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tkc324 · 28 July 2015, 07:00 AM

Hi any members here bought an AP in Japan? Asking for a friend of mine who is going to travel there next month. Giving the weakness in Yen, it would almost be 20% off buying it at the AP boutique without any additional store discounts. Can anyone confirm what Japan's retail prices are? How much they typically discount? Thanks.

SMD · 28 July 2015, 07:31 AM

Email the boutique and ask. You might get a slightly better deal because of tax free and currency, but I would be stunned if AP has not adjusted prices for the yen. It has been weak a long time so I highly doubt you will get 20% off due to currency alone.

tkc324 · 28 July 2015, 12:35 PM

Thank you SMD... i would think that the AP stores will adjust pricing due to currency weakening as this has been going on for a while...

manip · 28 July 2015, 03:45 PM

A friend of mine goes to Japan several times and told me that the prices are better here in Europe.

PJ S · 28 July 2015, 07:12 PM

If you want to save a good bit of money, buy pre-owned, although sellers know the blue model is boutique only and much sought after, so you will pay a premium.
But if black or silver is fine....

https://www.chrono24.com/en/audemars...-id3333231.htm
https://www.chrono24.com/en/audemars...-id3462751.htm
https://www.chrono24.com/en/audemars...-id3460543.htm

The savings from buying from a European seller is marginal, especially once shipping and import duty is factored in – from the cheapest few I looked at, it'd be around $500 after estimated shipping cost. So it might even cost more but the time duty has been paid.

From a Japanese pre-owned seller's page, the list price is given as 1.8M ¥ (1.944M ¥ inc tax) which equates to just over $14.5K.
Assuming that is current, it's a bit of a saving on the US list of $17,100, and further assuming your friend can obtain a 5% discount ($725), you're $3K more than those linked above, before deducting the import duty.
Even if the blue dial version was the only consideration, after duty, I doubt there's enough of a saving to make the whole escapade worthwhile.

tkc324 · 28 July 2015, 10:58 PM

Great info guys. I have emailed a Japan Boutique for their pricing, still waiting for feedback. I have tried to convince my friend to buy used but he really want new... since this is his first nice wrist watch.

Gaphle · 29 July 2015, 02:44 AM

I live in Japan and boutique price is 1940000yen. never seen any discount, or rather a little
premium by non AD, or the best I found and was gone last week was at an Yahoo!Auction with private seller who bought 15400st blue on May 2015, asking for 1650000yen. But that was sold very quickly.

15300st blue dial on the other hand is 1450000yen, with box papers that just got listed recently by legit pawn store, and I think that's a good deal... Not what your looking for...

Well good luck finding and future currency rate when you travel Japan!

Today 123yen to 1 dollar.

tkc324 · 29 July 2015, 12:04 PM

Gaphle, thank you so much for your info. Do you know what would be the tax examption for U.S. travelers by any chance?

Gaphle · 29 July 2015, 01:23 PM

Because I reside in japan, I never applied for tax evasion, but I'm sure luxury items and stores that retails them offers tax evasion forms at buying, but only if that store has the type of service. Any items in japan is taxed 8percent, and all 8percent tax is refunded. Just mention that your buying it for yourself and not for friend you mention above. In any case, speak your English slowly with any japanese, it's not that they don't understand, it's usually the speed that they can't keep up. And last, tax evasion is 'tax free' or in japanese 'men zhei'

We'll good luck!

Buy the way, the prices I mention above was all tax included, or private seller disregarding tax payment, which comes to warning that current japanese products are priced with or without tax because they just raised from 5to 8percent, so sure to ask before negotiation.

Happy shopping!!

PJ S · 30 July 2015, 12:10 AM

Normal procedure, afaik, is for visitors (non-residents) to have their passport photocopied, which allows the store to deduct the tax at the point of sale.
This way you don't need to fill in forms at the airport to reclaim what you didn't need to pay.

FightOnSC! · 30 July 2015, 03:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkc324

Gaphle, thank you so much for your info. Do you know what would be the tax examption for U.S. travelers by any chance?

the AP Boutique in Ginza does have Tax-Free shopping if you have a passport and do not have any sort of japanese residency or legal status for being in the country.

lapince · 30 July 2015, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJ S

If you want to save a good bit of money, buy pre-owned, although sellers know the blue model is boutique only and much sought after, so you will pay a premium.
But if black or silver is fine....

https://www.chrono24.com/en/audemars...-id3333231.htm
https://www.chrono24.com/en/audemars...-id3462751.htm
https://www.chrono24.com/en/audemars...-id3460543.htm

The savings from buying from a European seller is marginal, especially once shipping and import duty is factored in – from the cheapest few I looked at, it'd be around $500 after estimated shipping cost. So it might even cost more but the time duty has been paid.

From a Japanese pre-owned seller's page, the list price is given as 1.8M ¥ (1.944M ¥ inc tax) which equates to just over $14.5K.
Assuming that is current, it's a bit of a saving on the US list of $17,100, and further assuming your friend can obtain a 5% discount ($725), you're $3K more than those linked above, before deducting the import duty.
Even if the blue dial version was the only consideration, after duty, I doubt there's enough of a saving to make the whole escapade worthwhile.

Well if you go to Europe yourself and get it there nothing stops you from mailing the box back home and come back with it on your wrist, which means tax refund and no import tax in the US, then the savings are huge, I got basically 27% off my ceramic diver, 10% from the store and 16.7% tax refund, without that I wouldn't have gotten it, or it would have been later…

waisoserious · 30 July 2015, 10:38 AM

AD's in Taiwan have been known to give more than 30% discount. VAT-Back is 5%. Just a FYI.

FightOnSC! · 31 July 2015, 04:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lapince

Well if you go to Europe yourself and get it there nothing stops you from mailing the box back home and come back with it on your wrist, which means tax refund and no import tax in the US, then the savings are huge, I got basically 27% off my ceramic diver, 10% from the store and 16.7% tax refund, without that I wouldn't have gotten it, or it would have been later…

Arnaud are you not an EU passport holder?

28 July 2015, 07:00 AM	#1
tkc324 "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Real Name: Tom Location: Chi town Watch: Daytona AP DD Sub Posts: 3,717	AP RO 15400 ST in Japan?? Hi any members here bought an AP in Japan? Asking for a friend of mine who is going to travel there next month. Giving the weakness in Yen, it would almost be 20% off buying it at the AP boutique without any additional store discounts. Can anyone confirm what Japan's retail prices are? How much they typically discount? Thanks.

29 July 2015, 01:23 PM	#9
Gaphle "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Japan Posts: 31	Hmmm Because I reside in japan, I never applied for tax evasion, but I'm sure luxury items and stores that retails them offers tax evasion forms at buying, but only if that store has the type of service. Any items in japan is taxed 8percent, and all 8percent tax is refunded. Just mention that your buying it for yourself and not for friend you mention above. In any case, speak your English slowly with any japanese, it's not that they don't understand, it's usually the speed that they can't keep up. And last, tax evasion is 'tax free' or in japanese 'men zhei' We'll good luck! Buy the way, the prices I mention above was all tax included, or private seller disregarding tax payment, which comes to warning that current japanese products are priced with or without tax because they just raised from 5to 8percent, so sure to ask before negotiation. Happy shopping!!

28 July 2015, 07:31 AM	#2
SMD "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Real Name: SMD Location: LGA/EWR/ORD Watch: AP/PP Posts: 3,701	Email the boutique and ask. You might get a slightly better deal because of tax free and currency, but I would be stunned if AP has not adjusted prices for the yen. It has been weak a long time so I highly doubt you will get 20% off due to currency alone.

28 July 2015, 12:35 PM	#3
tkc324 "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Real Name: Tom Location: Chi town Watch: Daytona AP DD Sub Posts: 3,717	Thank you SMD... i would think that the AP stores will adjust pricing due to currency weakening as this has been going on for a while...

28 July 2015, 03:45 PM	#4
manip "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Italy (Perugia) Watch: Rolex Patek Omega Posts: 22	A friend of mine goes to Japan several times and told me that the prices are better here in Europe.

28 July 2015, 07:12 PM	#5
PJ S Banned Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: UK Posts: 3,990	If you want to save a good bit of money, buy pre-owned, although sellers know the blue model is boutique only and much sought after, so you will pay a premium. But if black or silver is fine.... https://www.chrono24.com/en/audemars...-id3333231.htm https://www.chrono24.com/en/audemars...-id3462751.htm https://www.chrono24.com/en/audemars...-id3460543.htm The savings from buying from a European seller is marginal, especially once shipping and import duty is factored in – from the cheapest few I looked at, it'd be around $500 after estimated shipping cost. So it might even cost more but the time duty has been paid. From a Japanese pre-owned seller's page, the list price is given as 1.8M ¥ (1.944M ¥ inc tax) which equates to just over $14.5K. Assuming that is current, it's a bit of a saving on the US list of $17,100, and further assuming your friend can obtain a 5% discount ($725), you're $3K more than those linked above, before deducting the import duty. Even if the blue dial version was the only consideration, after duty, I doubt there's enough of a saving to make the whole escapade worthwhile.

28 July 2015, 10:58 PM	#6
tkc324 "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Real Name: Tom Location: Chi town Watch: Daytona AP DD Sub Posts: 3,717	Great info guys. I have emailed a Japan Boutique for their pricing, still waiting for feedback. I have tried to convince my friend to buy used but he really want new... since this is his first nice wrist watch.

29 July 2015, 02:44 AM	#7
Gaphle "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Japan Posts: 31	I live in Japan and boutique price is 1940000yen. never seen any discount, or rather a little premium by non AD, or the best I found and was gone last week was at an Yahoo!Auction with private seller who bought 15400st blue on May 2015, asking for 1650000yen. But that was sold very quickly. 15300st blue dial on the other hand is 1450000yen, with box papers that just got listed recently by legit pawn store, and I think that's a good deal... Not what your looking for... Well good luck finding and future currency rate when you travel Japan! Today 123yen to 1 dollar.

29 July 2015, 12:04 PM	#8
tkc324 "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Real Name: Tom Location: Chi town Watch: Daytona AP DD Sub Posts: 3,717	Gaphle, thank you so much for your info. Do you know what would be the tax examption for U.S. travelers by any chance?

30 July 2015, 12:10 AM	#10
PJ S Banned Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: UK Posts: 3,990	Normal procedure, afaik, is for visitors (non-residents) to have their passport photocopied, which allows the store to deduct the tax at the point of sale. This way you don't need to fill in forms at the airport to reclaim what you didn't need to pay.

30 July 2015, 10:38 AM	#13
waisoserious "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Taiwan Watch: 116515LN, 126621 Posts: 180	AD's in Taiwan have been known to give more than 30% discount. VAT-Back is 5%. Just a FYI.

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