Being a n00b can sometimes be a fantastic experience. You don't know what you don't know so life is oftentimes less complicated. This pleasant state occasionally runs headlong into reality, and troubles can ensue. Hopefully, I can help other n00bs remain in their blissful state of ignorance (for a bit longer), by imparting a little lesson I just learned about buying timepieces in far away lands (meaning anywhere outside the US) and using FedEx for the shipping.

Now I'm not an expert on the intracacies of international shipping with different carriers. This is the first time a watch has been shipped to me via FedEx. For all I know, there are other carriers that require some of the same documents that FedEx requires, though I haven't experienced it yet. With regards to FedEx, this is how it should go down.

If you are the seller and you are shipping a watch to a buyer via FedEx, the FedEx personnel at the shippers location are supposed to have you fill out a "Watch Worksheet" requesting some relatively innocuous information and some not so unimportant information associated with values. Materials used (gold, steel etc) and where the piece originated from. Stuff like that. I posted it below. This is NOT a US customs document...allegedly. But it is REQUIRED in order to get your watch into your impatiently twitching hands. You will not get your watch if that watch sheet isn't completed and it is STRONGLY suggested by officials at FedEx, that the shipper be the one, completing it. This didn't happen in my case. This was right about the time my blissful n00b state ran headlong into reality.

In my case, FedEx tried to remedy the situation by emailing ME the dreaded document to complete. I responded with "why didn't your "people" in South America have the shipper fill it out"? They, of course claimed ignorance and thought perhaps the folks down in that office were taking a siesta or chasing an alpaca around or something equally relaxing. Regardless, the damn document had to be completed and yours truly had to figure it out. No instructions. Meanwhile the object of my lust (the watch in this particular case) was supposed to arrive at my home the following morning and time was of the essence... as they say.

Of course I went back and forth with FedEx and the shipper ( who was incredibly communicative and helpful) and he of course, confirmed they didn't say peep about any watch worksheet. Ok, so, in order to move forward, I fill out this incredibly annoying document. I send it to the nice lady that sent it to me originally and in what must be instantly to the good folks at FedEx but was actually 4 hours in "real" time, I receive an incredibly well written response expounding on the relative worthlessness of the worksheet I had completed. Awesome! This was right about the time I got another email from a FedEx customer service "system" saying my vintage timepiece was going to be delayed and who knew when it would arrive. Phrases like "US Customs clearance" and " shipping issues related to incorrect documentation" were bandied about. The shipper had not completed the damn watch worksheet and we had problems. I began to imagine my vintage Heuer timepiece languishing in the bowels of some horrendous warehouse with rotting vegetables and rats...with big teeth. Shortly after, I received another polite email telling me my "case" (it's a "case" already?) was being escalated to a Senior ECO Import Co-Ordinator by the name of Jan Burns. Crap, should I contact my lawyer? Shit, I don't have a lawyer. At least not under retainer or anything. I resolved to take a proactive approach because if my jail sentence was to begin, I'd rather like it to start as early as possible. I have things I need to get to. I received a very quick reply to my email requesting a phone call, of which I quickly responded to the affirmative. Ms. Burns called 30 seconds later and informed me that the &^%$#@ watch worksheet should have been completed by the seller, not me and that as a result my shipment was delayed. I mentioned all that sounded vaguely familiar based on THE 19 EMAILS telling me the same damn thing, I'd already received. I got it. The seller is to fill it out, but they didn't... so you asked me. By this time, I began to seriously question whether this whole vintage watch thing was actually worth it....and did they provide Wifi in jail? She said she thought there was a solution without me having to go to the Bighouse and if I could re-fill out the form to correspond to certain particulars of the shipping "value" based on the shippers paperwork, she could resubmit this information and US Customs would call off the SWAT team that was, in my mind, on the way to my house. She told me the values for the movement, case and band (if any) must add up to precisely the same amount as the the stated value when shipped. She also suggested that the majority of the value be placed on the "movement" of the watch. That's it? Yup. That's all I have to do? Yes, thats it, was her reply. Don't you think that information might be helpful to others in this same situation? Perhaps; I'll make a note of it, she said. With all this new, incredibly enlightening information and the NEW form completed, I sent it off back to her with a big thanks and.....crickets. No emails, no droid generated responses. Perhaps the "machine" that was consuming the new information I'd provided wasn't entirely satisfied. Uh..oh. Soon after, another email was sent by what must be an exhausted computer system informing me that my timepiece would now be delivered! Joy! Amazing,...when!? Oh, yea...that. It appears it will be on the truck for tomorrows delivery. Amazing! May wonders never cease! And lo and behold it was. And it was everything I'd thought it would be....aren't they all? (see... still living in my n00b world ;-)

If, you've gotten this far in my missive, you're probably thinking WTF! and where were the lessons in all that? Couldn't I have made it a little more...uh...to the point? Yea, probably but I've been trying to distract myself from hitting the browser refresh button the the private watch sale pages for OF and Chronotrader....;-) I hope you n00bs
all learned a bit about using FedEx for shipping and life in general. FOLLOW the rules!

 

I am so blessed not to have experienced this. Overall my now numerous experiences with FedEx on watches have been superb including the control of delivery and speed with which all customs issues that crop up are resolved. My admiration also includes their liberation of my work laptop from security at Nice France airport after I had left it on the belt.

 

But good heavens it was worth it! Look at that Heuer!

That does sound like a complete pain though. I've thankfully never had anything like that.

 

As one who ships with FedEx through Parcel Pro, I find the watch worksheet to be extremely easy to complete. The only related issue, in my experience, that can be frustrating, is that it is not always enough to include it with the shipment. So, to avoid headaches, simply make sure that the sheet is completed, and keep one in pdf form that can be emailed to FedEx personnel in the U.S. if necessary.

Really not a big deal when done correctly, and believe me, far better than having to pay duties using DHL, etc.

 

I had to complete one of these forms a couple of months ago.

The seller had described the contents of the package as simply a "Jet Graph," so I received a phone call from a rather confused FedEx employee who was wondering what the heck that meant.

When I filled out the form, I simply rounded the amount that I had paid and then divided it 50/50 between the movement and the case. Fortunately, I didn't have any problems.

FedEx is going to send you a bill in the mail for the customs/duty fees, so you'll need to keep an eye out for that. Congrats on the purchase.

 

I like question 12. Is "etc" an important function?
Any idea why 15.2mm is important?
Did you ever find out why Fedex want all this info?

 

FedEx *wants* the information because it helps greatly to quicken the customs process, and, by the way, reduces duties for customers.

If you are importing valuable watches into the U.S. and using an expedited service, FedEx is the best for both of the above reasons.

 

i just ask for everything to be "watch parts" & "precision timing instrument" failing that... i recieve 5 to 15 parcels ANYTHING from fed ex US South america Switzerland Blah blah gets through no fuss just dont tell them its a bloody watch!

when i export i use "Used Lady Watch" & "watch Parts" value = (very little) because who is opening a "Used Lady, Watch" ?

 

It's the importers responsibility to know all state and federal laws prior to importation

Customs declaration should be filled out by the exporters (seller) but not always feasible for them to know or have all the knowledge of customs for every country in the world

Most problems during clearance is not enough paperwork or deceleration. Most manifests are processed by FedEx / Customs whilst the plane is still flying.

 

Look if you are the seller, take the time to fill out the form. Buyers make sure your seller knows to fill the form out correctly. It's in my opinion, a questionable idea to try to avoid a few hundred in duties and fees on a watch worth thousands by fudging the paper work. You want the transit time from selller to you as short as possible. To me FedEx is the safest, most transparent and most reliable mode of shipping save hand delivery in person or by courier. Sorry but sometimes these discussions make me crazy. Why invite trouble?

 

Guess I'm spoiled on who I'm buying from. The one time I had an issue with the form, the Buffalo office called me and we corrected the form over the phone. That's been my experience with them all along. Never had a problem that took more that an hour to fix. Thanks for the DIY tip on the form though.

 

No its a precision timing instrument and a watch is full of watch parts =) i also have very happy customers and im in the uk we dont know what "federal" is do you mean fecal? feral? sideral?

 

I have my own FedEx account and sometimes make my own shipping arrangements rather than the seller. I have a pre-made customs declaration with FedEx and I use their pro-forma invoices. I set up the shipment online and then email the seller PDFs of the documents. Easy.

I also use ParcelPro for insurance for valuable packages. I list very low values for the items with FedEx but insure the full amount with ParcelPro. Any time there is a high declared value item, it will attract attention.

 

One day a watch will go missing and you will only get the declared FedEx amount back you do realise........

 

Maybe you're not just a noob.....of course, this is the favourite activity of all South Americans while at work.....

 

I didn't read your entire story- gave up in the first paragraph....but why are you insisting the seller fill out the form?
I have always filled out the form myself, and never had a single issue.

I fill it out as sop with every watch I buy...then follow up with Fedex to verify it was received. If you don't fill it out you will pay a much larger duty. The form is simple...I generally use numbers below as a guideline...but adjust for each watch.
The key is that the movement is the bulk of the value...if you don't fill out the form they automatically apply the value to the case which results in a duty of 4.8% on the total value.

Rough guideline:
80% Movement

15% Case

5% Strap

They only want the values assigned to these three components...and the 80% valuation should be fairly accurate for most watches since they aren't asking for dial, hand, bezels, etc. I assume by "movement" they mean the movement and all associated parts (dial, hands, crown, bezel) since none of these are part of the case or strap.

It takes all of 2 minutes to fill out the form...the real question is why wouldn't you fill out the form?