A: How long is this layover?
B: It's about 3 hours.
A: What shall we do during this time?
B: Well, we can go shopping at the duty-free stores.
A: That's a good idea. What is special about a duty-free store?
B: A duty-free store is a retail store that does not pay local or national taxes and duties.
A: So?
B: So that means you can buy stuff cheaper than in normal stores.
A: That's nice. Why haven't I seen a duty-free store near my apartment?
B: You can find duty-free stores in the international zone of international airports, sea ports or onboard passenger ships. They are not commonly available for road or train travelers.
A: I see. No wonder I haven't seen one before.
B: Actually duty-free shopping is a bit of misnomer though because shoppers may still have to pay duties in their home country on items purchased from a duty-free shop.
A: That's a pity.
B: But don't worry, they are still cheaper than those you can get from a regular store.