- Posts
- 2,678
- Likes
- 9,836
CajunTiger
·And if you’re in California you pay “Use” tax🙄
UK Customs/FedEx Nightmare
- Posts
- 2,219
- Likes
- 4,945
ChrisN
·What I was told was that the receiver needs a specific license to avoid duties (they didn’t specify which and I didn’t press) and that in this case the receiver did not have that license. Meaning that duties were to apply or the shipment would need to be returned. FedEx Canada got involved and was arguing with their UK counterparts on my behalf, as they too thought there shouldn’t be customs on this but they didn’t get anywhere either.
In terms of the paperwork mentioned, perhaps I should’ve investigated more before sending, but I’ve shipped watches for repair to the US on multiple occasions and also once to Japan without any issues whatsoever (always checking the “repair and return” box on the customs form), so I didn’t foresee an issue.
Lesson learned - seems a bit silly for the UK government to turn away a nice payday in the form of tax dollars earned on Simon’s work, but who am I to argue...
I do think you've been unlucky and it happens in every country - I see France has been mentioned and I had major issues in Spain... @dennisthemenace thinks it may be due to FedEx and that could be correct as well, I don't know though.
My incoming parcel cleared customs in 3 minutes according to the tracking data. I use specific phrases to try and help this clear quickly so that may help. Anyway, it's not here yet so I can't say anything for certain with this particular package but, it is now with my national carrier. The insured value is less than your watch would have been but still at least ten or twenty times more than any cut-off where they don't bother to collect VAT. Will update when it arrives.
Regards, Chris
- Posts
- 127
- Likes
- 172
jljl123
·Hack???
Europeans pay a VAT, Americans pay income tax and corporate taxes....and the end of the day its all the same.
There is no hack that doesnt include prison time.
Yes hack!!!
Ok I don’t want to go to prison, so I’ll opt to follow the rules with this one.
- Posts
- 1,727
- Likes
- 5,959
GuiltyBoomerang
·@sjg22 - I recently sent through a watch from down under to @Mitka in the UK for servicing. I followed @WatchGuyUK and Mitka's advice to mark the nominated value below $20USD and write down that it was for repair. It's in the UK and cleared customs, so I do feel for your frustration that has occurred (especially when it may have been just that odd, random occurrence.)
@ChrisN - got to love the delay Easter imparts:
@ChrisN - got to love the delay Easter imparts:
- Posts
- 2,219
- Likes
- 4,945
ChrisN
·@ChrisN - got to love the delay Easter imparts:
Good point about Easter - I thought it seemed a long time when my customer wrote and said it would be here for 8th/9th...
I assume you fully insured the package as well? I don't mark as $20 because I got different advice. I'm not saying exactly how I do this as only have a small sample so far and would hate to give out advice that turned out not to work for everyone.
Cheers, Chris
- Posts
- 1,727
- Likes
- 5,959
GuiltyBoomerang
·@ChrisN - actually I didn't, though that would be a good idea for next time. AFAIK every time I calculate using the Pitney Bowes duty calculator the cost of insurance also forms part of the landed cost of the item, which is why I keep it low (unless the limit is ok.)
@WatchGuyUK has this shipping advice:
I would say go with your gut feeling - insure with ParcelPro if in doubt, and leave the postal system to do its job.
@WatchGuyUK has this shipping advice:
[if shipping from the] U.S.A.
Please use USPS Priority Mail International Small Box Flat Rate. When filling in your customs form, please declare the value as $ 20 – this is not a commercial transaction with your watch, I’m sending it back to you. So I’m not telling you to cheat, but if you declare a higher value, I will have to pay 20%VAT + £8 processing charge, which I will have to pass on to you. What you declare on the customs form has nothing to do with the value you can insure.
Please note on the customs form “watch for repair, will be returned to US owner”.
Other countries
Same rules apply – don’t declare a value over USD 20, as the watch will be returned. I’m not buying it from you. Note on the customs form “watch for repair, will be returned to owner”.
Always use parcel tracking.
I would say go with your gut feeling - insure with ParcelPro if in doubt, and leave the postal system to do its job.
- Posts
- 13,177
- Likes
- 52,355
Larry S
··Color Commentator for the Hyperbole.@GuiltyBoomerang ... I'd be really hesitant to try this with a 10 - $15k watch.
- Posts
- 1,727
- Likes
- 5,959
GuiltyBoomerang
·@Larry S - Of course, different values have different methods.
Still, the focus here is on who messed up a routine operation of letting a nice watch be repaired :x
Still, the focus here is on who messed up a routine operation of letting a nice watch be repaired :x
- Posts
- 28,215
- Likes
- 72,281
Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerI set up the shipment via Parcel Pro and included all the forms you listed, including a signed declaration from the watchmaker and myself. I expect this is why ultimately the package cleared. But I was told by a fedex trade rep in London specifically that there was no such thing as duty free for repairs and despite all the paperwork mine was held and questioned. I was also accessed minimal duties on both ends.
My case is different from OP in that it was finally released, serviced and returned safely...but not after much undo stress.
As I've said, duty is not usually the big problem for most - it's the taxes that are. Certain goods can be targeted for relief of duties when imported for repairs, but that is based on many factors - origin of goods, agreements between countries, how the country importing said goods wants to protect their own industries, etc. So that situation is specific to the two countries involved and how they handle goods of a specific origin. For repaired items, the value for customs purposes on return is the value added while it was out of the country (i.e. - value of the repairs done) not the value of the watch as a whole. What you as the importer have to pay is again determined by your countries laws - what your di minimis value is, what taxes apply, what brokerage fees may apply, etc.
Most people don't use their own broker and just let FedEx clear the shipments, and in my experience that is fine - they typically do a good job and are cheap compared to hiring your own broker. You can clear the shipment yourself if you have the required knowledge, but most people have no clue regarding international shipping to be honest.
I can't say why you specifically had this issue, but I ship hundreds of watches internationally back to their owners every year, and I've never had a problem such as you describe. Even though the FedEx service I use through ParcelPro is 2 days, the watches I send to the US are mostly there the day after I ship them - often less than 24 hours from the time they are dropped at FedEx. I've never shipped a watch to the UK for repairs, but I've certainly shipped watches back that I have repaired here and never had huge delays.
I don't mark as $20 because I got different advice.
Yes - not something I would ever ask customers to do! If the watch goes missing...
- Posts
- 2,219
- Likes
- 4,945
ChrisN
·@ChrisN - actually I didn't, though that would be a good idea for next time. AFAIK every time I calculate using the Pitney Bowes duty calculator the cost of insurance also forms part of the landed cost of the item, which is why I keep it low (unless the limit is ok.)
I have had small dealings with Swiss customs and suspect they are not significantly different to UK. I hope that goes well for @sjg22 as it should - just be sure that the company you're sending to has advised what to fill out.
Regards, Chris
- Posts
- 403
- Likes
- 721
Dogmann
·@CajunTiger
Actually here in the UK we pay Income Tax and National Insurance on our wages and then VAT on most items being bought plus Insurance Tax premium on our Car and Household Insurance and a massive amount of Tax on our Petrol to not forgetting trying to import a watch from outside the EU which attracts 20% VAT. I think you guys in the US have it easy IMHO.
Marc
Actually here in the UK we pay Income Tax and National Insurance on our wages and then VAT on most items being bought plus Insurance Tax premium on our Car and Household Insurance and a massive amount of Tax on our Petrol to not forgetting trying to import a watch from outside the EU which attracts 20% VAT. I think you guys in the US have it easy IMHO.
Marc
- Posts
- 377
- Likes
- 899
hanky6
·Hi guys
Hope that things will clear up and the watch arrives soon. Sounds like a nightmare.
Concerning taxes we pay all the above and our VAT is 25% in Sweden.
Importing a watch or any other goods from outside the EU gets expensive. Custom Fees are also added of course. And the fees are calculated on the value of the item and the shipping costs.
Hope that things will clear up and the watch arrives soon. Sounds like a nightmare.
Concerning taxes we pay all the above and our VAT is 25% in Sweden.
Importing a watch or any other goods from outside the EU gets expensive. Custom Fees are also added of course. And the fees are calculated on the value of the item and the shipping costs.
- Posts
- 16,795
- Likes
- 47,590
STANDY
··schizophrenic pizza orderer and watch collector@sjg22 - I recently sent through a watch from down under to @Mitka in the UK for servicing. I followed @WatchGuyUK and Mitka's advice to mark the nominated value below $20USD and write down that it was for repair.
So he's advice is to lie on a official document 😗
What if it's a $1000 watch and it goes missing. Whose skin is lost.
Declare it as what it is worth. This is a short cut that leads the shipper to being dishonest
As my previous post in this thread. paperwork
I fine people everyday for not declaring at the border. It is a legal decleration and laziness is not a excuse.
You could be marked as a "false declarant" and suffer international consequences for the rest of your life. 😉
Declarant
LAW someone that signs a document to say that the information they have given in it is true
Remember Johnny Depps dogs 😗
Edited:
- Posts
- 2,678
- Likes
- 9,836
CajunTiger
·@CajunTiger
Actually here in the UK we pay Income Tax and National Insurance on our wages and then VAT on most items being bought plus Insurance Tax premium on our Car and Household Insurance and a massive amount of Tax on our Petrol to not forgetting trying to import a watch from outside the EU which attracts 20% VAT. I think you guys in the US have it easy IMHO.
Marc
The grass is always greener on the other side of the pond.
My point is we all pay our fair share, it just comes in different forms. I cant imagine at the end of the day either of us pay any more.
We are also accessed state income taxes, sales tax on every purchase, use taxes on a state and local level, property tax on the value of our homes, and on top of all this we pay 120% for our health care plus we have to pay for a giant wall we dont need....thats just the short list.
If you think we have it easy...you should come try it. Just dont get sick while you are here.
Edited:
- Posts
- 885
- Likes
- 2,974
sjg22
·After escalation to FedEx management, magically it found its way back to me in three days.
Although it looks like someone used the box as a seat for the last month at the FedEx outlet at Stansted airport...
Plotting attempt two, with Canada Post this time and more thorough paperwork....
Although it looks like someone used the box as a seat for the last month at the FedEx outlet at Stansted airport...
Plotting attempt two, with Canada Post this time and more thorough paperwork....
- Posts
- 2,219
- Likes
- 4,945
ChrisN
·I hope that works out. The package from Canada that I was discussing above arrived today, full insurance and fully declared value - no issues, as expected.
I agree with @STANDY (who has far more knowledge about these things than I do) that you run a huge risk making declarations that aren't true.
Regards, Chris
I agree with @STANDY (who has far more knowledge about these things than I do) that you run a huge risk making declarations that aren't true.
Regards, Chris
- Posts
- 1,296
- Likes
- 5,991
ewand
·Reading the horror stories above started getting me worried as I'm waiting on an overseas package coming through Fedex UK. Parcel arrived on Wednesday and I expected lots of customs delays, but it sailed through. Just missed the "delivery by 6pm" estimate for Wednesday, but it made it from Stansted left their central depot at Stoke on Wednesday night... due to be delivered by 6pm Thursday.
Only to head 200 miles in the wrong direction and get scanned at Gretna Green... early morning web chat on Thursday, followed by a call back about 30 mins later - really sorry, it's been corrected and you'll have it by noon on Friday.
It's now 5pm Friday, and the parcel is showing that it left Stoke again last night... but where it is now is anybody's guess. "Oh, it should arrive on Monday" says the latest web chat agent...
🫨
Only to head 200 miles in the wrong direction and get scanned at Gretna Green... early morning web chat on Thursday, followed by a call back about 30 mins later - really sorry, it's been corrected and you'll have it by noon on Friday.
It's now 5pm Friday, and the parcel is showing that it left Stoke again last night... but where it is now is anybody's guess. "Oh, it should arrive on Monday" says the latest web chat agent...
🫨
- Posts
- 818
- Likes
- 3,126
jetkins
·It's now 5pm Friday, and the parcel is showing that it left Stoke again last night... but where it is now is anybody's guess. "Oh, it should arrive on Monday" says the latest web chat agent...
🫨
- Posts
- 2,710
- Likes
- 17,410
jaguar11
·Keeping my fingers crossed that it swiftly finds its way home!!
- Posts
- 1,296
- Likes
- 5,991
ewand
·Ugh. If it was shipped at a service level that provides "guaranteed delivery", then you should get in touch with the sender and have him ask for a partial refund (which he should then pass on to you as the inconvenienced party).
They are now telling me that they've lost it. Photos of the box have been sent from the originator, and they're supposedly going to check with all points in the chain to see WTF it is...
