US custom/tariffs for buying a used or new watch from Japan through Chrono 24

If the price is over $800 and the seller has not paid the tariffs I believe they will be triggered.

I can only tell you what I experienced. Yes, I got charged for "duties", basically .035%. It was handled though the carrier (DHL) and was extremely easy. Basically I got an email from DHL stating that this was owed, and provided a link where I could take care of it online. Took 2 minutes. No complaints. Had the exact same experience purchasing through eBay when the carrier was DHL. Hope this helps.

Ok that’s not bad at all. Was the watch expensive if it’s to ask? I’m looking at a $3k grand Seiko

Some countries make you go through a broker like India to basically double the cost.

Depends on how it’s shipped. DHL always seems to get me. FedEx or the rare UPS, rarely.

That explains some things!

Order a gs couple years ago from Japan and it had an alligator strap and wouldn't pass customs..needles to say I asked the seller to take some money off to send it without the strap and they declined so I stopped the sale and got my 3k back..

Similar case bringing stuff into Australia. Our limit is $1000 (about $650 US).

Correct,DHL always gets me.Had to pay VAT on two german watches shipped through them.Paid nothing through UPS,German too.No fees on two JDM’s that didn’t ship through DHL.Just ordered a Yema,they use DHL.Guess I’m paying 💵

In Canada, expect to pay 10% of the price you paid on Chrono for duty plus tax. I have bought 2 watches from Japan on C24 successfully and even with the duties I was well ahead vs buying from the AD locally for my new watches.

You must be in CA,same thing happened to me.alligator are illegal in Kommiefornia.

I bought a $800 watch from Japan very recently. DHL. Customs hit me with 6.5%. Just over $50. Irritating but not painful.

You will likely have to pay, but as described by others it is generally pretty easy. Only once I had a watch held up in customs for like 8-9days confirm Germany, but ultimately was released.

Alligator? You can buy alligator MEAT in the US but you can't import that? I've had alligator jerky!

That was overturned in 2023.

Check out Chapter 91 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. Report back when you figure it out. Good luck 🫡.

I just experienced that same from DHL and Fed X. I lost a purchase on Chrono23 when the seller used UPS.

I bought a Grand Seiko on Chrono24 from Japan and I had to pay my local sales tax of 8.25%

That's a US Customs thing not a Kommiefornia thing. It has something to do with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. 🐊🦖

Got it thank you.I thought they were legal in the rest of the country

They’re killed all day long on that TV show

They are legal in the US. You just need a permit to import it. Absent that permit, they won't let it in. Kommie did try to ban it but that state law was shutdown by a Federal judge last year.

Up to $800 it is “de minimis” = no tax/duties.

Over $800 you can expect to pay duty. In theory you should also declare your purchase and pay state sales tax. (CBP do share import data with some states but I imagine it’s rare that states go after individuals for a couple of hundred dollars..

Also, DHL/UPS etc aren’t “getting you” - they are obliged by law to declare the goods accurately. CBP get the duty. Some carriers are more compliant than others… and if it’s found you haven’t paid duty correctly, you would be liable to pay the duty anyway. For low end stuff, I’m sure it’s fine to dodge a couple of tens of dollars. But if you’re buying more expensive stuff, you should be wanting to make sure it’s all legitimately paid for.

The postal service is a s*** show and is your best chance of them miss-declaring your shipment and paying nothing. But equally, they have very poor traceability and insurance.

The best thing is just going there for a watch safari and bring a bunch of them! ;)

O,thanks for let me know.always wanted a gator on my wrist.Im going to start shopping for one

I live in pa actually and they had it held up at customs for a week in Alaska lol

I paid DHL $153 on a Grand Seiko I bought from Germany valued at $28k

Importing a watch to the United States, a watch isn't just a watch. It's a case, a strap, and a movement, each taxed at different rates. The shipper will declare the breakdown. If they don't, you'll get the dreaded "worksheet," to do it yourself. It pays to list the bulk of the value of the watch in the movement, which is taxed at a flat rate.

DHL or FedEx act as your customs broker; they do the paperwork and pay any duties on your behalf, then charge you for it, plus a fee for their services. With other shippers, you can often get away with paying no duty, but heaven help you if they catch you and force you to do formal entry yourself.

I had a watch for €3,900 shipped to me from France via DHL. The shipper knew enough to put €3,400 of that value in the movement (that la Joux-Perret didn't cost €3,400). DHL billed me $70 and a bit. IIRC, like half of that was a DHL fee.

Another watch came to me via a Chinese shipper, and I got away with paying no duty at all. USPS did the last mile delivery, however, which was an utter nightmare.

This is as good an explanation of importing a watch there is, I think.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YG5PX31mDUw