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TakesALickin · 2 February 2013, 05:43 AM

Several of you may recall Steve's (Diamond Jack) Birthday give away photocontest from back in December. I was a late entrant, and fortunate enough to win with the picture below.

Steve sent me a PM and asked which prize I'd like from the group below. I've always loved cufflinks and have a small collection started, so the choice was very easy. Steve said he'd get them out in the mail right away.

This is where the story gets interesting. Steve and I stayed in contact over the course of the next few weeks... "Have they arrived?" "No, but I'll let you know when they get here." Steve was finally able to determine that they'd been delayed in US Customs. God knows what they found interesting about this little box of cufflinks, but they were tied up in Customs, and there they would remain until Customs got bored with them. I told Steve that we probably had no recourse other than to wait, and that if they did ever show up, I'd post about them right away.

Several more weeks have gone by now, and I sort of figured they were never going to get here (hence the title of this thread). But today they were in my mailbox and we can finally nail the lid shut on the Birthday give away. In my view, the take away from all this is this: If you're buying a watch from someone outside your country and it doesn't arrive in a reasonable amount of time, it really could be stuck in Customs. If you're working with a trusted seller, I'd always give them the benefit of the doubt. Shipping and Customs are two aspects of any international transaction that are always going to be a little beyond the seller's control.

Anyway, back on topic - thanks, Steve! The cufflinks are great and I'm sure they'll be great conversation starters.

HRV · 2 February 2013, 05:47 AM

Nice, glad it turned out well

LA_LEC · 2 February 2013, 05:48 AM

They look great! Glad they finally arrived!

I was watching a program on customs in the US and they search for counterfeit goods and one of the most seized items are, you guessed it, Rolex watches. They were probably trying to figure out what the heck these are since they are quite unique!

Congrats!

Armyguy03 · 2 February 2013, 05:55 AM

Monte Cristo · 2 February 2013, 06:13 AM

All's well that ends well

T. Ferguson · 2 February 2013, 06:30 AM

In the case of an actual Rolex watch, my understanding is if it gets stuck in customs it might not get unstuck.

FremStar · 2 February 2013, 06:36 AM

Awesome gesture from Steven Diamondjack! Glad everything worked out! Enjoy!

mjclark32 · 2 February 2013, 06:44 AM

Glad they made it through, congrats on the win!

nick c · 2 February 2013, 06:46 AM

Congrats

Kingair · 2 February 2013, 07:09 AM

Glad it turned out OK !

Enjoy !

A real nice gift I have to say

HAGWe

DiamondJack · 2 February 2013, 07:21 AM

Hey Jeff.... Glad they eventually arrived..... That's got to be the equivalent of 19th century postage times......

But so pleased they turned up ..... Maybe customs thought we were smuggling miniature Rolexes into the country.....

I've had no feedback as to why they were delayed or so long..... Just that they were being held!!! But water under the bridge as they say......

Your photo was absolutely stunning and a well deserved 1st place ..... Enjoy

nauticajoe · 2 February 2013, 08:40 AM

Glad it made it home.

2 February 2013, 05:43 AM	#1
TakesALickin "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Real Name: Jeff Location: Indianapolis Watch: Seiko SBDX001 Posts: 256	Never Say Never Again... Several of you may recall Steve's (Diamond Jack) Birthday give away photocontest from back in December. I was a late entrant, and fortunate enough to win with the picture below. Steve sent me a PM and asked which prize I'd like from the group below. I've always loved cufflinks and have a small collection started, so the choice was very easy. Steve said he'd get them out in the mail right away. This is where the story gets interesting. Steve and I stayed in contact over the course of the next few weeks... "Have they arrived?" "No, but I'll let you know when they get here." Steve was finally able to determine that they'd been delayed in US Customs. God knows what they found interesting about this little box of cufflinks, but they were tied up in Customs, and there they would remain until Customs got bored with them. I told Steve that we probably had no recourse other than to wait, and that if they did ever show up, I'd post about them right away. Several more weeks have gone by now, and I sort of figured they were never going to get here (hence the title of this thread). But today they were in my mailbox and we can finally nail the lid shut on the Birthday give away. In my view, the take away from all this is this: If you're buying a watch from someone outside your country and it doesn't arrive in a reasonable amount of time, it really could be stuck in Customs. If you're working with a trusted seller, I'd always give them the benefit of the doubt. Shipping and Customs are two aspects of any international transaction that are always going to be a little beyond the seller's control. Anyway, back on topic - thanks, Steve! The cufflinks are great and I'm sure they'll be great conversation starters. __________________ Living on a ledge, just past the edge...

2 February 2013, 05:48 AM	#3
LA_LEC "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Los Angeles Watch: Explorer Posts: 1,793	They look great! Glad they finally arrived! I was watching a program on customs in the US and they search for counterfeit goods and one of the most seized items are, you guessed it, Rolex watches. They were probably trying to figure out what the heck these are since they are quite unique! Congrats! __________________ 16610 ♛ 16610LV ♛ 214270 MK2 "Life is far too short not to wear a Rolex!"

2 February 2013, 05:55 AM	#4
Armyguy03 "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: DM[V] Watch: 16710 \| 16600 Posts: 3,546	__________________ Member of the Global Association of Retro-Grouch-Curmudgeons

2 February 2013, 06:13 AM	#5
Monte Cristo "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Sydney Watch: ing you... Posts: 3,775	All's well that ends well __________________ 'I am easily satisfied with the very best' - Winston Churchill

2 February 2013, 06:30 AM	#6
T. Ferguson "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Left Coast Posts: 7,025	In the case of an actual Rolex watch, my understanding is if it gets stuck in customs it might not get unstuck. __________________ *Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.*

2 February 2013, 05:47 AM	#2
HRV "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Real Name: Andrew Location: johannesburg Watch: ROLEX Posts: 4,407	Nice, glad it turned out well

2 February 2013, 06:36 AM	#7
FremStar "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2009 Real Name: Sam Location: Gotham City Watch: Wall Street Posts: 9,954	Awesome gesture from Steven Diamondjack! Glad everything worked out! Enjoy! __________________ "Wealth is of the heart and mind, not of the pocket!" "A Watch Is An Emotional Object, And So, It Is The Responsibility Of The Brand To Create Emotion Through It's Products" - Georges Kern "In the 1950s and 60s, they made the Ref 8171, which is a cult collectible—now that’s the ultimate Rolex you could own with a calendar and a moon phase.” - John Reardon "Heh, heh, heh..." - Michael Kilyung

2 February 2013, 06:44 AM	#8
mjclark32 "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Real Name: MJC Location: PHL USA Watch: IWC, Rolex, AP Posts: 29,232	Glad they made it through, congrats on the win! __________________

2 February 2013, 06:46 AM	#9
nick c Banned Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 26,846	Congrats

2 February 2013, 07:09 AM	#10
Kingair "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: USA Watch: Not enough ;-) Posts: 21,232	Glad it turned out OK ! Enjoy ! A real nice gift I have to say HAGWe

2 February 2013, 07:21 AM	#11
DiamondJack "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: London Watch: Quite a few Posts: 4,315	Hey Jeff.... Glad they eventually arrived..... That's got to be the equivalent of 19th century postage times...... But so pleased they turned up ..... Maybe customs thought we were smuggling miniature Rolexes into the country..... I've had no feedback as to why they were delayed or so long..... Just that they were being held!!! But water under the bridge as they say...... Your photo was absolutely stunning and a well deserved 1st place ..... Enjoy

2 February 2013, 08:40 AM	#12
nauticajoe "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Real Name: Joe Location: PA Posts: 14,774	Glad it made it home.

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