Hello USA people -

The dollar is stronger than it has been in months so it is a rare opportunity to purchase a Trident Pro 300, on the tropic rubber strap and pay no USA Import Duty as long as you pay in GBP (and not dollars). Let you credit card company do the currency exchange (use one that does not charge a fee). It also saves you about $101 on the "buffer" that CWL works in themselves for dealing with currency exchange.

CWL systems are still showing the rate as 1GBP = 1.27US so you need to stay at, or under, 750GBP. If the system updates overnight to 1GBP = 1.26US this might work for a Trident Pro 300 on a hybrid rubber strap (760GBP).


In my example shown below you will see NYS/NYC tax (where I live) but no USA Import Duty. Also, the cart shows the amount after the VAT is removed which is what needs to be multiplied by 1.27 (or hopefully 1.26 tomorrow) to figure the actual US Dollar cost. Savings of about $85.

Here is an example of going over 750GBP and the USA Import Duty is included.
The takeaway is one could save $101 by paying in GBP (rather than dollars) and save about another $85 by avoiding the USA Import Duty. This would be almost enough to cover the bracelet if one wants it (but put it on a separate order).

This was the math that I used when I purchased my C63. The dollar was so strong at the time that I saved quite a substantial chunk of money buying in GBP. I even did this with my last purchase of a watch bracelet.

I also check the exchange rates before purchase!

jkbarnes wrote: ↑Fri Nov 15, 2024 7:10 pm This was the math that I used when I purchased my C63. The dollar was so strong at the time that I saved quite a substantial chunk of money buying in GBP. I even did this with my last purchase of a watch bracelet.

I also check the exchange rates before purchase!

This is a rare opportunity for the Trident Pro 300 because often the price is too high (and the dollar to weak) to make it work.
(The last time it happened was about a year ago).

I just realized this only works (now) for the Blue, Green, or White 42mm because they are the only ones available on the less expensive orange tropical 22mm strap (750GBP). Here is hoping for a 1.26 rate overnight update so all sizes and colors on the hybrid rubber strap will be available (760GBP).

I am not sure why they do not offer the black or blue 22mm tropic rubber straps on the Trident Pro 300 as a standard option. One would think the Blue dial should go with the blue strap, the white dial with the black strap, and maybe the green dial with the black strap rather than each of them only offered with the orange tropical rubber 22mm.

Not just USA.

Buy in Europe, and automatically the prices are shown in euros. Switch to £ and you get the UK prices, which work out less because duties aren't baked in. Pay in £ and with your overseas address and the price doesn't change - yet CW still promises we won't pay more than the final price, customs included.

A loophole that CW might eventually close, as it's clearly just their system isn't increasing to the import price when you choose £, when it probably should. How I saved a few hundred on my Bel Canto red one.

@Moneypit

I doubt they will change anything. It is in their best interest if people pay in GBP because then they do not have any currency exchange risk.

You may know this already but in the USA, State/Local taxes are not included in the Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP). In the USA, the State/Local taxes are "added on" when one checks-out online or goes to the register and pays in-person. We do not have VAT.

As an example if I were paying in dollars, the Trident Pro 300 (on tropical rubber) is $895 not including any taxes.
For me in NYC, it becomes $895 x 0.08875 = $79.44 tax so the watch + sales tax price is: $974.44
Unfortunately, that does not include USA Import Duty (for all purchases over $800) which is $92.60.
My final price if I purchased in US Dollars would be $1,067.04

Less than 1 week ago I could have purchased that same Trident Pro 300 on tropic rubber and paid in GBP to save the buffer CWL builds in for currency exchange risk but the dollar was weaker so this watch would have been over $800 and as a result I would have had to pay the duty on it. So better than paying in Dollars but not as good as today.
My final price if I purchased in GBP (last week) would be $956.64

Right now USA customers are in a better situation because the dollar is strong. If I purchase the same Trident Pro 300 on tropic rubber strap in GBP that puts me under the $800 USA Import Duty limit so I save even more. What I am trying to say is that it is always better to pay in GBP than the customers local currency but this is a rare opportunity for USA customers (on CWL watches that now fall under the $800 limit not including State/Local taxes).
My final price if I purchased in GBP (today) would be $864.20

so is this some trick to dodging tax?

major47 wrote: ↑Sun Nov 24, 2024 2:53 am so is this some trick to dodging tax?

@major47

No trick. I paid NYS/NYC sales tax. This is a perfectly legal way to avoid USA Import Duty (on purchases below $800). State/Local taxes are not considered for import duty which is why even though my total amount is over $800, the actual watch price (before taxes) was under $800 so I did not pay the USA Import Duty. My watch is almost here...

@nycWATCHnerd

Thanks,buddy, for explaining that. I live in the U.K so was intriguied with this topic. Now I understand, thanks to you!