Posting Watches Worldwide

RockBurner · Jul 5, 2020

I'm hoping to find a reliable service to send my 884/5 to a repair in the US.

However I've never posted anything this valuable anywhere before and (frankly) i don't trust courier companies much.

So, can someone please recommend a service for sending a valuable watch from the UK to the US that is not going to cost the earth, and which can be trusted.

I also have no comprehension of customs charges, so would like some advice on that too if anyone has time to help?

Many thanks in advance!

abrod520 · Jul 5, 2020

EMS post is usually all right, though you won't be able to insure the package. Some Google searching of parcel insurance solutions might be good for your country.

Customs duties generally don't apply to repairs, so if you mark the package as goods being sent for repair you shouldn't have a problem. Again, researching your country's laws is important though

imagwai · Jul 5, 2020

I've just sent a watch from UK to the US. There are very few decent options these days. I don't know of any carriers now that don't exclude watches and jewellery in their terms and conditions (or at least don't cover above £500). You could take a risk with FedEx who are probably the safest. But I wanted the insurance.

In the end, I went for UPS to send as they were the cheapest and pretty reliable in my experience, but then took out extra insurance with Secursus. I'd not used this service before but the owner of the company posts on Omega forums and seems legitimate. The cost of insurance was very reasonable, but do read the terms and conditions to make sure you do what they say about packaging, labelling and so on. I took loads of photos also.

Regarding customs, my only experience of sending something for repair to the US is a Scotty Cameron putter that I sent to the custom shop. I labelled it up as a repair/return and it was fine going out to the US, but I got stung for import duty when it came back. Apparently I should have got a certificate of export or something and then I could have applied to get the money back. But I didn't know that at the time.