Global Blue User Reviews

Name: Global Blue - Shop Tax Free
Rating: 3.3 (883 reviews)

Global Blue - Shop Tax Free

Global Blue Marketing Services Ltd

🛍️ Shopping

✈️ Travel

What users say

Summarized from real user reviews of Global Blue. Based on 883 reviews and a 3.3/5 average, it highlights the 4 positives and 5 negatives reviewers mention most about this Travel app.

Positive things

🚀Efficient and streamlined
👍Helpful for tracking purchases
🚀Quick refund process
👍Useful for frequent travelers

Negative things

🐛App crashes and technical issues
🔍Difficult to contact customer service
💰High fees and poor exchange rates
🤔Unclear instructions and confusing process
🕰️Slow or delayed refunds

Top reviews

Most Recent Highest Rated Lowest Rated

Love knowing when the credit hits…

This app works well - wherever Global Blue is used, they can scan my app’s QR code and all my info populates. Makes it easy in the store. And after I’ve taken care of customs at the airport, it’s great to get the messages that my refund has been paid. Sometimes the extra discounts that pop up for shopping don’t always work, but the rest of the app has made it easy!

Calbeach95

a month ago

Confusing

Dhdodisnxjxk

a month ago

Total scam

The site AI chat can’t answer basic questions, does not connect with live humans and is totally
Unhelpful

Jeff Olsen

2 months ago

Bug

There is a bug on the app, the tab “my purchases” on the app shows nothing, when on the website they are all there

Bug on tab

2 months ago

Response from developer

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We apologize for the inconvenience you experienced. This is not the experience we aim to provide. We will share your feedback with our development team for further investigation.

Worst service at Frankfurt airport

Lady would barely speak any english, when I handled her the form she scanned and said cash not allowed. Asked why she pointed at the screen turned to her repeating not allowed as if I could read her screen. Said card number here and put paper there. I don’t get anything to prove that I either deposited it or that they received. Do not recommend it. Smells like untrustworthy bordering scam. I am not sure if I will get this refund whatsoever

Lt-leo

2 months ago

Response from developer

We’re sorry to hear about your experience and understand your concerns. This is not the level of service we strive to provide. Could you please share more details with our customer service team via (https://cs.globalblue.com/s/?language=en_US), or submit a request by clicking “Contact Us” on the same page. Our team will gladly help you.

Doesn’t work

This app is essentially non-functional. I logged in and provided passport info but afterwards it would just kick me out. Happened 3 times before I gave up.

kelson42

2 months ago

SCAMMERS

This company takes more than your VAT refund which is an absolute scam. Their app is very buggy and their process painful and slow.

Raphg27

2 months ago

가입하는 과정에서...

가입하는 과정에서 오류나서 다시 시도하려니까 가입되어있다고 뜨고, 그래서 로그인하려니까 오류가뜹니다. 다른계정으로 다시 가입하려하니.. 가입자정보도있다고 내꺼등록도안되고...왜이럴까요

소심이졍

2 months ago

Response from developer

We’re sorry for the frustrating experience. This issue may be related to an incomplete registration or duplicate account detection. To resolve this matter, please contact our customer service team via the link: (https://cs.globalblue.com/s/?language=en_US), or submit your request by clicking "Contact Us" on the same web page. Our team will be happy to assist you.

Refund problem. Inefficient support service

Terrible support
The refund was denied by Visa because GlobalBlue entered incorrect information. I tried contacting their support team several times, but my problem was never resolved.

Victorctba

3 months ago

Response from developer

We’re truly sorry to hear about your experience and understand how frustrating this must have been. To ensure your concerns are addressed accurately, we kindly request you provide more details to our customer service team at (https://cs.globalblue.com/s/?language=en_US), or submit a request by clicking “Contact Us” on the same page. Our team will be happy to help you.

Absolute scam

Global Blue is a scam - today in BGY I was instructed to check my suitcases in first and that there is a desk near the gates. Once I arrived at the gate, there was nobody by the desk (15:30) I called the number on the desk and the same person from the luggage area tells me that I need to present the items I purchased in order to receive a refund, one of which was…. A luggage. Similarly in FCO, agents simply were not available and the kiosk was out of order. CDG had similar issues a couple of years ago as well. If you are shopping overseas and are counting on receiving the VAT refund, you are 90% unlikely to get it.

Chimney lungs

4 months ago

Response from developer

We’re very sorry to hear about your experience and understand your frustration. In most cases, purchased items must be presented to customs before check-in, in order to obtain customs validation/stamp. To assist you further, please contact our customer service team via the link (https://cs.globalblue.com/s/?language=en_US), or submit your request by clicking "Contact Us" on the same web page. Our team will be happy to assist you.

can’t register or log in

keep saying im registered but when trying to log in or reset password it’s saying email not registered… what a waste of time. app is a messed up

yuniwed

4 months ago

Great Evolution

The functionality and easy of the app is excellent. Global Blue is so far ahead of its competitors. When shopping abroad, I prioritize stores that rely on Global Blue. Refunds are super fast too. So many of the negative reviews have nothing to do with the app or Global Blue.

horrible127689

6 months ago

Response from developer

Thank you for your glowing review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoy the app and find the refund process fast and convenient. Your support means a lot to us, and we’re committed to continuing to deliver the best possible experience. Safe travels, and thank you for choosing Global Blue!

Not sure why this is useful

Once register and provide your personal information you get a profile barcode. I expected that to facilitate data entry for the retailer. However after scanning the barcode, wrong information for my passport was uploaded to the retailer’s system and by the time we noticed it, the paperwork was done. Refund lost. Not sure why one would use this app. Just give your details to a retailer and use the paper receipt at the airport. This is useless.

JosefMG

7 months ago

Response from developer

Thank you for sharing your experience, your feedback is important to us. We are truly sorry for the inconvenience you encountered, and we remain dedicated to improving our service. Could you please share more information with us by contacting our customer service team via webchat: https://cs.globalblue.com/s/?language=en_US, or submit your request by clicking "Contact Us" on the same web page. Our team will gladly help you.

All purchases are gone

All purchases are gone after scan the receipts on DIVA Spain. It’s not even presented on past purchases, so I don’t know if I will receive, if everything is fine with my reinstatement and I can’t track anything!

Nathalia Burgos Barbosa

8 months ago

Response from developer

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We understand how frustrating it is not to see your scanned receipts and past purchases. This issue has been raised with our technical team, and we are working on a solution to ensure all transactions are visible again. If you need immediate assistance, please contact our customer service team via (https://cs.globalblue.com/s/?language=en_US), or submit your request by clicking "Contact Us" on the same web page.

Don’t use these people

Horrible service can’t get anyone to email me back k don’t upload your passport and I

Bit56789!

8 months ago

Legit

Took 7 weeks but refund arrived.

LoveBeach

8 months ago

Total ripoff

I was supposed to receive $300 in tax refunds. After all their fees and outrageous exchange rate I only got back less than $200. Do not use if you have a choice.

kipopik

9 months ago

Good in theory, in practice you’ll probably be cheated out of your refund

Over the last 9 years I have shopped overseas 4x and only once have I received a refund. In Athens it was a Customs strike, in Rome the office was only open limited hours, and now in Dublin you had to call on a phone and there was “nobody available to come stamp the documents”. Maybe it’s bad luck but a lot of these reviews say the same thing. Don’t count on VAT refunds from your purchases because Global Blue has no process if everything doesn’t go perfectly.

DaMench

10 months ago

Response from developer

We’re truly sorry to hear about your experience and the challenges you've faced with VAT refunds. While we strive to make the process as smooth as possible, please note that Tax Free Forms must be successfully validated/stamped by customs to confirm the export and enable the refund. Your feedback is valuable and will be shared with our teams to help improve the consistency and reliability of our services.

UNUSABLE

Cannot login cannot signup. Says there is already an account. Also you have to select everything twice but even then nothing works. Whoever built this should be fired.

John Paparovic

10 months ago

Great app

The app is great and speeds up and simplifies the process no end - whether it’s having the barcode scanned to give all my details in a shop or for having a record of the validated form (which is followed up by email, too.)
Only once have I had to post a form which wouldn’t scan.
My latest refund was scanned at the airport two days ago and is now in my Revolut account.

Tax refund queen

10 months ago

Response from developer

Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear that the app has made your refund process smoother and more efficient. Your feedback motivates us to keep improving and delivering a seamless experience.