Sending a watch to the UK

ronnie3585

I need to send a watch (valued at around €1,800) to the UK for a repair but I can't seem to find any carrier that will ship a watch from Ireland.

Does anyone know of any carrier that will ship a watch to the UK?

Thanks.

tac foley

IMO it would be cheaper to take it and later on, collect it. The one time I made the mistake of sending a watch to Switzerland I had to pay over 300eu duty to get it back into UK.

The fact that it was my own property being returned to me was a 'you can't fool US with that old story'. I have no doubt that Irish customs and excise authorities operate in the same way.

ronnie3585

There'll be no issue with duty, as it's only going to the UK. Unfortunately, I don't have the time to travel to the UK before Xmas and I need to have it delivered before the new year in order for the work to be covered under warranty.

oxocube

tac foley wrote: »

IMO it would be cheaper to take it and later on, collect it. The one time I made the mistake of sending a watch to Switzerland I had to pay over 300eu duty to get it back into UK.

The fact that it was my own property being returned to me was a 'you can't fool US with that old story'. I have no doubt that Irish customs and excise authorities operate in the same way.

Really?!? Could you not show them the receipt for outbound shipping? Surely they can't charge you again for VAT after already buying.

tac foley

oxocube wrote: »

Really?!? Could you not show them the receipt for outbound shipping? Surely they can't charge you again for VAT after already buying.

Didn't work for me, Sir. The comment was that they were unable to ascertain that the watch I sent and the watch that I received were one and the same item.


When I pointed out that the watch was over forty years old, and unlikely to have been used in a double-cross of any kind, I was basically told to pay up or have it seized.


Having bought the watch as a momento of an important occasion, I paid up.

Homer

What make/model is it? Is there no other option to have it serviced here? I needed to get my Stowa marine original (similar price) serviced and was looking at getting it back to Germany to Stowa but faced the same problems you were having.

I ended up using fast fix who quoted €160 (same price bracket as an Omega service to them) who did a super job, even if it took longer than the quoted 3 weeks.

ronnie3585

Homer wrote: »

What make/model is it? Is there no other option to have it serviced here? I needed to get my Stowa marine original (similar price) serviced and was looking at getting it back to Germany to Stowa but faced the same problems you were having.

I ended up using fast fix who quoted €160 (same price bracket as an Omega service to them) who did a super job, even if it took longer than the quoted 3 weeks.

It's an Omega I had serviced by STS. It has stopped and there's only four weeks left to run in their warranty period. I usually bring my watches in person to the UK/NI and send by RMSD, but I won't be able to before the new year.

I haven't come across any person or company in this country that I'd trust with my watches, unfortunately.

Eoin

ronnie3585 wrote: »

I need to send a watch (valued at around €1,800) to the UK for a repair but I can't seem to find any carrier that will ship a watch from Ireland.

Does anyone know of any carrier that will ship a watch to the UK?

Thanks.

Mailboxes etc on Lombard Street, Dublin 2 will.

But as I found out, they will charge you handsomely for the pleasure. A couple years ago I was charged nearly 100 to post a watch valued at 700 or so to the UK. More recently, a fair whack more than that to post one to the Czech republic.

If it's not too big a pain, driving to the nearest post office north of the border might be the best option.

If you are not in a rush, I happen to be travelling to Belfast with work next week and can probably pop it in the post for you.

ronnie3585

Thanks a lot for the kind offer Eoin.

I got in touch Mailboxes etc and it would be €55 plus €32 for insurance to send the watch to the UK. Not terrible.

Thankfully my plans have changed overnight, I'm going to be in Dublin this weekend, so I'm going to fly up the M1 to Newry and RMSD it on Saturday.

Eoin

Still pretty steep - it can be quite frustrating. Anyway, glad you've got a plan - but offer remains open if you can't make it up.

Eoin

I think I paid about 14GBP to send a Seamaster to the UK, signed & insured.

ronnie3585

OmegaGene wrote: »

Rmsd is a great service and very good price wise

It's a fantastic service. I cannot understand how virtually no courier operating in Ireland, or An Post, will ship a watch. I appreciate they carry higher risks, but surely this could be reflected in pricing rather than a complete prohibition or exclusion of liability.