Best place to buy a Breitling watch?

[kiwisr]

loneranger said:

If you buy outside the EU there is 17.5% VAT to pay on entry to uk. You can chance it, many do. But they are not strupid and they examine your credit card records. So you could get a criminal record.

Bit OTT really, if you were the 1/1,000,000 chance that the caught at the airport during an inspection they would make you pay the tax on the spot.

Not sure how legally binding credit card records are, you may have bought a watch for a girl/mate in Hong Kong for example.

[munky]

loneranger said:

If you buy outside the EU there is 17.5% VAT to pay on entry to uk. You can chance it, many do. But they are not strupid and they examine your credit card records. So you could get a criminal record.

When was the last time you were pulled to one side by customs officers? They're rarely even there. I bought a Breitling (and a Longines for my brother's brithday present) on a credit card in Dubai, not to mention cameras and clothes in the USA and HK and I don't appear to have a criminal record. The chances of them stopping you are so minimal, and even if they do you just pay up on the spot

[disad-vantage-d]

I picked up a steel Chronomat Evolution with blue face and silver subdials in Las Vegas last June.
Tried the watch shops in the Bellagio & Caesars Palace, price was pretty much the same as the UK. Didn't seem too interested in doing a deal.
Walked half a mile up the strip to a mall and was immediately offered 25% off UK price!
If you can resist going on the tables quite a good saving!

[Trommel]

I'd say Essex. That's where most of the owners of them seem to live.

[loneranger]

kiwisr said:

loneranger said:

If you buy outside the EU there is 17.5% VAT to pay on entry to uk. You can chance it, many do. But they are not strupid and they examine your credit card records. So you could get a criminal record.

Bit OTT really, if you were the 1/1,000,000 chance that the caught at the airport during an inspection they would make you pay the tax on the spot.

Not sure how legally binding credit card records are, you may have bought a watch for a girl/mate in Hong Kong for example.

I have been stopped and asked to explain the origins of everything I had in my luggage. The first thing they asked for was my wallet so they could take the credit card details.

HMRC say "If you have any more than these allowances you must declare the goods in the red channel or use the red point phone. If you do not, you are breaking the law and we may prosecute you."

They certainly can and do confiscate undeclared goods.

[bindit]

loneranger said:

kiwisr said:

loneranger said:

If you buy outside the EU there is 17.5% VAT to pay on entry to uk. You can chance it, many do. But they are not strupid and they examine your credit card records. So you could get a criminal record.

Bit OTT really, if you were the 1/1,000,000 chance that the caught at the airport during an inspection they would make you pay the tax on the spot.

Not sure how legally binding credit card records are, you may have bought a watch for a girl/mate in Hong Kong for example.

I have been stopped and asked to explain the origins of everything I had in my luggage. The first thing they asked for was my wallet so they could take the credit card details.

HMRC say "If you have any more than these allowances you must declare the goods in the red channel or use the red point phone. If you do not, you are breaking the law and we may prosecute you."

They certainly can and do confiscate undeclared goods.

You were damned unlucky then. Up until recently i lived on airlines and have never experienced this, or any of my 20 or so colleagues who endure the same.