty Free stores cigarettes are purchased by carton, this made it difficult for consumers to understand how many tax exempt cartons they are actually allowed to purchase. Because of this an amount of products exceeding the tax exemption quota was purchased, resulting in heavy fines and taxes for the unknowing consumers.
Due to the severity of these complaints, the Consumer Council appealed to Duty Free management with the demand to improve the information signs in Duty Free stores, in order to draw consumer's attention to tax restrictions and laws, thus preventing any detriment to consumers.
Following the Council's appeal significant changes have been made in Duty Free stores to draw consumer's attention to tax restrictions: large, clearly visible signs have been added to the store's entrance, as well as on shelves and next to each cash register. The plasma screens near the cash registers display not only the usual commercials, but also the tax exemption quota table. It remains displayed for a significant amount of time in order to draw the customer's attention to the number of products the law allows him to purchase.
The products that are sold in a quantity discount (perfumes, liquor and cigarettes) have been marked by a yellow sticker noting that the sale is "For two passengers aged over 18- subject to tax regulations".
According to the Consumer Council's CEO, Adv. Ehud Peleg, "We believe that revealing all information regarding exemption quotas in Duty Free stores, in all stages of the purchase, especially regarding quantity discount sales, will allow the consumer to make safer, more legitimate purchases." Adv. Peleg further added that "When legal restrictions are applied to consumer restrictions in retail venues, this should be brought to their attention effectively without relying on the fact that they have read the rule books." The Council's CEO praises the efforts that have been made by Ben Gurion Airport's Duty Free and customs management to raise public awareness for the public's benefit.
