India, May 20 -- Shopping in Singapore is one of my favourite parts of a trip to the Lion City, and Charles & Keith is always on my list. The designs are stylish, the prices are better than in India, and the GST refund makes the purchase even sweeter. On our recent visit, we spent the day shopping, eating, and making the most of Changi Airport's unusual flexibility. We checked in our luggage, left the airport, and returned hours later for our flight. Everything seemed perfect until we reached the GST refund kiosks. One airport officer asked a question that instantly made me nervous. Where was the luggage carrying our purchases? That one question made me realise how easily a shopping win can turn into a very expensive mistake.

We told him...