Rolex at Schipol Airport
Discussion
Hi All,
I quite like the look of the Rolex two-tone Submariner (116613LN) which now has a UK list price of £11,250. My friend was passing through Schipol airport back in February where they had one of these in stock for €11,075 but when he asked to buy it (knowing that I was thinking of getting one) he was unfortunately told he had to be flying out of the country to a non-Schengen country (such as the UK) in order to buy it. He was flying in.
I've just had my birthday and would like to get one for myself. Does anyone have experiences buying watches from Schipol (which sells whatever it has in stock at List Price € / 1.21) and are there any other shops that sell at a discount? I can't imagine Schipol would be alone in this category
I quite like the look of the Rolex two-tone Submariner (116613LN) which now has a UK list price of £11,250. My friend was passing through Schipol airport back in February where they had one of these in stock for €11,075 but when he asked to buy it (knowing that I was thinking of getting one) he was unfortunately told he had to be flying out of the country to a non-Schengen country (such as the UK) in order to buy it. He was flying in.
I've just had my birthday and would like to get one for myself. Does anyone have experiences buying watches from Schipol (which sells whatever it has in stock at List Price € / 1.21) and are there any other shops that sell at a discount? I can't imagine Schipol would be alone in this category
smithyithy said:
Sorry if it's a daft question but why does it matter who they sell a watch to / where they are going with it? Is it just tax reasons?
There's no doubt an element of nonsense. While the UK is not in the Schengen zone (which provides a common visa policy and border control), it is still a member of the EU trade bloc.When discussing commercial entities, one exports goods outside of the EU with zero-rated sales tax while one 'dispatches' goods within the EU (again with zero-rated sales tax) but the buyer must account for the purchase under the EU reverse charge mechanism. As a private individual, there's no reason one can't purchase goods anywhere in Europe and take them anywhere within Europe without being subject to any additional sales taxes or customs duties (there are exceptions).
I'm not exactly sure what's going on at Schipol. Whether it's a discount equal to sales tax or genuinely 'tax free' i'd have to see the paperwork they're using. Either way, I don't really care what the basis of their policy is, I just want to buy a watch
Ninjin said:
The prices you saw are duty free prices. You can't get duty free prices if you are flying into another EU country.
You only get the duty free price if you are flying out to a non EU country.
They told me they would sell at the £x/1.21 price if flying to any non-Schengen country including the UK.You only get the duty free price if you are flying out to a non EU country.
Anyway, I’d like to park any tax points for remainder of the thread but does anyone have thoughts on my original post?
magycks said:
Ninjin said:
The prices you saw are duty free prices. You can't get duty free prices if you are flying into another EU country.
You only get the duty free price if you are flying out to a non EU country.
They told me they would sell at the £x/1.21 price if flying to any non-Schengen country including the UK.You only get the duty free price if you are flying out to a non EU country.
Anyway, I’d like to park any tax points for remainder of the thread but does anyone have thoughts on my original post?
No UK AD will offer you discount on a Rolex. You will get a discount in other countries but then again, not on high demand models. I got offered 10% off a PM Skydweller in Amsterdam.
Ninjin said:
The price you saw is a Tax Free price. It is nothing to do with discount. Ideally you want to luck out buy the model you want flying out of Heathrow to somewhere non EU, then you will get the cheapest price in the world.
No UK AD will offer you discount on a Rolex. You will get a discount in other countries but then again, not on high demand models. I got offered 10% off a PM Skydweller in Amsterdam.
Oh ok interesting. So I can buy a Rolex at Heathrow airport if I have a boarding pass headed outside of the EU? Do they tend to have good stock? Presume Heathrow pricing is list £x * 5/6 i.e. sans 20% VAT?No UK AD will offer you discount on a Rolex. You will get a discount in other countries but then again, not on high demand models. I got offered 10% off a PM Skydweller in Amsterdam.
magycks said:
Ninjin said:
The price you saw is a Tax Free price. It is nothing to do with discount. Ideally you want to luck out buy the model you want flying out of Heathrow to somewhere non EU, then you will get the cheapest price in the world.
No UK AD will offer you discount on a Rolex. You will get a discount in other countries but then again, not on high demand models. I got offered 10% off a PM Skydweller in Amsterdam.
Oh ok interesting. So I can buy a Rolex at Heathrow airport if I have a boarding pass headed outside of the EU? Do they tend to have good stock? Presume Heathrow pricing is list £x * 5/6 i.e. sans 20% VAT?No UK AD will offer you discount on a Rolex. You will get a discount in other countries but then again, not on high demand models. I got offered 10% off a PM Skydweller in Amsterdam.
This is the tax free price.
But as another has pointed out, finding what you want is another total thread.
Meeten-5dulx said:
Just call a few dealers in the uk and ask their price.
Else, a cheap flight to Dubai, a bit of sun and I’m sure you can get the watch there cheaper...
I was offered a SkyDweller considerably cheaper than here in the uk.
Not sure what the tax situation is on return.....
That’s easy you pay it!Else, a cheap flight to Dubai, a bit of sun and I’m sure you can get the watch there cheaper...
I was offered a SkyDweller considerably cheaper than here in the uk.
Not sure what the tax situation is on return.....
Meeten-5dulx said:
Just call a few dealers in the uk and ask their price.
Else, a cheap flight to Dubai, a bit of sun and I’m sure you can get the watch there cheaper...
I was offered a SkyDweller considerably cheaper than here in the uk.
Not sure what the tax situation is on return.....
Situation in the dealers here is exactly the same as the UK.Else, a cheap flight to Dubai, a bit of sun and I’m sure you can get the watch there cheaper...
I was offered a SkyDweller considerably cheaper than here in the uk.
Not sure what the tax situation is on return.....
They have been stringing my mate along for the best part of a year for a no date Sub, madness if you ask me but that's what he's set his heart on.
dxbtiger said:
Meeten-5dulx said:
Just call a few dealers in the uk and ask their price.
Else, a cheap flight to Dubai, a bit of sun and I’m sure you can get the watch there cheaper...
I was offered a SkyDweller considerably cheaper than here in the uk.
Not sure what the tax situation is on return.....
Situation in the dealers here is exactly the same as the UK.Else, a cheap flight to Dubai, a bit of sun and I’m sure you can get the watch there cheaper...
I was offered a SkyDweller considerably cheaper than here in the uk.
Not sure what the tax situation is on return.....
They have been stringing my mate along for the best part of a year for a no date Sub, madness if you ask me but that's what he's set his heart on.
I was unaware that the bi-metal was so sought after.
Mate of mine got one in June from a dealer in London - he has his name down for some others, and was asked if he wanted a bimetal Daytona at list ( and said yes).
The Schiphol prices are effectively discounted to a Tax-free price, but they definitely do still include Tax, so you have zero worries or import duty issues bringing a watch into the UK.
However, finding something you want to buy, at that time, is the issue.
I was close to buying a Submariner at Schiphol in Summer 2016 (flying back to the UK), but the exchange rate, added to my debit card’s 2.75% surcharge for foreign transactions & conversion rate meant I didn’t bother, and got one for £5k upon my return home.
They had Submariners, Explorers (all of them), -GMTS, a Sea Dweller, a DSSD in the window - very different times now, obviously!
Meeten-5dulx said:
some (more 'desireable') models will not be readily available, - SS sports.
I was unaware that the bi-metal was so sought after.
Mate of mine got one in June from a dealer in London - he has his name down for some others, and was asked if he wanted a bimetal Daytona at list ( and said yes).
One of my colleagues picked up a Root Beer GMT recently, that was only a 6 week wait from his AD!I was unaware that the bi-metal was so sought after.
Mate of mine got one in June from a dealer in London - he has his name down for some others, and was asked if he wanted a bimetal Daytona at list ( and said yes).
UK waiting times are very hit and miss. Since covid, there are no doubt lot more stocks of 'desirable models'. Big chains like WoS Group (and their various stores) will have a lot more stock to shift compared to before.
My independent AD being a single store still finds it hard to supply everything that their customers want. My longest wait, ironically was for a Rootbeer which I asked for on Basel release. Took nearly a year to get it. In contrast, a SS Black Dial SkyD took 2weeks.... Go Figure.
My independent AD being a single store still finds it hard to supply everything that their customers want. My longest wait, ironically was for a Rootbeer which I asked for on Basel release. Took nearly a year to get it. In contrast, a SS Black Dial SkyD took 2weeks.... Go Figure.
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