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Post by tempelkim on Apr 10, 2020 0:25:21 GMT -8
Check what the tax free threshold on imports is. If you're over that, it's a headache. I never buy more than I can get through under the headache threshold. e.g. in AU it's $1000. If you bring in anything over $1000 every department, their dog and their dog's dog has a go at taxing you or holding the shipment. Shipment is $998? Sails through with no hassles. Haha, the tax free threshold in Germany is 25€ - shipment included. Starting there you have to pay 19% import sales tax (again shipment included). If it is more than 150€ you have to pay customs duties as well (surprisingly shipment excluded - it's 0,80€ per watch). ...and most of the times you have to prove that you really bought it, how much you really payed and that it's real watches. |
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cobrajet25
Needs a Life!
"Underweared curmudgeon!"
Posts: 3,357 
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Post by cobrajet25 on Apr 10, 2020 1:19:03 GMT -8
Check what the tax free threshold on imports is. If you're over that, it's a headache. I never buy more than I can get through under the headache threshold. e.g. in AU it's $1000. If you bring in anything over $1000 every department, their dog and their dog's dog has a go at taxing you or holding the shipment. Shipment is $998? Sails through with no hassles. Haha, the tax free threshold in Germany is 25€ - shipment included. Starting there you have to pay 19% import sales tax (again shipment included). If it is more than 150€ you have to pay customs duties as well (surprisingly shipment excluded - it's 0,80€ per watch). ...and most of the times you have to prove that you really bought it, how much you really payed and that it's real watches.
Gott in himmel!  |
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Post by raistlin on Apr 10, 2020 2:31:57 GMT -8
Don't do this. Currently Japan Post are not shipping any international mail. I choose AIR using Buyer service for YJ and it didnt move at all. Wonder when it will be posted. Same here. Stuck in Tokyo since April 1st, and my country is not affected by Japan Post moratorium officially. Otoh, it is not too bad as we are under lockdown and the last thing I need is my wife asking me ”Another watch?". |
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Rod
WS Benefactor
Posts: 2,213
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Post by Rod on Apr 10, 2020 19:09:18 GMT -8
I choose AIR using Buyer service for YJ and it didnt move at all. Wonder when it will be posted. Same here. Stuck in Tokyo since April 1st, and my country is not affected by Japan Post moratorium officially. Otoh, it is not too bad as we are under lockdown and the last thing I need is my wife asking me ”Another watch?". Tell us more about the "Japan Post moratorium" are they only posting to certain countries or is it a local thing?? |
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Adrian-VTA
Global Moderator
Adelaide, South Australia
Posts: 5,327
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Post by Adrian-VTA on Apr 10, 2020 23:43:49 GMT -8
Check up on the current laws. They change all the darn time. Also, if tariffs have been put on goods from this category you have a problem. Good luck reading the tariff laws and sections, subsections, paragraphs, extracts blah blah. It's not written for a layperson. Also they haven't been updated since about 1912. e.g. most sections relate to farm equipment and go like farming equipment>tools>hand tools>scythes>two hands or one handed. Both items have a different tariff code.....well this is how it is in AU anyway. Seriously, who still uses scythes? Check what the tax free threshold on imports is. If you're over that, it's a headache. I never buy more than I can get through under the headache threshold. e.g. in AU it's $1000. If you bring in anything over $1000 every department, their dog and their dog's dog has a go at taxing you or holding the shipment. Shipment is $998? Sails through with no hassles. They used to just look at the number and it was a go or no go. Now they've rebranded customs to "BORDER FORCE", and they take the exchange rate into account...bugger. I think the limit in the US is $750?
Maybe I am wrong, but this is starting to seem like a DHL thing and not a US Customs thing. I have had no issues at all using EMS and the USPS to get packages from Japan...only now with DHL. I had a 9F GS sent EMS with about a dozen other watches a month or two ago...way over $750...and encountered no Customs pushback.
I am actually wondering how much of this is a Customs issue versus DHL just being rigid pricks. Right now, my DHL package is stuck in Cincinnati. Stuff sent via EMS always enters customs through San Francisco. Maybe I have gotten lucky so far with EMS and the volume of mail going through customs in SF has just meant that my previous packages have slipped through?
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Post by nordlys on Apr 10, 2020 23:50:54 GMT -8
Same here. Stuck in Tokyo since April 1st, and my country is not affected by Japan Post moratorium officially. Otoh, it is not too bad as we are under lockdown and the last thing I need is my wife asking me ”Another watch?". Tell us more about the "Japan Post moratorium" are they only posting to certain countries or is it a local thing?? EMS/Japan Post is suspending air mail service to many countries due to the lack of sufficient air travel to carry cargo. According to Remambo (the forwarding service I use) EMS is still currently shipping to the U.S., but they have suspended service to many European countries, with Norway being one of them.  Furthermore, even for those countries that are not officially suspended, there may be significant delays in shipping times, again due to lack of sufficient air travel. For those countries with suspended EMS service, Surface (sea cargo) Mail is still available, but that can take up to 3 months to ship. Remambo has thankfully offered free extended storage to those affected by the EMS suspensions. Hopefully EMS will be back up and running in a month or two. |
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Post by raistlin on Apr 11, 2020 1:17:51 GMT -8
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cobrajet25
Needs a Life!
"Underweared curmudgeon!"
Posts: 3,357
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Post by cobrajet25 on Apr 11, 2020 1:32:29 GMT -8
Got an email on the 8th asking for "Watch/Clock Valuation Worksheets". Did my 'homework' for DHL/Customs and emailed it the next day to the person at DHL who had requested it.
Found a voicemail on my phone from DHL today...though it never rang...reminding me that they needed this information before my package could be processed through customs. I immediately called them and told the lady on the phone that I had already sent it.
Apparently, I am supposed to get a callback from DHL on Monday. Sheesh, I hope they just give me a total. Problem is, these forms are not meant for people who are buying mystery watches from an online auction in another country. I was honest about what I knew, and gave good guesses about what I didn't.
How can I report to the gub'mint how many jewels a watch I bought has if I don't even know what the fcuk I bid on?? 
Here is the form. Use DHL to have your watches shipped to the US, and you will be doing more worksheets than a fourth grader!
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tritto
WS Benefactor
Posts: 5,869
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Post by tritto on Apr 11, 2020 2:30:07 GMT -8
I’m hoping to bid on something tonight, but the rubbish AUD exchange rate and now needing to deal with DHL and the extra cost makes me think twice. Certainly I’ll be adjusting my maximum bid.
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cobrajet25
Needs a Life!
"Underweared curmudgeon!"
Posts: 3,357
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Post by cobrajet25 on Apr 11, 2020 3:59:30 GMT -8
I’m hoping to bid on something tonight, but the rubbish AUD exchange rate and now needing to deal with DHL and the extra cost makes me think twice. Certainly I’ll be adjusting my maximum bid.
Good idea. I am tempted to try to take advantage of the fact that some people may be a little gun-shy about buying off of YJ right now. There may be some deals to be had, and if the deal is good enough I don't care if the watch sits in a Tokyo warehouse for a month...or more.
But I am done with DHL.
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Post by saul on Apr 11, 2020 4:19:47 GMT -8
How can I report to the gub'mint how many jewels a watch I bought has if I don't even know what the fcuk I bid on??
How the hell does the number of synthetic self lubricating bearings have anything to do with customs valuation? Feels like some relic question from an era of trade protectionism when the US actually had a watch industry to protect. |
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cobrajet25
Needs a Life!
"Underweared curmudgeon!"
Posts: 3,357
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Post by cobrajet25 on Apr 11, 2020 6:09:30 GMT -8
How can I report to the gub'mint how many jewels a watch I bought has if I don't even know what the fcuk I bid on??
How the hell does the number of synthetic self lubricating bearings have anything to do with customs valuation? Feels like some relic question from an era of trade protectionism when the US actually had a watch industry to protect.
This is exactly what it is. I was only half joking when I mentioned Smoot-Hawley. It is one of those taxes that has long outlived it's usefulness and purpose, but still lingers. Now it is just a pain in the ass. I suppose a watch with 39 jewels is more expensive than a watch with 17 jewels, so the tax is higher.
It is my understanding that movements under a certain number of jewels are taxed at one flat rate, and over a certain number at another flat rate. There may be several 'brackets' for this. The rule is "Make sure you list the movement as 90% of the value", even if it isn't.
Why? Because the tax on the movement is something like a FLAT $2.25 for 0j or 1j movements, $3.75 for over 1j but under 7j, $4.75 for over 7j but under 17j, and $11.25 on movements over 17j. The tax on the case/bracelet/battery is a percentage of it's value. Clearly the movement was the most expensive part of the watch when this law was written, but that certainly may not be true now.
You can pay 45% tax on the value of the case!!!!!!!! 
The tariff schedule is 37 pages.
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Post by sweephand on Apr 11, 2020 11:49:48 GMT -8
"Currently Japan Post are not shipping any international mail."
I've just bought from YJ via Buyee, and expected a delay on shipping, but there has been no delay and the package is on its way - to the UK. On the Buyee site there are lists of countries where shipping is delayed, but they did not include the UK, or the USA I think.
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Post by terras14 on Apr 11, 2020 19:34:14 GMT -8
Tell us more about the "Japan Post moratorium" are they only posting to certain countries or is it a local thing?? EMS/Japan Post is suspending air mail service to many countries due to the lack of sufficient air travel to carry cargo. According to Remambo (the forwarding service I use) EMS is still currently shipping to the U.S., but they have suspended service to many European countries, with Norway being one of them. Furthermore, even for those countries that are not officially suspended, there may be significant delays in shipping times, again due to lack of sufficient air travel. For those countries with suspended EMS service, Surface (sea cargo) Mail is still available, but that can take up to 3 months to ship. Remambo has thankfully offered free extended storage to those affected by the EMS suspensions. Hopefully EMS will be back up and running in a month or two. At least your watch is still safe with Remambo. Buyee post the watch for me and it is with Japan post. My country is not in the suspension list but it is stuck in Osaka since 26 March. |
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Adrian-VTA
Global Moderator
Adelaide, South Australia
Posts: 5,327
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Post by Adrian-VTA on Apr 12, 2020 2:39:15 GMT -8
That is insane. As I said, they take a very "Teutonic" approach to things at times. But you know what you're going to write, right? "BROKEN WATCH - NO COMMERCIAL VALUE - $10" Got an email on the 8th asking for "Watch/Clock Valuation Worksheets". Did my 'homework' for DHL/Customs and emailed it the next day to the person at DHL who had requested it.
Found a voicemail on my phone from DHL today...though it never rang...reminding me that they needed this information before my package could be processed through customs. I immediately called them and told the lady on the phone that I had already sent it.
Apparently, I am supposed to get a callback from DHL on Monday. Sheesh, I hope they just give me a total. Problem is, these forms are not meant for people who are buying mystery watches from an online auction in another country. I was honest about what I knew, and gave good guesses about what I didn't.
How can I report to the gub'mint how many jewels a watch I bought has if I don't even know what the fcuk I bid on??
Here is the form. Use DHL to have your watches shipped to the US, and you will be doing more worksheets than a fourth grader!
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Adrian-VTA
Global Moderator
Adelaide, South Australia
Posts: 5,327
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Post by Adrian-VTA on Apr 12, 2020 2:40:33 GMT -8
"Also they haven't been updated since about 1912. e.g. most sections relate to farm equipment"How can I report to the gub'mint how many jewels a watch I bought has if I don't even know what the fcuk I bid on??
How the hell does the number of synthetic self lubricating bearings have anything to do with customs valuation? Feels like some relic question from an era of trade protectionism when the US actually had a watch industry to protect.
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Adrian-VTA
Global Moderator
Adelaide, South Australia
Posts: 5,327
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Post by Adrian-VTA on Apr 12, 2020 2:42:47 GMT -8
Back when the law was devised, they had several buildings with 15 floors of clerks and with a "COMPACTUS" and tea lady on each floor to manage it. Remember clerks? Some clerk sat there and rifled through the tariff schedule, written on paper, from a book all the darn time. How the hell does the number of synthetic self lubricating bearings have anything to do with customs valuation? Feels like some relic question from an era of trade protectionism when the US actually had a watch industry to protect.
This is exactly what it is. I was only half joking when I mentioned Smoot-Hawley. It is one of those taxes that has long outlived it's usefulness and purpose, but still lingers. Now it is just a pain in the ass. I suppose a watch with 39 jewels is more expensive than a watch with 17 jewels, so the tax is higher.
It is my understanding that movements under a certain number of jewels are taxed at one flat rate, and over a certain number at another flat rate. There may be several 'brackets' for this. The rule is "Make sure you list the movement as 90% of the value", even if it isn't.
Why? Because the tax on the movement is something like a FLAT $2.25 for 0j or 1j movements, $3.75 for over 1j but under 7j, $4.75 for over 7j but under 17j, and $11.25 on movements over 17j. The tax on the case/bracelet/battery is a percentage of it's value. Clearly the movement was the most expensive part of the watch when this law was written, but that certainly may not be true now.
You can pay 45% tax on the value of the case!!!!!!!!
The tariff schedule is 37 pages.
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Post by tempelkim on Apr 12, 2020 3:19:46 GMT -8
Mine has moved. 7dfe79adc2f0  |
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cobrajet25
Needs a Life!
"Underweared curmudgeon!"
Posts: 3,357
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Post by cobrajet25 on Apr 14, 2020 17:39:19 GMT -8
Man, has this been a pain in the ass.
So I submitted the completed 'worksheets'. Then I was told by the lady named Amanda who was handling my case out of the DHL office in Kentucky that the invoice needed to be revised, as the one the seller had included with the package wasn't specific enough. I was told I would have to do the worksheets over again...for reasons that mystified me...as they would say the exact same thing. Then I was transferred to another person named Benjamin at DHL in Arizona to handle my case.
I was then unceremoniously transferred BACK to Amanda!
Now, I have been transferred to a THIRD person to deal with this by the name of Jean, also at DHL in Arizona. Every time I get transferred to somebody else the process seems to start over again.
This who thing is archaic and absurd. My watches haven't moved from Cincinnati, but now the DHL office in Arizona is handling this.
For fcuk's sake....  |
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Post by allkindsofwatches1 on Apr 14, 2020 18:09:02 GMT -8
"Currently Japan Post are not shipping any international mail." I've just bought from YJ via Buyee, and expected a delay on shipping, but there has been no delay and the package is on its way - to the UK. On the Buyee site there are lists of countries where shipping is delayed, but they did not include the UK, or the USA I think. I'm in the US. My package has been in Tokyo since March 31st. |
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Furthermore, even for those countries that are not officially suspended, there may be significant delays in shipping times, again due to lack of sufficient air travel.
