You might want to ask what the seller put on the customs paperwork. Fedex will handle it. It is best to let them do it if customs is involved.

 

I imported a Zenith El Primero from Poland back in November. FedEx couldn't have screwed it up more if they tried.

The seller shipped the watch FedEx Int'l Priority on 11/22.

On 11/26, it said "Out for delivery", and then at around 10am it updated to "Attempted delivery, customer not available or business closed".
Now, I was working in my home office on a dead end street, so I see any delivery truck that comes by. I went to the local FedEx office at 7pm, and they said the package hadn't cleared customs, so they were sending it back to Indianapolis.

At that point, all tracking just stopped. A few days later, I called Customer Service, which was some poor bastard working from home in India, utterly clueless.
I finally found a number for International Customer Service, and they told me that the package had been issued an internal tracking number, so I wouldn't know the status until they contacted me again.

On 12/15, they called and said they sent me a Customs form to fill in. They did provide good instructions for that, at least, and it was an editable pdf, so easy enough.

On 12/16, the watch shows up as "Out for delivery" again. I'm working from home, staring out the window...FedEx Ground comes, UPS comes, the mailman comes, Amazon comes, no watch...

At 1:10pm, status changes to "Attempted delivery, customer not available or business closed". W.T.F.!!!

I called Int'l CS again. They said the driver couldn't get to my house because of construction. I told CS that was a pretty lame excuse from some lazy-ass driver, because every other delivery service except DHL showed up that morning. I told them to please just leave the damn watch at the local FedEx office and I'd go get it myself.

I went there at 7pm again, stood in line behind a guy who couldn't decide whether he needed insurance on his golf bag and clubs or not, and finally got my watch 20 mins later.

The seller did a fantastic job packing the watch. Customs opened the outer box, but gave up when they saw layers of bubble wrap and shrink wrap.

A few days later, I got a bill from FedEx for $257.81, which was mostly the US Customs Duty. The watch cost $5545, so I guess it wasn't too bad. I paid sales tax when I bought it on Chrono24.

 

I imported a Zenith El Primero from Poland back in November. FedEx couldn't have screwed it up more if they tried.

The seller shipped the watch FedEx Int'l Priority on 11/22.

On 11/26, it said "Out for delivery", and then at around 10am it updated to "Attempted delivery, customer not available or business closed".
Now, I was working in my home office on a dead end street, so I see any delivery truck that comes by. I went to the local FedEx office at 7pm, and they said the package hadn't cleared customs, so they were sending it back to Indianapolis.

At that point, all tracking just stopped. A few days later, I called Customer Service, which was some poor bastard working from home in India, utterly clueless.
I finally found a number for International Customer Service, and they told me that the package had been issued an internal tracking number, so I wouldn't know the status until they contacted me again.

On 12/15, they called and said they sent me a Customs form to fill in. They did provide good instructions for that, at least, and it was an editable pdf, so easy enough.

On 12/16, the watch shows up as "Out for delivery" again. I'm working from home, staring out the window...FedEx Ground comes, UPS comes, the mailman comes, Amazon comes, no watch...

At 1:10pm, status changes to "Attempted delivery, customer not available or business closed". W.T.F.!!!

I called Int'l CS again. They said the driver couldn't get to my house because of construction. I told CS that was a pretty lame excuse from some lazy-ass driver, because every other delivery service except DHL showed up that morning. I told them to please just leave the damn watch at the local FedEx office and I'd go get it myself.

I went there at 7pm again, stood in line behind a guy who couldn't decide whether he needed insurance on his golf bag and clubs or not, and finally got my watch 20 mins later.

The seller did a fantastic job packing the watch. Customs opened the outer box, but gave up when they saw layers of bubble wrap and shrink wrap.

A few days later, I got a bill from FedEx for $257.81, which was mostly the US Customs Duty. The watch cost $5545, so I guess it wasn't too bad. I paid sales tax when I bought it on Chrono24.

Yikes; so sorry to hear that. Well, sounds like you at least got a good deal on your El Primero---what year was the watch if you don't mind my asking?

 

Yes my experience is if its sent "overnight" FedEx or DHL etc you will get a "bill".

 

I bought a watch from Germany shipped by Fedex. The value of the case, movement, and strap were itemized separately. About a week after the watch arrived I got a bill from Fedex for duty and fees.

 

You should get a bill from Fedex, or Customs.

 

In the US, Fedex will advance the customs duties for you and they will bill you afterwards. I prefer that system.

Here, Fedex charges you upon delivery. And beyond a certain amount, you have to pay Fedex before delivery.

 

I did US to Japan last year. They send me invoice of custom duties after delivery of the watch. DHL charged me the same.

 

As most have said, you will definitely be paying custom fees and taxes. Now if buying on eBay, often times the prices seems usually cheaper but when you factor in all of the fees, most times it ends up being more than you would have bought here in the US. Just my two cents


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As most have said, you will definitely be paying custom fees and taxes. Now if buying on eBay, often times the prices seems usually cheaper but when you factor in all of the fees, most times it ends up being more than you would have bought here in the US. Just my two cents


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Yeah, the watch at hand is JDM only, and was a limited edition of only 400 so wasn't easy to find. No good sellers in the USA or I'd have done it that way for exactly the reason you mentioned. But, did indeed find a good deal and have wanted this watch for a while, so even with the import duty it still came out well worth it.

 

Fedex seems to be hit or miss with when they give you a customs and fee bill. I read about folks getting their stuff and then a few weeks later they get a bill. But the 3 times I bought watches from Japan that were shipped using Fedex (1st time Oct 2020, 2nd time Jan 2021 and 3rd time May 2021). I had to pay the customs and fedex fee online before they delivered. The 4 over $800 items I bought from Japan that were sent out via DHL, I also had to pay for them upfront online.

I had not problem with paying upfront as I like paying upfront so I don't have to worry about a bill arriving for it 2 months later.

 

Fedex seems to be hit or miss with when they give you a customs and fee bill. I read about folks getting their stuff and then a few weeks later they get a bill. But the 3 times I bought watches from Japan that were shipped using Fedex (1st time Oct 2020, 2nd time Jan 2021 and 3rd time May 2021). I had to pay the customs and fedex fee online before they delivered. The 4 over $800 items I bought from Japan that were sent out via DHL, I also had to pay for them upfront online.

I had not problem with paying upfront as I like paying upfront so I don't have to worry about a bill arriving for it 2 months later.

Oh perfect---how did FedEx notify you to pre-pay online? That's also what I'd like to do...but have heard they may also just send a bill later. Many thanks!

 

I have purchased a few watches from outside the US. DHL always asks for custom duties and it needs to be paid before they deliver.
With FedEx, I have imported watches from Canada and Europe. Each time they sent me an email asking me to fill in a watch sheet which required details such as watch case material, strap/bracelet and material, movement type, number of jewels in movement, etc. Be careful while filling this, as the custom fees depend on this information. They delivered the watches once I provided the information, without waiting for payment. The bills then came via regular USPS post after 3 days to 3 weeks. You can make the payment online. No need to go to a FedEx office.

 

With the US, they will deliver right away, and you'll get a bill in the mail in 1-2 weeks for customs. Which is ideal. Unlike DHL which the package will sit in Cincinnati for three days before they might put in small text on the tracking site you need to contact them, and then when you do they tell you you need to pay customs and you've used up 3 of your 7 days. Though to be fair for DHL, you can contact them the second it hits Cincinnati and pay it immediately once you're aware of that. I do think Fedex charges more for the processing. I don't think I've ever had anything from UPS expensive enough to pay customs.

Actually my favorite from Japan is Kuroneko (Yamato Transport). They're cheaper than the big names, seems to be faster (somehow), and pretty much delivers at least for me at doorstep. I'm guessing they contract with someone since I can't imagine Kuroneko having a network in the US, but you can't tell from their tracking. Very few use Kuroneko though. Don't know why since it's big in Japan, so they have more storefronts than Fedex or DHL.

 

With the US, they will deliver right away, and you'll get a bill in the mail in 1-2 weeks for customs. Which is ideal. Unlike DHL which the package will sit in Cincinnati for three days before they might put in small text on the tracking site you need to contact them, and then when you do they tell you you need to pay customs and you've used up 3 of your 7 days. Though to be fair for DHL, you can contact them the second it hits Cincinnati and pay it immediately once you're aware of that. I do think Fedex charges more for the processing. I don't think I've ever had anything from UPS expensive enough to pay customs.

Actually my favorite from Japan is Kuroneko (Yamato Transport). They're cheaper than the big names, seems to be faster (somehow), and pretty much delivers at least for me at doorstep. I'm guessing they contract with someone since I can't imagine Kuroneko having a network in the US, but you can't tell from their tracking. Very few use Kuroneko though. Don't know why since it's big in Japan, so they have more storefronts than Fedex or DHL.

I have never had that happen with DHL. I have always gotten an email stating I had to pay some amount before they could deliver it. Perhaps the sellers I use (like Seiya) put my email address in the shipping form or some other place so that DHL notifies me that I need to pay them. The only time I have gotten that "you need to contact us" message is when the package was being delayed by a day. I remember the first time I got the message I was worried that something happened to the watch or that customs snatched it but it was only to tell me that due to weather the package would not be delivered for another day.

 

Hey folks,

About to receive a JDM model coming over from Japan to the USA via FedEx. Value is just under $2500.

Does anyone have experience with FedEx and know how they handle import duties? Ie, how we actually pay them? I searched around on their website but didn't seem to find the answer...I'm way out in a rural area a pretty decent drive from the FedEx stores so trying to be a bit pro-active...

...and of course I've heard it seems pretty hit or miss whether we'll end up actually getting import duties or not...have heard of plenty of packages just breezing on through...

Thanks!

And btw, for anyone curious, Jounetsu limited edition of The Citizen Chronomaster. HAQ, solar, titanium, zaratsu work, perpetual calendar (or rather, date). Really excited...

View attachment 16396386

That's beautiful! Looking forward to a wrist shot once it's arrived!

 

Thanks so much! Another enthusiast here on WUS turned me onto it. Totally, I'm very eager to see how it holds up next to GS and will post a full review.

 

Fedex is ass. That's been my experience shipping from Japan. They did send me a nice bill 3 weeks after for fees, etc.

They are slower than promised, they delay constantly, its just a mess. I wouldn't ever let them ship from Japan for me again.

 

But, for your purchase! Gorgeous watch and I can't wait to see wrist shots.

 

I’ve only imported one watch from Japan to US but it was via DHL. I received an email, and then simply paid online. I would assume FedEx wouldn’t be much different.

 

 

“BREITTTT-LINGGGGG!!”

 

So based on the earlier post t sounds like one should clear to pay about 5.5% on (seller’s stated value - $800)? Plus your local sales tax payable to C24, eBay, etc.?

 

Well, if seller breaks down the pricing right, (by giving 80% value to the movement, 10% for case and 10% for bracelet) then duty shouldn't be too high.

Duty on movement tend to be very low: usually below $5, then 4.2% on case and 2% on bracelet.

On top of that, FedEx will add their "clearance fee".

 

My experience with Fed Ex is that they will probably lose the watch or ship it to the wrong country.

(Of the 3 I've had shipped Fed Ex in the last 12 months only 1 was delivered correctly - and that was a replacement for one they inexplicably shipped to Spain when it was clearly addressed to Brazil - confirmed by a pre-shipping photograph of the parcel!)

 

Based upon my experience, you will definitely get billed by FedEx for customs fees after delivery. The only shipping from Japan to the US that seems to escape customs fees is via EMS.