Pam111n V3 so accurate that it fooled customs

[joegrimm]

Well I never imagined this would ever happen to me but considering all the sequence of events I almost feel like I was in the twilight zone.

Anyways long story short, a couple days ago I sold a pam111n v3 in the M2M sales. Buyer is in the USA and I'm in Canada, so since my wife was traveling to the US this week i offered that watch would be shipped from within the USA as to avoid any possible customs issues...

So up to this point all is good, I packed the watch up in bubble wrap, placed it in an envelope and wrapped the envelope in bubble wrap again. I instructed my wife to just goto USPS counter and place the package in a small flat rate box and just add the shipping info and voila, mission accomplished right!!!!

Well things didn't exactly work out that way. This morning she calls me at 9:15 in a panic telling me she almost missed her flight, so I ask how come?
She says " well because of that package you gave me to ship"...

Hmm I'm thinking, what's the big deal its a personal item. Well because it was wrapped in bubble wrap and re-wrapped, I guess US customs figured it wood be shipped to someone in the US so they wanted to charge import duties for 45% of the value of the watch...

She tells me " good thing the man was nice about it and only made me pay $400!!!!!!!!!!"

So basically moral of the story is, the watch was so convincing that they believed it was a gen..

 

[gazumi]

Did she pay the $400?

 

[joegrimm]

Yup... She was in the customs room and wasn't allowed to use her phone. Otherwise had she called me I would have told her to just leave it there and pick it up when she returns to Canada.

 

[DonBrizzel]

Dude, get your money back

 

[Luthier]

It only prove, that Customs officers know shit about watches.
Why the hell she didn't wear it on her wrist???
icard:

 

[joegrimm]

It only prove, that Customs officers know shit about watches.
Why the hell she didn't wear it on her wrist???
icard:

I tried to make it as simple as possible for her to just get it shipped, that's why I wrapped it up and was ready to just walk into USPS and send it off. My mistake which you can bet will never be done again.

 

[TESLA760]

Damn. That's one expensive 111 !!!!

 

[Spboudart]

WOW interesting story.

 

[Mj2k]

Wow, and ouch, in equal measures!


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[co-axial]

I feel for you, Joe

 

[dloader]

She could have just given them the watch instead ??

 

[joegrimm]

After she had told me what happened, all I could think in My mind was.... Thank god it wasn't a rose gold rubberclad....

 

[TESLA760]

I wonder if they have some type of SOV ( schedule of values ) for brands. There is no way they know what model that is.

 

[cybee]

I guess US customs figured it wood be shipped to someone in the US so they wanted to charge import duties for 45% of the value of the watch...

I'm a little confused. Did they charge the duty because they knew you were a Canadian resident?

 

[TESLA760]

I'm a little confused. Did they charge the duty because they knew you were a Canadian resident?

Nah. I called customs and gave them a heads up that Mrs Grimm was heading into 'murrica :hehehe:

 

[cybee]

Nah. I called customs and gave them a heads up that Mrs Grimm was heading into 'murrica :hehehe:

Oh well that explains it. Thanks eh. :

 

[xpletiv]

Holy cow.
Next time get the box all ready,put a pinecone or something worthless in it,pack some tape and wear the watch.
Wow.

 

[ebzen02]

I would have told customs to keep it.. Cost less to order a new one or refund the person the money..

 

[d4m.test]

They aren't there to judge whether it's real or fake, they charge import duty based on the full value of the gen. They might know it's fake but still charge the full import duty. It's basically extortion. I think you can let them confiscate it though...It might have been a better option in this case! She should have just been wearing it

 

[58285]

^ +1

They don't care if they are real of not. They will tax you based on the value of gen.

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