Canadian Customs

[Wehtiko]

On July 19 my brother-in-Law, Randy, came to visit us. He was working in Saudi Arabia & my wife arranged for him to buy me an Explorer II (216570) white dial. She thought the price would be better in S.A. (I'm not sure about that).
Anyway he wore my watch on his way through customs (without declaring it) and was stopped and eventually had his luggage searched where they found the box and papers proving that it was only a few days old. The watch was seized and he ended up having to pay $1912.80 to get it back.
All in all the watch ended up costing $8288.80.
I wonder if they flagged him because of the Rolex?
Moral of the story; just pay the duties.

[Passionata]

Dear Pal,just a beginner travel with duty free watch plus b&p,next time ask your question prior the gang will help you.Just a thin line to make things dangerous or nice and easy ,the second one is more profitable


Cheers

[MoBe]

Oops,bad idea to have the empty box and paperwork for a new watch if you`re trying to pull a fast one.

[EE33]

Wear the watch under long sleeves and post the box and papers.

[Andad]

Sounds like a routine customs check and they picked up on the new Rolex box.

It was never going to have a happy ending after that as he found out.

[caryyee]

I travel often, if I've bought a new watch duty free, I never have the watch and papers/receipt on me at the same time, they always travel separately and on different trips :-)

[Passionata]

Smart rules

[azguy]

Live and learn

[roadcarver]

Just routine stop, and he was at the wrong agent at the wrong time. The rules / suggestions that the other members have provided are good tips to go by.

[Rocco22]

We had a thread about customs a couple weeks ago and I said basically the same thing everyone else did and everyone thought I was a criminal.the explorer 2 at my local ad is 8100 plus 6.25% so I guess you still saved a few bucks.still sucks though.

[patek.wis]

Originally Posted by EE33

Wear the watch under long sleeves and post the box and papers.

Yup. I usually post the box using parcel mail, FEDEX envelope the warranty card, and wear the watch in.

No problems this way

[azguy]

OP, you should read this:

http://www.canada.com/news/Undeclare...623/story.html

[malarky_hk]

Could be even worse. Check this:

http://forums.watchuseek.com/f2/bust...ve-702232.html

[SJK]

Don't know much about Canadian Customs, but here in the U.S., once you are caught smuggling or failing to declare, your passport is flagged and you will get "special" attention every time you cross into the states.

People believe as long as it's not drugs or firearms that it's ok to smuggle things in. Keyword is not what comes after the word smuggling, but the word smuggling itself.

Smuggling is illegal no matter how innocent or justified you believe it to be.

[sms261]

i'm wondering how guys who travel and attend GTGs all around world and carrying xx numbers of watches how they deal with customs

[Tools]

Originally Posted by sms261

i'm wondering how guys who travel and attend GTGs all around world and carrying xx numbers of watches how they deal with customs

You fill out the proper paperwork before you leave the country..

[Brenngun]

Originally Posted by sms261

i'm wondering how guys who travel and attend GTGs all around world and carrying xx numbers of watches how they deal with customs

Simple. You register them with your home country's customs before leaving with them. There's specific paper work you fill out and have them put on files at customs. Carry your copy on the trip then when returning declare them with the form you carried with you.

[cornerstore]

That is really a hefty fine they levied,as you live in Alberta you would have only paid the 5% GST and maybe the 5% Swiss watch import duty for a total of under $650 you said paid $1912

[caryyee]

Originally Posted by sms261

i'm wondering how guys who travel and attend GTGs all around world and carrying xx numbers of watches how they deal with customs

Before leaving the country, you register with Customs your expensive items and their serial numbers. For jewellery and other goods not readily identifiable, carrying proof of ownership in the form of receipts or insurance documents will help if you are questioned about the goods on return.

New Zealand though, is very generous. Watches are regarded as a 'personal item' and are allowed duty free no matter how expensive the watch. See http://www.customs.govt.nz/features/...ault.aspx?s=17 under the section called 'Wearing apparel and personal effects concession'. Hence, buying even a $100k watch duty free will attract no duty at all if you're a New Zealander returning from a trip.

[Iamcanadn]

always declare..... on a side note, how many of you carry some sort of proof of purchase when travelling?

[Wehtiko]

Yeah, it was pretty stupid or Randy and I was surprised that he even tried. It's not in his nature to try such stuff. Just hope he doesn't pay for that forever by having his passport flagged as one guy here said.
Live and learn.

[EE33]

Originally Posted by caryyee

New Zealand though, is very generous. Watches are regarded as a 'personal item' and are allowed duty free no matter how expensive the watch. See http://www.customs.govt.nz/features/...ault.aspx?s=17 under the section called 'Wearing apparel and personal effects concession'. Hence, buying even a $100k watch duty free will attract no duty at all if you're a New Zealander returning from a trip.

Very fair, I like that.

Originally Posted by Iamcanadn

..... on a side note, how many of you carry some sort of proof of purchase when travelling?

Don't need to, the countries I frequent are HK, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Customs there don't even look at you, straight through and I like that.
I try to stay away form countries with over paranoid customs officials that have to constantly keep justifying their existance.

[Hairdude1]

Originally Posted by azguy

Live and learn

So true!

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by caryyee

I travel often, if I've bought a new watch duty free, I never have the watch and papers/receipt on me at the same time, they always travel separately and on different trips :-)

Originally Posted by caryyee

Before leaving the country, you register with Customs your expensive items and their serial numbers. For jewellery and other goods not readily identifiable, carrying proof of ownership in the form of receipts or insurance documents will help if you are questioned about the goods on return.

New Zealand though, is very generous. Watches are regarded as a 'personal item' and are allowed duty free no matter how expensive the watch. See http://www.customs.govt.nz/features/...ault.aspx?s=17 under the section called 'Wearing apparel and personal effects concession'. Hence, buying even a $100k watch duty free will attract no duty at all if you're a New Zealander returning from a trip.

Why are you worried about separating the watch an papers or registering your item if it doesn't matter in NZ anyway?

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by Rocco22

We had a thread about customs a couple weeks ago and I said basically the same thing everyone else did and everyone thought I was a criminal.the explorer 2 at my local ad is 8100 plus 6.25% so I guess you still saved a few bucks.still sucks though.

By definition, a criminal is one who breaks the law. Not claiming your purchases to evade paying duty is a crime.

[caryyee]

Originally Posted by rr-nyc

Why are you worried about separating the watch an papers or registering your item if it doesn't matter in NZ anyway?

I use to live in NZ, but I now live in Australia where our Customs service isn't quite so generous ....

[jolimont]

Originally Posted by EE33

Wear the watch under long sleeves and post the box and papers.

x1000

We get taxed enough as it is

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by caryyee

I use to live in NZ, but I now live in Australia where our Customs service isn't quite so generous ....

I should have looked at your profile where it says Australia