Rolex at London Heathrow advice

[Sailaway]

Hi all.

I'm just seeking advice regarding an emotional purchase in the near future...

A bit of background. I am 55 years old.I have a smallish collection of watches - 2 Subs, an Omega Moonwatch, Brietling SO Heritage II, Tudor Black Bay GMT, and a Tudor BB S&G are the headlines -so some nice pieces but something is missing. Basically I bought all of these watches for myself and although I like them all for different reasons none have any sentimental value to me......

My father passed away over the new year holidays, and I have lovely memories of my life with him . Dad was not a WIS - in fact didn't wear a watch at all in old age. But there is a modest inheritance and I'm thinking of using some of it to get a watch with which I will always be reminded of him. I'm thinking a DJ would be timeless and grow old with me without going out of fashion.

So, the question....... Do the AD's at LHR still keep a reasonable stock of DJ's, and are they still offering the VAT refunds (or equivalent discount) for inter- European flights (as I believe they were)? Which terminals are the big displays in?

Any recent experiences would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Strummer25]

Sorry for your loss. My mother isnt well and contemplating doing same with whatever I inherit. Rolex at Heathrow have been excellent for me in the past and am sure they will be able to source you a DJ, you may have to wait a while for the 41mm fluted with blue dial but suspect the others should be fairly easy to obtain, certainly in comparison to other references. Good luck and enjoy when you land it. Try calling them

[bondtoys]

I don‘t think that any shop at Heathrow has ever offered a VAT refund for inter-european flights. And I‘d not want to tarnish the connection to that watch with taxevasion, as you likely return to the country and legally have to declare it.

[Sailaway]

Originally Posted by bondtoys

I don‘t think that any shop at Heathrow has ever offered a VAT refund for inter-european flights. And I‘d not want to tarnish the connection to that watch with taxevasion, as you likely return to the country and legally have to declare it.

Ah, my apologies - I seemed to remember reading that this was legally done at some point - if an EU flight that items were reduced so that the new price including VAT was the same as the tax free price. I seem to remember this was also done at the AD's in Amsterdam . My father was a tax accountant so he certainly would not have endorsed anything under the radar

[stevo55]

I passed through Heathrow T5 and stopped for a chat at the Rolex shop there. Basically they will offer a VAT discount (20%) on outside of EU travel.
I asked them about models such as BNLR and the waiting list is around 5 years! They occasionally get models in and their advice was if you see one grab it there and then and don’t wait as they don’t hold a stock of Daytona’s Batman’s etc etc


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[AK797]

Originally Posted by stevo55

I passed through Heathrow T5 and stopped for a chat at the Rolex shop there. Basically they will offer a VAT discount (20%) on outside of EU travel.
I asked them about models such as BNLR and the waiting list is around 5 years! They occasionally get models in and their advice was if you see one grab it there and then and don’t wait as they don’t hold a stock of Daytona’s Batman’s etc etc


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Maybe best to wait till April then EU travel gets the VAT too.

[Rolex Essex]

Originally Posted by stevo55

I passed through Heathrow T5 and stopped for a chat at the Rolex shop there. Basically they will offer a VAT discount (20%) on outside of EU travel.

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VAT free is around 16% not 20%

[Fleegle]

You may be confused with the the WoS shop in T5. They allow a discount equivalent to VAT, on all flights - even on internal UK flights.

But they exclude Tudor as the Rolex group doesn't allow it.

Similarly, the Rolex shop a few doors down (which is also owned by the WoS/Aurum group) won't allow discount on Internal/EU flights, just VAT saving on non-EU.

Both stores can be contacted by phone and asked about stock levels and reservations before you travel. I've had WoS reserve a watch for me - very helpful. Rolex in Heathrow: (T5) 020 8757 2115, (T4) 020 8745 5145, (T2) 020 8976 7516.

Originally Posted by Sailaway

Ah, my apologies - I seemed to remember reading that this was legally done at some point - if an EU flight that items were reduced so that the new price including VAT was the same as the tax free price. I seem to remember this was also done at the AD's in Amsterdam . My father was a tax accountant so he certainly would not have endorsed anything under the radar

[Sailaway]

Thank you all for the useful replies....appreciated.

[Sailaway]

Originally Posted by Fleegle

You may be confused with the the WoS shop in T5. They allow a discount equivalent to VAT, on all flights - even on internal UK flights.

But they exclude Tudor as the Rolex group doesn't allow it.

Similarly, the Rolex shop a few doors down (which is also owned by the WoS/Aurum group) won't allow discount on Internal/EU flights, just VAT saving on non-EU.

Both stores can be contacted by phone and asked about stock levels and reservations before you travel. I've had WoS reserve a watch for me - very helpful. Rolex in Heathrow: (T5) 020 8757 2115, (T4) 020 8745 5145, (T2) 020 8976 7516.

Thank you.... yes, I think this is the source of my confusion.

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by Sailaway

Ah, my apologies - I seemed to remember reading that this was legally done at some point - if an EU flight that items were reduced so that the new price including VAT was the same as the tax free price. I seem to remember this was also done at the AD's in Amsterdam . My father was a tax accountant so he certainly would not have endorsed anything under the radar

amsterdam did this heathrow does not. I don't think AMS does this any longer though.

Tax free (equivalent pricing) is available at LHR for all brands minus rolex/tudor for intra european flights and you don't have to declare because its basically a discount. I bought an AP that way once.

[Sailaway]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

amsterdam did this heathrow does not. I don't think AMS does this any longer though.

Tax free (equivalent pricing) is available at LHR for all brands minus rolex/tudor for intra european flights and you don't have to declare because its basically a discount. I bought an AP that way once.

Thank you Tyler

[Compo]

You might be better off buying a DJ from a normal UK AD and negotiating a discount - given this will be such a special piece, could be a bit of a pain buying at LHR and flying to a non-EU destination to get some VAT back. Switzerland might be the shortest/cheapest destination if you are thinking of doing a round trip - but sounds a bit out of keeping with the purpose of the watch to go through this for a bit of VAT and a slightly sweaty walk through customs.

[Sailaway]

Originally Posted by Compo

You might be better off buying a DJ from a normal UK AD and negotiating a discount - given this will be such a special piece, could be a bit of a pain buying at LHR and flying to a non-EU destination to get some VAT back. Switzerland might be the shortest/cheapest destination if you are thinking of doing a round trip - but sounds a bit out of keeping with the purpose of the watch to go through this for a bit of VAT and a slightly sweaty walk through customs.

Thanks. Yes, I was asking as I definitely want a guilt free watch. I had heard some watches are available discounted to a non VAT level but VAT paid, but it seems not Rolex or Tudor. I think you k=make a good point. I have a relationship with an AD so maybe I should start there. The man I will remember with this watch was one of the most honest men I have ever met. He worked all his life after national service and uni as a tax accountant in the City so there are two pre-requisites for this purchase: It must be whiter than white on any tax question and I should get the best deal available (he was a true accountant in this regard!) All of your advice is appreciated from this lovely forum.

[12MP]

Sorry for your loss. First thing to know is that duty free is NOT a 20% discount. Here is the maths: £1 + 20% = £1.20. But £1.20 - 20% = £0.96p. So it is actually about a 17% discount: £1.20 - 17% = £1

I bought an OP at T5. Talk to Zabi at T5 and he can order several watches in for you and even send them over to whichever terminal you are leaving from. You will need to place a 10% deposit, which can be done either by setting up an account with WoS or when you next go through LHR.

At the time of purchase WoS will ask for your boarding pass and will check that its destination is outside the EU, and then enter it into the system. Presumably this is to ensure that you don't print one up yourself! Flights to Norway and Switzerland qualify as non-EU.

Final point- the receipt you get from WoS states clearly that you must declare the watch if you re-enter the U.K. (as a U.K. resident) within 6 months of buying it duty free. I doubt anyone actually does this, and most of the customers I saw were Chinese, on their way back home, but it's something to bear in mind.

[rsflint]

Is it possible to get a little discount for DJ from Heathrow duty-free? I understand that it is already VAT free but if they have many DJs sitting around perhaps it is possible to negotiate a little more? Also, I heard they keep warranty card for sports models even for TT.

[SS Oyster]

My favorite Heathrow Rolex story:

While in the Navy, I was flying from the Persian Gulf back to the states through Heathrow. I had a few hour layover, so I stopped in the Rolex shop. The TT GMT IIC was the new hot model at the time. The SS GMT IIC had not yet come out, but was announced, which was the model I really wanted. But, heh I was there so I tried on the TT and OMG it was beautiful (still love that watch)!

Anyway, the SA said, “What’s holding you back?” I told him my wife would kill me, plus I really was waiting for the SS version. His line sticks with me today ... “How long can she stay mad?”

Just too funny!


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[Jackumi]

Originally Posted by Rolex Essex

VAT free is around 16% not 20%

This is a pic I took at the Rolex AD at Heathrow T2.

[rsflint]

The correct way to calculate VAT-free price is dividing the normal retail price (incl VAT) by 1+VAT%. For example, UK VAT is 20%, so for a GBP10,000 watch (incl VAT), the VAT-free price is 10,000/1.20=8333.33 which is the same as getting 16.67% discount.

[zeeww]

Originally Posted by rsflint

Is it possible to get a little discount for DJ from Heathrow duty-free? I understand that it is already VAT free but if they have many DJs sitting around perhaps it is possible to negotiate a little more? Also, I heard they keep warranty card for sports models even for TT.

Not true. I bought SS professional model (and heard others who bought at Heathrow) and had everything when I left the store. The only requirements are sizing the watch and stickers off.

[rsflint]

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthre...light=heathrow

This guy said they kept his card. Comment #21.

[rsflint]

Originally Posted by zeeww

Not true. I bought SS professional model (and heard others who bought at Heathrow) and had everything when I left the store. The only requirements are sizing the watch and stickers off.

This guy said they kept his card. Comment #21.

[12MP]

I bought an OP at Heathrow a few months ago (I’m selling actually- see my post in watches for sale) and they gave me everything.

[timedate]

a great tribute to your fathers memory would be a new yg 36mm daydate,

they are pricey, but in my opinion, the quintessential rolex.

best wishes.

[zeeww]

Originally Posted by rsflint

This guy said they kept his card. Comment #21.

Fair enough. My experience (and people I know) are only T5. Maybe it depends on the salesperson.

[Left_at_the_lights]

Or depends on the watch. Why bother for a DJ or OP. In fact I'm surprised they did itfor a TT Daytona - they aren't that hard to find...

[zeeww]

Originally Posted by Left_at_the_lights

Or depends on the watch. Why bother for a DJ or OP. In fact I'm surprised they did itfor a TT Daytona - they aren't that hard to find...

Absolutely agree. Although they didn’t hold the cards for my ExpII and a LN submariner that someone I knew bought at T5 recently.