Hit with an insanely high duty tax on used PO 2201.50

rahul718
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I purchased a used 2201.50 from Sweden via Chrono24. Today I get an email from DHL saying I owe a duty, which I was expecting. But $1800?

I called DHL and they’re going to have a Duty specialist call me with more details. Apparently just today a new duty was imposed which is causing this spike, from what DHL told me. This is ridiculous as I paid $4k for the watch.

What would you all do in this situation? I’m told if I don’t pay it that it’ll get returned back to the sender. Has anyone had any luck disputing a duty charge like this?

IMG_7261.webp
 
fiberguy
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I dont see how you are going to argue this and win. 39% tariff on swiss goods, plus DHL charges additional fees for their brokerage "services". The only thing new is the removal of the de-minimis exemption, a 4K watch would be over that limit regardless.
 
rahul718
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fully aware of the 39% duty. However, from what I’ve read and even confirmation from Chrono24, this would apply if the good came from Switzerland. In this case it came from Sweden, which is a gray area in this whole thing. Yes it’s still a Swiss good but it didn’t ship from Switzerland
 
Davidt
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I believe that’s incorrect. Plenty of articles etc saying it’s the country of manufacture not country of origin for the package that it’s important.

So if you import a Swiss watch from Sweden, you’re hit with the Swiss tariffs.
 
rahul718
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You might be correct, but this was the very reason I confirmed with C24 beforehand as well, because I've read conflicting pieces of info on this. This is certainly a predicament now. Someone should be calling from the DHL Duty office, so I'll see what happens
 
Evitzee
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rahul718 rahul718
fully aware of the 39% duty. However, from what I’ve read and even confirmation from Chrono24, this would apply if the good came from Switzerland. In this case it came from Sweden, which is a gray area in this whole thing. Yes it’s still a Swiss good but it didn’t ship from Switzerland
Unfortunately the reading seems to be it depends on the origin of the piece.....in this case Switzerland. Right now it is prudent for anyone in the US to not import anything of value until the tariff situation is clarified. For years there was a 'de minimis' value of $800 for imported goods, that has ended as of today. So stuff like straps and buckles, or parts, imported from abroad will now be hit with duty from dollar one. It's a mess.
 
Felix_La_PuBelle
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I hate to say it but I've been waiting to see a story like this to find out if the tariff mess will be as bad as anticipated. Sounds like it is. Unless you're willing to pay the duty I have a feeling you'll want to check the seller's return policy and see if you can let it go back for a refund. And I suppose the silver lining is that the seller can't claim a change in the condition of the watch so they have fewer excuses to refuse the return.

I hope there's a better solution so please do share if you find a way mitigate the situation.

I had my eye on some watches overseas that I'm still saving up for, so I can only hope that his nonsense is done with by the time I'm ready to buy.
 
fiberguy
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The tariffs are based on country of manufacture. During the mango's first term, China thwarted their countries high tariffs by shipping product out of countries like Vietnam, who had much lower tariffs in place. By changing to a country of manufacture structure, changing the shipping point no longer works. I honesty wish you luck in your endeavors to seek a reasonable resolution.
 
Meme-Dweller
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Who filled out the "Watch/Clock Detail Worksheet" for DHL? Someone forgot to put the majority of the value on the movement.....
 
Tony C.
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Meme-Dweller Meme-Dweller
Who filled out the "Watch/Clock Detail Worksheet" for DHL? Someone forgot to put the majority of the value on the movement.....
Presumably that is irrelevant to the fixed 39% tariff on Swiss goods.
 
Evitzee
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Meme-Dweller Meme-Dweller
Who filled out the "Watch/Clock Detail Worksheet" for DHL? Someone forgot to put the majority of the value on the movement.....
As above, that is irrelevant now. 39% is the duty on the total value as a Swiss product. (Until sanity eventually returns)

BULLETIN: Late Friday an Appeals Court has ruled all of Trump's tariffs unconstitutional. This is headed for the Supreme Court in short order. I predict they will concur, Trump doesn't have the authority to levy tariffs. Sanity coming.
Edited:
 
140dave
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Evitzee Evitzee
As above, that is irrelevant now. 39% is the duty on the total value as a Swiss product. (Until sanity eventually returns)

BULLETIN: Late Friday an Appeals Court has ruled all of Trump's tariffs unconstitutional. This is headed for the Supreme Court in short order. I predict they will concur, Trump doesn't have the authority to levy tariffs. Sanity coming.
Without being snarky, do you really believe the SCOTUS wont side with the White House? I have full faith in the opposite. I hope you are right and I am wrong on this one.
<$100 gifts are still exempt, other than that not much gets through atm.

Edit to add: on the plus side the sales reporting threshold for eBay 1099, and similar, went back to the old 200/$20,000 for 2026
Edited:
 
YVR785
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Your watch is Swiss-made and the country of origin is Switzerland. Unless the watch underwent a significant transformation in Sweden, you’re going to pay the tariffs imposed on Swiss goods.

This made me think of Hamilton. Despite the American heritage, they’d be subject to the same tariffs on Swiss goods.
 
Speed2Sea
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Evitzee Evitzee
BULLETIN: Late Friday an Appeals Court has ruled all of Trump's tariffs unconstitutional. This is headed for the Supreme Court in short order. I predict they will concur, Trump doesn't have the authority to levy tariffs. Sanity coming.
In the 7-4 vote, the divided court allowed the tariffs to remain in place through October 14 to give the Trump administration a chance to file an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court.
 
STANDY
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rahul718 rahul718
You might be correct, but this was the very reason I confirmed with C24 beforehand as well, because I've read conflicting pieces of info on this. This is certainly a predicament now. Someone should be calling from the DHL Duty office, so I'll see what happens
DHL has had nothing to do with the 26 page rule book that replaced the 14 page rule book they previously had.

And pretty sure with DHL and FedEx you have 10 days before parcel goes back. (This applies in countries only not internationally) And technically DHL can treat it as abandoned goods after 30 days

Did you have a condition on sale that said it’s the buyers responsibility to pay all country’s fees and yada yada…

DHL has no obligation to return the parcel 📦

If duty is not paid it will end up in a customs auction as abandoned goods.
 
mollydooker
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Interesting, I understood the only 100% made US watch manufacturer is RGM
 
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