Traveling to UK

[Mavkjay]

Hi all, will be traveling to UK (Edinburgh/London/Dublin) in a couple of months time. Any recommended ADs over there? What is the actual amount of VAT exemption (-service charge) I can expect to get?

Thanks.

[scoot4nat]

There are only 2 ADs in Edinburgh. 1 is Laings.

There are several in Glasgow if you get the chance to come through (and you really should as it's much better than Edinburgh!)

[Becca1]

If you buy tax free you should receive roughly 14% refund when you leave,after
Global blue,who issue most of the refunds,take their commission.
If you go on their website they have a refund calculator.

[Mavkjay]

Thanks guys. May I know how do the prices compare to other European countries after the VAT refund?

[ABChop]

Expensive in UK do to strong £
Better off to buy in countries using Euros.

[aria]

There's no shortage of AD's in London, every other shop in the Mayfair, Knightsbridge area. But expect to pay full whack
Enjoys your trip, you will love it here

[Jeffa32]

I recently hunted down a BLNR in London. Had to visit 7 shops to find it. Suggested WIS path could be to hit Oxford Street (made sure you go to Selfridges), down New bond Street and Old Bond Street to Piccadilly. Then taxi to Knightsbridge to AD at One Hyde Park and also check out the Harrods Watch dept.

As Becca1 said you will get 14% back which is redeemable at the airport. You must show the goods and you can get a card refund or cash.

[Becca1]

Originally Posted by Mavkjay

Thanks guys. May I know how do the prices compare to other European countries after the VAT refund?

If your anywhere near Amsterdam airport they have good vat free prices.€5454 for a submariner I believe.
In the UK they're £5000 and you would get back £700 at the airport so you'd be about £400 better of buying in Amsterdam.
There is a risk they won't have your preferred model though so I wouldn't make a special journey on the off chance they have what you want.
If you're already in the UK,go to an AD and try and negotiate a discount,add that to the tax refund and you should get a good deal.
What model are you thinking of buying?

[hornchurch]

I live in London/Essex borders.

Price in Goldsmiths last month were-

Sub Date £5700.
Sub Hulk £6050.
BLNR £ 5950.
DJ2, 2tone, slate face £7100.

That was what i was quoted,including tax at 20%.

Sure you may get a little movement on these prices, if you are lucky..

Must admit, loads of AD in central London.

[hornchurch]

I live in London/Essex borders.

Price in Goldsmiths last month were-

Sub Date £5700.
Sub Hulk £6050.
BLNR £ 5950.
DJ2, 2tone, slate face £7100.

That was what i was quoted,including tax at 20%.

Sure you may get a little movement on these prices, if you are lucky..

Must admit, loads of AD in central London.

[kepr]

I've recently bought a DD with a UK RRP of £50,200 and I've been through the mill with negotiating discounts. Remember Aurum own nearly all the UK ADs (Goldsmiths, Watches of Switzerland, Mappin and Webb, and the Rolex boutique on Bond Street). All of these will discount 10% pretty easily, but I couldn't find a way to get them to go much higher. The boutique suggested that they send the thing to Hong Kong for me to collect in the airport and dodge the VAT, making a total discount of 25%. The Watch Gallery run the boutiques in Selfridges and at 1 Hyde Park, the latter claims to have the largest selection in Europe, I was in there on Friday, and with very little pressure the assistant claimed she could discount 30% with the VAT refund taken into account. So in short, I reckon you should head to 1 Hyde Park. Best selection I've found in London, pushable on price, and cut the VAT too. You can call by Harrods while you're there, a decent selection but not as good as 1 Hyde Park - just don't buy it there.

[kepr]

p.s. on Friday 1 Hyde Park had a BLNR

[Number3]

As already said, the UK is very pricey compared to the rest of Europe due to the strength of the pound. If you can source from Germany you'd be far better off but the logistics might be difficult.

[Alpino]

.

The question is ... is it safe to travel to UK ?

[tommy91]

As mentioned better buying in euro countries

[Ruud Van Driver]

Originally Posted by Jeffa32

I recently hunted down a BLNR in London. Had to visit 7 shops to find it. Suggested WIS path could be to hit Oxford Street (made sure you go to Selfridges), down New bond Street and Old Bond Street to Piccadilly. Then taxi to Knightsbridge to AD at One Hyde Park and also check out the Harrods Watch dept.

As Becca1 said you will get 14% back which is redeemable at the airport. You must show the goods and you can get a card refund or cash.

The only thing I would say here is take the cash at the airport. For a refund back to your card, the paperwork has to be posted and it can take up to six weeks to get a refund. If the paperwork goes missing in the post, which is rare but not unheard of, you're stuffed. Copies will not be accepted.

And be sure to arrive at least three hours before your flight. If you're only claiming tax back for low end items, it can be done land side but if you've bought a Rolex, you can only do it air side. Sometimes there can be a horrendous queue. And they will want to see EVERYTHING you're claiming for, which borders on the ridiculous. They paid out on my BLNR but not two pairs of Christian Louboutin shoes I'd bought for Mrs Van Driver. I asked the woman how on earth she expected me to fit them in my hand luggage bag and the answer I got back was those were the rules.

Depending how much time you have, it might be worth getting a budget airline flight to Amsterdam for the day. The pound is very strong against the euro and if you can pick one up at the AD at Schipol (Amsterdam airport), you could score big time.

[Ruud Van Driver]

Originally Posted by hornchurch

I live in London/Essex borders.

Price in Goldsmiths last month were-

Sub Date £5700.
Sub Hulk £6050.
BLNR £ 5950.
DJ2, 2tone, slate face £7100.

That was what i was quoted,including tax at 20%.

Sure you may get a little movement on these prices, if you are lucky..

Must admit, loads of AD in central London.

Extremely unlikely to get a discount on a SS sports model at an AD in the UK unless you're a repeat customer of good standing, especially in London.

[SeaDweller50]

Do not buy in the UK. I repeat, do not buy in the UK. However, you'll have a fantastic time in the 3 cities that you are visiting. Please enjoy the visit and do not worry about bagging a Rolex. If you must then visit Amsterdam as mentioned above.

[Mr DateJust]

UK dealers as mentioned above are mostly owned by one parent company Aurum Group. It's pretty hard to get discount from them even as a repeat customer. Also I haven't had a great experience with them personally and they get very mixed reviews. They are very sales orientated if you get what I mean. The 2 dealers in Edinburgh are not part of Aurum. One is laings the other is Hamilton and Inches. Both are still chains but much smaller. Laings aren't easy to get discount from unless you are a repeat customer. Hamilton and Inches I have never dealt with. Best bet is to seek out an independent dealer. In general the UK is a costly place to buy a Rolex.

[Mavkjay]

Thanks all for wonderful insights! Disappointed I may be, but it does seem that UK Just isn't the place to get my next Rolex. Was thinking of getting either a SS daytona or BLNR to compliment my SUBc.
On a side note, thinking of switching Edinburgh with Glasgow instead due to the festival in Edinburgh. Hotel prices are sky high!!

[SeaDweller50]

Good idea. It's only a short train ride to Edinburgh from Glasgow.

[calj_whyte]

Hamilton and Inches in Edinburgh is the best stocked and nicest AD IMO. Had an extremely generous discount on a Datejust (>20%) and up to 30% on a number of Omegas over the last 6 years. Definitely check it out!

[DubaiWatchGuy]

If I were you I would purchase in Dublin. They will do much better deal for you there then in the UK. The AD in Dublin is called Weirs.

[ap1]

is anyting ever on sale in london?

[k8wt]

I agree, from experience. No discount on ss models.

[Zayas]

Originally Posted by DubaiWatchGuy

If I were you I would purchase in Dublin. They will do much better deal for you there then in the UK. The AD in Dublin is called Weirs.

Not much deals in UK, you will get better deals in Dublin....

[Zayas]

Originally Posted by tommy91

As mentioned better buying in euro countries

[FTX I]

Originally Posted by calj_whyte

Hamilton and Inches in Edinburgh is the best stocked and nicest AD IMO. Had an extremely generous discount on a Datejust (>20%) and up to 30% on a number of Omegas over the last 6 years. Definitely check it out!

Great place with knowledgeable and friendly staff. I was there early this year to check the SD-C but I was offered zero discount.

[daveyb]

I really liked The Watch Gallery on Oxford St. when I visited London, good selection and knowledgeable staff :) Also, on a bonus note, found this cool service while staying in London, that picks up dry cleaning at my hotel via an app, loved it :D

[irish john]

weirs in grafton street dublin ,,, or hartmanns in galway

enjoy your trip