Buying in the States
Discussion
Depends on quite a few factors – exchange rate, not declaring the VAT on your return, where you buy.
Just compare to chrono24 EU dealers and see if you're still up after paying the VAT.
If you plan on saving yourself the VAT expense, then chances are that it will be cheaper to buy whilst over there, even if ordering from out of State to avoid local sales tax or reclaiming it at the airport.
Just compare to chrono24 EU dealers and see if you're still up after paying the VAT.
If you plan on saving yourself the VAT expense, then chances are that it will be cheaper to buy whilst over there, even if ordering from out of State to avoid local sales tax or reclaiming it at the airport.
Don't know where in Canada you are off to and I can't comment on watch prices but if you go to Vancouver the one thing that was seriously cheap were Coach handbags. Not that I'm into handbags but the girlfriend snapped a few up at less than a quarter of UK price. Probably doesn't help but you never know.
For a new watch prices will be cheaper, by a couple of percent, In addition US seas tax is usually around 6%. However for a classic older watch I think the UK has a better selection, as we have a better watch culture. The US is mostly about Big brand names or sports watches....they tend to ignore some of the most elegant and classy watches.
) Totally depends on what watch you want.
In Toronto, this a mall called Vaughan Mills, there's a Breitling and Tag Heuer store there and you can get really good deals in. Factor in the 13% sales tax though, but both of these stores are open to a little negotiation as well. Especially Breitling where they'll offer to discount pretty much immediately and then you go from there.
Rolex is no cheaper, even with the exchange rate / sales tax factor, will be the same price as retail here, you're better off going to the grey dealers here.
USA, Chicago, lots of places to buy, but again, sales tax is a factor, but lower than Canada at 9.5%. Again, depending on what you're after, a way around this is buying via mail order and get it delivered to your hotel / residence and as it's out of state, no sales tax. Alternatively, you can find an internal cheap flight to Philadelphia and then drive an hour south to Delaware, no sales tax. Or fly to Boston, drive an hour north and go into New Hampshire, no sales tax there either. I'm sure there's a couple of other options with no sales taxes but those are the two I know of.
In Toronto, this a mall called Vaughan Mills, there's a Breitling and Tag Heuer store there and you can get really good deals in. Factor in the 13% sales tax though, but both of these stores are open to a little negotiation as well. Especially Breitling where they'll offer to discount pretty much immediately and then you go from there.
Rolex is no cheaper, even with the exchange rate / sales tax factor, will be the same price as retail here, you're better off going to the grey dealers here.
USA, Chicago, lots of places to buy, but again, sales tax is a factor, but lower than Canada at 9.5%. Again, depending on what you're after, a way around this is buying via mail order and get it delivered to your hotel / residence and as it's out of state, no sales tax. Alternatively, you can find an internal cheap flight to Philadelphia and then drive an hour south to Delaware, no sales tax. Or fly to Boston, drive an hour north and go into New Hampshire, no sales tax there either. I'm sure there's a couple of other options with no sales taxes but those are the two I know of.
BigBen said:
You can get a sales tax refund on stuff bought in Canada, otherwise you would be taxed twice when you pay VAT / duty on bringing the watch into the UK 
Not since 2007. VRP) (Visitor Rebate Program), was abolished then. Was replaced by Foreign Convention and Tour Incentive Program (FCITP)http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/bsnss/tpcs/gst-tps/rbt...
If you are a non-resident visitor to Canada, you cannot claim a rebate of the goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) that you paid for all purchases made in Canada. The visitor rebate program for GST/HST was replaced on April 1, 2007, with the Foreign Convention and Tour Incentive Program (FCTIP). A non-resident visitor to Canada may be eligible to claim a GST/HST rebate on certain purchases related to conventions or for tour packages under the FCTIP.
Now that Sales tax has been completely unified across all of Canada, true tax free is only available in some States in the USA
I travel to the US a lot and often price up the watches there. e.g. JLC, PP, Panerai, Rolex,Zenith, Vacheron, AP, Tudor etc In my experience there is little difference in prices between the US and UK. Sometimes the watches can be more expensive in the US - sometimes more expensive in the UK.
Consequently, I have never bought a watch in the States as it has never made financial sense. If you do buy a watch in the US then you should declare it to HMRC when you arrive back in the UK and they will then charge you VAT at 20% which will means that you will be paying more than the watch in the UK.
If you want to buy a watch abroad then buy from Europe - prices are much better plus you do not have to pay VAT on return to UK.
Consequently, I have never bought a watch in the States as it has never made financial sense. If you do buy a watch in the US then you should declare it to HMRC when you arrive back in the UK and they will then charge you VAT at 20% which will means that you will be paying more than the watch in the UK.
If you want to buy a watch abroad then buy from Europe - prices are much better plus you do not have to pay VAT on return to UK.
Not in the states, but I bought a watch online from a private Singapore trader, he has some really good deals:
This is his main website, http://duall.sg/ but everyday he is listing something new on instagram http://duall.sg/?page_id=48
The other good site to watch (no pun intended) is http://www.preownedwatch.blogspot.com.au/
This is his main website, http://duall.sg/ but everyday he is listing something new on instagram http://duall.sg/?page_id=48
The other good site to watch (no pun intended) is http://www.preownedwatch.blogspot.com.au/
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