Just to be clear, I am not objecting to Christopher Ward raising their prices. If their costs increase, they have no choice but to pass that on. I admire how Mike France was honest & gave their customers advance notice. I wish more businesses operated in such an honorable manner. Unfortunately, there can be unintended effects such as I described. Actually, the idea suggested that a strap might be optional for those of us that own several makes sense. Could make the difference in crossing the tariff threshold & reduce CW’s shipping costs. Much like buying a strap versus a bracelet can make the difference. The majority of customers would probably still want to buy their watch with a strap which is fine. I do notice how many forum members buy straps from other sources for their watches. Many of my CW straps are interchangeable. So, I think that is an idea worth considering.

Delmar

I am trying to think of any other product that is packaged like a watch, but where you have the option of buying it piecemeal. There must be some, but I am struggling.

A camera maybe. You can buy a camera body without always buying the lens.

JAFO wrote: ↑Thu Apr 07, 2022 12:20 am @WileyECoyote
It probably is time CW (and others) seriously consider the option of selling watches without straps or bracelets. I'm sure many of us have straps already. That would probably keep the watch price under your tax threshold. They would also need to consider how they pack strapless watches, and deal with subsequent carriage of bare bracelets.

Keeping below $800 will make a lot of difference I think.

CW should be considering this especially to areas where customs taxes are levied above a certain cost. While the existing CW delivery box is smart IMO it could be 50% of its size for watch with or without bracelet/strap and maybe a revised watch pod/travel case for purchase of just bracelet/strap.

Bahnstormer_vRS wrote: ↑Wed Apr 06, 2022 11:02 pm Whilst I have no direct experience on shipping costs for Repairs / Service from & to overseas, on the basis that CW cover the cost both ways here in UK, I'd assume the same for Overseas i.e. USA.

Guy

At the tail end of 2020 (so it may have changed) CW covered courier from & to New Zealand for me within the watches servicing costs which I thought was outstanding.

They still do cover the costs for warranty repairs etc. I’m an Australia. It’s a very smooth, clear , professional and easy experience.

That Christopher Ward makes servicing & repairs a smooth, easy process for customers located overseas is very good to hear. For anyone that owns several watches, sooner or later this customer support will be needed. I wonder if any of the other watch companies do similar?

Delmar

I don’t know of a single company that handles returns as well as CW. I think Jason Lim at Halios still does something similar, ut I can’t think of anyone else.

Bahnstormer_vRS wrote: ↑Wed Apr 06, 2022 11:02 pm ^^^^ Points accepted Delmar. Thank you.

Whilst I have no direct experience on shipping costs for Repairs / Service from & to overseas, on the basis that CW cover the cost both ways here in UK, I'd assume the same for Overseas i.e. USA.

Guy

Guy,

I just contacted CW earlier this week to get a warranty repair on a watch I purchased late 2017. So far the response has been outstanding.

CW emailed the shipping label, waybill, and customs invoice, along with instructions and a link to schedule DHL to pickup the package from my house within 48 hours of my online repair request. I used the DHL link to schedule pickup for this morning. DHL arrived on time and the package is now in their tracking system, expected to arrive at CW next Wednesday. Within a few minutes of DHL picking up the package they updated the tracking to show that customs clearance was being performed enroute to the Cincinnati hub.

So far everything has been seamless with no charge to me for the shipping. It will be interesting to see how the process works once CW receives the watch.

Price difference between USD and GBP is getting bigger again. US buyers should order in GBP and save about 10%. C60 on bracelet is US$ 1095 and $999 after conversion from GBP.

But after adding import duty and sales tax for some, these are getting close to grey market Oris Aquis.

I wish that DHL serviced my area but it does not. Christopher Ward has originated shipping with DHL on all of my orders but then the order is handed off to USPS at Wichita, Kansas, which is apparently the nearest DHL point for final delivery. Wichita is a 3 hour drive from where I live to give you some idea. The problem for me is sending anything back to Christopher Ward. I can't originate my shipment with DHL but am forced to go the USPS route. Not a great option because of the cost & it being practically impossible to combine tracking & insurance on an international shipment with USPS. The one time that I have done this, the Christopher Ward representative confirmed that DHL wasn't an option & I would have to go with USPS. Oddly enough, UPS was never mentioned, so I wonder if that service is an option for those of us lacking DHL availability?

Delmar

Radboud wrote: ↑Wed Apr 13, 2022 9:24 pm Price difference between USD and GBP is getting bigger again. US buyers should order in GBP and save about 10%. C60 on bracelet is US$ 1095 and $999 after conversion from GBP.

But after adding import duty and sales tax for some, these are getting close to grey market Oris Aquis.

Will their system allow that? That is a good idea but depends on your credit card conversion rate.

ssholloway21 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 14, 2022 6:19 pm

Radboud wrote: ↑Wed Apr 13, 2022 9:24 pm Price difference between USD and GBP is getting bigger again. US buyers should order in GBP and save about 10%. C60 on bracelet is US$ 1095 and $999 after conversion from GBP.

But after adding import duty and sales tax for some, these are getting close to grey market Oris Aquis.

Will their system allow that? That is a good idea but depends on your credit card conversion rate.

I’ve done it before. Saved about $12 when buying a bracelet for my C60 All banks are different, but I wasn’t assessed any currency conversion fees. Perhaps there’s a threshold I hadn’t reached with just a bracelet purchase.

WileyECoyote wrote: ↑Thu Apr 14, 2022 5:48 pm I wish that DHL serviced my area but it does not.
….
Oddly enough, UPS was never mentioned, so I wonder if that service is an option for those of us lacking DHL availability?

Delmar

I have a similar issue here in central New York. DHL does serve my area occasionally and other times packages are handed off to USPS. The USPS path loses tracking. The DHL path results in delayed deliveries - perhaps because they aggregate regionally? Neither is fully satisfactory. DHL has simply left packages that require signatures just leaning against my mailbox, or told me they attempted delivery but no one answered - even as my car was in the driveway and I was home all day. I’m on a rural postal route so my USPS carrier hand delivers packages, signature needed or not.

Nearest DHL is about a 2 hour drive. USPS is only one county away, about 10 miles.

I had wondered if anyone else lacked DHL delivery, so now know I am not alone on this. My Christopher Ward watch package has been left on our front stoop in the past. I solved that problem by putting up a bigger mailbox. At least the package isn’t sitting out in full view of anyone that drives down our street & exposed to the elements. In Kansas, you never know what the weather is going to do next.

Delmar