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Thread: Safely buying a watch from an overseas seller?

  1. #1
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    Safely buying a watch from an overseas seller?

    Gents,

    I'm buying a watch from a seller in the US. Happy with the price etc.. I will have it shipped to friends in the US for safety, and will pick it up at a later date when travel is closer to normal.

    We were okay with Paypal (and the buyer protection it offers), but this protection is invalidated if the watch is shipped to an address other than the account address (and I can't add a US address to my account). So that's a no-go.

    I'd like to avoid a bank transfer etc. to a foreign seller without recourse, if possible. It's high-value so I'd like some protection.

    Any ideas as to how we might be able to do this?

  2. #2
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    Quote Originally Posted by ddm27 View Post
    Gents,

    I'm buying a watch from a seller in the US. Happy with the price etc.. I will have it shipped to friends in the US for safety, and will pick it up at a later date when travel is closer to normal.

    We were okay with Paypal (and the buyer protection it offers), but this protection is invalidated if the watch is shipped to an address other than the account address (and I can't add a US address to my account). So that's a no-go.

    I'd like to avoid a bank transfer etc. to a foreign seller without recourse, if possible. It's high-value so I'd like some protection.

    Any ideas as to how we might be able to do this?
    Can you get your US friend to buy it snd reimburse them (with a nice drink added on to make up for any ‘exchange rate differences)?

  3. #3
    Craftsman
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    How about you pay your friend where it's being shipped to and they pay the guy?
    That way it would be covered. Not sure if that would work out ok?

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  4. #4
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    Credit card is the safest but obviously not possible for an individual to do that.

    Why don’t you transfer the money to your friend and he/ she buys it from their PayPal account in the States?

    BW,
    Chi Kai


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  5. #5
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    There is a theme here, we all answered at the same time!

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  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by noidea View Post
    There is a theme here, we all answered at the same time!

    Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
    Ha ha! Indeed there is!


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  7. #7
    Master Templogin's Avatar
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    Use an Escrow service? That way if the deal goes wrong you don't lose a friend too.

  8. #8
    Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Templogin View Post
    Use an Escrow service? That way if the deal goes wrong you don't lose a friend too.
    If you use an Escrow service you choose it, not the seller.


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  9. #9
    Just have it shipped to you? The seller will likely be responsible for the shipment and insure it. I’ve bought around 10 watches from the US and all been fine. Delivery from 2 days upto 10 depending on which service.

    James

  10. #10
    Grand Master Onelasttime's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by champagne_james View Post
    Just have it shipped to you? The seller will likely be responsible for the shipment and insure it. I’ve bought around 10 watches from the US and all been fine. Delivery from 2 days upto 10 depending on which service.

    James
    Which will add an extra 20% to the price.

  11. #11
    Master PhilipK's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Onelasttime View Post
    Which will add an extra 20% to the price.
    But he'll have to pay that when he brings the watch back to the UK anyway, surely?

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by PhilipK View Post
    But he'll have to pay that when he brings the watch back to the UK anyway, surely?
    Ahem...

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by PhilipK View Post
    But he'll have to pay that when he brings the watch back to the UK anyway, surely?
    Without elaborating too much, I won't be bringing it into the UK. I'm not looking at this as a tax dodge.

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by Templogin View Post
    Use an Escrow service? That way if the deal goes wrong you don't lose a friend too.
    That's it - don't want to trouble a friend if this all goes wrong! People that don't deal in watches usually feel iuncomfortable with $6k purchases! And it's asking a lot - it's a close friend's family member, to be precise.

  15. #15
    Master
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    It's been a while since this reared it's ugly head.
    It used to be a monthly thread the avoidance of duty.

  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by PhilipK View Post
    But he'll have to pay that when he brings the watch back to the UK anyway, surely?
    If he wears it and it is the only watch he is carrying, he should be able to get away with it.


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  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ctam View Post
    If he wears it and it is the only watch he is carrying, he should be able to get away with it.


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    And so it begins.

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hood View Post
    And so it begins.
    I apologise if my comment has caused grief.


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  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hood View Post
    It's been a while since this reared it's ugly head.
    It used to be a monthly thread the avoidance of duty.
    To repeat, and to be clear, this watch will NOT be brought into the UK in some sort of improper way.
    Last edited by ddm27; 16th September 2020 at 23:09.

  20. #20
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    So, back on topic. Has anyone used a reliable escrow provider before?

  21. #21
    Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by ddm27 View Post
    To repeat, and to be clear, this watch will NOT be brought into the UK in some sort of improper way.
    I’m not suggesting it would.
    It’s just that there tends to be a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth anytime it comes up.

  22. #22
    Master Templogin's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ddm27 View Post
    To repeat, and to be clear, this watch will NOT be brought into the UK in some sort of improper way.
    That was obviously never in question, in which case use an escrow service (www.escrow.com perhaps) and have it shipped to the UK.

  23. #23
    Quote Originally Posted by Templogin View Post
    That was obviously never in question, in which case use an escrow service (www.escrow.com perhaps) and have it shipped to the UK.
    If you don’t know the OPs situation then just shut up.


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  24. #24
    Quote Originally Posted by Templogin View Post
    That was obviously never in question, in which case use an escrow service (www.escrow.com perhaps) and have it shipped to the UK.
    He said he’s not bringing it into UK.

  25. #25
    Grand Master Onelasttime's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kingstepper View Post
    He said he’s not bringing it into UK.
    I wonder where he's taking it?

  26. #26
    Master Templogin's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kingstepper View Post
    He said he’s not bringing it into UK.
    No, he said that he is not bringing it to the UK in an improper way. So if he is bringing it to the UK then my advice stands.

  27. #27
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    Safely buying a watch from an overseas seller?

    Christ. I’ve heard of armchair lawyers but never armchair customs officers.

    Get back to peeping through your neighbours’ windows and calling the TV Licensing guys whenever you see Eastenders on.

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  28. #28
    Quote Originally Posted by Templogin View Post
    No, he said that he is not bringing it to the UK in an improper way. So if he is bringing it to the UK then my advice stands.
    He did, but also said he won't be bringing it into the UK so presumably won't be bringing into the UK.

    Quote Originally Posted by ddm27 View Post
    Without elaborating too much, I won't be bringing it into the UK. I'm not looking at this as a tax dodge.

  29. #29
    Grand Master RustyBin5's Avatar
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    Safely buying a watch from an overseas seller?

    Quote Originally Posted by ddm27 View Post
    Gents,

    I'm buying a watch from a seller in the US. Happy with the price etc.. I will have it shipped to friends in the US for safety, and will pick it up at a later date when travel is closer to normal.

    We were okay with Paypal (and the buyer protection it offers), but this protection is invalidated if the watch is shipped to an address other than the account address (and I can't add a US address to my account). So that's a no-go.

    I'd like to avoid a bank transfer etc. to a foreign seller without recourse, if possible. It's high-value so I'd like some protection.

    Any ideas as to how we might be able to do this?
    You CAN add a US address to your account as a secondary address. Just go to Paypal - click the cog top right - then click the big plus sign next to your address to add another address. I have a USA second address on mine to help me buy Xmas presents for my American relatives. If I buy from a US seller he delivers to the US recipient which makes life much easier at Xmas for me.

    I also have a third address which is just the wife’s name instead of mine so that any Xmas present deliveries are not inadvertently opened by the wrong person
    Last edited by RustyBin5; 17th September 2020 at 10:56.

  30. #30
    Master Templogin's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kingstepper View Post
    He did, but also said he won't be bringing it into the UK so presumably won't be bringing into the UK.
    Life is full of intrigue!

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