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eBay no longer allow Swiss Watches to be shipped from the US to Europe...

gatorcpa
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Now you know why eBay is starting to restrict the viewing of certain listings to just the country or region (EU) of origin.

That's why they started the international shipping program, but it seems there's some issues there as well.

It's a problem without a real answer.
gatorcpa
 
Northernman
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Slow down guys!😵‍💫
We are talking private to private transactions with relatively low value objects. The system was never designed for us.
Bringing up law enforcement and criminal charges makes me wonder if the differences really are this big between the two sides of the Atlantic?
The worst thing that could ever happen on this side would be a duty fine of some percentage. And with minor value objects shipped between private individuals you would be more than unlucky to even see that happen.

As for private insurance on shipments containing watches I am afraid I have still to come across a single good solution.

It's either go by the book and be blown or take your precautions.
 
CanberraOmega
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STANDY STANDY
@CanberraOmega can you PM the article as I don't want to subscribe for one article
Lol, Google search for the URL, that gets you around the paywall. Very sophisticated is Mr Murdoch.
 
Bezel_Faulty
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I have only recently rejoined eBay and have been amazed at the general skulduggery allowed. I have researched the watches I wanted and questioned a number of sellers about their offerings. Many on offer have been dubious to say the least but my point here is that I have frequently been offered 'special' invoices to avoid import duty. This applies to Germany, Australia and USA.
I'm probably going to leave eBay again soon, especially as they clearly take no notice when we report obvious fakes.
I'm now searching UK dealers for their offerings and have found some excellent deals-many better than eBay with staff who are willing to chat and show genuine interest.
 
Stewart H
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DHL will insure watches they are transporting up to a value of £4,000. I know this for a fact because I have recently sent four Zenith chronographs to a watchmaker. Cost of sending was £220 of which £120 was the insurance. Not cheap but worth it for peace of mind.
 
Northernman
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Stewart H Stewart H
DHL will insure watches they are transporting up to a value of £4,000. I know this for a fact because I have recently sent four Zenith chronographs to a watchmaker. Cost of sending was £220 of which £120 was the insurance. Not cheap but worth it for peace of mind.
DHL is blocked for private consumers (as senders, not receivers) over here due to our own "royal mail" monopoly on private post and packages.
I agree that GBP120 to insure GBP4000 of watches sounds tempting.
Personally I get the shivers and try to make a personal pick-up (or delivery) on valuable items.
And again if I had to pay GBP100 insurance for each GBP1000 chronograph I sent of for service, I would have the option of skipping insurance and buying another nice chronograph for every 10th successfully shipped one....😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 (Or accepting the loss of one out of ten).
Life is always tough when it comes to making decisions!
 
marturx
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Vintage watches are covered by the insurance issued when you ship registered mail with the Swedish post. Up to USD 1200. I know this for a fact, because I lost recently my first consignment with them in 9 years, and they paid out under the insurance, with no problem. In their terms, they also exempt watches, but it has to mean new watches. Vintage watches are more like collectibles, at least I put it that way in my insurance claim, and they didn´t protest.
 
Archer
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gatorcpa gatorcpa
I know that there is a private insurance company (I forgot the name) that will insure jewelry for the trade. They have arranged with many countries postal services to act as customs brokers and pass on duties where applicable. They also handle the declarations as well.

ParcelPro is one company, but depending on where you are you are limited in the carriers you can use with their insurance. For example I can only send parcels via FedEx with them.
 
gatorcpa
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Archer Archer
ParcelPro is one company, but depending on where you are you are limited in the carriers you can use with their insurance. For example I can only send parcels via FedEx with them.
That's the company I was thinking of.

Thanks,
gatorcpa
 
Stewart H
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Northernman Northernman
DHL is blocked for private consumers (as senders, not receivers) over here due to our own "royal mail" monopoly on private post and packages.
I agree that GBP120 to insure GBP4000 of watches sounds tempting.
Personally I get the shivers and try to make a personal pick-up (or delivery) on valuable items.
And again if I had to pay GBP100 insurance for each GBP1000 chronograph I sent of for service, I would have the option of skipping insurance and buying another nice chronograph for every 10th successfully shipped one....😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 (Or accepting the loss of one out of ten).
Life is always tough when it comes to making decisions!
Sorry if I was unclear about that, but the £120 for insurance was for all four. Two insured at £4,000 each (under insured, but better than nothing) one insured for £3,000 and the other for £2,500. So £13,500 of insurance for the £120. As they were all going to the same place, the individual packages were not identified by value so that made it more secure - you would have to have stolen all four to guarantee stealing the right one.
 
bill5959
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The way I read Parcel pro is you have to be a business. Al, you would qualify for that. Another collector I know uses US registered mail, but I don't know if that is effective shipping from US to overseas. I've not confirmed myself whetherwatches can be covered, but insurance limit is US$25,000. I just don't insure but I'm not shipping high priced watches. What I don't do is put the name on the package if it includes "watch" or some such indicator. I use the persons name or another moniker.
 
toddle321
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bill5959 bill5959
The way I read Parcel pro is you have to be a business. Al, you would qualify for that. Another collector I know uses US registered mail, but I don't know if that is effective shipping from US to overseas. I've not confirmed myself whetherwatches can be covered, but insurance limit is US$25,000. I just don't insure but I'm not shipping high priced watches. What I don't do is put the name on the package if it includes "watch" or some such indicator. I use the persons name or another moniker.

You don't have to be a business to get a parcelpro account, I gave them a call and they were happy to sign up a collector. Their FedEx rates including insurance are MUCH lower than I get from the FedEx website, good deal all around. You do have to follow their instructions (double box, etc.) when shipping. You also need to fill out an application and provide references from past transactions to sign up.
 
bill5959
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toddle321 toddle321
You don't have to be a business to get a parcelpro account, I gave them a call and they were happy to sign up a collector. Their FedEx rates including insurance are MUCH lower than I get from the FedEx website, good deal all around. You do have to follow their instructions (double box, etc.) when shipping. You also need to fill out an application and provide references from past transactions to sign up.
Thanks for the tip. I saw it last night but the light didn't dawn on me. I have no discovered I am not seeing German Ebay. Several watches their I would at least want to follow. WTF is all I can say. Ebay is just a ship of very rich fools
 
j.allen
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Northernman Northernman
The only issues still standing is that.
A) Watches are normally exempt from all practical means of insurance when being sent using normal carriers. (Read the small print).
B) They are relatively easily stolen in transit. Not all posties nor customs people are good apples. Perhaps a very good reason why they refuse to insure watches in the first place?
C) Due to A and B. Declaring as defective and low value reduces risk on both sides of a trade.

As for customs there is, at least over here, possible to contact the threasury after receipt of a shipment to pay additional fees and taxes if one feels obligated to.
One thing I like about ebay's insurance "shipsaver" is that they have their own insurance which is not indicated on the packaging anywhere. There is no "value: $1400 USD," which points a potential thief in the right direction.
 
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