Freak

Uk--> Italy- watch is worth around the £700 mark

DHL- won't ship it as it's 'a negotiable item'
Fedex- Fine....until they told me only covered up to $500 max- no extra is available for watches - useless.

Can someone recommend a courier company, that a) wont lose it b) wont break it , c) where it is covered for its full value, d) wont rip me off.
Was going to use fedex as it comes out to around the £40ish mark ....but not without insurance I am not.
Any suggestions ?

Need this to be shipped tomorrow.

davegtt

UPS come highly recommended for me.

Freak

Same as fedex- $500 max

FFS- this is getting really annoying.

davegtt

I also use Tuffnells to send stuff to the EU. Not sure what their insurance covers but could be worth a check

fitzscoob

Have you tried Royal Mail / Parcel Force?

They might be better suited to your needs.

The only thing I can say from experience from couriers is that its pretty much a given it will be lost if its a) valuable, b) urgent , c) yours.

Freak

Parcel force - watches & jewellery excluded from cover.
Royal snail- dont offer airsure to Italy, only international signed for, which is only tracked until it leaves the uk - so isnt really worth the paper its printed on.

What a stupid situation!

fitzscoob

I also use these guys for work. Service is very good, might be worth a call.

Geodis UK

Snazy

Im sure extra insurance is available for the item? We (fedex) have shipped paintings etc with values into the 100's of thousands.

Freak

Not according to the 4 people I have spoken to at fedex today....Standard cover is $100.
Can increase it to $500 (cost is like £5 extra) but thats it- no higher cover for watches- thats the max cover limit. I have no issues with it getting there- its damage in transit I am worried about, as it is a vintage watch...

Believe me, i thought it was as ridiculous as you, but it would appear to be true

DCI Gene Hunt

I used parcelforce to send a rolex to Austria, it cost me £88 for international next working day (tracked) and included additional insurance of £1900.

Arranged by walking into my local PO.

Hope that helps

Hoppy

I wouldn't ship a valuable watch from anywhere, especially Italy. Too obvious, too nickable.

If if doesn't get 'lost' you'll likely get hit for duty and VAT when it arrives. Hopefully in perfect condition, but if it's a display model they send you, I've seen some shockers. Then when it needs servicing or repair, much better to take it back to the UK retailer.

I'd rather be safe than sorry

Richard.

Freak

Its me selling...not buying.


Cheers DCI...will check it out, but the exclusions on the parcel force receipt i have from sending something yesterday state watches and jewellery again but i will give them a call tomorrow and find out..

gingerboy

Being a watcaholic I have shipped several watches abroad. Royal Mail air sure insures upto £500 but track and trace is crap once it goes abroad.

You could try these guys, I and many others on a watch forum have used them. It's worth giving them a call to discuss your needs, from memory for a £2,000 watch it cost me about £30 - they generally only deal with the "antiques and fine art" traders......... however they may help you out.

When you do send the watch mark it as a "horological timing equipment" afterall thats what it is! It reduces the inquisitive to look in the parcel becuse generally they haven't got a clue. Whereas if it says watch and is guaranteed for £700 it's a no brainer if it falls into the wrong hands.

Regards

GB

gingerboy

Helps if I provide the link

Transit 2 Insure

Regards

GB

Freak

Update
Parcelforce- dont cover it.
Looks like you were conned DCI.... its specifically excluded from their insurance cover....

In fact, I cant find ANYONE who will cover more than $500, thats if they even cover watches at all....

What a fukcing ridiculous state of affairs- given that even a low end watch will exceed $500 value!
And who the hell do companies use to send watches when they are sent for repair/warranty etc.... ?

DCI Gene Hunt

Well it seems I was lucky it didn't go AWOL