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Best packing and shipping practices?

Hectorx1999
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For shipping watches, I’d recommend going with a sturdy box rather than a padded envelope. A box is less likely to tear "accidentally" and better protects the watch. Double-boxing is even safer: put the watch in a small box, then place that box inside a larger, padded box (like shoebox size). This setup makes it harder to guess what's inside and reduces theft risk. Use lots of tape on all seams, maybe even staples. On the customs form, keep the description vague—avoid the word "watch" entirely. Something like “precision instrument” works well. Finally, use tracked shipping if possible, so you can keep an eye on it. Good luck!
 
Spruce
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And….. as @CBM1590 posted on another thread, make sure that everyone has the correct address and postcode/zipcode …
 
CBM1590
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I’d second the sturdy box. @Spruce did a bang up job on the packing of a watch that spent 20 days being bounced around 2 countries and 5 states trying to make it home to me.
 
josiahg52
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Hectorx1999 Hectorx1999
For shipping watches, I’d recommend going with a sturdy box rather than a padded envelope. A box is less likely to tear "accidentally" and better protects the watch. Double-boxing is even safer: put the watch in a small box, then place that box inside a larger, padded box (like shoebox size). This setup makes it harder to guess what's inside and reduces theft risk. Use lots of tape on all seams, maybe even staples. On the customs form, keep the description vague—avoid the word "watch" entirely. Something like “precision instrument” works well. Finally, use tracked shipping if possible, so you can keep an eye on it. Good luck!

I ship internationally infrequently any more, but this summer, "precision instrument" wasn't allowed. I had to use one of the proper harmonized tarriff codes. This was a US to Germany package via FedEx International Economy. At first I thought it was FedEx being FedEx, but they were able to provide a link to a recent agreement or policy change between countries. I do receive packages from outside the US and I've seen a change in those forms also from a multitude of shipping companies and services. They are much more specific now.
 
Archer
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josiahg52 josiahg52
I ship internationally infrequently any more, but this summer, "precision instrument" wasn't allowed. I had to use one of the proper harmonized tarriff codes. This was a US to Germany package via FedEx International Economy. At first I thought it was FedEx being FedEx, but they were able to provide a link to a recent agreement or policy change between countries. I do receive packages from outside the US and I've seen a change in those forms also from a multitude of shipping companies and services. They are much more specific now.
As of the middle of September, nothing had changed shipping from Canada into the US with regards to the description that I have seen anyway.

The harmonized code is the "official" description and consists of a number and corresponding description. That is typically found on the commercial invoice, and an example of that is:

9102110000 - wrist watch, mechanical, steel

On the actual label on the package that description can be different, and that is where something like "precision instrument" is typically used.

The commercial invoice is usually inside a pouch taped to the package, so less likely to be seen by some random person in a sorting center or something.
 
Hectorx1999
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josiahg52 josiahg52
I ship internationally infrequently any more, but this summer, "precision instrument" wasn't allowed. I had to use one of the proper harmonized tarriff codes. This was a US to Germany package via FedEx International Economy. At first I thought it was FedEx being FedEx, but they were able to provide a link to a recent agreement or policy change between countries. I do receive packages from outside the US and I've seen a change in those forms also from a multitude of shipping companies and services. They are much more specific now.
That’s interesting—thanks for the heads-up about the change with FedEx and the tariff codes! It sounds like international shipping is getting more restrictive with how items are described on customs forms. For future shipments, you might want to check out ParcelABC. They make the process smoother by providing clear guidelines for customs declarations and competitive rates for international parcels. I’ve found them super reliable, especially for tricky shipments. Definitely worth a look if you’re sending packages abroad!
 
Evitzee
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The best packing practices can run off the rails if some entity in the shipping system wants/needs to inspect/steal your parcel's contents, this is especially true for packages crossing international borders. Last month I received this package from a dealer who sells off this forum which I've dealt with before. He double boxes everything and tapes them impeccably, paperwork always complete, contents marked as 'Precision Instrument'. This one came very fast from eastern Europe to me in central Texas in 2 1/2 days from the time it was consigned to DHL: Warsaw > Leipzig > Paris > Atlanta > Houston > San Antonio > then trucked and delivered to me in 60 hours elapsed time. According to the travel log the longest time in any one spot was 6 hours in Paris, the rest of the time it was moving within the system. It went in and out of Customs in Atlanta in 4 1/2 hours. Here is what it looked like on consignment to DHL, double boxed and taped to the max.
1858757-e1420105105195624bb626d914a217e8_copy.webp 1858756-557c8b5e27b083ac3fa20b814abf7741_copy.webp


Upon arrival it had been opened and repacked with yellow and red 'Repacked by DHL' tape all over it, the box was bulging and poorly repacked. Just a crappy looking job. Got the wifey to start videoing the opening of the box, immediately saw the inner box was slit open......uh, oh, my heart sank in my boots. The plastic coffin was next to the inner box.....empty. Damn. Got the inner box out but nothing seemed out of the ordinary past this point, got it all unpacked and the watch was in the inn display box, along with all the books, cards, hang tag, none of that was disturbed. We figured it was opened by Customs, either in Paris or Atlanta, probably drug swabbed and determined it didn't contain anything illegal so it was poorly repacked and sent on its way. It would be nice if they left some sort of note stating where it was opened, but nothing. The watch inside is a story for another day.
IMG_1644a.webp IMG_1646.webp IMG_1641a.webp
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josiahg52
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drose224 drose224
Stop taping bubble wrap, Please

I use a lot of bubble wrap and do tape it, but I leave little flags on the tape and occasionally mark it with a Sharpie so it stands out and is easy to spot.
 
S
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Жидкость Flip - https://smoketime.com.ua/ru/ridina-flip/ на солевом никотине представляет собой идеальное решение для тех, кто предпочитает самостоятельные замесы. Каждый набор включает в себя все необходимое для создания индивидуальной жидкости, подходящей под ваши вкусовые предпочтения.
 
Deafboy
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S SmokeTime
Жидкость Flip - https://smoketime.com.ua/ru/ridina-flip/ на солевом никотине представляет собой идеальное решение для тех, кто предпочитает самостоятельные замесы. Каждый набор включает в себя все необходимое для создания индивидуальной жидкости, подходящей под ваши вкусовые предпочтения.
Translated to Shakespeare's tongue:
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Information I needed to know.
 
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