There was a recent thread where German customs was said to be confiscating watches coming INTO Germany. I made an offer yesterday at chrono24 for a watch in Germany, and here was the response:
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Dear Chrono24 user,

Your Trusted Checkout request was declined by the dealer.

Omega Speedmaster Proffessional MOON Vintage Herrenuhr TOP ZUSTAND
Dealer: Auktionshaus
Status: Canceled
Reason: Item cannot be shipped to country of destination
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What's up with that?

 

Weird.

You could get an European to handle it for you?

 

To be fair, the same happens with many U.S.-based sellers who do not want to ship overseas. One would think money would defeat xenophobia, but there ya go.

 

A huuuuge number of sellers (mostly private) won't ship outside of CONUS. Before coming to these boards, I participated on WUS and pretty much all of the watches I was interested in on the sales forum was restricted that way. People here are much, much more easy-going

 

That's actually a pretty decent price. Can well understand your frustration.

 

There's no need for customs forms if the watch is sent by normal post. You just need to put a value on the package.
Customs is the buyers headache.

 

Indeed. Can't fathom why dealers cut off sales opportunities...

 

Going off topic a tiny bit: the price is decent (though there's no bracelet), but it claims to be a 76ST with a 31,61x,xxx serial. Wouldn't that serial put it at '70 or '71?

 

That would be correct - and it should have a stepped dial in that range too, probably. Could be a sloppy movement swap into a -76 case, since it appears to have the flat dial...

 

I think it's unfair to call xenophobia, there's an increased pain in the butt/ risk factor... thats all.

 

I just bought a watch from a dealer in germany. It took him two days to deal with customs and get everything right. German customs are a pain in the butt making it hard to do business there. But he was nice did it anyways. Getting watch sometimes this week.

 

And how many watches have you shipped to the USA from Europe lately?
There are no customs forms or any other forms for that matter, if the item is sent normal post.
FedEx is a different matter of course.

 

I've sent countless items to the US from the UK via Royal Mail Airsure, or Tracked and Signed as it is now.

The only customs form is a small declaration sticker where you write write a brief description (vintage watch), the sale price, date and sign. Takes literally ten seconds.

I understand it's more work sending to the UK though.

 

Yep, that's the sticker im talking about.

I can't imagine it would be a reason for limiting your potential audience though.

I only have experience of posting items from the UK, so no idea if it's more complicated from other EU countries.

 

Exactly.
I have just confirmed a sale and will be posting to the US tomorrow. A small sticker with a brief description and whatever value you care to declare are all that is needed.
If that is a customs form then gatorcpa is correct.

 

I'm not sure about the rest of Europe, but I sent some t-shirts from the UK to the US last week using Royal Mail, and had to complete a customs declaration.

It was a 1 page document, outlining contents, value, and whether it was commercial or personal/gift.