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Buying From Abroad (outside USA): Can You Get Levied Duty if via EMS/USPS? YES! :(

  1. WatchVaultNYC Jul 25, 2015

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    So the anectodal accepted wisdom here is that watches from abroad (outside USA) shipped UPS and Fedex will get levied duty, while EMS / USPS will not. Well sadly, that is not true.

    I just got levied significant duty TODAY from a USPS delivery from abroad! Dang it!
     
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  2. LouS Mrs Nataf's Other Son Staff Member Jul 25, 2015

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    So how did it happen? FedEx, UPS and DHL usually contact me in advance of delivery to fill out a customs watch worksheet and in the case of UPS and DHL, to make payment. Fed Ex very generously invoices me for later payment. How did USPS proceed?
     
  3. WatchVaultNYC Jul 25, 2015

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    It's a bit of an outlying situation. Inbound packages usually require adult signature, and this one had "postal employee instructions" on a separate sleeve with instructions on how to collect money from me before he'd give me the package. But package was just dropped off, no signature, and duty was not collected!?!? Postal employee laziness? I am fully expecting a large bill in the next couple of weeks when they realized they missed collecting money from me.
     
  4. LouS Mrs Nataf's Other Son Staff Member Jul 25, 2015

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    what we consider a large duty in the US is nothing compared to what other countries levy. My last one was all of 3% of declared value.
     
  5. WatchVaultNYC Jul 25, 2015

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    This was around 10%, was yours Swiss or from somewhere else? Different rates could apply from different countries of origin. Either that or they just stick their thumbs in the air
     
  6. gemini4 Hoarder Of Speed et alia Jul 25, 2015

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    Around 3 months ago, I pickup an EMS package at USPS. Attached to it was a customs invoice. The desk clerk didn't notice, didn't care and I never heard anything more about it.
     
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  7. WatchVaultNYC Jul 25, 2015

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    Well I hope it continues this way! Let us know if you get a bill..
     
  8. gemini4 Hoarder Of Speed et alia Jul 25, 2015

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    Laterly, the EMS packages (from the Far East) don't even appear to pass through customs. At least according to USPS tracking.
     
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  9. LouS Mrs Nataf's Other Son Staff Member Jul 25, 2015

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    that sounds about right
     
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  10. donkii Jul 26, 2015

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    You should be happy for not living in Sweden ;) add 32% to declared value and there you have what we need to pay on packages from outside the EU.
     
  11. gemini4 Hoarder Of Speed et alia Jul 26, 2015

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    Humm. Now I know why those Kaplan of Stockholm watch auctions get such high prices. No customs duty.
     
  12. MMMD unaffiliated curmudgeonly absurdist & polyologist Jul 26, 2015

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    Damn. Civilization is expensive!
     
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  13. donkii Jul 26, 2015

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    Sure is. We have to pay 25% in tax and another 7% in custom fee. Sweden is a fucking joke when it comes to these taxes. On gasoline we have to pay tax on the taxes. But, we all have free healthcare and schools, even university is free of charge. So I guess we have to pay for some of this "luxury". On the salary we pay around 34% in taxes. So on every hard earned dollar we pay 34cent in taxes.
     
  14. chunkythebulldog Jul 26, 2015

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    I'd be happy with that, 45% in England plus National Insurance of 12.8%
     
  15. Paedipod Jul 26, 2015

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    Well, in Canada we are another highly taxed but moderately socialized place. My personal income tax is well over 40% and we do pay large fees for tuition in university and other secondary education. Healthcare is only covered at basic level and despite being one of the oil producers, we don't have cheap gas (taxes on taxes!).

    If I import a watch, if they decide to check and add duty it is mid 20% of value, and now adding on the crappy exchange coming from elsewhere too.

    As MMMD says....expensive to be civilized.
     
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  16. donkii Jul 26, 2015

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    Really? Thats sick!
    Do you guys have 25% in taxes on everything you buy as well?
     
  17. chunkythebulldog Jul 26, 2015

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    20% VAT on just about everything you buy
     
  18. Stewart H Honorary NJ Resident Jul 26, 2015

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    To be fair, that is only on the part of your income over £150,000 p.a.
     
  19. Pahawi Jul 26, 2015

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    TNTwatch and donkii like this.
  20. gemini4 Hoarder Of Speed et alia Jul 26, 2015

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    Wow. I thought Caifornia sales tax was high at 9%.