SEAFRANCE has seen the sale of goods on its ships fall by 40% since the abolition of duty-free in June.
The number of passengers making purchases on the operator’s cross-channel services has also halved since the duty-free ban was introduced.
Managing director Robin Wilkins said although many goods subject to excise duty are being offered at the much cheaper French prices, which are comparable to the old duty-free prices, people felt there was less incentive to go to the on-board shops.
“They suddenly do not have a motive to go to the shops. Before, they had to go to the shop on the way out and on the way back to get their full quota. Now they can buy as much as they want when they go, so they go less often. It’s a different psychology. Before the abolition, they could feel they were getting one over on the Chancellor – now they can’t,” Wilkins said.
However, he is confident sales will pick up.
P&O Stena said it had not experienced a similar sales drop. A spokesman said: “We saw a slow start following the ban because most people had bulk purchased before the duty-free deadline, but in August and September we have seen on-board sales increase.
“We spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on advertising that people can buy unlimited amounts of goods and it is paying off.”