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#1 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Real Name: Doug
Location: Singer Island FL
Watch: GMT-Master II
Posts: 210
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Buying International: Another VAT Thread
I’m heading to Poland on business and flying through Amsterdam. I’ll have a long layover both on the way to Poland and on the way back, plus a weekend in Warsaw for some downtime.
![]() I plan to visit Gassan in Schiphol Airport, and I’m also considering checking out some ADs in Poland. ![]() The last time I bought some luxury goods was in Italy, where I used Global Blue for the VAT refund. It worked fine, but it was a bit of a hassle. With the dollar much stronger against the Euro now, I’m hoping for better savings this time around. ![]() A few questions for the experienced travel shoppers out there: 1. In a Rolex Boutique (either in an airport or Poland), is the price listed with VAT included, or are the prices somewhat “adjusted” to reflect a more USD-friendly exchange rate? 2. Does Gassan at Schiphol Airport waive VAT on the spot, or would I still have to go through the Global Blue refund process? 3. I’ll be leaving Poland at 6am, before the VAT office opens. Can I handle VAT validation in Amsterdam during my layover, since it’s my final departure from the EU? 4. For Poland ADs, is the VAT process similar to Global Blue, or do they waive it on the spot? Bonus question: Has anyone recently gone through this VAT refund process when buying a Rolex in the EU? If so: • How smooth was the process at the airport? • How long did the refund take to appear in your account? • Any tips for dealing with early morning flights before VAT offices open? Any other advice is welcome (inventory constraints included), but if I get lucky, I’m a buyer, and if not, no harm done! Thanks in advance! ![]() |
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#2 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Real Name: Doug
Location: Singer Island FL
Watch: GMT-Master II
Posts: 210
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Went to 3 Rolex stores in Warsaw, but they’re all owned by the same AD. Nothing but PM, and ladies size TT available in store. Very limited but very friendly SAs who were happy to sell me stuff for my wife.
I admit buying a 336238 YG Sky-Dweller on OF. Yup could get the 326238 at home from the grey at somewhere in the low to mid 30k range for 2020 through 2022. The black dial versions are few K more (talkin USD here), but even our classified forum doesn’t have any 336 editions posted for sale yet. So I’m coming home with a nice YG, black dial on OF for a few K below retail and brand new. Of course, I have to wait a little bit for my VAT to get processed. No big deal… This is my first YG and my first Sky-D, so it’s a nice add to my collection… |
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#3 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Earth
Posts: 690
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Buying International: Another VAT Thread
Welcome to Poland! Hope you enjoy Warsaw, even in these shocking hot days.
Glad to hear you found sth to purchase at Kruk. Congrats on you beautiful new watch. ![]() For those who don’t know the strangr building in the photo (taken from Intercontinental?) is a building which was a sort of “gifted” by soviets to the Polish nation in 1955. For decades it was the tallest building in the country. From time to time there are discussions wherher it should be torn down as a remainer of the dreadful communist era. bibbi |
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#4 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Real Name: Doug
Location: Singer Island FL
Watch: GMT-Master II
Posts: 210
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Thank you bibbi!
It is a scorcher out here today. I decided to ride a lime around cause it was getting too hot to walk. I was just sharing the news with my wife and we can’t decide which kid inherits this when I die. ![]() …and yup. I’m at the IC and that is exactly the shot, you called it. |
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#5 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Mar 2024
Location: N. TX
Posts: 28
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Not a Rolex, but we bought jewelry in Ireland in June. We got our VAT refund last week.
The office was open, but the forms go into a Dropbox outside the window, so if they are closed, you should be fine. |
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#6 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: USA
Watch: All
Posts: 5,212
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Quote:
I’m still waiting for mine from October from a purchase wife made in Nice. Been told it seems quite a few don’t get it back.
__________________
Rolex 228235 DD40 Olive, 126710BLRO, 116710BLNR, 116613LB, 116500LN White, 126610LN, 116500LN Black, 126610LV, 116610LV, 126334 Blue Diamond Breitling Navitimer 01, Cartier Santos Large |
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#7 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: NYC
Posts: 236
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got my VAT return from RG OF Daytona purchased in Spain within 2 weeks of coming back. Global Blue took a solid chunk in fees, but processed it fast.
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#8 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Real Name: nicholas
Location: ottawa canada
Watch: Rolex,AP,Panerai
Posts: 10,001
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Wow, that is a gorgeous watch!
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#9 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Real Name: Doug
Location: Singer Island FL
Watch: GMT-Master II
Posts: 210
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They seriously are taking a huge chunk out. I’m going to try and see if I can do this without them and if the merchant will work with me directly because this is thousands of dollars they’re taking!
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#10 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Real Name: Brian (TBone)
Location: canada
Watch: es make me smile
Posts: 76,383
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Congratulations Doug
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#11 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Real Name: Doug
Location: Singer Island FL
Watch: GMT-Master II
Posts: 210
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#12 | |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: NYC
Posts: 236
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Quote:
It is a lot, but at least process is reliable, so I know I will get the money. |
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#13 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Real Name: Nige
Location: Peak District, UK
Watch: Too many
Posts: 105
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Quote:
Guessing that it’s difficult to make waves when you’re 2500+ miles away. I do wonder if those that don’t get it back is because they did not follow the procedure 100%? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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#14 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Real Name: Doug
Location: Singer Island FL
Watch: GMT-Master II
Posts: 210
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I think that’s the value proposition for Global Blue, they do have a full platform and it tracks the purchase and the refund process. But dang! Those fees!
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#15 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Real Name: Kat
Location: CA, USA
Watch: 126233 Wimbledon T
Posts: 6,948
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Congrats on the gold Skydweller!
Kat Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk |
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#16 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Real Name: PaulG
Location: Georgia
Posts: 41,583
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That is one great looking SkyDiddy -
Now about the layover home, are you still looking g for another Rolex while at the airport AD? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
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Does anyone really know what time it is? |
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#17 | |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Real Name: Doug
Location: Singer Island FL
Watch: GMT-Master II
Posts: 210
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Quote:
![]() ![]() ![]() Will be just my luck… |
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#18 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Earth
Posts: 690
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Quote:
A sweet SS GMT would be worth postponing your flight! ![]() bibbi |
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#19 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Real Name: Doug
Location: Singer Island FL
Watch: GMT-Master II
Posts: 210
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#20 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Real Name: Brian (TBone)
Location: canada
Watch: es make me smile
Posts: 76,383
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#21 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: NOVA
Posts: 8
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Wow - these rules are pretty strict! I was just reading ahead for the VAT process in Germany ahead of a trip to Dresden and it looks like I won't be eligible for the refund because my ticket is not directly back to the US, but has a layover in Zurich.
(You guys probably won't hear about it, though, since my big goal is looking around shops in Glashütte!) |
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#22 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Earth
Posts: 690
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Quote:
Hmmm, a layover in Zurich shouldn’t be a problem since Switzerland is out of the European Union as well. bibbi |
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#23 | |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Real Name: Doug
Location: Singer Island FL
Watch: GMT-Master II
Posts: 210
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Quote:
I’m going to be leaving Warsaw on a super early flight and found the location for 24/7 customs stamp on the VAT doc (Global Blue, the only processor being used in Poland apparently, damn those fees!) But for Germany, with a flight layover in Zurich, you should be able to get your stamps before you depart. The Zurich layover is irrelevant. |
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#24 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Nov 2019
Real Name: Vic
Location: Spain
Watch: SD43
Posts: 6,099
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Congratulations, great looking piece. Hope you get your tax refund soon.
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#25 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Real Name: Doug
Location: Singer Island FL
Watch: GMT-Master II
Posts: 210
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It’s Sunday morning 8:30am CST and I’m at the Schiphol airport again, passing through on my way home. Nothing but exhibition still, and I’m not surprised. Travelers through the airport would have no way of knowing what inventory shows up and when. What a great job these folks have at the store. Stand here and reject everyone walking through, over and over and over again all day, every day. Even by chance if a watch is in the safe, I’d be reasonably confident they’re not say they have something at all to anyone unless you can give them the secret handshake!
I wonder what that secret handshake is? ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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#26 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Nov 2019
Real Name: marco
Location: UK
Watch: Quite a few now!
Posts: 1,290
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Any masons in today?
Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk |
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#27 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Real Name: Eddie
Location: Australia
Watch: A few.
Posts: 37,293
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Nice SkyDweller.
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#28 |
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Real Name: Doug
Location: Singer Island FL
Watch: GMT-Master II
Posts: 210
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#29 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Watch: BLRO,OP-36 White
Posts: 334
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Beautiful watch and congratulations! I am a big fan of the OF and love to see it on the SkyD line.
Hope you wear it in good health. |
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#30 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Aug 2024
Location: London
Posts: 3
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I went through this process when buying a JC Deepsea in Italy a couple of months ago. You pay the VAT at point of sale and the AD fills in the Global Blue (GB) paperwork that acts as your receipt to get stamped by Customs when leaving the EU. Italian customs take the form and send it off to GB and as there is a process for customs to fill in electronically, this triggers the refund process through GB. The refund appeared within a couple of days. Although VAT in Italy is 22%, the UK rate is 20%, with GB's fees, inter-bank Exchange rates and a cheeky fee made by UK customs just for the privilege of declaring your good prior to entry on top of the duty, it ended up costing me more overall. However, I was able to get the watch that I wanted from an AD and it was still cheaper than going Gray. The whole process was easy, straightforward and and worked as it should. Just remember to get a copy of the GB forms to keep for yourself as these are taken by customs on departure leaving you with nothing more than the credit card/debit card receipt.
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