Purchasing from Chrono24

[G4W]

Hi,

Looking to purchase an Omega Speedmaster 32105100, probably from Chrono24 as it's the only place I've seen the watch for sale, then the nearest place is Italy. Can someone give me a few pointers with using Chrono24 please?

Regards

Jonathan

[SirSquidalot]

Funnily enough I'm in a similar position. Wondering how it works buying from aboard. Also do you have to pay Import duty and VAT ?

[Joey Ramone]

Contacted several foreign vendors on Chrono 24 when I wanted to purchase my Panerai. Never heard back from them.

Ended up negotiating a discount from an excellent UK dealer. Not only cheaper but much greater peace of mind.

Others, however, have had very good experiences with Chrono 24 so don't let me put you off.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

I bought my last Rolex from chrono24 seller in Italy. I felt there was an element of risk to the deal but the savings made it a risk worth doing in my humble opinion. Process roughly went as follows;

Found watch I liked on chrono24 in Italy.
Sent email regarding watch asking for more images.
Got photos sent over.
Requested photos to prove watch was real.
Received photos of watch in front of screen with my email and today's paper in shot along with watch sellers business card.
Found watch seller on Google
Found watch seller on authorised Rolex site
Found watch seller on Google street view
Phoned watch seller at shop on phone number matching the business details on all websites (seller could write in English but struggled to speak it-I just wanted to check he was who he said he was)
Made offer via email.
Bartered a bit
Bought watch via PayPal at his insistence (probably cost my £100 in exchange rates but he was reluctant to let me use my credit card as I could obviously be using a stolen one).
Arrived within 24 hours via tracked shipment.
No vat or import duty to pay
Got watch insurance valued and checked out by local Rolex dealer
Ended up very happy

So, a fair bit of faffing around and I was still nervous I'd end up being sent a brick in a box!
However, the best price I could find over here was .£2k more expensive (& worn) at £4500, whereas I paid around £2550 for a brand new unworn watch with a spare strap including all fees.

Edited by LaurasOtherHalf on Saturday 8th August 07:59

[Dermot O'Logical]

To clarify, you don't buy "from" Chrono24. They are merely the marketplace - it's a bit like saying that you're looking to buy a car "from" Pistonheads.

So you need to do the usual due diligence, as outlined above. Consider it to be more like buying through eBay, and buy the seller.

[NBTBRV8]

Dermot O'Logical said:

To clarify, you don't buy "from" Chrono24. They are merely the marketplace - it's a bit like saying that you're looking to buy a car "from" Pistonheads.

So you need to do the usual due diligence, as outlined above. Consider it to be more like buying through eBay, and buy the seller.

Yes to the above.

I recently bought from a private trader in Singapore, and everything went well.

http://duall.sg
http://duall.sg/?page_id=48

[PJ S]

SirSquidalot said:

Funnily enough I'm in a similar position. Wondering how it works buying from aboard. Also do you have to pay Import duty and VAT ?

Just because a seller is "abroad" doesn't mean you're liable for duty and VAT.
I'd have thought it common knowledge in the year 2015, what being part of the EU actually provides – chiefly one big common market with free movement of goods and services.
Buy from someone outside the EU (which includes Switzerland), and normal import rules apply.

[JEA1K]

You need to do your research on the seller ... as others have said, Chrono24 is just the sales platform. I purchased my Rolex SD4000 from a dealer in Italy with no issues at all. I googled the seller and uncovered loads of posts from various forums about the dealer from satisfied UK buyers ... I then made sure I spoke to them and paid via credit card for extra security.

[G4W]

Thanks all, very helpful.

[Caruso]

I bought my Breitling Aerospace from a European seller on Chrono24 using their trusted checkout thingamy. Basically when you buy the watch you pay Chrono24 and you can stop them paying the seller if you're not satisfied. In my case, the watch arrived with the caseback not properly fitted and hence the alarm didn't work. I stopped the payment and the seller was only too willing to help out. Ended up getting the problem sorted by a local watchmaker and the seller met the (minimal) cost.

If you're buying from within the EU then there are no extra charges, but if from outside you could be hit with 20% cost plus handling fees.

[GC8]

There has been no duty of VAT to pay on EU purchases (of items in free circulation) since the 31st of December 1992.

[mikeveal]

As above, but there are some things you should know.

"Trusted Seller" = Seller has paid his fees and Chrono24 know of no unresolved issues with that seller. It has been reported elsewhere that Chrono24 aren't exactly keen to revoke Trusted Seller status in the event a problem is reported. Essentially a seller pays Chrono24 extra to be listed as a "Trusted Seller." Personally I have no faith in the scheme.

"Trusted Checkout" = Escrow service. Chrono24 hold your cash, the vendor ships the goods and if you don't complain to Chrono24 the vendor gets the money a couple of weeks later. Chrono24 are cagey about how this works, but essentially the transfers are IBAN from you to C24 and then IBAN again from C24 to the seller. The buyer pays a fee for the escrow, the seller does not. From what I can gather, all sellers can apply for trusted checkout, but not all are granted use of the service.

So if a seller isn't listing trusted checkout, its a red flag to me.

Other red flags I've found are:

• No bricks and mortar shop at the sellers address (often a residential address).
• Seller insisting on IBAN and refusing C24 because it's not IBAN (seller clueless or lying).
• Seller unable to send a picture of the watch with your randomly selected time / date (seller does not have the watch).

Treat C24 as a place where genuine sellers and shysters both advertise and you'll be fine.


Lastly, no import duty is payable on goods shipped from within the EU.

Edit: It's now 2023 and Brexit has happened. VAT and duty are now payable on all imports to the UK, whether from the EU or not. It is payable on both new and second hand goods.

Edited by BrokenSkunk on Thursday 16th November 11:05