Another tip - if you're planning on crossing the border, use the hotline that they provide to get an update on bridge traffic (800-715-6722). It easily saved us at least an hour and a half of border wait times between heading down and coming back, by rerouting to a different bridge. Can't believe we never knew about it before...

Thanks for the kudos on the watch. Always loved the F1's.

Up here, I've seen this model retail for anywhere from $900-1000 (excluding tax). Never seen them go on sale either. I paid about $470 all in across the border. Had it sized for me and wore it back. I didn't take the box (for obvious reasons), but got the manual and warranty card.

Even though it's not the biggest watch I own, it definitely has some weight to it (which I like).

I'm thinking about buying rims down there....how bad is it if i come back with brand spanking new wheels and tires and a set of winters in the back and claimed that i picked up a used set of snows.

anytime ive brought car parts over i never said anything and was fine.
(and that used to be more frequent when our dollar was shit)

last time i went over with the g/f from being down south for a week...i declared nothing...cause i literally bought nothing. well they didnt like that. they made us pull over and they searched the car. found...nothing. cause we brought back nothing.

only been back over in a big group since. no issues.


ps: its best to use kijiji or craigslist of the place you used to buy. harder to track /easier to say the ad was deleted.

Good dui on the watch for sure. I would have mailed the box back over with the receipt.

yoooo, that's maaa nikka. That's a good idea and it could work...you say that you went in with a set of rims and that way you only pay taxes on the tires.

The problem I foresee here is that when you are going into the states they can make a 'note' of that, or they technically should, and when you are coming back they would cross references. I don't know if they have that ability, but it's worth a shot imo.

if one ever plans to mail the box back...make sure you DON'T include the receipt with the box!

people have been caught like this and were forced to pay duties/taxes on an empty box.....LMAO

Customs have seen it all, so if you guys think you can out smart them go ahead. Stuffing your receipt into the owners manual was a risky move. Since your watch was only $450? You would have paid less then $100 in taxes...not really worth it to me to go through that.

Shit the last watch I bought was shipped over fedex from the states and I declared the replacement value for insurance purposes and knew I was going to bend over. Paid around $400 in duties/taxes. Now if a I was able to go and pick it up over the border....fuck ya I would have "snuck" it back. I would have shipped the box and receipt separately.

ya we spent the whole day shopping in St. Maartin....

Watches were kinda meh in the deal department...imma gonna have to see what deals can be had in Vegas.

I am going to a Cruise in May. Going to pick up some new man jewelry in St. Maartin. I'll be gone for 7+ days so I should be able to declare it unless I go balls out and get a Tag Carrera or Monaco.

Whatever you do, don't even think about doing a fake receipt. Thats uttering a forged document, its a ciminal offence, way worse than being blacklisted at the border

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uttering_a_forged_document

dollar is 99 today

it'll process at 96/97 by the credit card company. weak!