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I am a total newb. ( UK Customs concerns )

JohnMG

Looking Around
26/5/19
1
0
0
I am ready to pull the trigger and buy my first watch. I just have a bit of a concern. I know there ia list of Trusted dealers. I know where I am going to buy my watch from and I 100% trust that they will send it, my worry is UK customs . Has anyone had a watch retained by UK customs and been issued with an import duty bill? As if customs X ray the package and see a watch, then open it. These watches look vitually identical to the genuine ones, so I am a bit concerned that I will get a masssive import duty bill sent to me. As the watch retails for about £10,000 . Do these watches , more often than not , slip past UK customs,and what happens if they don't. I am only asking this as I purchased a very cheap Vostock watch from the Ukraine and it cost £50, I brought it as a joke to give to a manager at a local Rolex authourised dealer. It was very light in weight, but metal and customs intercepted it, and I had to pay import duty on this extremely inexpensive watch . Lots of people say UK customs is a breeze to get stuff past but I am not entirely sure if that is true in 2019 .. Would it be a good idea to buy a forged carbon watch first just to test my local customs centre? I am totally fine with the payment method , and also very patient when it comes to delivery times with goods shipped from China.

The watches on the trusted dealer sites look incredible, and as mentioned , I totally trust the seller to send it, it is just the potential import duty , which I just would not be able to afford to pay.

Massive thanks to everyone who helps and replies. I really hope I am worrying uncessarily , but since a very bad morobike crash I have some mental health issues , impulsive behaviour, a bit of depression, and a some anxiety issues too.
Aplogies for if this question is a dumb one but, as mentioned this will be my first purhcase.
best Regards JohnMG
 

muiramas

Erect Aristocrat
Supporter
18/1/17
5,707
7,025
113
You have nothing to worry about.
 
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freediver

I'm Pretty Popular
24/3/17
2,772
1,389
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Τhey are called Trusted because everything will be fine :)
 

Machine1980

Horology Curious
21/2/19
19
4
3
I’m in the UK my first rep watch arrived at my house today after being shipped from China on Friday. No problems at all.
It’ll be all good mate.


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TYL88

I'm Pretty Popular
26/7/17
1,804
1,080
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UK is safe lol. Ur lucky. Btw, there are TDs based in UK too. U should check it out.
 

Redfoot

Banned member, the goat does not approve
Banned
3/4/19
117
35
0
California
I've had customs charges with reps sent to the UK. In fact I think all of them were stopped at the border, checked, and I was issued an import charge. The max amount I was ever billed for was £14, and that - ironically - wasn't even for the watch, it was for a box which had been sent separately. UK customs have bigger fish to fry than dodgy watches.
 

chocolito

I'm Pretty Popular
12/9/17
1,661
860
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I'm in Uk never had a watch from China stopped /questioned/charged by Customs yet touch wood .All have sailed through . As someone else points out there are two dealers one a TD , the other a supporting vendor who have an EU stocklist with the watches already being in UK . So no customs worries.
 
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Redfoot

Banned member, the goat does not approve
Banned
3/4/19
117
35
0
California
I'm in Uk never had a watch from China stopped /questioned/charged by Customs yet touch wood .All have sailed through . As someone else points out there are two dealers one a TD , the other a supporting vendor who have an EU stocklist with the watches already being in UK . So no customs worries.

Can I ask which TD is in the UK?
 

Zingari

You're Saying I Can Sell?
13/5/19
45
9
8
UK here. So far I've had watches delievered from, Singapore, EU and Russia without any issues. At the moment I'm preferring to buy from experienced members who can give a good assessment of the watch and a personal approach. That said I wouldn't discount TDs.

One thing this site (and RepGeek) has taught me is what to look for in good reps. It's a great place for gaining knowledge and education so that if you are in a position to buy genuine you'll know better how to reassure yourself. Plus when someone comes on trying to sell a Rep that's not worth the money they soon get shot down in flames when they're told point blank how much they can be had for retail
 
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macca147

Horology Curious
30/5/19
17
3
0
sorry to jump on this thread but can i ask which is the TD in the uk too as i too am a first time buyer and a bit nerous about importing from the likes of china
 

ffuhcu

Active Member
14/7/16
226
83
28
sorry to jump on this thread but can i ask which is the TD in the uk too as i too am a first time buyer and a bit nerous about importing from the likes of china

Supporting vendor KS Watches lists UK stock. TD Supermirrors (Sead) lists EU stock, as does Narikaa sometimes I think.
 
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ssouthall6

Put Some Respect On My Name
10/10/13
3,539
1,562
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I'm about 50 watches in. Never had a single issue with customs.


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olworthers

I'm Pretty Popular
17/8/07
2,171
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Yep - as others said - no issues for me either!


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