Talking stocks, trading, and investing in general

[HRoi]

1:1 euro to dollar plus vat refund is quite the deal for us vacationing on the continent at the moment. Certainly my wife, who is carrying around a couple of orange shopping bags today, has pointed out this fact multiple times

 

[brokencycle]

1:1 euro to dollar plus vat refund is quite the deal for us vacationing on the continent at the moment. Certainly my wife, who is carrying around a couple of orange shopping bags today, has pointed out this fact multiple times

Are the prices there that much better or does the VAT refund just have the psychological effect of making it look cheaper because you're suddenly getting like 20% off the sticker?

 

[esoxm]

Are the prices there that much better or does the VAT refund just have the psychological effect of making it look cheaper because you're suddenly getting like 20% off the sticker?

Varies by what your shopping for - but my experience with watches has been that VAT inclusive pricing in Europe tends to approximate msrp's in the US (obviously ex VAT) based on prevailing fx rates when brands set prices for the year. Definitely a good deal if you can get your hands on what you want while overseas (although the VAT refund math means a 20% VAT translates to 17% of the total price being VAT, of which you get hit with a few points of fees for refund processing via global blue or whoever you use). Even better deal if you're buying late in a calendar year where the dollar has done well and global MSRPs haven't yet reset. Obviously assumes you're "forgetting" to declare and pay duties on your return.

 

[Texasmade]

France VAT refund is only 12% now.

 

[ValidusLA]

I don't know, depends what you are shopping for. Direct order shopping to Japan and Europe right now from the US represents significant savings.

I just ordered tea and some ceramics from Japan. VAT free and Yen is quite low.

I also ordered a Baltic watch from france. Paid in Euro - priced at 1k euro as opposed to paying $1200 domestic prices in the US. Saved $200.

If you go look at retailers like Vass or Shibumi, they haven't updated prices, so the low Euro + VAT free shipping amount to a sizable discount compared to a year ago.

 

[otc]

Been eyeing a set of carbon DT Swiss wheels from a euro site for a while.

Already a good deal, but this exchange rate just keeps making it better.

 

[HRoi]

Are the prices there that much better or does the VAT refund just have the psychological effect of making it look cheaper because you're suddenly getting like 20% off the sticker?

Hermes (sorry, I know they are their own little world so this is prolly close to useless but the only data point I have rn) is legit 30%. That’s EU price inclusive of VAT compared to US price before state sales tax for the exact same item

 

[HRoi]

I’m convinced btw that this is true arbitrage because they prolly set the EU prices when the fx rate was 1.2 to 1.3

 

[otc]

Those items retail for something like $2000-2200, $150, and $231 in the USA.

The wheels and pedals make some sense. Euro companies, VAT already taken out, favorable exchange rate, etc. Good deal in exchange for shipping charge/potential long wait/possible duties on delivery.

The cassette doesn't make sense to me at all though...US brand, probably made in Taiwan, but you basically can't find them here for less than the $231 MSRP.

Site is a little sketchy seeming, but is supposedly a legit online retailer from Italy.

 

[venividivicibj]

When we were in Milan, Louboutin shoes were a good ~40% cheaper than in the US.

 

[Omega Male]

Gotta be bad news for Biden.

 

[Omega Male]

See above.

 

[PhilKenSebben]

The stock market LOVES some loan forgiveness

 

[amerikajinda]

Divided Check!!
Current holding as follows...
Dividends reinvested monthly into ETFs paying lower dividends (less than 4%)
My average dividend yield for this account is 9.26%.
79 of my 81 holdings pay a dividend (29 pay a monthly dividend, 44 pay quarterly, 3 pay semi-annually and 3 pay annually)

Symbol	Description	Div yield
OPP	RIVER NRTH DBLE LINE STRTGC OP COM	16.70%​
GLQ	CLOUGH GLOBAL EQUITY FUND COM	15.37%​
GLO	CLOUGH GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FU SH BEN INT	15.33%​
SVOL	SIMPLIFY EXCHANGE TRADED FDS VOLATILITY PREMIUM ETF	15.04%​
RIV	RIVERNORTH OPPORTUNITIES FD IN COM	14.08%​
GLV	CLOUGH GLOBAL DIVIDEND AND INC COM	13.26%​
BBEU	JP MORGAN ETF TRUST BETABUILDERS EUROPE ETF NEW	13.20%​
GOF	GUGGENHEIM STRATEGIC OPPORTUNI COM SBI	12.54%​
CNXT	VANECK ETF TRUST CHINEXT ETF	12.33%​
XRMI	GLOBAL X FDS S&P 500 RISK MANAGED INCOME	12.15%​
QYLD	GLOBAL X FDS NASDAQ 100 COVER ETF	12.13%​
QRMI	GLOBAL X FDS NASDAQ 100 RISK MANAGED INC	12.10%​
XYLD	GLOBAL X FDS S&P 500 COVERED ETF	12.04%​
PDI	PIMCO DYNAMIC INCOME FD SHS	12.02%​
RYLD	GLOBAL X FDS RUSSELL 2000 COVERED CALL ETF	11.94%​
GHY	PGIM GLOBAL HIGH YIELD FD INC COM	10.49%​
JEPI	JP MORGAN ETF TRUST EQUITY PREMIUM INCOME ETF	10.30%​
FYLD	CAMBRIA ETF TRUST CAMBRIA FGN SHR ETF	9.73%​
IDV	ISHARES TRUST INTL SEL DIV ETF	9.48%​
BST	BLACKROCK SCIENCE & TECH TR SHS	8.28%​
QQQX	NUVEEN NASDAQ 100 DYNAMIC OVWT COM SHS	8.22%​
DEM	WISDOMTREE TRUST EMER MKT HIGH FD ETF	8.05%​
DNL	WISDOMTREE TRUST GLB US QTLY DIV ETF	7.91%​
NUSI	ETF SERIES SOLUTIONS NATIONWIDE NASDAQ 100 RISK	7.80%​
VYMI	VANGUARD INTL HIGH ETF	7.48%​
BDJ	BLACKROCK ENHANCED EQY DIVIDEN COM	7.06%​
QDPL	PACER FDS TR METAURUS US LRG CAP DIV MUT	6.56%​
QYLG	GLOBAL X FDS NASDAQ 100 COVERED CALL & G	6.18%​
XYLG	GLOBAL X FDS S&P 500 COVERED CALL & GROW	6.07%​
CII	BLACKROCK ENH CAP & INC FD INC COM	6.02%​
KALL	KRANESHARES TR MSCI ALL CHINA ETF	5.85%​
RLY	SSGA ACTIVE ETF TR MULT ASS RLRTN ETF	4.90%​
KLCD	KRANESHARES TR LRG CAP QTY DIVD ETF	4.71%​
DIVO	AMPLIFY ETF TR CWP ENHANCED DIV ETF	4.59%​
PIE	INVESCO EXCHANGE TRADED FUND T DWA EMERG MKTS ETF	4.57%​
DJIA	GLOBAL X FDS DOW 30 COVERED CALL ETF	4.55%​
DXJ	WISDOMTREE TRUST JAPN HEDGE EQT ETF	4.54%​
VXUS	VANGUARD STAR FD TL INTL STK F ETF	4.44%​
FLGB	FRANKLIN TEMPLETON ETF TR FTSE UNTD KGDM ETF	4.27%​
IGRO	ISHARES TRUST INTL DIV GRWTH ETF	3.99%​
SPDW	SPDR INDEX SHARES FUNDS PORTFOLIO DEVLPD ETF	3.91%​
GAL	SSGA ACTIVE ETF TR GLOBL ALLO ETF	3.81%​
KNG	FIRST TR EXCHANGE TRADED FD IV CBOE VEST S&P 500 DIV ARIST	3.75%​
PEY	INVESCO EXCHANGE TRADED FD TR HIG YLD EQ DIV ETF	3.72%​
SCHD	SCHWAB STRATEGIC TR US DIVIDEND EQ ETF	3.68%​
BBJP	JP MORGAN ETF TRUST BETABUILDERS JAPAN ETF NEW	3.45%​
JEPQ	JP MORGAN ETF TRUST NASDAQ EQUITY PREMIUM INCOM	3.32%​
VIGI	VANGUARD INTL DVD ETF	3.32%​
DHS	WISDOMTREE TRUST US HIGH DIVIDEND ETF	3.26%​
VYM	VANGUARD HIGH DIV YLD ETF	3.11%​
QDIV	GLOBAL X FDS S&P 500 QLT ETF	2.93%​
DVY	ISHARES TRUST SELECT DIVID ETF	2.75%​
BBCA	JP MORGAN ETF TRUST BETABUILDERS CDA ETF NEW	2.48%​
SDY	SPDR SERIES TRUST S&P DIVID ETF	2.35%​
VNQ	VANGUARD REAL ESTATE ETF	2.32%​
SPYV	SPDR SERIES TRUST PRTFLO S&P500 VL ETF	2.23%​
HERD	PACER FDS TR CASH COWS ETF	2.19%​
HDV	ISHARES TRUST CORE HIGH DV ETF	2.16%​
REET	ISHARES TRUST GLOBAL REIT ETF	2.12%​
SYLD	CAMBRIA ETF TRUST SHSHLD YIELD ETF	1.96%​
DGRO	ISHARES TRUST CORE DIV GRWTH ETF	1.82%​
VIG	VANGUARD DIV APP ETF	1.78%​
SPHQ	INVESCO EXCHANGE TRADED FD TR S&P500 QUALITY ETF	1.73%​
NOBL	PROSHARES TRUST S&P 500 DV ARIST ETF	1.67%​
SPMD	SPDR SERIES TRUST PORTFOLIO S&P 400 MID CAP ETF	1.65%​
DIVB	ISHARES TRUST US DIVID BYBCK ETF	1.58%​
BKLC	BNY MELLON ETF TR US LARGE CAP CORE EQUITY ET	1.55%​
XLV	SELECT SECTOR SPDR TRUST SBI HEALTHCARE ETF	1.54%​
SPSM	SPDR PORTFOLIO S&P 600 SM CAP ETF	1.53%​
VTI	VANGUARD TOTAL STK MKT ETF	1.42%​
IXJ	ISHARES TRUST GLOB HLTHCRE ETF	1.34%​
BBUS	JP MORGAN ETF TRUST BETABUILDRS US ETF	1.33%​
CDC	VICTORY PORTFOLIOS II VCSHS US EQ INCM ETF	1.32%​
DGRW	WISDOMTREE TRUST US QTLY DIV GRT ETF	1.26%​
PUTW	WISDOMTREE TRUST CBOE S&P 500 ETF	1.24%​
TDVG	T ROWE PRICE EXCHANGE-TRADED F PRICE DIVIDEND GROWTH ETF	1.00%​
SPYG	SPDR SERIES TRUST PRTFLO S&P500 GW ETF	0.88%​
IYH	ISHARES TRUST US HLTHCARE ETF	0.87%​
VGT	VANGUARD INF TECH ETF	0.63%​
QQQM	INVESCO EXCHANGE TRADED FUND T NASDAQ 100 ETF	0.62%​
QQQJ	INVESCO EXCHANGE TRADED FUND T NASDAQ NEXT GEN 100 ETF	0.56%​

 

[Texasmade]

Looks like you trimmed some stuff.