Have been eyeing off a CW and noticed something perculiar about my cart. Yes we normally pay a 10% GST when importing anything over AU$1000 so that's fine. But the math just doesn't add up - with 10% added total should be $1936. So there's another AU$75 that isn't accounted for...
Is there a glitch in the system? What am I missing?
My cart doesn't add up?
My cart doesn't add up?
Last edited by Bahnstormer_vRS on Tue Jan 14, 2025 1:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Attached photo placed 'in line'.
Reason: Attached photo placed 'in line'.
- Bahnstormer_vRS
- Moderator
- Posts: 38068
- Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2012 3:06 pm
- CW-watches: 34
- LE-three: 1
- LE-foura: 1
- LE-fourb: 1
- LE-six: 1
- Location: Hertfordshire, UK
Re: My cart doesn't add up?
Welcome to the forum. 
I don't know the answer to your question as such, but have you tried the transaction in GBP from the UK website? It certainly works out cheaper that way than an American buyer using US website and USD.
Price will initially include UK's VAT. This gets removed, and local tax added, when you put your Australian address in.
Guy
Sent from my Galaxy S23 Ultra using Tapatalk

I don't know the answer to your question as such, but have you tried the transaction in GBP from the UK website? It certainly works out cheaper that way than an American buyer using US website and USD.
Price will initially include UK's VAT. This gets removed, and local tax added, when you put your Australian address in.
Guy
Sent from my Galaxy S23 Ultra using Tapatalk
- These users thanked the author Bahnstormer_vRS for the post:
- veecee
In small proportions, we just beautie see:
And in short measures, life may perfect bee. - Ben Jonson (1572 – 1637)
Inscription on the Longitude Dial
Hatfield House, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 5NB, England
And in short measures, life may perfect bee. - Ben Jonson (1572 – 1637)
Inscription on the Longitude Dial
Hatfield House, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 5NB, England
Re: My cart doesn't add up?
Thanks for the quick reply Guy. I'll give that a try!
- These users thanked the author veecee for the post:
- Bahnstormer_vRS
- Bahnstormer_vRS
- Moderator
- Posts: 38068
- Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2012 3:06 pm
- CW-watches: 34
- LE-three: 1
- LE-foura: 1
- LE-fourb: 1
- LE-six: 1
- Location: Hertfordshire, UK
Re: My cart doesn't add up?
From CW's website

You've factored in 10% GST (Sales Tax?) but is the AU$75 accounted for with Duty on importation?
Guy
Sent from my Galaxy S23 Ultra using Tapatalk

You've factored in 10% GST (Sales Tax?) but is the AU$75 accounted for with Duty on importation?
Guy
Sent from my Galaxy S23 Ultra using Tapatalk
- These users thanked the author Bahnstormer_vRS for the post:
- veecee
In small proportions, we just beautie see:
And in short measures, life may perfect bee. - Ben Jonson (1572 – 1637)
Inscription on the Longitude Dial
Hatfield House, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 5NB, England
And in short measures, life may perfect bee. - Ben Jonson (1572 – 1637)
Inscription on the Longitude Dial
Hatfield House, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 5NB, England
Re: My cart doesn't add up?
That could be it, but it just isn't listed/itemised anywhere. I am pedantic that way I guess...
- These users thanked the author veecee for the post:
- Bahnstormer_vRS
-
- Senior Guru
- Posts: 500
- Joined: Sat Jun 22, 2024 8:46 pm
- CW-watches: 1
- Location: New York, NY
Re: My cart doesn't add up?
That's weird because for US sales it is all listed in the cart: local taxes and import duty. The same if I do it on the UK site...
- These users thanked the author nycWATCHnerd for the post:
- veecee
Re: My cart doesn't add up?
Got a reply 2 days ago. But this has me completely confused for several reasons:
1. I didn't make a purchase - I think that should be obvious considering I screenshotted the cart not an order.
2. The explanation is confusing to say the least. Duties, highly likely. Everything else, that's part and parcel of how you cost a sale.
3. Irrespective of the reason, why can't it be itemized/called out for transparency sake? It does on US sales as per nyc's post.
1. I didn't make a purchase - I think that should be obvious considering I screenshotted the cart not an order.
2. The explanation is confusing to say the least. Duties, highly likely. Everything else, that's part and parcel of how you cost a sale.
3. Irrespective of the reason, why can't it be itemized/called out for transparency sake? It does on US sales as per nyc's post.
-
- Senior Guru
- Posts: 500
- Joined: Sat Jun 22, 2024 8:46 pm
- CW-watches: 1
- Location: New York, NY
Re: My cart doesn't add up?
1) I am not sure why but give the agent some leeway as they are coming off a very busy time of year known as the Winter Sale. The person may not have actually done anything wrong (read no. 3).veecee wrote: ↑Wed Jan 22, 2025 11:18 am Got a reply 2 days ago. But this has me completely confused for several reasons:
1. I didn't make a purchase - I think that should be obvious considering I screenshotted the cart not an order.
2. The explanation is confusing to say the least. Duties, highly likely. Everything else, that's part and parcel of how you cost a sale.
3. Irrespective of the reason, why can't it be itemized/called out for transparency sake? It does on US sales as per nyc's post.
2) See the CW website section about Duties and Taxes: https://www.christopherward.com/duties-and-taxes.html
The Customer Service agent's response is concerning because it does not align with what is written on the website (see pic below). Is this a governmental fee as written on the website or a fee charged by CW to cover its costs?
* If I were you, I would respond and ask why what is written on the website is different from what the CS agent wrote about the MPF.
3) I was logged into the website and had already entered my shipping address so the system could figure out the Local/State tax as well as the USA Import Duty (shown in my example above from the earlier post). Did you do the same and where you at the payment screen rather than in the pre-payment cart? Maybe try it again and enter your address but not your credit card information to see if it gives you a better breakout.
Re: My cart doesn't add up?
Thanks for the reply nyc. Yes I did enter my shipping address and billing info. That's when I noticed things just didn't add up. I've tried it again and it is still the same - ie no line item for duties which I assume the difference to be.
It's all good. I did a bit of a search and it seems another Aussie had the same problem as I did previously. Guess it's a bug or oversight of some sort.
It's all good. I did a bit of a search and it seems another Aussie had the same problem as I did previously. Guess it's a bug or oversight of some sort.
-
- Similar Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post
-
- 22 Replies
- 829 Views
-
Last post by WxManMike