JohnG

It is turning out that the internal customs issue in the EU and Schengen area countries is more complex than I thought.

Norway is one of the 15 signatories to the Schengen Accord. I thought there were no longer any internal customs controls between Schengen countries but Onzenuub (from NL) said that coming from Spain my luggage could be searched by customs upon arrival there. I didn't believe it so I did some research and he is right. Though greatly reduced in practice, Schengen countries may still control what crosses their internal (from within Schengen area) borders: Schengen area 25 March 2001 As from 25 March 2001, the Schengen area will be made up of thirteen Member States and Norway and Iceland, which are not [EU] members. Under the Schengen Convention, internal borders of the Schengen countries may be crossed at any point without any checks on persons being carried out. Those persons crossing external borders of the Schengen area will be subject to entry and departure checks as before. In Finland, entry and departure checks are carried out by the Frontier Guard. Applying the Schengen acquis will not change import and export rights. Regular customs checks were abolished at the internal borders of the EU countries when Finland became a member of the EU in 1995.

This better not be a trick. The last time I went to meet a "Benny" at the Vatican I was hooded, thrown in a van, and sold into slavery. I am a little warier now...

Wow. That is cool. I will try to find out Spain's policy (though I know in practice Spain has the laxest enforcement of just about any EU country).

I think Onze is kidding (but I wouldn't swear on it). .

Man you two have fed half of GuangZhao. .

Dammit! That watch was stolen from me in Rome! I would like it back please.

I would recommend an option of donating any amount you want and amounts below the current minimum would not give you "supporter" status. I don't care about the supporter tag or the upgrades but would donate something if I could give less than the amount currently listed... That would be a nice way to increase donations because I am not the only one in the thread that has mentioned this issue. Others are probably too shy to admit that they would donate if they could give less. And the people who want the upgrades will still want them and be willing to pay for them...

Are you sure it wasn't a flight that originated outside the EU? I have never flown to Netherlands but from Spain I have flown to Italy, France, Germany, the UK, and Latvia and only had to pass customs in UK and Latvia (both not Schengen). In theory Schengen is supposed to eliminate all border controls. So if you enter the Netherlands from Germany or Belgium by car they stop your car? That is really weird - Ahhh.... was searching and found this - regular customs checks were eliminated but member states may still regulate imports from other member countries and therefore customs searches are permitted under Schengen: Schengen area 25 March 2001 As from 25 March 2001, the Schengen area will be made up of thirteen Member States and Norway and Iceland, which are not members.Under the Schengen Convention, internal borders of the Schengen countries may be crossed at any point without any checks on persons being carried out. Those persons crossing external borders of the Schengen area will be subject to entry and departure checks as before. In Finland, entry and departure checks are carried out by the Frontier Guard.Applying the Schengen acquis will not change import and export rights. Regular customs checks were abolished at the internal borders of the EU countries when Finland became a member of the EU in 1995.

God will punish them.

Agreed.

UK is not Schengen Onze.

Are you sure? There is no customs when TRAVELING between Schengen countries.

That is against nature. An abomination.

There is much less risk sending contraband within EU borders (at least Schengen Accord countries) because packages do not pass through customs when going, for example, from Germany to Spain. I am not sure what happens if one of the countries is not a signatory to Schengen.

Ok so cite even one case where punitive action has been taken against a U.S. citizen for shipping a single replica watch to another country at the request of that country's customs service. If there is even ONE case I will admit there is some (be it minimal) risk. .

But someone said that donating doesn't get rid of the ads anyway - that's why Corgi was posting that I thought...

How many times was it an arrest warrant? When you ask about customs "going after" someone I assume you are talking about legal action and not a mere inquiry which if ignored will trigger the return of the watch to the sender or in the worst-case scenario the seizure and destruction of the watch. Customs does not "go after" anyone for this type of thing in the way the expression is commonly understood.

Neither. Do you really believe that any country is going to apply to their own courts for an extradition warrant and then ask the United States to execute it - all over a replica watch? In case you are not sure, the answer is absolutely not. They just seize the watch.

No roof over my head but got my SSD...

I haven't contributed yet in part because there is a minimum that, though I don't recall what it is, was more than I wanted to give. If I end up buying or selling a watch through this forum I will donate or if the minimum is removed I will for sure donate sooner. I didn't really care about the "benefits" though to be honest I don't remember what they were. I think RWI has a good carrot-carrot approach. There is no minimum and you must contribute to access the unlimited sales forum. My curiosity got the best of me and I contributed $10. That I felt comfortable spending. At some point I will probably contribute here if I remain active in the hobby (though it seems every time I offer my opinion on the QC issue I am told this is the wrong hobby for me - maybe they are right). I use this forum quite a bit and the technical information is second to none.

Lackluster feedback score for seller though. I would stay away. http://toolhaus.org/cgi-bin/negs?User=%09e...by&ref=home Add 6 neutrals (stealth negs) and 6 mutually withdrawn negs and you get 97.5% positive - not too hot in my book. Not when others selling the same items can maintain high 99s.

Some people base their decisions to ship only to CONUS on their own experience but for others it is laziness, ignorance, or a generalized sentiment that the rest of the world really doesn't matter. Every time I return home I am frustrated by the lack of media coverage of international events. To an American who has never lived outside of "CONUS" it may seem sufficient but having lived for a decade overseas I can say with absolute certainty that the picture of the world painted by the U.S. news media is not only incomplete but also simplistic and skewed to the sensational. I mention this because when purchasing on eBay I have noticed two things. When sellers state that they will only ship to the U.S. and I ask if they will ship to Spain they sometimes answer that they would be willing but are hesitant because they have never done so before. They are unaware that the additional "paperwork" consists of one small and easy to fill out customs declaration form. The other thing that I have noticed is that if I identify myself as an American living abroad, the likelihood that the seller will make an exception rises dramatically. Many Americans are at least mildly distrustful of all things (or people) not American. Some assume that things outside of their borders don't "work" as well. While many people have valid reasons for shipping CONUS only, based on their own experience with customs or theft, often the engine of resistance is ignorance. I have always been willing to assume the customs seizure risk when purchasing items from a non-dealer or very low volume seller and I always say as much. If an assignation of risk to the buyer is an explicit part of the agreement there is no practical reason not to sell to a person residing outside of the United States. I don't know why someone would feel morally obligated to refund my money in the event of loss or seizure when I expressly absolve them of any such obligation in advance of the transaction - but obviously each person is different. I am troubled, however, by a buyer who would accept such a refund. They are neither legally nor morally entitled to it. As to EU sellers who only ship within the EU, a quick browse through the old sales threads reveals that U.S. sellers are approximately THREE times more likely to state that they will not ship outside their own borders. I am not referring to the raw number of sellers - I am speaking of the percentage of U.S. sellers who state CONUS only compared to the percentage of EU sellers who state EU only. That there are risks associated with shipping replica watches internationally there is no doubt. But I don't believe that alone explains the entire "CONUS only" phenomena.