Cheapest way to buy an Omega here?

[After_Shock]

Having looked at the prices of the watches here to find they are a bit on the ridiculous side compared to what can get elsewhere, any suggestions on the place to get one for the best price (see the ME connection in that!)?

E-mailed a couple of the dealers in the UK who will ship for reasonably decent prices.

Then stumbled across Authenticwatches.com in the US who will also ship and are a good few hundred quid cheaper than the UK dealers.

Am I missing any obvious choices of where to look?

I almost never travel so duty free, buying one in the UK and claiming the VAT back when coming here are not options. Waiting for the half back offer in Jan is also out as the watch im looking at retails at 22,500AED here so below the 25k threshold.

Any advice be much appreciated.

[rickybouy]

Hi Mate,

the only thing i'd watch (pardon the pun) is duty you will pay on importing here! i'm not sure the exact percentage but i've had a few surprises when importing fairly high value items! it'll still end up cheaper than buying here, also the website you mentioned i have used and had only good experiences! the states is always cheaper than the UK! get alot more for your cash there!

Cheers Rick

[After_Shock]

rickybouy said:

Hi Mate,

the only thing i'd watch (pardon the pun) is duty you will pay on importing here! i'm not sure the exact percentage but i've had a few surprises when importing fairly high value items! it'll still end up cheaper than buying here, also the website you mentioned i have used and had only good experiences! the states is always cheaper than the UK! get alot more for your cash there!

Cheers Rick

Thanks for the reply.

Was curious on the import fees, was hoping on pot luck, when I order off Amazon its about 30% of stuff gets hit with an import fee, which should be 5% but is way higher every time.

[Magic919]

Get DomH on here to quote you for one. He'll be able to send without VAT.

[Fats25]

I also want a nice new watch, and my neighbour is a bit of a watch freak.

When I was looking recently in Dubai mall and told him, he said to me that I was best to purchase in UK, and claim the VAT back. I have not yet looked into this as yet to see if he is correct.

[shirt]

you mean you've never heard of tax free shopping?

[MitchmachineUAE]

The UK generally is the cheapest way to do it.

However, through Rivoli I have been quoted some ridiculous deals on Omega's and Oris watches in the past. I was quoted equivalent of GBP 4,074 for an Omega PloProf earlier this year. Didn't buy as I'd just spent my watch budget for the year on a new Panerai whilst in the UK which I claimed my VAT back on.

[After_Shock]

If your travelling then picking one up at home and doing the VAT claim probably is the cheapest way to do it.

For outright prices the USA is winning at the moment, risky business is the import duties here if it gets hit with them.

[Dusty964]

Rivoli have a bi..or tri annual offer where if you spend over a certain amount you get 50% back in vouchers. You can spend these the same day...
It obviously doesnt reduce the price of the Omega but you get a lot back. Used it last year for my brother who bought a seamaster and got a rather pleasant Oris titanium for nothing and a mont blanc pen too.
bloody good offer really

[After_Shock]

Dusty964 said:

Rivoli have a bi..or tri annual offer where if you spend over a certain amount you get 50% back in vouchers. You can spend these the same day...
It obviously doesnt reduce the price of the Omega but you get a lot back. Used it last year for my brother who bought a seamaster and got a rather pleasant Oris titanium for nothing and a mont blanc pen too.
bloody good offer really

It is, but when you work it out unless you really really want/need something that's half the value your not really saving anything.

Im after a watch that's below the 25k threshold retail so wouldn't qualify and my colleague was after a watch which is 28k retail, when we worked out the saving if he bought his and used the vouchers split between us equally based on the values was only saving circa 200quid compared to what could get them imported for from the uk individually, since found them cheaper in the US.

Also the watch he wanted is a limited edition and wouldn't qualify. Real terms it only reduces the values to the discounted prices you can find them elsewhere and only on the normal stuff not the limited editions.

[Dusty964]

The offer kicks in around 3000aed from memory

[XB70]

I need to change jobs (or get rid of the kids and schoolfees) 28,0000 watches. Yearly watch budgets. I am definitely not living the expat life :-)

[After_Shock]

Dusty964 said:

The offer kicks in around 3000aed from memory

Think it used to in the good old days, 25k or above now on Omega watches, not sure on the other brands though.

[After_Shock]

XB70 said:

I need to change jobs (or get rid of the kids and schoolfees) 28,0000 watches. Yearly watch budgets. I am definitely not living the expat life :-)

Regrettably me neither, its a once in 5 year occurrence for me (started 5 years ago), and I only want it as a birthday gift, also to myself.