When you think of duty-free you tend to think of booze and ciggies. They are both items which carry a heavy tax, and so being able to buy them somewhere that doesn't have the taxes and duty makes sense. But they are not the only things on offer in the stores. There is every type of luxury good you can imagine. Because it is in the duty free stores, does it automatically mean it is a good deal and is there something you would be better off not buying?

Just like everything else, it makes sense to be a smart shopper if you're on the hunt for a duty-free bargain. Bear in mind that you might not be in an open marketplace, in fact, some of them are run by a single resale vendor which can make things more expensive, not less. Here are a few things to think about before you rush into a purchase.

The display might be enticing, but are you sure these are the latest versions of tech or cameras? Make extra sure of the latest version numbers on the street or online before you rush into a purchase. It is easy to check as you can be online in seconds and make sure that you are getting the best price for the current version, too. 

Makeup is a special case as well. There are definitely some places where it is cheaper and then others where it is high-street pricing or more. Clothing, unless it is local, is also not the best purchase at an airport simply because the list price is the starting point. A high volume store will start at their buying price and work up not list price working down.

There is no doubt shopping duty-free can save you a lot in the long run. The key to doing it successfully is to be aware of what you're buying and if you're not, use your phone to check.  

Be aware there are limits to what you can purchase in duty-free. Coming into the US for example, the limit is $800, after which there is a 3% tax on the first $1000. This might still make it worthwhile, but just like internet shopping, it pays to be aware.