Inbound Out of Customs

[WatchTimes]

OK
Finally....
Been almost 4 weeks since it was shipped

Priority Mail International Parcel

Finally today checked the status and

Inbound Out of Customs, March 14, 2011, 9:38 pm

So, hope to possibly have something new in the collection by this weekend!!!

[WatchTimes]

OK
Been "Inbound Out of Customs"
Since late evening on the 14th.
Could today be the day it gets here?
I have heard that is how it usually happens.
You do not get an update on shipping status from
this point till it shows up and then later that day
the online form will say delivered....

I have my fingers crossed!!!

Anyone here in the States dealt with this on a shipment
before? If so what was your experience?

[WatchTimes]

UGGG
I am getting FRUSTRATED!!!
Still says "Inbound Out of Customs, March 14, 2011, 9:38 pm"

What the heck????

I just want my new toy!!!!

[Jonathan007]

Jeremy

I know the feeling mate. I have been waiting for my grail coming from California since the 19th feb! This is the 4th week now, bloody post.

[lorsban]

Nothing worse than waiting on a government agency.

What I do is have the watch delivered to a logistics company or freight forwarder in the US. They receive it, repack it and ship it either by air or sea. Since transit to within the US is quick, I only have to add the time it takes - 7 (air) or 45 (sea) days. If the item gets lost AFTER they receive it, they give a full refund.

I suggest you guys try the same setup. For sure, there are brokers/forwarders where the item is shipping from, if they have lines to your countries, they'll take care of everything.

Sure, it may not be 100% (things can always happen causing delays), but at least you can call/email a contact person to see what's up.

There may also be taxes that have to be paid but it's still faster if done through the broker since they most probably already have the contacts all setup.

[SoCal C4S]

Jon,

As Jeremy above did, did you check with your UK customs lately and see if there was an "Inbound out of Customs" notice? He seems to have been on the same timeline as our transaction, and I would be interested to know what the deal is with the Customs in England, seeing as how the watch should have gotten to you by now... I am currently contacting the US Postal Service to try and see what the deal is. Trust me when I say that I am as aggravated as you are mate.

[Jonathan007]

Raiff,

Answer to your question regarding UK Customs. You know I contacted them last week, I informed you. Their answer was, we only hold items for 48 hours.

I can’t track the parcel because you haven’t been able to provide me with documentary evidence to suggest the watch has been sent. (I.e. tracking number).

I just don’t understand. If you sent the watch insured and as a ‘gift’ how come the watch wasn’t issued with a tracking number.

In fact you can’t provide me with any evidence what so ever, i.e. a scan of receipt of postage to suggest you have sent the watch.

I have evidence I have sent you £1395.45 in January for the watch, both in electronic and physical form.

I have waited and waited for 1 whole month now and nothing has turned up apart from a hat which was sent as a sweetener for me to part with my Patek Philippe card holder, when in fact the hat was part of the initial deal for the watch and 3 straps anyway.

You ask me to be patient, I think I have.

It’s time now to take action on this and give me a re fund.

If the watch surfaces this end I will pay for the item. If the watch shows at your end have it shipped out to me FedEx with tracking (for both your and my interest) number and evidence of postage and I will again submit payment.

Jon

[Lol-x]

Originally Posted by Jonathan007

I have evidence I have sent you £1395.45 in January for the watch, both in electronic and physical form.

January.......January and you still don't have the watch......that is remarkable.

Even if the watch was sent in February by snail mail it should have got to you by now.

This situation is now desparate.

To me the seller should have done something a long time ago to sort this out.

The fact that the seller is still saying wait, wait, wait (would if I was the buyer) seriously disconcerting.

[SoCal C4S]

I was in Iraq when the watch was sold to Jon. I sent the watch via USPS Priority Mail, as a GIFT at the seller's SPECIFIC request on 2/19, literally hours after getting off a plane from Iraq. I also sent out multiple watches to other buyers, as I completely liquidated my watch collection to aid my mother in her fight with cancer. There is NO tracking number provided with USPS Priority Mail; you have to send it via Express, and Jon didn't want that. I did what was asked of me, and the other buyer in the UK that I sent a watch to received his about 10 days ago, after it cleared customs. I have contacted the UK HMRC VAT people, and am awaiting a reply; it is the weekend, and you know that, as I have emailed you at every step of the way on this. Again, Jon specifically requested that I send the watch as a GIFT so he wouldn't have to pay the taxes/customs fees on it in the UK. So, once on of the following happens:

A-the HMRC returns my email with an explanation of where the package might be or if it was even delivered, which I have no way of knowing myself,
B-It shows up at your house (or your father's house, since I have seen at least 3 separate addresses in your emails to me), or
C-It is returned to me in the US,

then I will take the appropriate action necessary, be it a refund, reshipping Express, etc. Ask anyone that I have ever bought from or sold to about me; they will tell you that I am top notch. Mark Theken, who has a sterling rep on here sold me my Deep Sea. I can put you in contact with at least a dozen people I have sold watches to and all will vouch for me, likely with pics of the watch I sold them. I am a man of my word, a former US Marine with 9 years of active service in a combat arms MOS, and am of the highest integrity. If I say I did something or will do something, you can take that to the bank. We talked back and forth very clearly via email this entire time, and not once have I made you wait for an answer back, or tried to jerk you around. We are both in the same boat here Jon; you sent $ for a watch, and I sent you that watch. It is either stuck in limbo with UK customs because you wanted it sent as a GIFT, on it's way back to my PO Box in the US, or you have received it, which I highly doubt because I actually can see the good in you through our repeated email conversations.

That is my side of the story, and it is accurate to the last detail. Trust me when I say I will do right by you, whether the watch shows up or not. Either way, this comes down to me not doing what my gut told me and posting it to you via FedEx Intl. Express or USPS Intl. Express. That fault lies with me...

[Welshwatchman]

Originally Posted by SoCal C4S

That is my side of the story, and it is accurate to the last detail. Trust me when I say I will do right by you, whether the watch shows up or not. Either way, this comes down to me not doing what my gut told me and posting it to you via FedEx Intl. Express or USPS Intl. Express. That fault lies with me...

Would I be presumptuous to assume that the watch was INSURED?

If so, claim baby !!!

If not ... oh man !!!

In any case the right thing to do if immediately refund and take the sting out of the problem. The remainder can be settled in due course.

That's what I'd do.

Capture.JPG

[Jonathan007]

I can categorically say I have only ever seen the watch in pictures and have not received it physically.

The address I sent you Raiff in the first instance was the correct address.

I agree and will reiterate the fact that you have been forthcoming regarding email conversation, as have I.

Sending as a gift should have no detrimental influence at all regarding the package finding its destination.

I just want this sorting out and if it all comes good I will be the first to say so.

[Jonathan007]

Originally Posted by Welshwatchman

Would I be presumptuous to assume that the watch was INSURED?

If so, claim baby !!!

If not ... oh man !!!

In any case the right thing to do if immediately refund and take the sting out of the problem. The remainder can be settled in due course.

That's what I'd do.

Attachment 195422

I was told on many occasions the watch was insured, yes.

[Welshwatchman]

If it was insured it would have to be at a specific declared value.

If that value was agreed by both parties to be $50 then both parties agreed to a very very risky undertaking.

[Jonathan007]

Raiff said the watch was insured and sent as a gift on many occasions.

I had no input regarding the cost of insurance only the fact I asked for the watch to be sent as a gift.

[jcherskine]

Having dealt on several occasions with U.K. HMRC over imported goods, it may be them that are delaying delivery of the item?

Sending an item as a "gift" may have fooled them in days gone by, but they are aware of this ploy to avoid payment of VAT and duty.

One of the U.K. postal departments may he withholding the parcel until the proper taxes are paid to release the item?

If that was the case, they should contact the receiver of the parcel, and inform them that the item is awaiting tax payment before they will deliver.

Not taking any sides, but I hope the matter is resolved sooner rather than later.

[SoCal C4S]

I actually did insure the watch for $2k, which may have been why the watch was held up in UK Customs. However, I moved to TX/OK from CA the Monday after I mailed the watch out and the receipts are AWOL. I sent tracking numbers and delivery confirmation numbers to the buyers in the US, but you can't put DC or Tracking on Intl. shipments unless you get Express. Either way, that is on me... It isn't Jon's fault that the watch isn't to him yet, nor is it mine. We are both caught up in the system, or so it seems. Let it be known that I have NOTHING derogatory or negative to say about Jon, or any of our dealings. In my book, he is a good guy, and even after this debacle with shipping and customs, I would deal with him again without hesitation, due largely in part to his clear communication and him not being an ass toward me when he would be justified in being so...

[SoCal C4S]

^^If that is the case, I sincerely hope that they state that in the email reply in the coming days, as I contacted the VAT department. I would be willing to help Jon pay the taxes, just to sort this deal out and make it good.

[Jonathan007]

Raiff
I appreciate that, I hope this can be resolved sooner rather than lately.
I have had nothing from customs.

[Welshwatchman]

Originally Posted by SoCal C4S

I actually did insure the watch for $2k ..... and the receipts are AWOL. ..... I would deal with him again without hesitation, due largely in part to his clear communication and him not being an ass toward me when he would be justified in being so...

One can't fault this.

Since you've effectively lost the insurance certificate it is beholden upon you to make matters right as you've already confirmed.

Now it's time to make things happen. A Monday morning bank transfer should hit the buyer's account by Wednesday. A paypal "money owed" will appear immediately and cost only a few cents in fees.

Time is of the absolute essence in getting the refund sorted. The Postal System can be contacted separately regarding the lost documents.

[bayerische]

The customs in the EU are indeed very "agressive" on checking out parcels.

In Finland every item coming in from outside the EU are X-ray scanned for it's contents. So it would be impossible to send a eg Rolex as a gift and not have to pay duties.

It might make it trough if sent in a letter, bought a Jubilee bracelet from Steve M, and it got through, but it was packed in a letter.

[SoCal C4S]

Well, I definitely sent the watch in a USPS Priority Box, with the original black and yellow/gold Breitling box and all items inside, so if that is the case, perhaps we will just have to pay the taxes and can get this sorted soon enough. I have taken the steps with the HMRC VAT department via email, so once they reply with some info, we will be in business. If they reply that it was just returned to sender, then we will go from there as well. Either way, this will be made right.

[bayerische]

Atleast in Finland, there's no chance of a box getting through unscanned. If it would contain say a coffee mug, it would get trough without any duties, a watch, they would phone me up and ask what's inside the box. I could try and tell a lie, say it's an old broken watch worth maybe 10 euros, but chances are they would open the parcel, and if it had a Rolex inside, I would have to end up paying.

**POST 2000** Woop woop!

[SoCal C4S]

That is helpful info. Is it the same in the UK? From what I know about their Borders/Screening security measures, I wouldn't be surprised if they X-Ray all packages coming in and do the same thing.

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by SoCal C4S

That is helpful info. Is it the same in the UK? From what I know about their Borders/Screening security measures, I wouldn't be surprised if they X-Ray all packages coming in and do the same thing.

I'm fairly sure they scan atleast most of the stuff coming in.

In Finland's case it's about taxes, not securities... We love our taxes.

[Jonathan007]

Thank you everybody for helping on this one.

Posting our problems on TRF are certainly problems shared. The experience on the forum is second to none in all aspects of horology.


I phoned the UK HMRC today (21/03/2011) Coventry office at 11:30am GMT.

The officer told me that if anything was held by them and warranted duty to be paid they would notify the recipient within 48 hours.

The officer told me that it could be at the Parcel Force waiting for distribution but without tracking they wouldn’t be able to help.

I contacted the parcel force office in the hope of any information (0845 9272100) i.e. delays in processing etc etc.

Parcel Force used my post code and name to try and track any parcels that could have been on the system but to no avail. And it all comes back down to tracking numbers. Also there was no mention of there being a hold up in the UK postal system.

Obviously this is presuming Parcel force would be the carrier which Im pretty sure it would have been.

I wonder if it would be helpful if I were to phone Breitling with the serial number, (which I have from photos Raiff has sent me) and see if they have anything that’s been reported.

thanks once again

Jon

[jcherskine]

Jon,
It may not necessarily have gone to Parcel Force for delivery?

I had some small items sent from USA in the past via USPS.

They had a tracking number, and when the goods arrived in the U.K. a

new tracking number was allocated by the Royal Mail.

This was an entirely different tracking number from the original USPS tracking number.

It may be worth while checking with the Royal Mail to see if they have anything for you.

Without the original tracking number, it could be more difficult.

You would have the senders name and address so it may help a bit.

[Jonathan007]

Raiff

I cant see any other way around this after a month, and dead ends round every corner.

Other than a Paypal gift (as I sent you) for me and an insurance claim for you.

$2,155.00 ~ £1,392.45

Thanks mate

Jon

[SoCal C4S]

So, I have received emails from the HMRC VAT and Excise departments, both of which have basically told me that the package isn't in their possession. To put it lightly, I am f*cking pissed! Some troll postal worker is likely walking around in the US or UK with the watch on their wrist, and I hope that karma smiles upon them soon. I am a believer in what goes around comes around, so they will get theirs. Here is a copy of the letter that I received today from the HMRC Excise people:



I am in Iraq right now or I would do this myself, but once my friend that takes care of my Post Office box checks it to tell me one way or another that the watch has or hasn't returned, I will kick the $2150.00 back to Jon as a gift, so he isn't charged anything by the PayPal demons.

This should be a lesson to all here that buy and sell timepieces, or anything, for that matter:

1-ALWAYS follow your gut, and if it tells you something, go with that feeling.
2-NEVER send anything as a gift. Never.
3-ALWAYS send things like this Express WITH tracking and insurance. Period.
4-Don't lose your receipts. This is probably the biggest mistake I have made in recent years...

Because of my failure to do what I listed above, I am now f*cked ($ wise) and am going to be out over $2k and a Breitling. The $2k+ will be coming right back out of the money fund I have set up for my mother with terminal cancer, which is also the ONLY reason I sold this to begin with.

FML... We live and we learn.

Raiff

[Rolex116520]

I do know that since the bomb photocopier machines were mailed into the US , the european post services warn that all goods shipments can no longer be delivered with a certain deadline : Over 2 months becomes ridiculous .
Also , I know for a fact that in Europe you can not ship anything with 2K insurance without tracking number , in the US you can ? . When insured the parcel will have been recorded properly and even without the original receipt I'm sure the relevant post office would be able to recover some trace by the name of the sender and or receiver .
Sending a parcel containing a 2K value object as a gift is a VAT / duty risk for the buyer when it hits his home country however sending it with no tracking ( insured with no tracking ? ) and lose the receipts is your responsibility
I guess you will have to do the honorable thing and reimburse the buyer .

[SoCal C4S]

Which is exactly what I plan to do. The reason that USPS allows customers to do that, and doesn't have tracking numbers on INTL shipments unless you play a $M dollars is because of one thing, and one thing alone: they are INEPT. Period, end of story. I am chalking this one up to getting off of a plane after flying for 36 hours to get home from Iraq, not sleeping, then going to the Post Office and being retarded. We live and we learn, and I am sure getting the learning part of this right up the ass...