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SkunkPrince
·And I never said it was wrong did I?
"US Sales only" - ?
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Rasputin
·11% have never left their home state and 40% have never left the country. Speaks volumes about the fear of foreign.
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yande
·A little off topic but you made me think about traveling. Even as a US citizen coming back into the States is normally a bigger hassle than entering other countries, including China or returning from visiting Canada. Okay, got that off my chest.
As for CONUS ONLY, whilst I do not like it, I do understand it in a way. The USA has become more and more isolationalist, and from the constant indoctrination of being told they are the Greatest country on Earth, the Greatest Democracy on Earth, the Freest country on Earth, etc etc, for some, there comes a feeling of, well I don't need to deal with anyone else, I don't need to see anywhere else, or do I do not need to learn from anyone else. Thankfully it has not always been that way, and I have had some memorable pieces from sellers and buyers that I now call friends from the USA. Buying watches Internationally has been one of the most rewarding aspects of this hobby cum obsession for me.
Having said that, there are countries I do not sell to, specifically due to perceived corruption in their postal systems, no other reason.
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TLIGuy
·I absolutely loved my six years living in Europe but the brutally honest truth is it's too hard to fill out all the little square letter boxes on the US Customs form with your bat crap crazy ass addresses. 😝
When I buy form outside the US it's pretty easy for the seller.
Me - Please send the XXXXX to:
John
2 Elm St.
York, VA 23690
Me selling outside the US message from the buyer:
Thanks for making the exception and selling me the watchband calendars. No one else will ship outside the US. Please send the watch calendars to:
Gruffydd Yarwood
823987 St. 45 Ffordd Caergybi
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, Wales, LL61 5UJ
United Kingdom
Me - Ummmm sure. I need to plan a day off work to spend at the post office filling out the form I'll let you know when it goes in the post.
Email from buyer upon receiving the calendars 5 weeks later...
"I just received the calendars in the post. WTF why did you put the full value on the customs form???? Now I have to pay extra taxes on it!!!😡"
My next sales post - US Buyers only free shipping in CONUS. NO EXCEPTIONS👍
All kidding aside...I'll happily send things overseas with maybe the exception of Postal Italia. Just not had good luck with my Italian friends.
When I buy form outside the US it's pretty easy for the seller.
Me - Please send the XXXXX to:
John
2 Elm St.
York, VA 23690
Me selling outside the US message from the buyer:
Thanks for making the exception and selling me the watchband calendars. No one else will ship outside the US. Please send the watch calendars to:
Gruffydd Yarwood
823987 St. 45 Ffordd Caergybi
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, Wales, LL61 5UJ
United Kingdom
Me - Ummmm sure. I need to plan a day off work to spend at the post office filling out the form I'll let you know when it goes in the post.
Email from buyer upon receiving the calendars 5 weeks later...
"I just received the calendars in the post. WTF why did you put the full value on the customs form???? Now I have to pay extra taxes on it!!!😡"
My next sales post - US Buyers only free shipping in CONUS. NO EXCEPTIONS👍
All kidding aside...I'll happily send things overseas with maybe the exception of Postal Italia. Just not had good luck with my Italian friends.
Edited:
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Larry S
··Color Commentator for the Hyperbole.Thanks for this thread. Got off my ass and confirmed that my Parcel Pro Account still works. Winter is coming. 😗
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Walrus
·12 trips to China and apart from the Passport stamp people, I'm yet to see a customs worker, whereas entering Australia, I end up chatting to at least 3 or 4 and it can't be just my lack of Mandarin!.
As for CONUS ONLY, whilst I do not like it, I do understand it in a way. The USA has become more and more isolationalist, and from the constant indoctrination of being told they are the Greatest country on Earth, the Greatest Democracy on Earth, the Freest country on Earth, etc etc, for some, there comes a feeling of, well I don't need to deal with anyone else, I don't need to see anywhere else, or do I do not need to learn from anyone else. Thankfully it has not always been that way, and I have had some memorable pieces from sellers and buyers that I now call friends from the USA. Buying watches Internationally has been one of the most rewarding aspects of this hobby cum obsession for me.
Having said that, there are countries I do not sell to, specifically due to perceived corruption in their postal systems, no other reason.
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SkunkPrince
·FIFY. 😉
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khanmu
·Well, you ought to feel sorry for us Brits, if we end up with a no-deal Brexit, we’ll have to pay customs and import taxes to/from the EU. So I guess the 20 or so Brits on here, we’ll probably just end up selling to each other as no one else will... suppose we better ask @bags1971 to start scrummaging in more car boot sales...
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ConElPueblo
·It always makes me startled to read that some first world countries still make their citizens fill out customs forms at the post office - haven't you got an online version?
When I ship outside of the EU, I spend about a minute or two longer filling out the online form than I would had it been domestic. It costs the same too. I print it, slap it on the box and go to my post office, get it scanned and put it in the Foreign Shipping shelf. A receipt with the tracking number is sent to my email when it is scanned.
I haven't dealt with setting up insurance yet, that may well be an issue.
When I ship outside of the EU, I spend about a minute or two longer filling out the online form than I would had it been domestic. It costs the same too. I print it, slap it on the box and go to my post office, get it scanned and put it in the Foreign Shipping shelf. A receipt with the tracking number is sent to my email when it is scanned.
I haven't dealt with setting up insurance yet, that may well be an issue.
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SkunkPrince
·It always makes me startled to read that some first world countries still make their citizens fill out customs forms at the post office - haven't you got an online version?
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yande
·Yes, we are very xenophobic and don’t think people who live in places not as great as ours are worthy to wear our watches, you hit the nail on the head.
Must add tho' I definitely will not be ordering anything from the USA for the next year or so. It's not looking good.
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MtV
·Well, you ought to feel sorry for us Brits, if we end up with a no-deal Brexit, we’ll have to pay customs and import taxes to/from the EU. So I guess the 20 or so Brits on here, we’ll probably just end up selling to each other as no one else will... suppose we better ask @bags1971 to start scrummaging in more car boot sales...
Hey, here on mainland Europe watch enthusiasts didn’t exactly want the Brexit either. 😉 Bought three from the UK this year. Feels like a finale sale before everything becomes ~20% more expensive.
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janice&fred
·Yes, we are very xenophobic and don’t think people who live in places not as great as ours are worthy to wear our watches, you hit the nail on the head.
Oh I dunno if it's that. For me I just don't like foreigners and foreign places. "God Bless America and nobody else!"
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BlackTalon
··This Space for RentOh I dunno if it's that. For me I just don't like foreigners and foreign places. "God Bless America and nobody else!"
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Gav1967
·Oh I dunno if it's that. For me I just don't like foreigners and foreign places. "God Bless America and nobody else!"
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JwRosenthal
·Bloody colonials 😜
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Gav1967
·
Things Are Looking Up…
John Cleese’s “Letter to America”
13 years ago
Dear Citizens of America,
In view of your failure to elect a competent President and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately.
Her Sovereign Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths and other territories (except Kansas, which she does not fancy), as from Monday next.
Your new prime minister, Boris Johnson, will appoint a governor for America without the need for further elections. Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire may be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed.
To aid in the transition to a British Crown Dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:
1. You should look up “revocation” in the Oxford English Dictionary. Then look up “aluminium,” and check the pronunciation guide. You will be amazed at just how wrongly you have been pronouncing it.
2. The letter ‘U’ will be reinstated in words such as ‘colour’, ‘favour’ and ‘neighbour.’ Likewise, you will learn to spell ‘doughnut’ without skipping half the letters, and the suffix “ize” will be replaced by the suffix “ise.”
3. You will learn that the suffix ‘burgh’ is pronounced ‘burra’; you may elect to spell Pittsburgh as ‘Pittsberg’ if you find you simply can’t cope with correct pronunciation.
4. Generally, you will be expected to raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels (look up “vocabulary”). Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises such as “like” and “you know” is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication.
5. There is no such thing as “US English.” We will let Microsoft know on your behalf. The Microsoft spell-checker will be adjusted to take account of the reinstated letter ‘u’ and the elimination of “-ize.”
6. You will relearn your original national anthem, “God Save The Queen”,
but only after fully carrying out Task #1 (see above).
7. July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday. November 2nd will
be a new national holiday, but to be celebrated only in England. It will be called “Come-Uppance Day.”
8. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you’re not adult enough to be independent. Guns should only be handled by adults. If you’re not adult enough to sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist then you’re not grown up enough to handle a gun.
9. Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous than a vegetable peeler. A permit will be required if you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public.
10. All American cars are hereby banned. They are crap and this is for your own good. When we show you German cars, you will understand what we mean.
11. All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will start driving on the left with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric immediately and without the benefit of conversion tables… Both roundabouts and metrification will help you understand the British sense of humour.
12. The Former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (which you have been calling “gasoline”) - roughly $8/US per gallon. Get used to it.
13. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call french fries are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called “crisps.” Real chips are thick cut, fried in animal fat, and dressed not with catsup but with malt vinegar.
14. Waiters and waitresses will be trained to be more aggressive with customers.
15. The cold tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually beer at all. Henceforth, only proper British Bitter will be referred to as “beer,” and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred to as “Lager.” American brands will be referred to as “Near-Frozen Gnat’s Urine,” so that all can be sold without risk of further confusion.
16. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as good guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English actors as English characters. Watching Andie MacDowell attempt English dialogue in “Four Weddings and a Funeral” was an experience akin to having one’s ear removed with a cheese grater.
17. You will cease playing American “football.” There is only one kind of proper football; you call it “soccer”. Those of you brave enough, in time, will be allowed to play rugby (which has some similarities to American “football”, but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full kevlar body armour like a
bunch of Jessies - English slang for “Big Girls Blouse”).
18. Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the “World Series” for a game which is not played outside of America. Since only 2.1% of you are aware that there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable and forgiven.
19. You must tell us who killed JFK. It’s been driving us mad.
20. An internal revenue agent (i.e. tax collector) from Her Majesty’s Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all monies due, backdated to 1776.
Thank you for your co-operation.
John Cleese
John Cleese’s “Letter to America”
13 years ago
Dear Citizens of America,
In view of your failure to elect a competent President and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately.
Her Sovereign Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths and other territories (except Kansas, which she does not fancy), as from Monday next.
Your new prime minister, Boris Johnson, will appoint a governor for America without the need for further elections. Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire may be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed.
To aid in the transition to a British Crown Dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:
1. You should look up “revocation” in the Oxford English Dictionary. Then look up “aluminium,” and check the pronunciation guide. You will be amazed at just how wrongly you have been pronouncing it.
2. The letter ‘U’ will be reinstated in words such as ‘colour’, ‘favour’ and ‘neighbour.’ Likewise, you will learn to spell ‘doughnut’ without skipping half the letters, and the suffix “ize” will be replaced by the suffix “ise.”
3. You will learn that the suffix ‘burgh’ is pronounced ‘burra’; you may elect to spell Pittsburgh as ‘Pittsberg’ if you find you simply can’t cope with correct pronunciation.
4. Generally, you will be expected to raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels (look up “vocabulary”). Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises such as “like” and “you know” is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication.
5. There is no such thing as “US English.” We will let Microsoft know on your behalf. The Microsoft spell-checker will be adjusted to take account of the reinstated letter ‘u’ and the elimination of “-ize.”
6. You will relearn your original national anthem, “God Save The Queen”,
but only after fully carrying out Task #1 (see above).
7. July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday. November 2nd will
be a new national holiday, but to be celebrated only in England. It will be called “Come-Uppance Day.”
8. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you’re not adult enough to be independent. Guns should only be handled by adults. If you’re not adult enough to sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist then you’re not grown up enough to handle a gun.
9. Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous than a vegetable peeler. A permit will be required if you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public.
10. All American cars are hereby banned. They are crap and this is for your own good. When we show you German cars, you will understand what we mean.
11. All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will start driving on the left with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric immediately and without the benefit of conversion tables… Both roundabouts and metrification will help you understand the British sense of humour.
12. The Former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (which you have been calling “gasoline”) - roughly $8/US per gallon. Get used to it.
13. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call french fries are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called “crisps.” Real chips are thick cut, fried in animal fat, and dressed not with catsup but with malt vinegar.
14. Waiters and waitresses will be trained to be more aggressive with customers.
15. The cold tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually beer at all. Henceforth, only proper British Bitter will be referred to as “beer,” and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred to as “Lager.” American brands will be referred to as “Near-Frozen Gnat’s Urine,” so that all can be sold without risk of further confusion.
16. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as good guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English actors as English characters. Watching Andie MacDowell attempt English dialogue in “Four Weddings and a Funeral” was an experience akin to having one’s ear removed with a cheese grater.
17. You will cease playing American “football.” There is only one kind of proper football; you call it “soccer”. Those of you brave enough, in time, will be allowed to play rugby (which has some similarities to American “football”, but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full kevlar body armour like a
bunch of Jessies - English slang for “Big Girls Blouse”).
18. Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the “World Series” for a game which is not played outside of America. Since only 2.1% of you are aware that there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable and forgiven.
19. You must tell us who killed JFK. It’s been driving us mad.
20. An internal revenue agent (i.e. tax collector) from Her Majesty’s Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all monies due, backdated to 1776.
Thank you for your co-operation.
John Cleese
Edited:
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janice&fred
·Things Are Looking Up…
John Cleese’s “Letter to America”
13 years ago
Typical tedious and overly-verbose British humor. Don Rickles or Rodney Dangerfield could have done better with one line! 😁
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Gav1967
·Who?? 👎 too many big words? 😁
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