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Shipped a watch from Canada to US today
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SOG53
·UPDATE: Shipping to US FEDEX saga
Shipped another watch (vintage Grand Seiko- nice one) from Toronto to a Chrono buyer outside of NYC. Now to complicate things, CANADA POST is on strike causing big delays, so the system I thought I had worked out with them was out. So I sent FEDEX. I shipped from a big FEDEX shipping center- not a Mom and Pop convenience store- and got all the proper forms including Commercial shipping, and the special watch form breaking down origin, materials, number jewels, value of case and movement and strap, etc all carefully worked out, no problem. I watched them put it all together in the clear plastic shipping shipping envelope that sticks on the box, and off it went. By the next day, it arrived in Indianapolis Hub site and presented to US Customs. At which point the tracking kept saying CLEARANCE DELAY. I got agent on phone and they said I need to fill out the watch form, which I already had done and was included in envelope. They said another one was needed, so I emailed another one. 2 days later same Clearance Delay- called back and they said they need another watch form, which I did again (all with same info). 2 days later same thing. So I submitted 4 separate watch forms in all. Finally, after 11 days in US Customs, it went out and was delivered successfully.
I think they are looking for reasons to delay/block incoming packages, I felt bad for the buyer who was very nice and patient. But I'm guessing he will think twice before buying another watch from non-US seller. FEDEX does not require sender to pay duties up front so that was not issue. After all that I didnt have nerve to ask buyer how much import tax he had to pay...
Shipped another watch (vintage Grand Seiko- nice one) from Toronto to a Chrono buyer outside of NYC. Now to complicate things, CANADA POST is on strike causing big delays, so the system I thought I had worked out with them was out. So I sent FEDEX. I shipped from a big FEDEX shipping center- not a Mom and Pop convenience store- and got all the proper forms including Commercial shipping, and the special watch form breaking down origin, materials, number jewels, value of case and movement and strap, etc all carefully worked out, no problem. I watched them put it all together in the clear plastic shipping shipping envelope that sticks on the box, and off it went. By the next day, it arrived in Indianapolis Hub site and presented to US Customs. At which point the tracking kept saying CLEARANCE DELAY. I got agent on phone and they said I need to fill out the watch form, which I already had done and was included in envelope. They said another one was needed, so I emailed another one. 2 days later same Clearance Delay- called back and they said they need another watch form, which I did again (all with same info). 2 days later same thing. So I submitted 4 separate watch forms in all. Finally, after 11 days in US Customs, it went out and was delivered successfully.
I think they are looking for reasons to delay/block incoming packages, I felt bad for the buyer who was very nice and patient. But I'm guessing he will think twice before buying another watch from non-US seller. FEDEX does not require sender to pay duties up front so that was not issue. After all that I didnt have nerve to ask buyer how much import tax he had to pay...
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Russ Murray
·Many thanks for the shared experience which only confirms for me that until all the kinks are worked out, I'll focus on selling to domestic and other international markets.
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dlwpe1967
·Between delays and UPS destroying packages - may be best to not ship to or from US.
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SOG53
·Between delays and UPS destroying packages - may be best to not ship to or from US.
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Felix_La_PuBelle
·News today is US and Swiss agreed to lowering tariff to 15%.
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G___
·UPDATE: Shipping to US FEDEX saga
Shipped another watch (vintage Grand Seiko- nice one) from Toronto to a Chrono buyer outside of NYC. Now to complicate things, CANADA POST is on strike causing big delays, so the system I thought I had worked out with them was out. So I sent FEDEX. I shipped from a big FEDEX shipping center- not a Mom and Pop convenience store- and got all the proper forms including Commercial shipping, and the special watch form breaking down origin, materials, number jewels, value of case and movement and strap, etc all carefully worked out, no problem. I watched them put it all together in the clear plastic shipping shipping envelope that sticks on the box, and off it went. By the next day, it arrived in Indianapolis Hub site and presented to US Customs. At which point the tracking kept saying CLEARANCE DELAY. I got agent on phone and they said I need to fill out the watch form, which I already had done and was included in envelope. They said another one was needed, so I emailed another one. 2 days later same Clearance Delay- called back and they said they need another watch form, which I did again (all with same info). 2 days later same thing. So I submitted 4 separate watch forms in all. Finally, after 11 days in US Customs, it went out and was delivered successfully.
I think they are looking for reasons to delay/block incoming packages, I felt bad for the buyer who was very nice and patient. But I'm guessing he will think twice before buying another watch from non-US seller. FEDEX does not require sender to pay duties up front so that was not issue. After all that I didnt have nerve to ask buyer how much import tax he had to pay...
Ugh, feel bad for the watch enthusiast who is waiting who is a US taxpayer and for whom the US govt isn't working in a efficient manner.
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lindo
·I was going to list some good vintage Omegas (clearing the decks as I am getting too old!), but decided several months ago that the US market is just too difficult (I am in Australia). The Australian demand for really good pieces is not strong enough, and sending to anywhere internationally seems to get more complicated so they will sit at home - perhaps for a few more years......
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G___
·I was going to list some good vintage Omegas (clearing the decks as I am getting too old!), but decided several months ago that the US market is just too difficult (I am in Australia). The Australian demand for really good pieces is not strong enough, and sending to anywhere internationally seems to get more complicated so they will sit at home - perhaps for a few more years......
(and because you brought them up, can we call dibs?).
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CalgaryJim
·I was going to list some good vintage Omegas (clearing the decks as I am getting too old!), but decided several months ago that the US market is just too difficult (I am in Australia). The Australian demand for really good pieces is not strong enough, and sending to anywhere internationally seems to get more complicated so they will sit at home - perhaps for a few more years......
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Russ Murray
·I'm sure your fellow Commonwealth compatriots would be interested, I'm in Canada, show us your stuff 😀
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G___
·I'm sure your fellow Commonwealth compatriots would be interested, I'm in Canada, show us your stuff 😀
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G___
·Very similar story - currently on day 12 of a FedEx clearance delay. There's a watch worksheet with it and sent to FedEx and it is literally a case of "wait for understaffed US Customs to get to it" with no timeline for resloution.
Ugh, feel bad for the watch enthusiast who is waiting who is a US taxpayer and for whom the US govt isn't working in a efficient manner.
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerIt took customs 20 days to clear this watch shipped by FedEx. With the watch work sheet (which had to be resent to FedEx...). Tip, if you can "upload" the worksheet or email to someone , that'll help.
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G___
·I always send 2 copies. I used to send just 1, but they always lost it. Since I started sending an extra copy, I've rarely had an instance where they needed me to email them a copy., But still I scan it just in case.
I was also advised by the shipping company "Unfortunately, we do not have a specific timeline, as this process is subject to U.S. Customs. There is currently a higher surge of delays within the clearance department due to low staffing following the government shutdown."
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