Panerai Boutique - Johannesburg

[Ruud Van Driver]

I'm hopefully off to Jo'burg with Mrs Van D on Wednesday night just for a couple of days.

I've been in correspondence with the Panerai boutique making a stock enquiry. The price of the 533 isn't very competitive (unfortunately), which is most likely down to the weak GB£. I can do a lot better here in the UK and I'm (here's that word again - hopefully) home for Christmas. My man in Singapore will also do better but, that said, I haven't asked about discounts because I'm not sure that's the done thing in email. I didn't ask about the 372 but I think that's most likely my next acquisition anyway.

Whilst the numbers might not work, the chaps that have replied to my emails seem like pretty decent guys so I'll try to get over to the boutique anyway to say hello and have a mooch.

Has anyone any experience of the Jo'burg boutique?

[nick c]

Have a safe traveling my friend and will hope for a great incoming Pam 372 soon

[Ruud Van Driver]

Originally Posted by nick c

Have a safe traveling my friend and will hope for a great incoming Pam 372 soon

Thank you, my friend. Let's see if those boys are as good as Singapore

[gtnator]

Sweet. You can't go wrong with the 372. I love mine. It's the ultimate Panerai, in my opinion.

[KarlS]

Do you include the VAT refund?

[Cru Jones]

Enjoy your trip!

The new PAM will be here soon in any event.... ;-)

[Ruud Van Driver]

Originally Posted by KarlS

Do you include the VAT refund?

I can't rely on a tax refund. My wife is chief trolley dolly with a major UK carrier and she's operating on the flight there and back. Whenever I fly on her travel concessions, it's a stand-by ticket and it can happen that I won't get a seat until just before the flight closes. If that's the case, I don't have time to get my tax my back.

Sometimes I get lucky sometimes it doesn't work, so I can't rely on it so never factor it into my consideration of price. So whenever I go on the hunt, I never assume I'm getting my tax back. If I do then it's a bonus

[KarlS]

Originally Posted by Ruud Van Driver

I can't rely on a tax refund. My wife is chief trolley dolly with a major UK carrier and she's operating on the flight there and back. Whenever I fly on her travel concessions, it's a stand-by ticket and it can happen that I won't get a seat until just before the flight closes. If that's the case, I don't have time to get my tax my back.

Sometimes I get lucky sometimes it doesn't work, so I can't rely on it so never factor it into my consideration of price. So whenever I go on the hunt, I never assume I'm getting my tax back. If I do then it's a bonus

But you could get them to DHL it to you net of VAT you just need to see what your import duties are.

[Ruud Van Driver]

Originally Posted by KarlS

But you could get them to DHL it to you net of VAT you just need to see what your import duties are.

I wouldn't do that in Singapore, Karl. They're a PITA. We had a gas meter sent out from one of our UK offices and Singapore customs held it for over a week.

[DOUBLE 0 SE7EN]

Been several times to the JNB ad. Contact with David. You can get the 233 about 8200 usd after the tax back.. The straps are really cheaper than any other ad..

[fullcourt]

travel safe....

[Ruud Van Driver]

Well, after all that I'm here in Jo'burg and I'm not allowed to go the boutique. I'm here on a jolly with Mrs Van D; she operated down here so I tagged along. Rude not to. However, the crew are not allowed out if the hotel because of safety and security concerns*, so that's the end of that



*I know, I know. This is not intended to be one of those 'is it safe' threads. It's the airline's policy in several hotels worldwide that the crew are not allowed out of the hotel. They're not locked captive in their rooms but if they disobey policy and have a mishap then it's on their own head.

[Ruud Van Driver]

Originally Posted by DOUBLE 0 SE7EN

Been several times to the JNB ad. Contact with David. You can get the 233 about 8200 usd after the tax back.. The straps are really cheaper than any other ad..

Thanks Kaan, that's a great price for a 233. In fact, it's about a 33% saving over both UK and Singapore retail