A customs question

[metzger]

So I am a newbie, but just had an interesting experience I'm hoping the wise sages on this forum can help with. Last week I came back from a cruise into the port of Miami. (yes Irene changed the whole week for our family!) Anyway I usually travel for business and thus am always wearing a suit. (and covers my watch) Being nice and relaxed I went casual and had on a short sleeve shirt and was wearing my 2 1/2 year old submariner. As I passed through customs, the officer asked the usual questions. We hadn't bought anything so I stated nothing to declare. He then proceeded to spend the next several minutes grilling me about the sub. He couldn't believe that I hadn't just bought it on the trip. He said it looked too new. He looked all over for scratches to support my claim that it was not brand new. I explained that I wear suits almost everyday and thus the watch is usually covered but he just wasn't buying it. Finally my impatient kids won the day and he let me go. Wondering if anyone else has had this type of experience and what can you do?

[MonBK]

[QUOTE=metzger;2710056]So I am a newbie, but just had an interesting experience I'm hoping the wise sages on this forum can help with. Last week I came back from a cruise into the port of Miami. (yes Irene changed the whole week for our family!) Anyway I usually travel for business and thus am always wearing a suit. (and covers my watch) Being nice and relaxed I went casual and had on a short sleeve shirt and was wearing my 2 1/2 year old submariner. As I passed through customs, the officer asked the usual questions. We hadn't bought anything so I stated nothing to declare. He then proceeded to spend the next several minutes grilling me about the sub. He couldn't believe that I hadn't just bought it on the trip. He said it looked too new. He looked all over for scratches to support my claim that it was not brand new. I explained that I wear suits almost everyday and thus the watch is usually covered but he just wasn't buying it. Finally my impatient kids won the day and he let me go. Wondering if anyone else has had this type of experience and what can you do?[/QUOTE]


Put some scratches on it.

[S52]

Originally Posted by metzger

So I am a newbie, but just had an interesting experience I'm hoping the wise sages on this forum can help with. Last week I came back from a cruise into the port of Miami. (yes Irene changed the whole week for our family!) Anyway I usually travel for business and thus am always wearing a suit. (and covers my watch) Being nice and relaxed I went casual and had on a short sleeve shirt and was wearing my 2 1/2 year old submariner. As I passed through customs, the officer asked the usual questions. We hadn't bought anything so I stated nothing to declare. He then proceeded to spend the next several minutes grilling me about the sub. He couldn't believe that I hadn't just bought it on the trip. He said it looked too new. He looked all over for scratches to support my claim that it was not brand new. I explained that I wear suits almost everyday and thus the watch is usually covered but he just wasn't buying it. Finally my impatient kids won the day and he let me go. Wondering if anyone else has had this type of experience and what can you do?

Wow im pretty sure that customs officer's attitude would have sent me through the roof...

I hope I never have my credibility questioned like that when returning home from a trip...

[masterserg]

I do a lot if international travel for business. I never had any problems with the watch but lately (year or so) I noticed a change in the Customs guys. They became a lot more aggressive in their questioning. It must be some sort of new directive.

[esm]

Originally Posted by metzger

He then proceeded to spend the next several minutes grilling me about the sub. He couldn't believe that I hadn't just bought it on the trip. He said it looked too new.

that gotta be annoying

maybe he got out on the wrong side of the bed?

maybe it'd be a good idea to take a few photos of the watch was a week old newspaper (showing date), so you wont get asked if you have bought a new watch abroad....

[S52]

Originally Posted by masterserg

I do a lot if international travel for business. I never had any problems with the watch but lately (year or so) I noticed a change in the Customs guys. They became a lot more aggressive in their questioning. It must be some sort of new directive.

Yeah I suppose I've noticed that as well... especially when driving back into the states from Canada. Since both my vehicles have FL and CA plates on them still, I always get the 3rd degree from the inspector. Lately I've just been flashing my mil id along with my passport and that seems to do a good job of calming them down and being respectful towards me.

[metzger]

I agree he was very agressive and very interesting to hear this has been seen elsewhere.

[moviefreak]

Originally Posted by esm

that gotta be annoying

maybe he got out on the wrong side of the bed?

maybe it'd be a good idea to take a few photos of the watch was a week old newspaper (showing date), so you wont get asked if you have bought a new watch abroad....

what if you buy the newspaper.. take it to the trip.. buy the watch.. and then take the pictures...voila.. a new watch can pass as old...

[metzger]

Originally Posted by esm

that gotta be annoying

maybe he got out on the wrong side of the bed?

maybe it'd be a good idea to take a few photos of the watch was a week old newspaper (showing date), so you wont get asked if you have bought a new watch abroad....

Kinda funny, but that is a great idea! I felt completely helpless he was basically calling me a liar in front of the family. (What fun!)

[esm]

Originally Posted by moviefreak

what if you buy the newspaper.. take it to the trip.. buy the watch.. and then take the pictures...voila.. a new watch can pass as old...

lets hope the custom dudes arent smart enough to check the EXIF and/or original photo taken date

[metzger]

Originally Posted by esm

lets hope the custom dudes arent smart enough to check the EXIF and/or original photo taken date

No worries there

[greekbum]

I travel international allot and always with more than 1 watch.It seams in the last few years the customs agents always notice my watches and say nice watch to me what do you do etc.They even notice beat up vintage so....I have never had an issue though.

[Cru Jones]

[WatchTimes]

If you go to your local customs office you can Register your watches.
They will give you a letter with the watches serial #s listed.

After having headaches a couple times I did this and when asked now I simply
pull the letter out of my carry on and its end of conversation, have a nice day.

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by WatchTimes

If you go to your local customs office you can Register your watches.
They will give you a letter with the watches serial #s listed.

After having headaches a couple times I did this and when asked now I simply
pull the letter out of my carry on and its end of conversation, have a nice day.

Good recomendation for over zealous customs agents.

I don't think there is much they can really do, since it's only one and it's the one your wearing. Once in awhile there will be an over zealous agent who will want to try and give you a hard time. Sometimes you just have to be polite, know your rights, and wait them out.

[hsfrank]

In addition to carrying copies of my passport, I carry copies of the sales receipt and warranty card on watches and high priced items.

[ktmd]

Originally Posted by metzger

I agree he was very agressive and very interesting to hear this has been seen elsewhere.

I can assure you that a Customs officer asking you about an expensive watch that appears to be new does not represent aggression. He is simply doing his job, and as a taxpayer you should appreciate that. If he truly wanted to be aggressive, he could have make your immediate future very, very inconvenient, to say the least.

I find it utterly ironic that many on this forum think absolutely nothing of sneaking undeclared goods accross the border to avoid paying duty, yet others are terribly offended when a Customs officer so much as asks about the provenance of a watch.

[johnbeth]

I have an idea. Take a photo you wearing the watch while holding a newspaper where the date can be seen on your phone before start trip. So if asked questions by customs, show the picture!!

[Jinder]

Carrying a copy of the sales invoice and green warranty card is something my father always does. So easy to carry it.

[dooder202]

Originally Posted by ktmd

I can assure you that a Customs officer asking you about an expensive watch that appears to be new does not represent aggression. He is simply doing his job, and as a taxpayer you should appreciate that. If he truly wanted to be aggressive, he could have make your immediate future very, very inconvenient, to say the least.

I find it utterly ironic that many on this forum think absolutely nothing of sneaking undeclared goods accross the border to avoid paying duty, yet others are terribly offended when a Customs officer so much as asks about the provenance of a watch.

So what do you do for a living?

[ManUtd]

Originally Posted by WatchTimes

If you go to your local customs office you can Register your watches.
They will give you a letter with the watches serial #s listed.

After having headaches a couple times I did this and when asked now I simply
pull the letter out of my carry on and its end of conversation, have a nice day.

I never had issues with customs in the past but on my next trip I will try this process, assuming the local customs office is actually nearby.

[RolexWatcher]

Originally Posted by ktmd

I can assure you that a Customs officer asking you about an expensive watch that appears to be new does not represent aggression. He is simply doing his job, and as a taxpayer you should appreciate that. If he truly wanted to be aggressive, he could have make your immediate future very, very inconvenient, to say the least.

I find it utterly ironic that many on this forum think absolutely nothing of sneaking undeclared goods accross the border to avoid paying duty, yet others are terribly offended when a Customs officer so much as asks about the provenance of a watch.

He wasn't just asking about "the provenance of a watch". The guy effectively called him a liar.

Don't worry, he already make his immediate future inconvenient due to his "job" even though he had nothing to hide.

[donas]

I have experienced a similar situation. Me and my wife actually got pulled aside to the "special area". We were grilled about her wedding ring and our watches; it was quite a ridiculous scenario. From that time on, I have taken a copy of our insurance rider which has everything listed on it.

[eric23]

I hate going through customs; I had a lot of dumb questions from them.

Kind of crazy they asked you about your watch, they always seem to me like they are more interested on making sure you did not bring too much bottles of cheap booze then anything.

[rmfnla]

Originally Posted by johnbeth

I have an idea. Take a photo you wearing the watch while holding a newspaper where the date can be seen on your phone before start trip. So if asked questions by customs, show the picture!!

Doesn't prove a thing.

You can shoot a photo with an old newspaper any time.


The newspaper thing is to prove that something didn't happen before it is being claimed, not after...

[ktmd]

Originally Posted by dooder202

So what do you do for a living?

I am a surgeon.

[jekuo]

I had the same thing happen to me in the Port of Miami when I came back from a cruise. The Customs guy asked if I had bought my Sub while on the cruise. I told him it was bought in SoCal, but he insisted on looking at it anyways. I guess he was checking to see how scratched up it was to guage its age. Mine was still pretty new, so he really didn't believe me. He let me go through anyways after my wife swore I had bought it before the cruise. To avoid problems now, I take a copy of the purchase receipt to show it was bought in the US, or as others have said, you could just register your item before leaving.

[Rolex Junky]

In october my wife and I will be taking a cruise on the Oasis of the Seas of the Carribean. We will be boarding in Florida. I will be most likely buying a watch. If customs ask me if I bought my watch while on cruise I wil reply with "Yes!" afther which I will hand him my passport.

[Time2time]

No.

[Rizzo]

What you can do if you want to travel with your watch outside the US is to get a Certificate of Registration For Personal Effects Taken Abroad Form 4457. You can receive this certificate from Customs and Border Protection Officers before you depart. It provides documentation that you had the items with you before you departed the country.