Buying a Watch Privately and Customs?

[doc_colton]

If you live in Canada and purchase a watch from a private individual who lives in the USA, will the watch be stopped at customs and duty and sales tax be applied?

[doc_colton]

Anybody?

I would like to put an offer on a GMT from a Forum member but I need to know what I can expect shipping it to Canada. The government website doesn't address the issue.

[CoopJr]

is shipping items to my buddy up in New Market. We collect license plates and even with a small item like this, we still have to attach a customs form to the parcel declaring the value. I put that it's a gift with a $10.00 value and it flies right through. If the value of the watch is on there, it's a pretty sure bet that there will be fees and/or taxes tacked on. If your shipper lies and you get caught, you might lose the watch. If the package is small, it might not arouse suspicion. But if it's shipped with insurance, that value most likely will be on the paper work and difficult to hide. Do you have someone in Buffalo that the guy can ship the watch to? Then you just go visit and drive back across like nothing is wrong.

[jasonbellevue]

Originally Posted by doc_colton

If you live in Canada and purchase a watch from a private individual who lives in the USA, will the watch be stopped at customs and duty and sales tax be applied?

Alcan had a recent experience regarding this.

Here's the thread - http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=25378

Importing to Canada, I was mistaken

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Hi all, I'm not often right but I was wrong this time.

I just got off the phone with CBSA, and they verified that when importing a Swiss made watch to Canada, they assess a 5% duty, plus applicable GST and PST, as other Canadian members here have posted recently. Don't ask where I came up with the $5 fee, must have been wishful thinking on my part.

When I asked what value they set on the watch for duty and tax purposes, they said that they use the invoice from the sale (eBay final fee, gray dealer invoice, etc), not any separate appraisal done by them.

So, considering the much lower prices of Rolex watches in the U.S., and the current strength of the Canadian dollar, it's still a bargain for Canadians to source Rolex in the U.S., declare them, pay the duty and taxes, and end up with a legitimate watch at a substantial saving.

A good case in point is the 16613 Black Sub. $9,720 + $1,263.60 in taxes brings it to $10,983.60 Cdn. out the door in Ontario, assuming no AD discount.

Alan Furman sells it for $6,250 U.S., or $5,837.24 Cdn at today's exchange rate. Add $758.84 in taxes and the 5% duty of $291.86, and that same watch costs $6,887.94 Cdn all in, plus shipping fees.

That's a staggering $4,095.66 difference."


Hope this helps.

[doc_colton]

Thanks guys, guess I should cultivate some friendships in Niagra Falls New York. Anyhbody want to be my friend, there's a bottle of premium Scotch in it for you...

[LawMan]

Doc, you can have the watch shipped to a ups store in buffalo, or niagara falls. Drive in, throw it on your wrist and drive home. Have it shipped next day air by 10;30 am with a tracking number. You can mail the box and papers to yourself before you leave the USA. End of story.

[Alcan]

Originally Posted by LawMan

Doc, you can have the watch shipped to a ups store in buffalo, or niagara falls. Drive in, throw it on your wrist and drive home. Have it shipped next day air by 10;30 am with a tracking number. You can mail the box and papers to yourself before you leave the USA. End of story.

Until you try to insure it. Most Canadian insurance companies will not cover a watch or jewelery item unless you can prove it was "legally obtained". That includes a customs document for items sourced outside Canada.

[jasonbellevue]

Originally Posted by LawMan

Doc, you can have the watch shipped to a ups store in buffalo, or niagara falls. Drive in, throw it on your wrist and drive home. Have it shipped next day air by 10;30 am with a tracking number. You can mail the box and papers to yourself before you leave the USA. End of story.

Originally Posted by Alcan

Until you try to insure it. Most Canadian insurance companies will not cover a watch or jewelery item unless you can prove it was "legally obtained". That includes a customs document for items sourced outside Canada.

Or if a Canadian Customs officer asks you (a Canadian citizen) where you bought your nice Rolex, they can and will demand you show proof of purchase to determine if the watch was bought in Canada or outside the country. This happened to the niece of a friend of mine in Vancouver, BC. She got away with it when she came back from overseas. Then on a later trip, she was randomly checked at Vancouver International Airport. She was asked where she had bought the watch, when it was determined that she had not paid the duties and told half-truths about it. She was levied a hefty fine, she had to pay it as the other option was to "surrender it to the Crown."

I say declare it at the border, pay the minimal duties and taxes and have peace of mind. Console in the fact that you did the right thing. As Alcan pointed out in an earlier thread, you still come out with significant savings.