Almost bought. Need advice.

[Auto16610]

I found a great submariner on ebay. I know, be very carefull. Brick and mortar but in Tokyo. Was going to use the $500 off coupon. So far so good. Then shows $1,200 sales tax. Yikes. Very mint condition and decent price. Am I being petty and cheap or does that bother you guys?
Oh, I know I would get hit with customs charges also.

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by Auto16610

I found a great submariner on ebay. I know, be very carefull. Brick and mortar but in Tokyo. Was going to use the $500 off coupon. So far so good. Then shows $1,200 sales tax. Yikes. Very mint condition and decent price. Am I being petty and cheap or does that bother you guys?
Oh, I know I would get hit with customs charges also.

What would bother me is buying something of this value from halfway around the world.

What is the return policy? How are you being asked to pay? What is the verification of the watch?

[Bizcut1]

Here's the deal on Rolex - either pay the going freight or don't get one.

Nothing to do with you being petty or cheap - just reality.

Customs, taxes, are facts of life. Just are.

If it truly is a good deal, don't be surprised if it's gone the next time you look.

[Auto16610]

Originally Posted by beshannon

What would bother me is buying something of this value from halfway around the world.

What is the return policy? How are you being asked to pay? What is the verification of the watch?

I could return and pay shipping. Using Visa. Ebay has a verification process where they send to a 3rd party and then it goes back for shipping. Weird I know.

[Auto16610]

Originally Posted by Bizcut1

Here's the deal on Rolex - either pay the going freight or don't get one.

Nothing to do with you being petty or cheap - just reality.

Customs, taxes, are facts of life. Just are.

If it truly is a good deal, don't be surprised if it's gone the next time you look.

I like this logic. Thanks guys for the honest advice.

[Tensai]

Don't fear buying from my homeland, Japan. The sellers there are typically licensed & 1000x more honest than the rest of the world.

The fear is the unknown USA custom charge. Could range anywhere from $0 to $3000, depending on the unscrupulous dumbass on duty that day.

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by Tensai

The fear is the unknown USA custom charge. Could range anywhere from $0 to $3000, depending on the unscrupulous dumbass on duty that day.

Please explain. I would really be curious to hear your factual information

[WatchNutcase]

Might as well pay just a little bit more and buy it from someone reputable closer to you, or at least in your country. Personally I'd pay a bit more for peace of mind, you won't think about the extra cost one day after purchasing it.

[LoveTheCrown]

For the thousands of dollars, fly there, buy the watch and wear it home.


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[rallyx]

Why don't you jump on a 12 hour flight and take this as an opportunity to visit Tokyo? You get to see the watch in person and enjoy a well earned overseas trip that no one (except the Olympians) had for the last 2 years. Whilst in Tokyo, you get to see the hundreds of dealers and may even score yourself other great deals on 5/6 digit Rolex.

[WiseRat]

Originally Posted by LoveTheCrown

For the thousands of dollars, fly there, buy the watch and wear it home.


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Exactly this. For all additional charges you are going to incur, its better just to fly to Japan, inspect the watch yourself, show your passport to avoid the Sales tax in Japan, and wear the watch on the flight home.

Plus you get a nice mini vacation in the process.

[1665fan]

Post a pic of the watch in question……if it’s awesome buy….if it’s average send it back….yes customs will hit for $$$ on top the taxes

[WiseRat]

Originally Posted by rallyx

Why don't you jump on a 12 hour flight and take this as an opportunity to visit Tokyo? You get to see the watch in person and enjoy a well earned overseas trip that no one (except the Olympians) had for the last 2 years. Whilst in Tokyo, you get to see the hundreds of dealers and may even score yourself other great deals on 5/6 digit Rolex.

Great point. Most of the watch dealers tend to be clustered together in various neighborhoods in Japan, so it makes hitting several shops at one time easy. You might find something even nicer, or another watch you can't live without.

[dpt.calvin]

Originally Posted by Auto16610

I found a great submariner on ebay. I know, be very carefull. Brick and mortar but in Tokyo. Was going to use the $500 off coupon. So far so good. Then shows $1,200 sales tax. Yikes. Very mint condition and decent price. Am I being petty and cheap or does that bother you guys?
Oh, I know I would get hit with customs charges also.

What $500 coupon!?

[fsprow]

I sure wouldn’t recommend breaking the law by “wearing the watch home” to avoid customs duty. Penalties are severe. Also, I’ve purchased many items, including two watches, from Japanese sellers and had them shipped. Fine businesses, no problems.

[fskywalker]

There are pretty good stores in Japan. Have purchased many times from a company called E-Lady, highly recommended


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[FatTuesday]

Originally Posted by LoveTheCrown

For the thousands of dollars, fly there, buy the watch and wear it home.

I fully agree. Better peace of mind and probably cheaper overall.

[Auto16610]

Originally Posted by dpt.calvin

What $500 coupon!?

Ebay has a coupon for $500.00 of watches. Not sure how I found it. But do a search and it should pop up.

[Jackumi]

Originally Posted by rallyx

Why don't you jump on a 12 hour flight and take this as an opportunity to visit Tokyo? You get to see the watch in person and enjoy a well earned overseas trip that no one (except the Olympians) had for the last 2 years. Whilst in Tokyo, you get to see the hundreds of dealers and may even score yourself other great deals on 5/6 digit Rolex.

Sorry to inform you that due to Covid, Japan is still closed to overseas tourists. Only Japanese nationals, permanent residents and overseas visitors for specific business purposes are allowed entry.

[Brian Page]

Originally Posted by Auto16610

I found a great submariner on ebay. I know, be very carefull. Brick and mortar but in Tokyo. Was going to use the $500 off coupon. So far so good. Then shows $1,200 sales tax. Yikes. Very mint condition and decent price. Am I being petty and cheap or does that bother you guys?
Oh, I know I would get hit with customs charges also.

No! Better options with trusted sellers here.

[28mm]

I love Japan and buying things there. You wont find better sewards of goods anywhere in the world.

You have protections so I don't see any concern.

I'd rather buy from a Japanese seller.

[TunaTuna]

Originally Posted by Auto16610

I found a great submariner on ebay. I know, be very carefull. Brick and mortar but in Tokyo. Was going to use the $500 off coupon. So far so good. Then shows $1,200 sales tax. Yikes. Very mint condition and decent price. Am I being petty and cheap or does that bother you guys?
Oh, I know I would get hit with customs charges also.

Yes it is being petty and cheap, but not over the tax. Spend the extra 500 and buy the Sub locally or from a known U.S. dealer. Come on man

[donas]

To each their own, whatever you are comfortable with. For me, there is no way I would buy a Rolex from E-Bay nor from another country to be shipped through customs.

The way I see it, even if E-Bay claims to check every watch, I don't want some unknown third party opening my Rolex. I'd be fairly confident in saying it isn't going to be pressure checked after this procedure.

As far as customs, I didn't think US Customs permitted Rolex watches not purchased from Authorized Dealers to enter the country? I may be way off base, but not a risk I'm willing to take. You are much braver than me with your purchases.

[dpt.calvin]

Originally Posted by Auto16610

Ebay has a coupon for $500.00 of watches. Not sure how I found it. But do a search and it should pop up.

Strange. I searched up and down eBay but couldn’t find it. Did some digging on Google and found a 10% off coupon (up to $500 off). Just pulled the trigger on a Tudor Prince Date Day. Thanks for the tip!

[tongest]

Earlier this year the coupon was 10% off capped at 2k, shame they cap it at $500 now, doesn't even cover the tax on the watches I want.

[JonaG]

What sub and how much? All my watches were bought in Japan but you won’t find many Rolex deals. In fact, dealers here will be the first to hike up prices.

[dtwer]

Originally Posted by WiseRat

Great point. Most of the watch dealers tend to be clustered together in various neighborhoods in Japan, so it makes hitting several shops at one time easy. You might find something even nicer, or another watch you can't live without.

That's a no go; Japan currently closes its border to all foreign tourists.

[CryptoMan]

I used to buy collectible Leica lenses overseas via eBay. The customs fee is not that bad.


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[Chewbacca]

Buy it.

[LuminousMaximus]

I only buy from Trusted Sellers...

The wait alone to get something shipped from overseas is enough to crush my little fun and exciting buying experience...

I can buy this morning, and have it in my hands tomorrow morning by 10:00am