DFS Galleria -

Ummm. too expensive for my taste

Walked in, found some Jack Daniel’s to give as a gift, walked to the counter and paid. Fast and quick service. Prices were high, but that’s expected at an airport. Boarded and my bottle was ready.

Not too happy with the selection. Management informed me that YSL products are no longer carried and Guerlain items are very old– from older collections and they do not get new products from them. I guess if you are a Guerlain fan like me who needs some of their older items, it’s a good thing, but hit and miss.
I wouldn’t say that it would be great to get make-​up here if you don’t know what you are looking for. If you know, then go ahead and buy things, just be aware of your duty free limits. The good thing is the items are discounted and much cheaper than your department stores or Sephora and you don’t pay taxes. But as for selection compared to say a Sephora, it’s an ehhhh. More so on par with a very small Macys. Kills time, which is great. Call ahead to make sure what you need is there, which is on their website. I am unsure if Chanel is discontinued, but don’t expect to go to their Dior section and find the newest Dior Addict It-​Lash (mind you 2014 post) in there.

I bought lipstick from Bobby Brown and a mascara from Christian Dior on March 11^th. 2014 there.
Both were completely dried out.
I contacted customer service per e-​mail twice, they never got back to me.
What a shitty place.
I’m never going to buy there anything again.

I have experienced way better customer service at other DFS locations. I felt like the staff wasn’t really helpful or knowlegeable about the cosmetics I was purchasing. They do have a great selection of products, but their associates are so drab and seem very bored. They were also speaking to one another in a different language which made me feel like they were talking about me. I still like DFS for their selection of luxury goods, but they could use a staff makeover.

Be sure to know the duty free limits at your destination — these guys will flat out lie to you to get a sale.

Employees are nice, but that manager of Chinese extraction has to go! We had purchased items before our flight was canceled, and he told us to buy them again tomorrow, EVEN THOUGH THE FLIGHT WAS SCHEDULED TO LEAVE BEFORE THEY OPENED. The sweet Japanese lady that had helped people was shocked, but had to follow his orders to cancel the purchases. The manager is a jerk of the highest magnitude, and his existence is an affront to all Chinese people!

I have to say, SFO has one of the least appealing Duty Free Shops. Yes, Asia has over the top luxury duty free shops, but ours is one measly store, and a couple others that sell the same thing? I hate having to waste my time here when a flight is delayed, as there’s nothing great to look at. To top it off, alcohol prices are the same as what you would get at Costco or on sale at Safeway, and cigarette cartons have gone up as well. The workers here are not very friendly either.

Your typical airport duty free store experience. They didn’t have sample shots of their liquors despite pushing really hard at selling «uniquely duty-​free» products. Although the guy trying to get me to buy the JW Double Black Label said they were in the process of getting the required permit or license to do so. It’ll be a nice addition if they do.

They never answer the phone!!!

Do note that you must show your boarding ticket in order to make your purchase and that your boarding pass must be for an international flight or you will not be able to make a purchase. I love the staff here, they are so nice, even in the wee hours of the morning. I don’t know how they do it. The toblerone here is huge and intense.

Once passing the International custom area, this Duty Free store is just in your left hand side. I LOVEed to shop at this place because this is the only Duty free in G terminal. The same DFS opened another smaller one in the middle of terminal, just a smaller version of the same store. I always thought SFO’s Duty Free is specious and offers travelers a distinctive assortment of luxury brands and products.
However, their image in my head has corrupted after my last shopping there on April 16^th, 2007. My friend had this request and wanted me to buy Toblerone Switzerland chocolate for him. A stunning surprise showed in my eyes that there’s a promotion on «buy two any size of Toblerone and get a 12 oz bar for free.» Whoohoo, am I lucky or what? Without a saying I bought 3 different flavors in pairs so that I could have some extra for my other friends.
Whala, guess what I have found out? The reason they had this promotion is that the 12 oz bars ha been long long expired, it DATED 01.08.2007. All the international people in and out all the time in this INTERNATIONAL terminal and you are here to represent the way SF says «GOOD BYE» to their guests. Oh, yeah… I guess by the time they found out this, they were already on the other side of the earth. Sorry, Lost at your own cost!!! What a SHAME… !!! BOOO