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Shopping
 If you want to sample the world of Paris' discount shopping, try a stroll along rue d'Alésia, 14e. Métro: Alésia. Walk along the first four or five blocks of rue d'Alésia where you will find the discount outlets of such well known
designers as Dorthée Bis, Daniel Hechter, Cacherel, Sonya Rykiel. Also, there are stores filled with lots of K-Mart class merchandise.
If you plan to do so serious shopping at Paris' three large department stores, Galeries Lafayette, au Printemps or au Bon Marché check these websites. The building in which au Bon Marché is located was engineered by Gustav Eiffel. It is worth a visit just to see the architecture. If you are going to shop, be sure first to stop at the Accueil ("Réception") of these stores and register for your "special" 10% discount card. Bring your passport. Ask for a "welcoming gift" and they may will give you a tote bag
or a T-shirt. If you purchase merchandise with value more than €280 in one store in one day, you qualify for a «détaxe» ("duty free") discount of about 15-percent. The «détaxe» office usually is in the basement of the store. Leave extra time to "apply" for your detaxe refund at the airport on your way out of France.
You will need to have your merchandise available to show the Customs Agent at the airport as you are leaving France. You also will need to have your airline ticket and your passport available. The agent will stamp the «détaxe» form. You mail in the pink copy provided by the store, and keep the green form. There are mail boxes near the Customs area. Usually, the postage is provided
or paid by the store.
 Also, at au Printemps, be sure to visit the cafeteria on the top floor of the building with the perfumes on the ground floor. Walk around the patio for very unique rooftop views of Paris.
Paris is known for its boutiques. Mostly, it's "what you see is what you get," so if you see something you like, go in and get it!
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