International Shipping Help, US to Italy

I browsed through the Best Shipping Practices thread and believe I located at least one of the problems I'm running into - harmonized tariff numbers. Very possibly I'm making other errors through an excess of caution blended with general ignorance.

I want to ship a Zodiac Olympos, a vintage one, from the US to Italy. This is not an expensive watch, but it's a watch.

Someone advised using a "precision parts" harmonized # in the Best Practices. I google that and I'm seeing nuclear parts. If I were a customs guy I would see a red flag.

I want to create a UPS label online with the most innocuous and least potential cost for my recipient.

I've shipped watches internationally in the past, once to Sweden with USPS and that was pretty painless. However, I read negative things about the Italian postal system so I'm thinking a private carrier.

I used eBay's global ship service once but something changed there and decided not to use what it is now.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and advice.

IIRC back when I was doing a lot of international shipping using Parcel Pro/FedEx their default for watches was "precision instrument".

That could have been the issue, I had no TARIC code entered I know. Thanks.

If I was sending a gift or selling something under a certain value - does it make any difference? Is there VAT or anything?

If memory serves, there’s an exception to having to use a TARIC code if the watch is valued at less than $2,500.

One thing you don't want to do is have Arnold Schwarzenegger deliver the watch for you, the fines and taxes will kill you.

I’ve done a couple of watches to Italy with no issues including a Speedmaster. Two suggestions:

Don’t do it online, take the extra time to go to the carrier. They generally know what they are doing and can help make sure it’s done right.

It costs more but DHL is the way to go IMO. They really seem to have a handle on customs plus all they do in the US is international shipping so the employees I have encountered know what they are doing. There is a form online to fill out and bring in to the office to save a bit of time but again, just go there and do it in person. Plead ignorance on how to ship internationally.

And of course know what you want to call the contents when you are talking to the person at the counter, a watch, or measuring equipment/instrument, or the euphemism of your choice.

The cost saving, at least for UPS, by doing it online is tremendous. I thought about DHL but didn't explore the cost. I'll look into that.

If saving money is the goal don’t look at DHL.

I have never had to tell the shipper any codes when shipping from the US to Europe. Just the value and a description of the contents, and whether it's a gift, commercial sample, etc. TBH, I'm not sure anything but the value matters.

I'm going to try it with this TARIC code 91022100 and see what happens.

https://www.tariffnumber.com/2024/91022100