US Buyers - de minimis rule

Discuss Christopher Ward watches
User avatar
akirk
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 3455
Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2012 9:59 pm
CW-watches: 11
Location: Bristol, UK

US Buyers - de minimis rule

Post by akirk »

For those in the US, the de minimis rule allows imports valued at less than $800 (£650) to enter the United States duty-free, as long as they are packaged and addressed to individual buyers. This is where buying from the UK can save money - however it is worth noting that Trump sees this as a loophole in trade terms, and may be about to close it. Current indications are that he might not for the UK - seems to be hinting that he won't establish the same trade limitations for the UK as for Canada / Mexico / China / EU - but if he does, this might go...

so if you are debating whether you should / shouldn't make a purchase - this might be worth considering...
These users thanked the author akirk for the post (total 3):
jkbarnesWxManMikeWileyECoyote
User avatar
WxManMike
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 24
Joined: Fri Jan 24, 2025 9:53 am
CW-watches: 1
Location: Maine

Re: US Buyers - de minimis rule

Post by WxManMike »

This makes me wonder about pre-orders and how those will be affected.
"Quiet minds cannot be perplexed or frightened but go on in fortune or misfortune at their own private pace, like a clock during a thunderstorm."
- Robert Louis Stevenson

GMT is life...
ScofieldReturns
Senior
Senior
Posts: 120
Joined: Wed May 15, 2019 3:09 am

Re: US Buyers - de minimis rule

Post by ScofieldReturns »

Doesn't CW now include import fees directly from their website?
User avatar
rkovars
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 4617
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2020 7:56 pm
CW-watches: 7
Location: New England, US

Re: US Buyers - de minimis rule

Post by rkovars »

They do, but de minimus still applies. Right now it appears that the revocation only applies to China but we will see.
Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but sometimes, playing a poor hand well.
Jack London
User avatar
tikkathree
Trusted Seller
Trusted Seller
Posts: 8381
Joined: Fri Jan 24, 2014 12:21 am
CW-watches: 1
Location: East Anglia - arr 'aas right buh

Re: US Buyers - de minimis rule

Post by tikkathree »

I feel that the $800/£650 threshold is a relatively mature and helpful figure; why do I imagine that the equivalent UK threshold is about £11.63 and probably hasn't been increased since 1968?

Prove me wrong.
C60 MKI, MKII, MKIII: "some",
C6 & C60 Kingfishers,
C600 Tritechs,
C63 "some",
C65 "some",
C4, C40, C8, C9, C3, C5, C20 & 23FLE
Some other brands
nycWATCHnerd
Senior Guru
Senior Guru
Posts: 504
Joined: Sat Jun 22, 2024 8:46 pm
CW-watches: 1
Location: New York, NY

Re: US Buyers - de minimis rule

Post by nycWATCHnerd »

WxManMike wrote: Mon Feb 03, 2025 3:14 pm This makes me wonder about pre-orders and how those will be affected.
rkovars wrote: Fri Feb 07, 2025 1:14 pm They do, but de minimus still applies. Right now it appears that the revocation only applies to China but we will see.
ScofieldReturns wrote: Fri Feb 07, 2025 8:16 am Doesn't CW now include import fees directly from their website?

Ultimately, this only affects items under $800 which is the C63 Valour on rubber strap*. So, if you bought a watch over $800 this does not affect you because you are already paying the US Import Duty which CW is collecting it for you at payment time.

* Most C63 Sealander on strap, and maybe a few others depending on the exchange rate, if purchased via the UK site may fall under the $800 so if they are in-stock and you want them now may be the time to purchase as @akirk suggested in his OP.
User avatar
welshlad
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 12009
Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2012 12:33 am
CW-watches: 28
Location: Yorkshire, UK

Re: US Buyers - de minimis rule

Post by welshlad »

^^^ This would also affect any orders for standalone straps, bracelets, accessories, etc.
Prediction is very difficult, especially about the future. - Niels Bohr
nycWATCHnerd
Senior Guru
Senior Guru
Posts: 504
Joined: Sat Jun 22, 2024 8:46 pm
CW-watches: 1
Location: New York, NY

Re: US Buyers - de minimis rule

Post by nycWATCHnerd »

welshlad wrote: Fri Feb 07, 2025 2:53 pm ^^^ This would also affect any orders for standalone straps, bracelets, accessories, etc.
Thank you. I have such tunnel vision and this is a good reminder that I need to order a TP300 bracelet soon.
JAFO
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 5656
Joined: Wed Jul 15, 2020 3:59 pm

Re: US Buyers - de minimis rule

Post by JAFO »

tikkathree wrote: Fri Feb 07, 2025 2:00 pm I feel that the $800/£650 threshold is a relatively mature and helpful figure; why do I imagine that the equivalent UK threshold is about £11.63 and probably hasn't been increased since 1968?

Prove me wrong.
It's VAT/sales Tax, not duty in the UK. I think the VAT free limit used to be £15. Since we left the EU it's now 20%VAT even on private purchases from eg ROI. It makes buying anything from non UK sellers difficult. eBay, Alix, Amazon handle the VAT automatically, and even Jomashop offer to collect the 20% for you. If you do it yourself there's an extra £8 per consignment as a handling charge to Royal Mail for collecting the VAT.

I remember buying this Megir for about £12 some years ago. My first Chinese purchase. Unsure how it would all work. Needs a battery now.
IMG_20250207_142304768_HDR~2.jpg
User avatar
Bahnstormer_vRS
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 38083
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: US Buyers - de minimis rule

Post by Bahnstormer_vRS »

I saw this posted on the CWE Facebook Group, this afternoon, by a US based member from Texas. An interesting spin on the subject;-

"I saw this from TimeFactors (they sell Smiths watches) re: tariffs for US buyers:

“We have been advised by our courier partners UPS that, as our watches are manufactured in Hong Kong (which is part of China), orders destined for the U.S.A will now be subject to a 10% import tariff from 4th February.

Also, prior to the Executive Order, U.S. customers could also import $800 worth of goods without having to pay any import charges. This $800 limit has now been removed from goods manufactured in China and charges are due on the entire invoice value.

Duty & Tariffs only apply to the watch components originating from Hong Kong, this does not include movements (which are either Swiss or Japanese) but does mean the amount payable varies between watch models.

We believe the average charges to be around 25% of total invoice value.

All Duty & Tariffs are to be paid by the customer and will not be supplemented by Time Factors.”

25% is quite a bit … I hope this is just temporary."


Quite the minefield. :-k. :-k

Guy

Sent from my Galaxy S23 Ultra using Tapatalk


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
User avatar
Kip
The Administrator
The Administrator
Posts: 35912
Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2007 8:45 pm
CW-watches: 150
LE-one: yes
LE-two: yes
LE-three: yes
LE-foura: yes
LE-fourb: yes
LE-five: yes
LE-six: yes
LESeven: yes
Location: New Hampshire, USA

Re: US Buyers - de minimis rule

Post by Kip »

This may have quite an affect on fashion brands in particular.
Kip

"Asylum Administrator"


Visit the CWArchives for everything CW. Historical, specs, manuals and resale. It is all there.
JAFO
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 5656
Joined: Wed Jul 15, 2020 3:59 pm

Re: US Buyers - de minimis rule

Post by JAFO »

Bahnstormer_vRS wrote: Fri Feb 07, 2025 8:21 pm I saw this posted on the CWE Facebook Group, this afternoon, by a US based member from Texas. An interesting spin on the subject;-

"I saw this from TimeFactors (they sell Smiths watches) re: tariffs for US buyers:

“We have been advised by our courier partners UPS that, as our watches are manufactured in Hong Kong (which is part of China), orders destined for the U.S.A will now be subject to a 10% import tariff from 4th February.

Also, prior to the Executive Order, U.S. customers could also import $800 worth of goods without having to pay any import charges. This $800 limit has now been removed from goods manufactured in China and charges are due on the entire invoice value.

Duty & Tariffs only apply to the watch components originating from Hong Kong, this does not include movements (which are either Swiss or Japanese) but does mean the amount payable varies between watch models.

We believe the average charges to be around 25% of total invoice value.

All Duty & Tariffs are to be paid by the customer and will not be supplemented by Time Factors.”

25% is quite a bit … I hope this is just temporary."


Quite the minefield. :-k. :-k

Guy

Sent from my Galaxy S23 Ultra using Tapatalk
Academic, but interesting. CW surely won't want tariffs applying to their watches.
User avatar
nbg
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 14026
Joined: Sun Nov 24, 2013 6:43 pm
CW-watches: 14
Location: UK

Re: US Buyers - de minimis rule

Post by nbg »

JAFO wrote: Fri Feb 07, 2025 8:47 pm
Bahnstormer_vRS wrote: Fri Feb 07, 2025 8:21 pm I saw this posted on the CWE Facebook Group, this afternoon, by a US based member from Texas. An interesting spin on the subject;-

"I saw this from TimeFactors (they sell Smiths watches) re: tariffs for US buyers:

“We have been advised by our courier partners UPS that, as our watches are manufactured in Hong Kong (which is part of China), orders destined for the U.S.A will now be subject to a 10% import tariff from 4th February.

Also, prior to the Executive Order, U.S. customers could also import $800 worth of goods without having to pay any import charges. This $800 limit has now been removed from goods manufactured in China and charges are due on the entire invoice value.

Duty & Tariffs only apply to the watch components originating from Hong Kong, this does not include movements (which are either Swiss or Japanese) but does mean the amount payable varies between watch models.

We believe the average charges to be around 25% of total invoice value.

All Duty & Tariffs are to be paid by the customer and will not be supplemented by Time Factors.”

25% is quite a bit … I hope this is just temporary."


Quite the minefield. :-k. :-k

Guy

Sent from my Galaxy S23 Ultra using Tapatalk
Academic, but interesting. CW surely won't want tariffs applying to their watches.
Whether tariffs apply to CW watches imported to the USA or elsewhere is not up to CW. What they want is irrelevant!

It is up to the country that the watch is being imported to that makes the rules.

Neil
Other watch forums of interest:
TZ-UK
JAFO
Senior Forumgod
Senior Forumgod
Posts: 5656
Joined: Wed Jul 15, 2020 3:59 pm

Re: US Buyers - de minimis rule

Post by JAFO »

nbg wrote: Fri Feb 07, 2025 9:47 pm
JAFO wrote: Fri Feb 07, 2025 8:47 pm
Bahnstormer_vRS wrote: Fri Feb 07, 2025 8:21 pm I saw this posted on the CWE Facebook Group, this afternoon, by a US based member from Texas. An interesting spin on the subject;-

"I saw this from TimeFactors (they sell Smiths watches) re: tariffs for US buyers:

“We have been advised by our courier partners UPS that, as our watches are manufactured in Hong Kong (which is part of China), orders destined for the U.S.A will now be subject to a 10% import tariff from 4th February.

Also, prior to the Executive Order, U.S. customers could also import $800 worth of goods without having to pay any import charges. This $800 limit has now been removed from goods manufactured in China and charges are due on the entire invoice value.

Duty & Tariffs only apply to the watch components originating from Hong Kong, this does not include movements (which are either Swiss or Japanese) but does mean the amount payable varies between watch models.

We believe the average charges to be around 25% of total invoice value.

All Duty & Tariffs are to be paid by the customer and will not be supplemented by Time Factors.”

25% is quite a bit … I hope this is just temporary."


Quite the minefield. :-k. :-k

Guy

Sent from my Galaxy S23 Ultra using Tapatalk
Academic, but interesting. CW surely won't want tariffs applying to their watches.
Whether tariffs apply to CW watches imported to the USA or elsewhere is not up to CW. What they want is irrelevant!

It is up to the country that the watch is being imported to that makes the rules.

Neil
Yes, I know el.presidente will decide in due course.
nycWATCHnerd
Senior Guru
Senior Guru
Posts: 504
Joined: Sat Jun 22, 2024 8:46 pm
CW-watches: 1
Location: New York, NY

Re: US Buyers - de minimis rule

Post by nycWATCHnerd »

JAFO wrote: Fri Feb 07, 2025 8:47 pm CW surely won't want tariffs applying to their watches.
I wonder how it will be implemented. Will it show under the "Customs Duty" section at checkout?
So far it has not been implemented. Screen shot from Nov 15 2024 and today (with Customs Duty circled in Red).


Nov 15 2024 screen shot
Image

Feb 7 2025 screen shot
Updated Customs Duty Pic.JPG
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post