Dollar rates: worth the trip to the US to buy?

[Leftie]

Looking at the current cost of a return flight to NY or Florida and the shocking (read that as fantastic) £/$ rate I was wondering if the cost of decent watches in the US made the trip worthwhile over buying in the UK?

I know there are import implications (cough) but the time can't have been better to buy stateside.

But if you do, which brands are likely to be the best buys?

[bermyandy]

And also gives the incentive to spend more, because then you save more!

Looked at flights to NY over the last weekend - £300 return, friends flat to stay in for free, and possible saving of up to £2k on a watch...

[tuffer]

I am off to Barbados at the end of the month and have heard that you can get good tax free deals there......Unfortunately the wife has deamed that Watches are not on the shopping list! Had my eye on a nice Brietling as well

[bermyandy]

tuffer said:

I am off to Barbados at the end of the month and have heard that you can get good tax free deals there......Unfortunately the wife has deamed that Watches are not on the shopping list! Had my eye on a nice Brietling as well

Cant you go to the 'toilet' in the shopping centre and just buy it? Tell her its a fake or something

[VetteG]

tuffer said:

I am off to Barbados at the end of the month and have heard that you can get good tax free deals there......Unfortunately the wife has deamed that Watches are not on the shopping list! Had my eye on a nice Brietling as well

I was over at Easter and picked up a IWC Portuguese in gold and saved over 2.5k on UK prices. Well chuffed!

G

[Mr_Sukebe]

I've been looking at www.jomashop.com/
They have some very good prices and are based in NYC. My thoughts are a nice Tag Carrer which is around half the price of the UK.
Let us know if you spot a better place to purchase from.

[jshell]

I priced some watches in Manhattan, New York and they were more expensive than the UK - I think because it was middle of downtown New-Yoik! I went over thinking that everything was cheaper, but I think you have to travel outwith the city centre to get the bargains.

Check out www.glooks.com for some decent prices though.

[dbroughton]

Got a £6000 IWC potuguese for £4000 in Miami a couple of months back.

It was in a authorized dealer. The RRP was around £5000 in the shop. Told them I was going home that day and they gave me a great deal which included not adding the local sales tax. Got a full IWC warranty etc.

It appears that most dealers will haggle in the US unlike here.

[filaborg]

off to NY myself Christmas so will be on the look out for a new watch.

[tuffer]

VetteG said:

tuffer said:

I am off to Barbados at the end of the month and have heard that you can get good tax free deals there......Unfortunately the wife has deamed that Watches are not on the shopping list! Had my eye on a nice Brietling as well

I was over at Easter and picked up a IWC Portuguese in gold and saved over 2.5k on UK prices. Well chuffed!

G

Well they were cheap and the woman in the shop did her best to try and sell me one, unfortunatly her silver tongue was no match for my wifes frosty stare!!!

[filaborg]

Mr_Sukebe said:

I've been looking at http://www.jomashop.com/
They have some very good prices and are based in NYC. My thoughts are a nice Tag Carrer which is around half the price of the UK.
Let us know if you spot a better place to purchase from.

jomashop don't give out manufactured warranty's only there own hence there price. If any thing goes wrong with the watch you cannot just pop it back from where you bought if from(well i suppose you can but imagine the trouble you will incur).

[Mr_Sukebe]

As it happens, I ended up buying a Zenith Class Elite from duty from on the way out of the UK. The good news is that the price I'd seen overseas helped me negotiate a further 10% of the price with no real problems.

[NorthernBoy]

filaborg said:

off to NY myself Christmas so will be on the look out for a new watch.

When I was looking at getting a Rolex, I checked out the prices here and in NY. Th was only a few months back, so the exchange rate was where it is now. It turned out that they actually cost more in the US.

If you are flying to NY, though, you can buy from the jewellers in Heathrow, like I did. Normal retail price, less the VAT. I got my exploter II at the full reduction, which I think is a good deal.

And, of course, it is from a UK jewellers, with all the paperwork for a UK watch.

[Obiwonkeyblokey]

I spoke to my mum yesterday who is holidaying in Barbados, and off the back of this thread I had her pick up a Blue faced Monaco for $2715, so about £1500 ( if she doesnt get stopped!) saving about 800 on the UK price.