What's the worst part of buying watches from out of your country?

I don't mind the customs tax...it's the idiocy of the shipping companies that can't seem to bother opening the paperwork to get the Watch Worksheet and cause delays in processing because they ask me for the Watch Worksheet when it's already in the package.

This what always runs through my mind...

I don't buy from overseas, have in the past but never again.

Customs Tax is crippling, especially from USA - every other country puts "gift" or declares a lower value, but American's are far more Law abiding & won't do that. 🤯

Communication hasn't been a problem as English is fortunately universal, and I don't mind waiting.

Did have a problem with a watch I bought from Spain, and the seller wasn't interested in helping so I lost out there.

The watches I've bought in the past are relatively common , so I don't find the need to search overseas anyway.

All of the above

The customs are annoying, particularly because it is not even easy to predict how much you will be charged. The different shipping companies charge different processing fees, and don’t even all require payment in the same way. Some require payment prior to delivery; but I’ve had at least one which didn’t charge until an invoice arrived 2 weeks after the package.

But most annoying is the double-taxation on VAT, and that this isn’t consistent. Sometimes the seller has deducted VAT from the purchase price, so you only pay one lot of (import) VAT. But other sellers, even in respect of new watches, have not been able or willing to deduct the VAT. Obviously the result is that you pay VAT on VAT!

That said, I have purchased 5 watches directly from manufacturers abroad (Germany/USA/France) and 1 from a dealer on Chrono24, and had no problems with the purchase itself.

My country charges 30% customs tax on any purchase above 10,000 php (about 200 usd). I found out the hard way when i bought a seiko spb143 from gnomon singapore. Watch cost 1,150 usd and i was attracted to the free shipping. Little did i know i would get hit by a huge customs tax plus a broker fee when Philippine customs received my item

Taxes, first and always. Communication is a non issue. If someone's already posting their advert in English, chances are they're OK with the language, or can find someone who knows the language, or can at the very least use Google translate. Unless you're asking stupidly pedantic and/or complex questions which don't make sense to them even when translated (and, OK, we're talking watch people here, so maybe that's possible), I don't think it's a problem. And shipping time? Big deal. It will arrive when it arrives. Only the truly and weirdly impatient would have an issue there. So it's taxes, taxes, taxes, for me.

Hate customs but will buy abroad if I want the watch enough.

In Brazil, the taxes sums up to 80% of the sale price most of the time.

I bought from a foreign micro brand and had several WC issues - which meant having to ship back and fourth (paying), and also I could have faced some customs challenges to avoid having to pay import charges each time it was returned to me (repair/return allowances mean this isn’t necessary to pay, but you have to make sure it’s properly declared in this way).

I’m in the US and buy most of my watches from overseas. Customs taxes are hit and miss. I’ve had two watches around 2k each come through without getting hit with fees. Others have been with DHL and you pay by email easy peasy.

I’ve purchased from Britain, Japan, Germany and Pakistan. Japanese sellers have the process locked down whether independently or on eBay or chrono24. They also tend to deliver a watch in better condition than described. I purchased a vintage Grand Seiko and a Cartier from the same seller that were listed as some wear but good (not excellent) condition. Both were unworn NOS in the box.

Lucky so far but who knows what the future holds.

I try to avoid anything outside the EU. No need to look elswere really except … sometimes if you really like something you just have to put up with customs taxes. Recently bought some Studio Underd0g watches. They haven’t arrived yet, but I’m not looking forward dealing with customs 😌

Not being able to try them on... I am from Uzbekistan and we do not have a lot of watch shops or a watch community. Almost always I have to choose a watch just by seeing it's photos or watching some reviews on YouTube 😐

I only buy outside of the EU when the deal makes it worth it with the taxes on. If the price difference between vendors in or out of the EU is less than 20% then I just pick the EU vendor.

In turkey you cannot get a watch that costs more than 150 euro / dollar from outside your country. which it means nearly you cannot buy a watch that it has not a dealer in turkey

I live in Japan. Watch shopping is an additional experience as I get to exercise my Japanese as well. On a few occasions I have purchased watch items from the good old USA and Singapore, as well as straps from the UK and Sweden.

VAT- no issues. It seems from checking customs, the USA and Japan have a bilateral agreement to not tax watches. It was nice as Amazon USA refunded the money held for possible customs. Same when I purchased an Uncle Straps bracelet.

Waiting can be a bit of a pain, especially back in 2020/2021. I had one order from Singapore that went to Hong Kong. Stayed a week there. Then flew to Germany and stayed a couple of weeks there, before finally making the trip back across the world over a month after my order date. However, since then the world seems a little bit less crazy.

However it is the exchange rates that are the real pain. Maybe it has been an awesome time to be paid in USD and spend it overseas, but not so the other way around. Oh, well. It was pretty awesome in 2010/11 when it was the yen riding high.

Depending on where I am the customs is still a drop in the bucket and I’m still getting a steal on a watch. Plus, it’s a memory associated with travel! Win win.

Avoiding DHL at all costs should be one of the choices. By far the worst carrier in the business today for shipments to the US. Last experience they tried to deliver to my business address at 8:30pm and you can forget about calling them as well.

El problema es la 🛃 60% del total más 10% del valor de mercado original x correo, y la espera que no termina más 😂 😂 😂 😂

The shipping costs to Australia can be pretty steep, our customs process can be pretty seamless though, which seems to be an exception to a rule.

The currency exchange hurts us too. By the time shipping, taxes / duty and exchange rates are done a $1KUSD watch can be $2KAUD.

22-25% tariff and tax makes buying microbrands and uncommon brands almost prohibitive for me but I still do it 😭😭😭

Same/similar experiences here in Canada. I have bought many of my pieces from Asia, primarily japan. So far, the watches are leagues better quality than any other country I've personally seen. Used/preowned Japanese is almost new in person compared to used anywhere else. In Canada the import duty/taxes are fairly consistent. For me it is usually 10% combined. Currently the CAD is still advantageous over the yen so will see how long that lasts. Have been tempted to head down to Portland as I understand there is no GST in that state but the CAD to USD would kill me.

Custom taxes, especially if one own country couldn't make the same in watch market position.

Being from Switzerland the worst part of getting swiss watches in other countries cheaper.

The U.K. not allowing VAT free shopping anymore has killed that for me

CAD and AUD are often comparative, although your $ seems to be a little stronger than ours atm.

I've bought a number of used / very good cond watches from Japan myself - and some of them were new / stickered, so I completely agree. The free shipping is a bonus too.