Shipping Options to USA

Folks as an addendum to this.
I was running through the shipping options and set up an account on UPS.
Entered the shipping info and sale details to create the required commercial invoice for export to the US.
Then UPS asked if I wanted to pay the tariff.

The pocket pain the US buyers must be feeling for importing European goods really is going to bite.
On a watch that I sold for €3k, the Import Tariff due on the buyer is €1350.93.

Whatever about us getting stung for 23% VAT when we import frm outside the EU, we at least have the benefit of the price we purchase at being competitive with and often less than our "internal" markets.
Take Japanese 2nd hand watches as an example.
Still value to be had even with VAT.

Versus an Omega Seamaster GMT coming in at €4500.
Absolutely mental.

I messaged my buyer, told him what the UPS import calculator had thrown up and asked him if he wanted to cancel rather than potentially ending up with him refusing delivery and the watch entering return limbo.

Even at that rate, my sums would make the additional tariff €1150, theres another €200 in fees floating around in there.
Imagine coming from the $800 de minimis exemption and a very low tariff/tax regime on personal imports.
To whatever the feck it is they're at now.

In fairness, I know we all feel hard down by with the implementation of actual collection of VAT for our extra EU stuff.
It was always due, but we had years of getting away with it.
Versus the US and their revocation of exemptions and blanket application of mental import rates.

Sales tax is levied at the state level and Chrono24 collect it on purchases so the buyer (In Maryland) already had a 6% tax added before the tariff.
Good spot on the 6%, that would make the €1350 to up correctly.
45% on top of already tasty European prices is absolutely mental.

He was offered the option, I also told him I was happy to cancel the sale.
He decided to go ahead anyway.
It's handy for me as I need to pay for the Kid's masters 😉
But sometimes people get fixated on a watch and it's the one they have to have. (Not that any of us have ever fallen into such a silly trap 👀)