In Finland there are certain rules for holding sales.
The discount season lasts a maximum of two months.
One store is allowed to hold discount seasons for a total duration of up to three months during a calendar year. This prevents the misuse of discount advertisements: the regular price should not be presented as an exclusive benefit.
Discount seasons cannot be held in newly opened stores or in temporary trading places, such as fairs. (If the product has not been sold here before, then, accordingly, it cannot be cheaper!)
Discounts do not apply to used and homemade goods - there is no original price for them, based on which a discount can be set.
Announcing a discount is considered illegal if the same product was not sold in the same store at a higher price than during the discount. Unfortunately, advertisements for discounts can sometimes be unreasonable, which misleads buyers. For example, next to the “new” prices, crossed out “old” prices are indicated, at which the product was not actually sold.

Discounts may be 30% , 50% And 70% from the original price (although 70% is something really scary).

Price tags may contain the following inscriptions:"Maksa 4, saat 5" (“Pay 4, get 5”) or"Ota kolme, maksa kaksi" (“Take three, pay two”), or they can write“1 kpl - 5.5 €, 4 kpl - 20 €” (“1 piece - 5.5 €, 4 pieces - 20 €”).

The main thing is to stop in time... Finns admit that even before the discounts start, they go shopping and choose suitable things, and then quickly buy up the cheaper ones they have looked at and tried on. During discounts you can find something inexpensive and decent.

Unfortunately, on fashionable clothes and there are no discounts on high-quality electronics!

And one more piece of advice. When shopping at a discount, do not forget about the opportunity to apply for tax free (tax free)

A little more about discounts and sales

The best time to go shopping in Finland is during the period of discounts and sales. At this time, posters appear in almost every store:

Alennus Sale Ale jopa 70%

Words ale And alennus means temporary or seasonal discounts, sales. There is another word tarjous, it translates as a special offer, or a discount on a specific product or service.

Discounts in Finnish stores in 2019.

During winter and summer sales, discounts reach up to 70%. Many people use this time wisely, buying things for themselves and gifts for loved ones for the next season.

The most powerful discounts and sales in Finland are held twice a year. The first discount season begins at Christmas, the second season opens after the summer holiday Juhanus at the end of June.

Winter sales in Finland in 2019.

Winter sales officially start right after Christmas, December 27th, since December 24th-26th is most .

However, Finnish stores set the start date for the Christmas sales season independently, depending on marketing policy. Well-known brands keep their prices until the holiday, in full confidence that the desired gifts will be sold out.

Other stores begin slashing prices in mid-December, two weeks before Christmas, in hopes of attracting shoppers. This mainly concerns Christmas tree decorations, candles, New Year's decor and festive table setting. Although the size of these discounts is small, even a few euros from each gift to all friends and family can result in savings of a hundred or two.

Some stores, mainly perfume and cosmetics stores, in an effort to sell out Christmas gifts, announce 30%-50% discounts on Christmas day.

Interestingly, discounts on clothing and sporting goods depend significantly on the vagaries of the weather. During warm, slushy winters, stores are forced to make attractive offers on warm clothing and ski equipment. If the winter is snowy and frosty, sales of sweaters, winter jackets, alpine skis and snowboards begin in February - March.

You can’t count on cheap electronics, photos, videos, audio equipment, computers, laptops in Finland. Prices for the latest new products here are always higher than in Russia. However, it is quite possible to buy old models and game consoles that were used at a discount. good demand last year.

Summer sales in Finland in 2019.

Summer sales in Finland begin before the Finnish holiday Yuhannus, our Midsummer Day, which falls on a Saturday between June 20 and July 20. At this time, the sale of summer clothing collections begins, the price of jewelry, sporting goods, Finnish glass and souvenirs drops sharply.

Crazy days in Stockmann.

Finnish department store Stockmann holds its own sales in April and October, they are called Hullut päivät- Crazy days. You just need to remember that Stockmann is an expensive department store, and the price for the same items with a discount in Stockmann often turns out to be the same as in a neighboring store without a discount.

Promotions and special offers

Collections of clothing, shoes and accessories in Finnish stores are updated almost every month, and small promotions are held from time to time all year round. Minimum size discounts are 10%, most often there are discounts of 20-30%, and during the peak sales season up to 70%.

In recent years, many Finnish stores have begun to play tricks - they almost continuously announce “seasonal sales”, “release of warehouse space”, “sale due to upcoming renovations”. But despite the abundance of posters and crossed out numbers, prices in such stores remain at the same level. This is mainly the fault of furniture stores. or electronics.

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The largest sales in Finland are held twice a year: at Christmas and at the end of June, after Midsummer, or Johannus. The maximum sale period is 2 months. Discounts can reach 70%. note that V holidays most shops are closed.

Winter sales

Winter sales officially start right after Christmas, December 27th, as most stores are closed December 24th-26th.

However, Finnish stores set the start date for the Christmas sales season independently, depending on their marketing policy. Well-known brands keep their prices until the holiday, in full confidence that the desired gifts will be sold out.

Other stores begin slashing prices in mid-December, two weeks before Christmas, in hopes of attracting shoppers. This mainly concerns Christmas tree decorations, candles, New Year's decor and festive table setting.

Interestingly, discounts on clothing and sporting goods depend significantly on the vagaries of the weather. During warm, slushy winters, stores are forced to make attractive offers on warm clothing and ski equipment. If the winter is snowy and frosty, sales of sweaters, winter jackets, alpine skis and snowboards begin in February - March.

Summer sales

Summer sales in Finland begin after Johannus, which falls on a Saturday between 20 and 26 June. At this time, the sale of summer clothing collections begins, the price of jewelry, sporting goods, Finnish glass and souvenirs drops sharply.

Crazy days

Finnish department store Stockmann holds its own sales in April and October, they are called Hullut päivät - Crazy Days. You just need to remember that Stockmann is an expensive department store, and the price for the same items with a discount at Stockmann often turns out to be the same as in a neighboring store without a discount.

By the way, St. Petersburg Stockmann also announces Crazy Days.

Promotions and special offers

Collections of clothing, shoes and accessories in Finnish stores are updated almost every month, and small promotions are held from time to time all year round. The minimum discount is 10%, most often there are discounts of 20-30%, and during the peak sales season up to 70%.

In recent years, many Finnish stores have begun to play tricks - they almost continuously announce “seasonal sales”, “release of warehouse space”, “sale due to upcoming renovations”. But despite the abundance of posters and crossed out numbers, prices in such stores remain at the same level. This is mainly the case with furniture and electronics stores.

Announcements about discounts and sales

• Alennusmyynti - alennus - ale- sale at a discount (usually found during discount season).
• Tarjous- special offer (two things for the price of one, three for the price of two, etc.).
• Loppuunmyynti - tyhjennysmyynti- sale (total sale of all goods, for example before closing a store).
• Ota kolme, maksa kaksi- take three, pay for two,
  Osta kaksi, saat kolme– buy 2, get 3.
  Tajous voimassa 1.10-31.12.2011– the offer is valid from October 1 to December 31, 2011.

In addition, information about discounts and promotions can be found on the website www.citydeal.fi - this is the Finnish analogue of Groupon.

About the rules for holding sales in Finland

• Seasonal discounts are valid for no more than 2 months.
• There is a rule for each store: to arrange seasonal discounts throughout the year (for a total of 3 months).
• Newly opened stores, as well as at markets and fairs, are prohibited from offering seasonal discounts.
• Used and self made, do not fall into the category of those sold at a discount.
• A violation is considered to be an announcement of a discount on a product that was not previously sold in this store at a higher price or was recently imported.
• The price of a product during the discount season can range from 30 to 70% of the initial cost.

How to save money

If you are purchasing multiple items of clothing or find minor defects on an item you like, it is quite appropriate to ask for a discount. The discount can be from a few percent to 10-20%.

Do not forget that you can return the tax included in the price of the goods by issuing an invoice or tax free.

Invoice

An invoice is a simplified procedure for returning Finnish VAT. When buying goods in a store, you pay the full amount, they give you an invoice (invoice in Russian), you need to put a customs mark at the border and, the next time you come to Finland, give this invoice to the store, and you will be refunded the VAT amount. The store’s accounting department then provides the data to the tax office and does not pay VAT to the state for this sale, because there is confirmation of the goods being exported outside the EU.

What amount of purchases must be made in order to issue an invoice? As Gennady Svetlov, an expert on Finland at the VIP-Karta club, told our portal, the owners of the company themselves set the threshold; according to the law, there is no minimum. However, according to the expert, large Finnish stores, as a rule, do not use such a scheme, since it is difficult in terms of financial statements. On the contrary, small companies willingly issue invoices to attract clients.

Tax free

Citizens of non-EU countries are entitled to a tax refund - tax free. To do this, purchases must be made in stores that are marked with the Tax free sign, for an amount of at least 40 euros.
In the store, the buyer is issued a tax free check, according to which he can receive the tax amount when leaving Finland. The tax, depending on the product group, reaches 16 percent.
Important condition: purchases cannot be opened before leaving the country.

If for some reason you were unable to receive money when leaving the country, then the check must be stamped at customs. And then the checks can be exchanged for money in St. Petersburg - at the Global Refund office at the address: st. Chapygina, 6, office 345.

If a person presents a tax free receipt at the border, but cannot present the goods, this is regarded as a serious violation and may subsequently cause problems when obtaining a visa.

What do Russian tourists from Finland most often bring?

• Liquorice candy
• Finnish knife - puukko (puu - wood)
• Lapland cheese (Leipäjuusto)
• Fish, caviar
• Sports equipment (during sales season)
• Fairy
• Bread (rieskaleipä)
• Soft oil with added Omegi-3
• Thermal underwear
• Bed linen, pillows, blankets, rugs
• Cider (apple and pear)
• Karelian pies
• Cloudberry liqueur
• Sportswear: Reima, Karhu, Rukka
• Souvenirs - glass art objects Arabia or Iittalla

Where to go shopping

Lappeenranta

In Lappeenranta, the main shopping street where most shops are located is Kauppakatu (one of the main streets of the city).

Helsinki

Main shopping streets in Helsinki are Mannerheimintie, Aleksanterinkatu, Eteläesplanadi and Pohjoisesplanadi, Korkeavuorenkatu, Fredrikinkatu and Bulevardi.

The largest department stores such as Stockmann, Sokos and Forum can be found on Mannerheimintie. Many shoe and clothing stores, including Finnish and international chains, can be found on Aleksanterinkatu, as can many high-end jewelry stores.

The Esplanade is home to many Finnish design stores, including brands such as Arabia, Iittala, Finlayson, Pentik, Annikki Karvinen, Marimekko and Artek. Smaller design and interior design boutiques can be found primarily on Fredrikinkatu and Korkeavuorenkatu streets. Some of Helsinki's best antique and art shops are on Bulevardi.

Flea markets

Bazaars and markets in Finland are called kirptuoria (from the Finnish Kirppu - flea, tori - square, market). It's essentially a large open-air thrift store. You can find almost anything here. But, according to professional shoppers, it is best to buy children's clothing and shoes.

As a rule, goods in Finnish markets are sold at low prices: after all, these are used goods. Strictly speaking, the word "kirptuorium" means not only markets and bazaars, but also professional thrift stores. Many of the owners of such shops are Russians. Their shops can be easily spotted by wide range offered goods. Here you can find everything from branded children's clothing to old magazines. This is the first type of private shops.

The second type of brick-and-mortar stores are shops and sales points of charitable organizations, including churches. Finns bring here their old, but usable, things for free, and here they are sold.

When we go abroad, we willy-nilly become literally hostage to stores with tempting brands and their prices. It all starts at the airport, when we buy perfume, cosmetics, and alcohol at duty-free.

And when we get off the plane in some country in the world, we sometimes don’t even realize what an abundance of consumer goods awaits us on the shelves of vtcnys [ stores... Many, going on vacation to one of the countries that set this or that fashion, bring Russia additional suitcases.

Where can you go for some useful shopping? And how not to go into all serious troubles, forgetting about financial crisis world economic system?

For a successful shopping experience

1. Arm yourself with maps and guides right away. They are available to travelers at airports, hotels and offices travel companies. Such brochures describe in detail how to find popular retail outlets of a particular city, as well as their opening hours. Be careful with this, since in most countries the opening hours of offices and stores differ from Russian ones. So, in Italy all shops are closed from 12 to 16 for siesta, and in Crete shops are open only until 14 hours.
2. Most bargain purchases- these are goods local producers. You shouldn’t immediately rush to the world famous brands, whose name has already set teeth on edge. It’s better to take a closer look at local brands that are not inferior in either quality or appearance. At the same time, in Russia you can boast about an outlandish purchase - such a thing will definitely be exclusive.
3. The main thing is not to forget about Tax Free. This will be a pleasant addition to the already favorable prices. But pay close attention to how the checks are filled out. Moreover, each country has its own rules for filling out and registering Tax Free.
4. Be careful about how you transport your purchases so that problems do not arise at the Russian border. Take care in advance about what can be imported and what cannot be imported, and what requires a declaration.
5. And, of course, all expenses must be thought out and decisions weighed. Then the pleasure of shopping will not be overshadowed by an empty wallet at the end of your vacation.

Shopping tours with and without obligations

Shopping tours with obligations are primarily of interest to “shuttle” businessmen - those who resell goods purchased abroad. In order to go on such a trip, you need to enter into an agreement with the agency under which you undertake to spend a certain amount of money - usually up to 5 thousand euros.

The remaining costs will either cost mere pennies, or will be paid by the seller (this system usually operates in Greece).

As part of this tour, you will be taken to all current warehouses, factories and stock centers, where you can buy good things at low prices.

Shopping tours without obligations are, in fact, an ordinary tourist trip. However, her goal is to acquire some thing for herself. Naturally, this option will not work for serious trading.

The cost of such a no-obligation tour consists of the cost of airfare, hotel accommodation and meals, as well as the amount you spend on the purchase.

Depending on the country of destination, the price of the tour will vary: on average from 300 to 700 euros.

On this tour, you will be provided with a guide who will show you the best shopping spots.

However, you should not completely trust the guides (there have been sad cases) - it is better to play it safe and explore the main retail outlets on your own.

World shopping capitals

• Italy

Naturally, the fashion capital of the world is Milan. However, you can make profitable purchases in other cities of Italy. Especially if you come here during the discount season: from early January to the first ten days of February and from early July to early September. And an endless number of outlets (stores where they sell items from previous collections at discounts) will make shopping enjoyable in any season.

• France

Paris is the cradle of fashion traditions and the most brilliant fashion designers. However, things (especially branded clothing) are very expensive here. Business card Paris is cosmetics and perfumery. The prices for these goods here are very tempting in any season.

• Spain

Barcelona is the country's shopping center. Tourists are most attracted to Spain by shoes - high-quality, stylish and at a good price. Also, when you arrive in Spain, do not be lazy to visit Mallorca to buy artificial pearls produced here, and Andorra - a duty-free zone.

• Sri Lanka

This is a jewelry shopping center. It is on this island that you can buy amazingly beautiful precious stones, for example, two-color sapphires. Here, jewelry can be specially made for you - in just two to three days. Shopping lovers should also visit Ceylon and Colombo, where, in addition to tea and spices, you can buy leather goods and textiles at competitive prices.

• UAE

Dubai is a global trade center. There is even a famous shopping festival here, which lasts about a month. You can buy everything here: from household appliances and computers to fur and jewelry. It is also profitable to buy branded items here - prices are significantly lower than in Europe.

• Greece

This country is an excellent alternative to the Emirates when it comes to purchasing fur products. Fur tours to Greece are perhaps the most popular destination among Russian travel agencies.

For all lovers of foreign shopping, the word “sale” is almost like a magic spell. Every year, thousands of tourists travel from Russia to sales in Finland.

Traditionally, throughout Europe there are two seasons of price reductions - summer and winter, after Christmas. At this time large retail chains announce discounts of up to 70%, which sounds very tempting for buyers. However, we should not forget that sales in Finland are, first of all, the most convenient way for stores to update their assortment. This means that a significant part of the discounted goods are old collections and remnants of unsold items. The exception is Stockmann department stores - here they announce discounts in spring and autumn and release special collections for sales.

There are two types of sales: in Finland these are seasonal ( ale, alennus, sale) and special ( tarjous) offers. If the dates and locations of seasonal promotions are always approximately the same, then you can stumble upon special ones completely by accident - for example, it could be a discount on some product in a supermarket or the opportunity to buy several things for the price of one.

Seasonal sales in Finland

Summer sales in Finland begin after Johannus, Midsummer, which falls in the last week of June. At this time, buyers have an excellent chance to purchase goods for sports, fishing and outdoor activities, summer clothes, accessories and, of course, non-seasonal items from last year’s collection.

In winter, Christmas sales take place all over the world. In Finland they begin on December 27 and end by the end of January. At this time, every store is replete with signs promising huge discounts - up to 70-80%. However, it is worth considering that the maximum price reduction occurs towards the end of the season, that is, when the bulk of the goods have already been sold out and the store shelves are almost empty. Therefore, you should count on discounts of 20-35%.

Most of the discounted goods are clothing and shoes, food, as well as accessories and a variety of household goods. Going to Finland in winter, you can successfully get gifts and souvenirs for all your friends, buy delicious Finnish products for New Year's table and at the same time buy new outfits.

Electronics and household appliances, furniture and automotive products do not become too cheap even during seasonal sales in Finland. If you are planning to purchase a new gadget during your shopping trip, it is better to familiarize yourself with special offers in electronics stores. Large retail chains often organize their own discount promotions: of course, no one sells new items at low prices, but previous models lose 20-30% in value.

Crazy sales in Finland

The originator of the idea of ​​“crazy days” was the Stockmann department store chain. Big sales in Finland and other countries where there are stores of this brand take place in April and October and last a week; The exact dates of the sales are kept secret until they begin. At this time, discounts are announced on all goods - from clothing to household appliances. Prices are indeed reduced by more than half, but it is worth remembering that Stockmann is one of the most expensive chains in Finland, and even on sale their products can cost the same or more than similar ones in neighboring stores.

Together with Stockmann, some other companies are also spending “crazy days”: for example, the airline FinnAir sells cheap tickets for flights from St. Petersburg and Moscow. However, you can only buy them at a reduced price in Stockmann stores during sales periods.

The biggest sales in Finland take place a couple of times a year, the first of them in winter period- immediately after Christmas, and the second in the summer - after the holiday of Juhannus. On certain types of goods, discounts can reach seventy percent. There are small promotions in stores throughout the year. Winter sales begin on Christmas Eve in Finland. The moving date is considered to be the date from the twentieth of December; at this time, discount stores appear Christmas decorations, as well as New Year's souvenirs. In office supply stores, discounts sometimes reach eighty percent. In Finland, shops are closed on Christmas Day. Immediately after Christmas they start selling the entire range of products at a discount. Initially, a ten percent discount can grow to seventy percent by the end of sales, but along with the price, the chance of purchasing and finding worthwhile thing, since almost all products of popular and popular sizes are sold out in the first days when sales start, in addition, discounts are valid for a certain product until the given batch runs out in the store. Owners of very small sizes of shoes and clothes can wait and take a risk, but large-sized items do not stay on store shelves for a long time. Christmas sales throughout Finland are held in all cities, but it is worth considering the fact that in the nearest cities that are located near the Russian-Finnish border (Imatra, Lappeenranta, Kotka, Hamina). Products are quickly snapped up by Russian tourists and the choice remains very limited. The most fruitful shopping is considered to be in the capital's stores in Helsinki and in cities that are significantly removed from the Russian-Finnish border (Turku, Tampere, Lahti, Mikkeli, Kuopio). On December 31 in Finland, shops can only open until six in the evening, but many of them close earlier. In stores in Finland, collections are updated almost every month, and small promotions are held in stores all year round from time to time. The minimum discount is ten percent, but most often you can find discounts ranging from twenty to thirty percent, but they can also reach seventy percent. The Stockmann supermarket announces its sales; they take place in April and October. They are called Hullut päivät, in our opinion these are Crazy Days or April Fool's Day, and last four days, from Wednesday to Saturday. It is impossible to know the exact date of sales in advance; Stockmann still announces this in advance. Discounts do not apply to the entire range, but only to individual species goods. You also need to take into account that this is a very expensive store, and some products can be purchased without a discount, at the same price as with a discount, only in other stores.

When shopping at sales, you should use common sense and follow a few conditions and tips.

If you buy clothes, be sure to try them on. Since goods purchased at a discount cannot be returned or even replaced.

In electronics and furniture stores, notices of “warehouse release” or “seasonal sales” may be posted throughout the entire year, and the price reduction therefore turns out to be mythical.

During sales, it can be difficult to choose a product in a store that you will really need in the future, so the Finns themselves prefer to shop around for purchases on the eve of sales.

Don’t forget about the tax free registration, which also applies to goods purchased during sales or at a discount.