Watchbuys is significantly more expensive than european Sinn dealers... Why?

[bluee]

Well then, they should put that on their website. I put a watch in a shopping cart, put in destination, and it deleted the VAT for me. Hmmm. Sorry to get anyone's hopes up.

[mebiuspower]

There is a Sinn AD in downtown Toronto. The last time I was there was a little while back but the Canadian MSRP's work out to be at or slightly below Watchbuys. I've never bought from them but I know they will wheel and deal a little off the MSRP.

I'm not aware of any other dealer in Canada, Watchbuys is the only North America AD right now AFAIK. If you have the name of this AD I'd be interested to find out if they still carry them which is IMO unlikely.

[Docrwm]

It's not just Sinn but the entire AD system that is broken. Unless you just have to have the latest model Used is the way to go.

That said, what is the policy for a Yank to travel abroard, buy a Sinn in person, get the VAT back and wear the watch home? Any restriction in the AD contract about checking the persons Passport to see if there is an AD closer to them?

[CMSgt Bo]

It's not just Sinn but the entire AD system that is broken. Unless you just have to have the latest model Used is the way to go.

That said, what is the policy for a Yank to travel abroard, buy a Sinn in person, get the VAT back and wear the watch home? Any restriction in the AD contract about checking the persons Passport to see if there is an AD closer to them?

None at all. If you show up in their store with cash, cheque or a credit card you'll be walking out with a watch. Of course you'll be expected to claim it on your Customs form when you return to the States but I've never been hit up with Duties before and I've travelled a lot over the years.

YMMV

[Docrwm]

None at all. If you show up in their store with cash, cheque or a credit card you'll be walking out with a watch. Of course you'll be expected to claim it on your Customs form when you return to the States but I've never been hit up with Duties before and I've travelled a lot over the years.

YMMV

Even when I have been hit with US Duty is has been very reasonable. They want to know the # of Jewels, case material, and strap cost. Having a reference for the movement cost can save you a LOT because its a minimal fee for 25 and fewer jewels and that is subtracted (along with the strap cost) from the case and that is the highest % fee.

[novan3]

I'm not aware of any other dealer in Canada, Watchbuys is the only North America AD right now AFAIK. If you have the name of this AD I'd be interested to find out if they still carry them which is IMO unlikely.

Clearly an old thread but Blue Bird is right, Louis Black in dowtown Toronto is a Sinn AD. I bought my U1 there, they're still an AD and had a few models behind on display a month ago; as well as Richard Mille and other very high-end watches. They can order any Sinn watch from Germany that they don't have in stock.

http://louis-black.com/ Call to inquire what's in stock.

It appears they don't make noise about being an AD because of the agreement WatchBuys has, and honestly, they don't look like they're hurting for business.

[Mitch339]

I think watchbuys prices are extemely reasonnable, and if us Canadians know anybody in the US, we can simply have them ship it there and pick it up ourselves to wear across the border.

A retail store in Canada will both charge in CDN$ and charge sales and provincial tax..

[artec]

I don't think that the fact that people buy from Watchbuys means that buyers are satisfied with the prices. It means that Sinn dealers outside the US are contracted not to ship to US buyers.

Watchbuys not only offers no after sales service, they won't even send your watch back to Sinn for you or help to steer it through the thickets of German bureaucracy on the owner's behalf. I have a Sinn UX which has an oil-filled case and when the time comes for it to need a new battery, it will have to go back to the factory. I don't mind that..... in fact I would want to send it back rather than have someone else mess about with it..... but I do mind that Watchbuys won't even help get it to the factory without customs formalities, as I'm sure they could as contracted agents for a German company.

I have to admit that I could be maligning Watchbuys in this respect and they really would be unable to help, but since they aren't even willing to try and blithely say that they don't offer after sales service, that's not how it appears.

This is such a huge contrast with the several Japanese retailers who sell Japanese market watches on line. If you have a problem with one of their watches, you send it back to your seller and he sends it to the factory on your behalf. This is the case whether the watch is under warranty or not. If it is under warranty, you don't even have to pay shipping!

[Janne]

No such think as "thickets of Grman bureaucracy". You just FedEx the watch to Sinn in Germany. Simple.
Also, your statement that dealers outside the US are contracted not to ship to US buyers is not entirely true. The contracted AD's can only sell in their contracted areas, it matters not if it is in the US,UK, Finland etc.
The US market for Sinn watches is pretty insignificant compared to trhe Asian one......

[Mr. Thompson]

I have always had good service from Watch Buys but I do miss the variety. I would like to buy a U200 for my wife, not available. The UX would be cool but no service in the US yet Higuchi-san will insure my Citizen CTQ57-1025 gets factory service in Japan. While I will continue to purchase from Watch Buys Rob and company would be well advised to look at the global market and adjust their policies accordingly.