Buying online....from abroad.

[m-abz-t]

I have been checking the forums out to see if there are any watches sold in UK...there is hardly any! and if there are they are very pricey.

So... I was considering maybe buying from abroad (US most likely) as there seem to be more sellers (who are trusted also) along with good prices.
My question, has anyone from UK purchased a watch from US and what costs were involved? customs etc?

If I am receiving the watch as a 'gift' then would I still need to pay the additional charges? Just trying to find a way to buy a watch from abroad without paying hidden costs.

Thanks in advance.

[RMC12]

I could be wrong ( I am no expert by any means) but I believe the import duty that would need to be paid to bring a watch in from the US would negate most, if not all of any discount received.

I just had a quick look and on a $10,000 watch you would have to pay approximately £1,400 (roughly $2,000)

You can buy from the EU without incurring import duty.

[JP Chestnut]

Post this question on TZ-uk, there will be a larger number of people in your situation.

[m-abz-t]

Thank you for the reply.

Hmmm that's a lot! :( There's hardly anyone selling on here from UK.

[peterskinner]

I am unsure what you mean here. Are you saying that there are not many second hand Rolex watches for sale in the UK? Because there are thousands of them, literally thousands. Last time I looked one company, Watchfinder,alone, had over 150 Daytonas alone, plus seventy subs.
Perhaps you mean they aren't as cheap as you would like? You will find that the market for used Rolex watches is very 'mature' and thus prices tend to quickly find their natural level. There are, in truth, very few 'bargains' in such a developed market.

[m-abz-t]

Hi Peter , I meant on these forums as in on rolexforum website there's hardly any.. (well difficult finding).
Ive been on the watchfinder website, the ones I like seem to have a lot of the original parts changed (ie bezel, etc) Puts me off abit.
But as JP pointed out I may need to check other websites / forums.

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by m-abz-t

Hi Peter , I meant on these forums as in on rolexforum website there's hardly any.. (well difficult finding).
Ive been on the watchfinder website, the ones I like seem to have a lot of the original parts changed (ie bezel, etc) Puts me off abit.
But as JP pointed out I may need to check other websites / forums.

Most guys I know in the UK, simply catch one of the cheap flights to somewhere the pound is relatively strong. People were getting a lot of watches from Italian dealers, and a few from somewhere in Scandinavia, last time I looked.

[Camel]

I know of some grey dealers in South Africa that sell their watches in the UK. They get more for the watches and score on the foreign exchange.

[Snow-Dweller]

I've bought my last three Rolex in Italy at fantastic prices. PM me if you'd like more info.

[EddyG]

Fly To Jersey (£100 return) and buy from there,

there's no tax

Paid £5,250 for my brand new GMTII Batman and then claimed back an additional £250 in GST Tax making the total £5,000

[m-abz-t]

Originally Posted by Clivek

I've bought my last three Rolex in Italy at fantastic prices. PM me if you'd like more info.

Hi Clive, did you get it from an AD ? I might have a friend visiting Italy soon.

[hoanghung45]

Which model in particular are you looking for ?

[Snow-Dweller]

Originally Posted by m-abz-t

Hi Clive, did you get it from an AD ? I might have a friend visiting Italy soon.

I have used both ADs and grey market...

[polaris72]

Check Chrono24.