FAQs - Frequently asked questions
Buyers outside of the European Union (non-EU)
Watch Export
What is EU VAT
The European Union Value-Added Tax (EU VAT) is a consumption tax applied to most goods and services, charged at every production stage and borne by the final consumer. While EU rules mandate a minimum standard rate of 15%, actual rates vary by country (e.g., 17% in Luxembourg, 27% in Hungary)
What is EU VAT refund
When the shipment leaves the EU economic zone, it is considered as an export. The EU VAT tax is not charged on the sell. This fee is refunded to you as a buyer
Who is eligible for VAT tax refund
Whoever have a shipping address outside of the EU economic zone will be eligible for VAT tax refund.
How do I get the refund/discount
The refund or discount is already applied to your region and the price you see is already after discount, as long as your delivery address is outside of the EU economic zone.
Why is there a VAT refund
We are essentially giving away our profit to:
1, compensate your import charges, for countries having their own import tax and tariff
2, offering a big discount, to countries that have favorable tax policies or no import duty
Watch Import
What are the import charges
If you are buying from the EU, there is no import charges.
If you are outside of the European Union, the import charges depends on your home country and its current custom policies.
The import charges consist of:
Duty/Tariff - Countries' protective measures. Most countries does not have much import duties for mechanical watches.
VAT - also known as sales tax in your own country
Courier Brokerage fee - the shipping company handles all the custom declaration and charges a small amount of handling fees. This is different from the shipping cost
How much are the import charges
Import charges varies a lot depending on your home country and current custom policies. We advise buyers to quickly investigate their home countries potential charges before placing the order.
Otherwise, you can also use our DDP shipment at check out to avoid all the hustle and leave all the import work to us.
For the obvious players on the market, as to our best knowledge:
USA: 15% Tariff
UK: 20% VAT
Who pays the import charges
For cross boarder transactions, the importer (buyer) is usually responsible for import charges (DDU).
However, we offer a Double Duty Paid (DDP) shipment option, if you want us (the seller) to handle all the import charges.
Make sure you choose the correct shipment terms during check out
What is DDU and DDP
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) and DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid) are international shipping terms (Incoterms) defining who pays import duties, taxes, and handles customs clearance. DDP requires the seller to handle all costs and risks until final delivery, ensuring a seamless customer experience. DDU makes the buyer responsible for these fees upon arrival.
How much does shipping cost?
Shipping is calculated based on your location and the items in your order. You will always know the shipping price before you purchase.