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Filling Out A watch Form For US Customs

dsio
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Archer Archer
I give one copy to the FedEx agent when it's dropped off, and another copy goes into the pouch. They will scan it into the system, unless they lose the sheet (which used to happen a lot, but hasn't happened to me in many years now). I always provide a second copy just in case they do lose it, and I would have an electronic version available.

There's absolutely zero reason to put the brand name on any paperwork, unless it's on a bill of sale.

BTW I think the tariff code you want is this one...

WRIST WATCHES, AUTOMATIC - 9102210000



Sorry to disagree, but I would be packing that box myself (taking a video of it) and not letting anyone else open it or handle the contents.
Just looking at the HTS info, what is the main difference between 9101.21 and 9102.21 as the descriptions look weirdly identical to me?
 
Archer
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dsio dsio
Just looking at the HTS info, what is the main difference between 9101.21 and 9102.21 as the descriptions look weirdly identical to me?

Mechanical v Automatic
 
cineaste
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gbesq gbesq
I would probably include the manufacturer and reference number. Otherwise, it looks like you’re trying to hide something and that never goes over well with customs. Make sure that you note that it’s used (not “preowned” which sounds like it’s a Mercedes) and allocate as much value to the movement as you reasonably can (I usually allocate the movement as 60-75% of total value).

used timepiece is my preferred description when shipping, i think it attracts less attention than wristwatch.
 
river rat
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This is bull shit I have a watch stuck in customs and even DHL people I talked to on phone did not know why a hold was put on the watch after 10 days they call me say they need this stupid form. Wonder why DHL and the drop off store the seller shipped the watch from did not make the seller fill out the form. I shipped a watch FedEx last year to Germany but to a watchmaker for a repair did not have to fill out a form as I remember.
Edited:
 
Evitzee
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river rat river rat
This is bull shit I have a watch stuck in customs and even DHL people I talked to on phone did not know why a hold was put on the watch after 10 days they call me say they need this stupid form. Wonder why DHL and the drop off store the seller shipped the watch from did not make the seller fill out the form. I shipped a watch FedEx last year to Germany but to a watchmaker for a repair did not have to fill out a form as I remember.
One thing you can be sure of, Customs are never consistent, it all depends on how the shipment is treated by the system/people on the day it gets to them. Go with the flow, they are running the show, you are just a spectator. Do what they ask.
 
river rat
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Who is supposed to fill out the form the seller who shipped it or the buyer the watch is getting shipped to?
 
Dan S
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river rat river rat
Who is supposed to fill out the form the seller who shipped it or the buyer the watch is getting shipped to?
It can be either way, but usually the seller asks the buyer to provide the information. Also, I usually find that even if the seller provides the form to the courier, the courier asks me for it again. For example, Buyee always asks me for the form and say that they are giving it to DHL. Then DHL asks me to upload it directly.
 
gbesq
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It's not a big deal. Just fill out the form and submit it. It takes 10 minutes. Customs needs it so that they can calculate duty on the watch. Be aware that customs will assess duty on the watch based upon the percentages of value that are allocated to the case, the strap/bracelet and the movement. You want to allocate as much value to the movement as is reasonably possible as it is assessed at the lowest rate. Typically, I allocate 65% to the movement, 20% to the case and 15% to the strap or bracelet.
 
RevZMan123
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gbesq gbesq
strap or bracelet.
Which are also taxed differently, a textile or metal bracelet is 9.8% and everything else is 2% ... go figure, but don't try to bring in any alligator or croc unless it's certified!
 
river rat
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Well, I bought a watch off eBay from an Australian seller. He used pack and send who used DHL to ship it to the USA. Was supposed to be 3–4-day shipping. But after pack and send held onto it for 3-4 days before giving it to DHL I knew I was screwed on 3–4-day delivery. I guess pack and send knew nothing about the watch break down form. On DHL tracking showed it was on hold in Ohio but was really stuck in LA waiting for that form since 5\22. When you call DHL customer service the computer voice takes the tracking number and tells you they need more info to proceed the form I guess so I keep calling back to get a human to see what I need to do when I get a human, they say package is lost they are looking for it. Then the other day I get a call from DHL they need this form first I knew about it. They email me the form I email it to the seller he fills it out emails it back to me and then I email it to DHL problem fixed. A 3–4-day shipping turning into a month-long episode. Seems like over at DHL the other hand doesn't know what the other hand is doing. Tell me how can you scan something in Ohio when it's stuck in LA.
 
RevZMan123
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river rat river rat
Well, I bought a watch off eBay from an Australian seller. He used pack and send who used DHL to ship it to the USA. Was supposed to be 3–4-day shipping. But after pack and send held onto it for 3-4 days before giving it to DHL I knew I was screwed on 3–4-day delivery. I guess pack and send knew nothing about the watch break down form. On DHL tracking showed it was on hold in Ohio but was really stuck in LA waiting for that form since 5\22. When you call DHL customer service the computer voice takes the tracking number and tells you they need more info to proceed the form I guess so I keep calling back to get a human to see what I need to do when I get a human, they say package is lost they are looking for it. Then the other day I get a call from DHL they need this form first I knew about it. They email me the form I email it to the seller he fills it out emails it back to me and then I email it to DHL problem fixed. A 3–4-day shipping turning into a month-long episode. Seems like over at DHL the other hand doesn't know what the other hand is doing. Tell me how can you scan something in Ohio when it's stuck in LA.
And now since DHL has been holding it for so long, they will charge you an extra $150 storage fee. Or that's what they did to me in this exact same scenario.
 
gbesq
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RevZMan123 RevZMan123
And now since DHL has been holding it for so long, they will charge you an extra $150 storage fee. Or that's what they did to me in this exact same scenario.
Which you should have complained about and asked them to remove from your bill.
 
river rat
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Tell you I think DHL is tired of hearing me complaining and telling them about their lackluster service. If they send me a bill because of storage because of their own mistake saying it's lost when I first called when I saw hold and could have fixed it the first day on hold, they will hear complaining like they never heard before until they take it off the bill since it was their mistake.
 
river rat
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Ya now on hold for fees then I call DHL about the fees and the watch in now lost in DHL black hole again they can't seem to find it all over again. They bring your hope up they found it make you fill out these forms and then pop your bubble all over again well we can't find it. How can you charge taxes or storage fees for something you lost and don't have. Want some advice never use DHL.
 
river rat
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I hope DHL did not trick me into paying fees they said they had it when talking to them on the phone again and to release it had to pay a 50-buck fee did that. Hope I was not lied to again and they rip me off 50 bucks. This is total shit.
 
TexOmega
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Post cool pix when you can, I know it will be cool and unique from reading your posts and threads over the years.

Good Luck👍
 
Larry S
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river rat river rat
Who is supposed to fill out the form the seller who shipped it or the buyer the watch is getting shipped to?
The buyer who is importing the watch. They don’t care if the source does it. I have had nothing but smooth and helpful service from both Fedex and DHL when it comes to paperwork. This “pack and send” is the culprit IMO. In all cases, I got a text or email right away during clearance, submitted the form and the goods were on the way in a matter of hours.
 
Evitzee
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At least Customs didn't ask you to fill out a Form 5106 (yet) certifying yourself as the importer of the goods, that form seems to ruffle and upset people because it requires a social security number or other taxpayer identification number. I only ran into that form once when a FedEx import agent in Memphis required me to fill out the form. He highlighted what lines needed to be completed, I did that and sent it back as a pdf and he released the watch 30 minutes later.
 
river rat
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Well got the watch after 30 days. For some reason DHL unpacked the watch from the original box and put it into a USPS box and did a shabby job not much bubble wrap the box was beat up with a hole on one side thought watch might have been stolen but was lucky it was there. Maybe it was stolen when with DHL or custom did not believe old watch on custom form and hope a Rolex was there to tax me more. Never use DHL. Remember DHL don't deliver in the USA to your door, they hand it off to USPS FedEx and UPS go to your door so faster service. Mine finely made it to Colorado then to USPS to Montana not far and the box was beat to hell and a different box than it started out with.
R2OBSsY.jpg
The watch.
 
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