Buying a watch in China

mondeo

I want to buy a watch from China that will cost me €450. Am I going to end up paying import tax on this ?

Jim_Hodge

Duty, vat, the whole kit and caboodle.

mondeo

An approximate figure ?

ohnonotgmail

take a look here

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2055862554/new-import-duty-vat-thread-read-post-1-for-rules

mondeo

I was in contact with the shop in China and they said usually for EU customers they ship their items directly to the UK first, then from there to said EU country potentially avoiding import duties. This sort of thing seems to be standard practice for Chinese companies dealing directly with private customers from what I have read online.

SteM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119448589#Comment_119448589

Brexit may make that path more difficult though. UK is outside the EU now, import duties can apply I would have thought.

mondeo

I think it may work out cheaper then the item coming directly to me. I really don't know unless I take a chance with it.

ohnonotgmail

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119448589#Comment_119448589

you will pay the same vat and duty whether it comes direct from china or via the UK.

SteM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119448645#Comment_119448645

If they told me this

I was in contact with the shop in China and they said usually for EU customers they ship their items directly to the UK first, then from there to said EU country potentially avoiding import duties. This sort of thing seems to be standard practice for Chinese companies dealing directly with private customers from what I have read online.

Then I'd be wary of buying from them, they obviously just want the sale. Ask them to commit to refunding any taxes/import duties you incur if they're so confident and see what they say.

ohnonotgmail

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119449670#Comment_119449670

i wouldn't even go with that. hat are the chances they will actually refund you? you have no way to enforce it.

mondeo

The seller has been highly recommended and seems to be very business orientated with returning customers all around EU. Read alot about them on chinese watch forums. Seller told me today they usually send the watch directly to a UK handler they frequently deal with where it will then be "repackaged as a UK origin item" and sent onto the EU buyer.

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119453917#Comment_119453917

They're not reputable if they illegally repackage the items as UK origin. Dodgy practice at best. You'd still have VAT charges anyway.

ohnonotgmail

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119453917#Comment_119453917

and UK customs are going to just ignore it?

mondeo

I haven't a clue about imported products that are not designed for sale in the EU. I just fancied having a unique piece. Maybe it's not worth the hassle and I should just go buy something interesting on Amazon from someone who already did the import process.

skimpydoo

Have you a link to the watch?

walterking

hmmm...

€450 for a watch made in china.

That alone would set alarms ringing.

Remember you have absolutely ZERO comeback if anything goes wrong.

and its very easy to populate forums and reviews with glowing language.