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US duties when ordering watch from Canada

rkman11
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Hey fellow American citizens/residents/watch lovers.

Anyone have experience with ordering a watch online from Canada to the US? Specifically a vintage Rolex - wondering what, if any, duties/tax would be owing? And what the best shipping method is? Happy to pay if owed, just want to go about it the right way, and the safest way, so any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!
 
GuiltyBoomerang
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Mock calculation. Take this with a grain of salt as it is based on just a SS/GP Rolex valued at $2k USD and a combined postage/insurance cost of $150 USD. Your state may or may not charge extra import tax.


20180606_122936.jpg 20180606_122954.jpg
 
rkman11
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That's a great tool - thanks! Can you pass along the link to use for future reference on purchases?
 
rkman11
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Also read online if it's for personal use and under $2000 there are no fees. Is that still correct? Or does that not apply to certain brands, such as Rolex?
 
Dan S
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What happened to NAFTA? 😀

[Folks, I am kidding, this is not a political post.]
 
MikeMan2727
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I believe the official Customs and Border Protection de minimis value is $800, below which you will not be charged. This was set in 2016.
 
Braindrain
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Be careful! While I have no personal experience with this, I have heard this through other sellers/buyers.

Rolex USA has a strange relationship with US Customs. That is, vintage Rolexes imported into the US are sometimes confiscated. The exact reason is murky and nobody has the definitive answer why.

Exporting out of the US into Canada? No issues, whatsoever.
 
rkman11
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MikeMan2727 MikeMan2727
I believe the official Customs and Border Protection de minimis value is $800, below which you will not be charged. This was set in 2016.

Thanks! So guessing above $800 the total amount is charged or just the amount above $800?
Also read that the case is charged at 9.8 but the bracelet/strap is at 4.2 - basically I guess you just wait to be charged!
 
rkman11
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Braindrain Braindrain
Be careful! While I have no personal experience with this, I have heard this through other sellers/buyers.

Rolex USA has a strange relationship with US Customs. That is, vintage Rolexes imported into the US are sometimes confiscated. The exact reason is murky and nobody has the definitive answer why.

Exporting out of the US into Canada? No issues, whatsoever.

Well that’s scary! I did read somewhere online that said this has been listed but in the past it was due to Rolex and their copyrights or something along those lines. They could confiscate thinking it was a fake.

In the event this happened - would PayPal cover both parties??? Or the buyer anyways, since the watch would not be delivered...???

Anyone have any direct experience with this?
 
rkman11
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Braindrain Braindrain
Be careful! While I have no personal experience with this, I have heard this through other sellers/buyers.

Rolex USA has a strange relationship with US Customs. That is, vintage Rolexes imported into the US are sometimes confiscated. The exact reason is murky and nobody has the definitive answer why.

Exporting out of the US into Canada? No issues, whatsoever.

Sounds like this was a trademark issue, and the ban has been lifted as of 2016, so all good to import to the US now.
 
Archer
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Dan S Dan S
What happened to NAFTA? 😀

[Folks, I am kidding, this is not a political post.]

Nothing....yet...
 
OMGRLX
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rkman11 rkman11
Well that’s scary! I did read somewhere online that said this has been listed but in the past it was due to Rolex and their copyrights or something along those lines. They could confiscate thinking it was a fake.

In the event this happened - would PayPal cover both parties??? Or the buyer anyways, since the watch would not be delivered...???

Anyone have any direct experience with this?

Purchased enough many vintage Rolex items from overseas in years past and never any problems.
That restriction has long been lifted.
 
rkman11
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OMGRLX OMGRLX
Purchased enough many vintage Rolex items from overseas in years past and never any problems.
That restriction has long been lifted.

Great to hear, thanks! Were any of the shipping companies easier than others - FedEx, etc for getting this through customs smoothly, in your experience? So no issues with the item being marked as a vintage Rolex, with full value? I always do things on the up and up, of course not looking to hide.
 
Braindrain
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OMGRLX OMGRLX
Purchased enough many vintage Rolex items from overseas in years past and never any problems.
That restriction has long been lifted.

Didn't know that. Good to hear it's no longer an issue.
 
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