This is a post to explain how to complete the US Customs Watch/Clock Worksheet declaration for DHL as done through Buyee thus far...though it may relate to other purchase proxy services such as fromjapan, Zenmarket, Timepeaks, etc.
On May 7, I purchased a $1400ish watch through Buyee. On May 10, Buyee sent notification the Buyee warehouse possessed the watch sent from the seller, and I selected and paid for Buyee Air Delivery to the USA (which ended up being DHL). On May 11, Buyee sent notification of a "hold" placed on the shipment that may delay the shipment arrival date.
On May 12, a DHL representative stated there was no "hold" placed by DHL and the watch shipment had been progressing as expected and was still scheduled for an on-time for delivery next week. The DHL representative did indicate Buyee might be calling the "hold" a need to complete a US Customs form if the watch had a value exceeding $800. The DHL representative instructed how to download the customs form DHL utilizes and explained how to complete the Watch/Clock Worksheet.
The DHL representative strongly reiterated that the Watch/Clock Worksheet should be LEGIBLE to avoid any delays.
1. In the "From" space, the DHL representative instructed to place my name (not the seller at auction). This is because once the purchase proxy service has possession of the watch, you are considered the new owner.
2. In the "Date" space, the DHL representative instructed to place the date of form completion (not the action date).
3. In the "Airway Bill Number" space, the DHL representative instructed to place the DHL tracking number, NOT the purchase proxy services transaction number. Placing the DHL tracking number in the "Airway Bill Number" allows US Customs representatives to link your inbound watch to the shipping process and you. It's crucial.
Movement:
4. In the "Type of Movement" space, the DHL representative suggested placing the movement number instead of a simple checkmark. He also suggested placing the country of manufacture for the movement. In this case, the movement was 4S79-Japan, placed to the left of "Analogue (Mechanical)".
5. In the "Value" space, the DHL representative stated to place the approximated value of the movement in consideration of total value. Based upon previous posts in the forum, others seem to place between 50% and 80% of the value on the movement.
6. In the "Number of Jewels" space, the DHL representative instructed to place the number of jewels associated with the movement. In the case of the 4S79-Japan, it has 31 jewels.
Case:
7. In the "Material" space, the DHL representative stated to identify the material from which the case is constructed, such as gold or stainless steel.
8. In the "Value" space, the DHL representative stated to place the approximated value of the case in consideration of total value. Based upon previous posts in the forum, others seem to place between 10% and 40% of the value on the case with a higher percentage for rare, valuable, or precious metals.
Strap:
9. In the "Material" space, the DHL representative stated to identify the material from which the strap (band) or bracelet is constructed, such as leather for a strap or stainless steel for a bracelet. The DHL representative stated that some materials would not be allowed for export (such as lizard, crocodile, alligator, etc.) because of CITES treaty barring exportation of protected wildlife. The DHL representative suggested avoiding any mention of those type of materials, and stated you should not write, "NO" before lizard, crocodile, alligator, etc., or your watch may be delayed for inspection. The watch arriving next week is calf leather, a permitted material.
10. In the "Value" space, the DHL representative stated to place the approximated value of the strap/bracelet in consideration of total value. Based upon previous posts in the forum, others seem to place between 10% and 20% of the value on the strap with a higher percentage for bracelets made of metals.
Type of Power:
11. In the "Battery" and "Type of Battery," the DHL representative stated to write down the model of battery to the left blank area of "battery." The DHL representative also stated to write the type of battery in the blank to the right, such as Mercury, Silver Oxide, or Lithium.
12. In the "Value" space, the DHL representative stated to place the approximated value of the battery in consideration of total value. Based upon previous posts in the forum, others seem to place between a low value for the price of the battery.
13. In the "Wind Up" space, the DHL representative stated to place a checkmark to the left of "Wind Up" if the movement for the purchased watch is one requiring manual winding.
14. In the "Self-Winding" space, the DHL representative stated to place a checkmark to the left of "Self-Winding" if the watch has a self-winding feature.
The DHL representative stated it was important that the total value claimed on the Customs form aligned with the receipt of sale from Buyee. The DHL representative further stated one should not include the Japanese consumption tax buyers pay when ordering through purchase proxy services. There is no need to pay any US customs tax on Japanese consumption tax. The DHL representative stated the person completing the form can use the currency of the nation where he purchased the watch or US dollar amounts when completing the form.
15. The DHL representative stated to sign your name in cursive on the line stating "Signature."
16. The DHL representative stated to legibly print your name after the line stating "Print your name."
17. The DHL representative stated to write the name of the receiving company (if any) along with a company contact information (such as phone number) in the "Company" line. The DHL representative further stated one may write "self" or your name on the line after "Company" if the watch is for an individual. Again, one may write his own contact information after writing "self" or his/her name.
18. Send the completed Watch/Clock Worksheet for US Customs to the purchase proxy service by responding to the email sent to you.
As the DHL representative predicted, on May 13, Buyee sent notification the "hold" was because they needed the Watch/Clock Worksheet completed and they could not ship the watch until I completed the worksheet. (The DHL representative had already said the watch was still being shipped and the "hold" did not mean it was being "held in place"). Buyee attached a copy of the blank Watch/Clock worksheet attached in this post. I completed, scanned, and returned the Watch/Clock Worksheet and within two hours Buyee indicated the "hold" had been lifted and the watch had shipped. This is obviously automated since Buyee representatives do not work weekends according to their information.
Upon a US Customs employee reviewing the Watch/Clock Worksheet, it's likely there will be another new "hold" for the US Customs fee, but that should not hinder the shipment in progress. So far, the DHL representative seemed to understand how both the auction site and US Customs works.
On May 7, I purchased a $1400ish watch through Buyee. On May 10, Buyee sent notification the Buyee warehouse possessed the watch sent from the seller, and I selected and paid for Buyee Air Delivery to the USA (which ended up being DHL). On May 11, Buyee sent notification of a "hold" placed on the shipment that may delay the shipment arrival date.
On May 12, a DHL representative stated there was no "hold" placed by DHL and the watch shipment had been progressing as expected and was still scheduled for an on-time for delivery next week. The DHL representative did indicate Buyee might be calling the "hold" a need to complete a US Customs form if the watch had a value exceeding $800. The DHL representative instructed how to download the customs form DHL utilizes and explained how to complete the Watch/Clock Worksheet.
The DHL representative strongly reiterated that the Watch/Clock Worksheet should be LEGIBLE to avoid any delays.
1. In the "From" space, the DHL representative instructed to place my name (not the seller at auction). This is because once the purchase proxy service has possession of the watch, you are considered the new owner.
2. In the "Date" space, the DHL representative instructed to place the date of form completion (not the action date).
3. In the "Airway Bill Number" space, the DHL representative instructed to place the DHL tracking number, NOT the purchase proxy services transaction number. Placing the DHL tracking number in the "Airway Bill Number" allows US Customs representatives to link your inbound watch to the shipping process and you. It's crucial.
Movement:
4. In the "Type of Movement" space, the DHL representative suggested placing the movement number instead of a simple checkmark. He also suggested placing the country of manufacture for the movement. In this case, the movement was 4S79-Japan, placed to the left of "Analogue (Mechanical)".
5. In the "Value" space, the DHL representative stated to place the approximated value of the movement in consideration of total value. Based upon previous posts in the forum, others seem to place between 50% and 80% of the value on the movement.
6. In the "Number of Jewels" space, the DHL representative instructed to place the number of jewels associated with the movement. In the case of the 4S79-Japan, it has 31 jewels.
Case:
7. In the "Material" space, the DHL representative stated to identify the material from which the case is constructed, such as gold or stainless steel.
8. In the "Value" space, the DHL representative stated to place the approximated value of the case in consideration of total value. Based upon previous posts in the forum, others seem to place between 10% and 40% of the value on the case with a higher percentage for rare, valuable, or precious metals.
Strap:
9. In the "Material" space, the DHL representative stated to identify the material from which the strap (band) or bracelet is constructed, such as leather for a strap or stainless steel for a bracelet. The DHL representative stated that some materials would not be allowed for export (such as lizard, crocodile, alligator, etc.) because of CITES treaty barring exportation of protected wildlife. The DHL representative suggested avoiding any mention of those type of materials, and stated you should not write, "NO" before lizard, crocodile, alligator, etc., or your watch may be delayed for inspection. The watch arriving next week is calf leather, a permitted material.
10. In the "Value" space, the DHL representative stated to place the approximated value of the strap/bracelet in consideration of total value. Based upon previous posts in the forum, others seem to place between 10% and 20% of the value on the strap with a higher percentage for bracelets made of metals.
Type of Power:
11. In the "Battery" and "Type of Battery," the DHL representative stated to write down the model of battery to the left blank area of "battery." The DHL representative also stated to write the type of battery in the blank to the right, such as Mercury, Silver Oxide, or Lithium.
12. In the "Value" space, the DHL representative stated to place the approximated value of the battery in consideration of total value. Based upon previous posts in the forum, others seem to place between a low value for the price of the battery.
13. In the "Wind Up" space, the DHL representative stated to place a checkmark to the left of "Wind Up" if the movement for the purchased watch is one requiring manual winding.
14. In the "Self-Winding" space, the DHL representative stated to place a checkmark to the left of "Self-Winding" if the watch has a self-winding feature.
The DHL representative stated it was important that the total value claimed on the Customs form aligned with the receipt of sale from Buyee. The DHL representative further stated one should not include the Japanese consumption tax buyers pay when ordering through purchase proxy services. There is no need to pay any US customs tax on Japanese consumption tax. The DHL representative stated the person completing the form can use the currency of the nation where he purchased the watch or US dollar amounts when completing the form.
15. The DHL representative stated to sign your name in cursive on the line stating "Signature."
16. The DHL representative stated to legibly print your name after the line stating "Print your name."
17. The DHL representative stated to write the name of the receiving company (if any) along with a company contact information (such as phone number) in the "Company" line. The DHL representative further stated one may write "self" or your name on the line after "Company" if the watch is for an individual. Again, one may write his own contact information after writing "self" or his/her name.
18. Send the completed Watch/Clock Worksheet for US Customs to the purchase proxy service by responding to the email sent to you.
As the DHL representative predicted, on May 13, Buyee sent notification the "hold" was because they needed the Watch/Clock Worksheet completed and they could not ship the watch until I completed the worksheet. (The DHL representative had already said the watch was still being shipped and the "hold" did not mean it was being "held in place"). Buyee attached a copy of the blank Watch/Clock worksheet attached in this post. I completed, scanned, and returned the Watch/Clock Worksheet and within two hours Buyee indicated the "hold" had been lifted and the watch had shipped. This is obviously automated since Buyee representatives do not work weekends according to their information.
Upon a US Customs employee reviewing the Watch/Clock Worksheet, it's likely there will be another new "hold" for the US Customs fee, but that should not hinder the shipment in progress. So far, the DHL representative seemed to understand how both the auction site and US Customs works.
