Buying overseas - post and tax

[Kucho]

Guys,

If I was buying a second hand watch from the US, what are the customs implications? Don't want a big bill to arrive with the package! Any postal methods less likely to incur customs delay? Any less likely to lose it altogether? All thoughts welcome!

Cheers
Mark

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

The usual trick is to state on the invoice the value is low. However that doesn't stop customs opening it, taking a look and making up their own minds.

Also, if you want the shipment insured, guess how much insurance you'll get if you mark its value as £10.....

[-Pete-]

You really need someone you trust to bring it over, and wear it on the journey. Send any documentation, receipts, storage case, spare links etc etc over by post. If they're stopped by customs and it's high value, they might get asked where they bought it, and when, so it might be wise for them to know a UK supplier and UK price.

[andy tims]

What Phil said really ^^^^

Factor in VAT on the declared value + say £30 release fee rip off & then see if it's still worth it.

You may get lucky & not get snagged, but then again.........

[Soovy]

Post the box and papers home, and wear it coming back.

[douglasr]

I've just bought two new watches from a dealer in Oz. They posted them as warranty returns(3 days apart). I got charged a customs handling charge of £13.50 and VAT on the stated value. The watches are in a ParcelForce depot and will be delivered this week.

[Silver993tt]

Soovy said:

Post the box and papers home, and wear it coming back.

Friend of mine did that and got stopped at UK customes at Heathrow. They asked him to provide a receipt from a UK supplier. He said he'd "lost" it. They then said how about a credit card statement? In the end they checked the serial number and it was from a batch clearly for sale in the US. Caught red handed?