INTERNATIONAL. Travellers can now claim their tax refunds while still shopping, thanks to Global Blue’s new Early Cash Refund Kiosk.
Specifically designed for department stores, shopping malls, outlets and tourist information centres, the Early Cash Refund Kiosk allows shoppers to get their refunds in five steps.
These are to: scan the passport and complete personal details; scan the tax free form (available from any retailer); insert the credit card (for guarantee); get the cash refund; and finally take the receipt confirming the refund.
Global Blue says that for retailers the new modular kiosks can bring higher footfall and greater tourist spend while using much less space than downtown refund offices.
The company is planning to introduce additional features to enable the refund to be reimbursed directly onto credit cards and digital wallets.
Switzerland-based Global Blue handles 35 million tax free shopping transactions a year, worth €21.8 billion.
