Flying to Switzerland

[watchgil]

Hi all!

Hope everyone is safe and well.

I read a lot about traveling with reps here.
I have to leave US for couple months and I would like to take my watches with me.
I will be traveling around Europe but the first city will be Zurich.
I have 4 reps plus vintage and gens. Total 8 watches.
Do you think it is risky to travel from the US to Switzerland with 4 reps?
It's used and with no boxes. Do I have to register the watches at US customs(also the reps)?

Thank you!

 

[eBoy]

I always take at least 3 watches with me when I'm traveling for more than a week.

Never has it crossed my mind to bring receipts with me or to 'declare' them at customs? Why would I? I'm not importing them. They're my property with the sole purpose of wearing them...

But it has also never happened that anyone asked me about them, not even when actually being searched by customs, in 30+ years of travel - both leisure and business - across 4 continents.

 

[tripdog]

Do not take fakes into Switzerland.

 

[Rehaut19]

Do not take fakes into Switzerland.

Why?

 

[rj999]

Do not take fakes into Switzerland.

It's wearing them all the way up your arm that's a bit of a giveaway.

 

[sunrayminor]

Just take one and wear it. Don’t take another! If you wear one, no one will care because everyone has a nice watch, but roll up at the airport with a watch roll and you could be in trouble. Remember the watches go through the scanner and this can trigger them to check to ensure you have the import/export papers, then when they see they are Reps, you will be in trouble. Most of the EU is ok, but not Switzerland.

 

[tripdog]

Why?

Because they will detain you for several hours, they will want to see proof of purchase and authenticity and when they find out it's a fake you'll have all sorts of problems.

https://www.fratellowatches.com/beware-swiss-customs-targeting-baselworld-2019-attendees/

https://quillandpad.com/2019/05/17/...n-traveling-but-heres-how-to-avoid-the-worst/

https://www.fhs.swiss/file/28/2019t0066.pdf

 

[rj999]

Because they will detain you for several hours, they will want to see proof of purchase and authenticity and when they find out it's a fake you'll have all sorts of problems.

https://www.fratellowatches.com/bewa...019-attendees/

https://quillandpad.com/2019/05/17/y...oid-the-worst/

https://www.fhs.swiss/file/28/2019t0066.pdf

Wonderful post! So that during the holidays I took a couple of years ago at Lake Como, and the day trips by railway up to St Moritz, wearing all the time my very nice Panerai Luminor Firenze GMT were in fact fraught with danger

 

[Rehaut19]

Because they will detain you for several hours, they will want to see proof of purchase and authenticity and when they find out it's a fake you'll have all sorts of problems.

https://www.fratellowatches.com/beware-swiss-customs-targeting-baselworld-2019-attendees/

https://quillandpad.com/2019/05/17/...n-traveling-but-heres-how-to-avoid-the-worst/

https://www.fhs.swiss/file/28/2019t0066.pdf

wow!

can't believe that Switzerland is the country 4th worst affected by counterfeiting, following the United States, France and Italy!

 

[eBoy]

Okay, just read the essay on Fratellowatches and my face turned absolutely ghost-white.

I was in Basel in January 2020 (right before the Rona hit Europe) on a short vacation. We also stayed across the border (France), as Restaurant and Hotel prices in Switzerland are a joke. And we also crossed the border every day, but by tram. We never saw anyone at the border checkpoint tho, but after reading above report, I'll make sure just to wear the cheapest Casio I have when entering Switzerland — if I ever return there, that is.

That's just absolutely ridiculous...

 

[derjenigewelcher]

Perhaps I can give a little explanation as a Swiss. It is as follows:

- Since we ARE NOT IN THE EU and don't have the crappy euro, our restaurants are more expensive We earn more wages for work, but have MUCH more expenses. We don't live better than you (DE, FR, ESP, etc)

- Due to the SCHENGEN agreement between EU countries, the borders are not or only very rarely occupied. This applies to road traffic. In practice, I was checked 0x during my last 50 stays abroad. In theory you are stopped sooooooooo very rarely, and then you are asked: "Do you have goods to declare?" And if you say no, wish you a happy vacation.

- Airport is like everywhere else, it is scanned. I don't think 1 o'clock per bag is noticeable. But a watch box, for example, will attract attention. And then you'll have to prove you don't want to import, and receipts can be beneficial. But I've heard that you can find them if you search well enough

Importing clearly declared counterfeits into the country is prohibited, the watch will be destroyed and the original manufacturer will be emailed with your details. Thats it.


And for end, here a text from swiss custom homepage:

When you return from abroad or when you travel to Switzerland, you can import goods up to a total value of CHF 300 VAT-free (tax-free limit), provided that they are intended for your private use or as gifts.

 

[watchgil]

Thank you very much for all your response!

Will be hard without my watches for months...

do you think it’s a bad idea to register the watches at the US custom?

thank you! I'll probably leave them at home....

 

[derjenigewelcher]

Bad idea, yes.

 

[Warwickhunt]

Perhaps I can give a little explanation as a Swiss. It is as follows:
- Since we ARE NOT IN THE EU and don't have the crappy euro, our restaurants are more expensive We earn more wages for work, but have MUCH more expenses. We don't live better than you (DE, FR, ESP, etc)
- Due to the SCHENGEN agreement between EU countries, the borders are not or only very rarely occupied. This applies to road traffic. In practice, I was checked 0x during my last 50 stays abroad. In theory you are stopped sooooooooo very rarely, and then you are asked: "Do you have goods to declare?" And if you say no, wish you a happy vacation......

No shit - £50 for dipping bread into melted cheese! When I'm not flying in I usually go by road, the Strasbourg to Basel route is nice and the border is never manned. The one on the Autobahn from Gemany is though and hundreds of people stop to empty their camper vans, clearly to declare ALL their watches but if you don't stop nobody chases you to ask why. I quite like that. The Swiss DO like rules though, even more than the Germans.:rulez:​​​​​​​

 

[derjenigewelcher]

Ok then you wherent in a restaurant for normal people.

 

[JayBee0815]

The one on the Autobahn from Gemany is though and hundreds of people stop to empty their camper vans, clearly to declare ALL their watches but if you don't stop nobody chases you to ask why. I quite like that. The Swiss DO like rules though, even more than the Germans.:rulez:

The Swiss DO like money even more than the Germans too ;-)

One reason for the crowded Custom-Stations at the Autobahn-Crossing to Switzerland are the Swiss, who are getting the 19% German VAT back, they spent during their Shopping-Tour in cheap old Germany ;-)

 

[muiramas]

Hi all!

Hope everyone is safe and well.

I read a lot about traveling with reps here.
I have to leave US for couple months and I would like to take my watches with me.
I will be traveling around Europe but the first city will be Zurich.
I have 4 reps plus vintage and gens. Total 8 watches.
Do you think it is risky to travel from the US to Switzerland with 4 reps?
It's used and with no boxes. Do I have to register the watches at US customs(also the reps)?

Thank you!

Ditch the fakes. Take the gens. Or buy a new one duty free at the airport.

 

[derjenigewelcher]

The Swiss DO like money even more than the Germans too ;-)

One reason for the crowded Custom-Stations at the Autobahn-Crossing to Switzerland are the Swiss, who are getting the 19% German VAT back, they spent during their Shopping-Tour in cheap old Germany ;-)

Oh i hate that Buying Tourism, it destroys economy....Oh wait....Reps also do
But yeah, your right.

 

[SeaKitty]

I've heard Switzerland is strict about fake goods. So, I’d suggest just wearing one watch to avoid drawing attention.

When I travel, I like flying business class for extra comfort and space, which helps with any travel issues, especially if you have a lot of luxury goods with you. Then the airport staff will be extra careful with your luggage.