Rakuten?

G rock

Rakuten has a seiko 007 (k) for $124 shipped.(free international shipping this week).

I think I'm right in saying that this wouldn't be liable to duty, since it's below the threshold for revenue. Even with vat applied it's a very attractive price.

Anyone ever use them? (They seem like a Japanese amazon-found the link on watchuseek).

For comparison, creation has the same model listed for €135

Deep Thought

they seem to be buying up a lot of online stores, the now also own what used to be play.com

G rock

Deep Thought wrote: »

they seem to be buying up a lot of online stores, the now also own what used to be play.com

So reputable enough then?

Like I said, it's a very good price from what I can see-i just hope I did my calculations correctly regarding duty and vat!

TJJP

Rakuten is basically the Japanese version of e-bay (e-bay never caught on over there). Rakuten would be trustworthy alright, but like e-bay it depends on the seller you're dealing with. If it's a genuine Japanese seller or some kind of rakuten direct you'd be safe enough I'd expect.

blindsider

G rock wrote: »

Rakuten has a seiko 007 (k) for $124 shipped.(free international shipping this week).

I think I'm right in saying that this wouldn't be liable to duty, since it's below the threshold for revenue. Even with vat applied it's a very attractive price.

Anyone ever use them? (They seem like a Japanese amazon-found the link on watchuseek).

For comparison, creation has the same model listed for €135

Do you have a link for this offer? Might be interested in this one...


Think you're right re shipping :-)

G rock

http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/seiko3s/item/skx007k/?s-id=borderless_browsehist_02_en

there are a couple of sellers listing the 007 with different strap options etc.

I'm stupidly delaying making a purchase since the thought of going from no watches to two in one week is making me feel a bit guilty!

Eoin

What's the limit for customs? I thought it was only about 20 quid or so

G rock

I *think* I read on the revenue duty calculator website that they allow goods up value up to $150 to go duty free (i.e, liable for vat only).

So on the $124 you'd pay vat @23%, and since there's no shipping costs that'd reduce the potential vat bill.

If they did charge duty it'd be 4.5% right? Then vat on that total.

admittedly I'm not much of a tax expert though, so could have quite easily misinterpreted the guidelines.

m4r10

The threshold is €22 and that's including postage. While it might slip through unnoticed, you're better off if you factor the taxes in just so you don't have any surprises when the watch arrives.

G rock

Cheers.

Must have definitely misunderstood what I read. Dunno what the 150 referred to.

And duty 4.5%, is that correct? Then vat at 23 on the total?

Think there's still quite a saving to be made

mags1962

I found this http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/seiko3s/item/snkj05j1/ on there and can not find it anywhere else but I have no idea how to go about getting it from Japan?
Is it safe and secure and how does the shipping work, how long etc etc?
Any insight or help very welcome.

blindsider

This any use? Some models which are similar to the one on Rakuten

http://www.creationwatches.com/products/seiko-automatic-sports-89/

Rakuten is a very large Japanese site - they own play.com which I've used for other purchases - they were good.

The whole VAT, duty and delivery thing is a bit of a minefield. You'll def pay something - and the watch could be delayed in customs for a bit.

Creation watches have a good rep hereabouts you'll pay duty - but often less than €20. Might be a safer bet if you saw a watch you liked.

Fatbiker

G rock wrote: »

http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/seiko3s/item/skx007k/?s-id=borderless_browsehist_02_en

there are a couple of sellers listing the 007 with different strap options etc.

I'm stupidly delaying making a purchase since the thought of going from no watches to two in one week is making me feel a bit guilty!

I pulled trigger on this but shipping fee is to be advised by email. I'm a bit worried now!

G rock

I'm still dilly dallying.

I also had to set up paypal properly.

I thought they were advertising free international shipping?

Fatbiker

G rock wrote: »

I'm still dilly dallying.

I also had to set up paypal properly.

I thought they were advertising free international shipping?

I had problems with Gmail last couple of days. Finally got the email confirming no shipping fee and final price of 12,280JPY which I calculate at about €91 before currency charges on paypal.

Wibbs

FWIW G and I dunno how I missed your question(bad mod, BAD *slaps own wrist* you'd think I'd be always looking. I dunno G, ya can't get the staff these days...:D) I've used Rakuten in the past for IT nerdy stuff and had zero problems with the sellers. In my case the goods were usually well under the hundred quid mark so duty/VAT was small. I think the highest I paid for one item was under 20 quid. I'll be honest a couple of items got through without any customs charges, but that was a good while ago and I'd just accept the extra these days. Delivery times were about the ten days mark

G rock

fook it, just pulled the trigger too.

fatbiker-did you get the email from the supplier confirming the total fee to be paid via paypal quickly?

just so i know when to expect it!

bluefinger

Fatbiker wrote: »

I pulled trigger on this but shipping fee is to be advised by email. I'm a bit worried now!

let us know how you get on as i'd love one of those.

Fatbiker

"I had problems with Gmail last couple of days. Finally got the email confirming no shipping fee and final price of 12,280JPY which I calculate at about €91 before currency charges on paypal."

Email very quick. No shipping fee. Paypal went through for exact amount in JPY. Looking forward to getting this. Emails in japanese and english. Fingers crossed.

mags1962

I also tried to pull the trigger buy the e-mail in Japenese and English did not ive me a link to PayPal for payment?
I sent another mail to them but I think that they struggle with English just as much as I do with Japenese.
Can you give me any help as to how you did your PayPal? Where did you get the link?

G rock

I got a separate email the following day with a paypal link.

In total I think they emailed me about 4 times with various updates to the order status! In Japanese and English

Fatbiker

G rock wrote: »

I got a separate email the following day with a paypal link.

In total I think they emailed me about 4 times with various updates to the order status! In Japanese and English

Yep, that. The email with the paypal link came in about 4hrs after the initial acknowledgement.

Fatbiker

Just to let you know that Royal Mail(I use an NI address for ebay etc) kindly wrote on 26th Nov, to let me know I can have my package for £30, that's £17 VAT plus £13 'clearance' fee. No such thing as a free lunch, I guess. I wonder what would have happened if I used my home address! Still not a bad price for a nice Seiko. Looking forward to getting it next week!

G rock

Mine arrived today too, direct delivery, and no word about a customs fee...yet.

So so far the skx has come to 94 euro..not bad! Have to wait til christmas to get it into circulation though...

mags1962

Got a link to PayPal after another e-mail query, paid up, got the watch delivered today to my home address, 10,800 JPY or so all in, no Customs.
Very good shopping experience when all is said and done considering the language barrier, time difference and geography.

Fatbiker

Watch was delivered Monday by Royal Mail. I'm very pleased with it. Strap is long enough for my thick wrist with three holes to spare. Decent lume too. Sorry I can't post pics. Salutary lesson in that using NI led to VAT and clearance charges whereas RoI deliveries seem to have escaped charges! Nice box too, very well cushioned too with bubble wrap etc.