I'm looking to buy a Casio Pro-trek watch. The model I want is about £200 in the UK but I've seen a number of them on eBay offered by companies based in Hong Kong and Singapore for about half the UK price. Has anyone bought from outside the UK. What are the pitfalls?
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 Well you are likely to get done for import duty, vat and a clearance fee - which could probably be about £25-30.
Some vendors ship and mis-declare the value (bit naughty) or try and say its a gift to try and avoid this.
There is also the risk that you would never see the watch or it could be a fake.
Sorry for all the doom and gloom - I would search around the UK - someone is likely to be selling it cheaper.
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 I have bought items on EBAY from Hong Kong and they have arrived marked as gifts no VAT etc
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Yes - sometimes it works - sometimes it does not...
It often seems to depends on the route it takes - some things come in via Germany and avoid it (think they are usually marked as standard post or global priority).
If you send it UPS / FedEx you will probably not get away with it and their clearance fees are even higher.
But if the watch can be had for about £30 more from a UK seller it's probably not worth the risk.
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If you decide to buy it from ebay then ensure that you only pay by credit card through paypal. If for any reason you are asked to pay by another method like western union or similar then walk away from the transaction. You should also carefully check the description of the item and save a copy of the page. If the item turns out to be fake you may be able to recover your money through your credit card issuer if a uk dealer is prepared to confirm that it is fake. If you have one a mastercard is a good card to use for overseas purchases.
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AFAIK paying by credit card by Paypal does not give you much more protection in reality.
As a friend found out (to his cost) technically the money funds your Paypal account (1 transaction) and Paypal pay the vendor (anther transaction) - so he was told he could not dispute / chargeback the charge to his credit card.
It seemed the only way to dispute a credit card charge with Paypal is if you tell them it was unathorised / fraudulent.
You have to rely on Paypal's protection which can be a problem is the vendor has removed the funds already!
Basically the short version is I think you actually have MORE protection paying a seller direct with a credit card - than paying Paypal with a credit card for them to pay the vendor.
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Barking. I don't know how long ago this happened to your friend but it has been decided within the industry in the uk that paypal takes the hit on this. If you don't get your goods, approach paypal. They may pay a percentage of the total. Your credit card issuer if any good will chargeback the remainder from them. This chargeback right has existed for a few years now.
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Not so sure in all circumstances - I bought something (value about £25) via eBay and paid with Paypal (probably about 4-5 months ago).
The item was faulty and not even the model described. Returned it (got proof of delivery etc.) for refund (seller had agreed).
Seller goes quiet - no refund - dispute with Paypal and win dispute. But the seller has already emptied his Paypal account and I get no refund.
Paypal say 'well his account is locked so it can't be used until he pays up' - but big deal he probably just opens a new one!
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Paying by paypal with a credit card allows you to claim through your credit card issuer if you don't get your goods . Whether the seller has funds in their paypal account or not is a problem for paypal not you. When you pay by paypal with your card, paypal enter into an agreement with you. If you don't get your goods, your card issuer will recover your money from paypal. If your goods are definitely faulty then the same applies. Also same if the goods not as described by the seller so you need to keep copy of sellers description of the item. The benefit of paying by mastercard is that you don't even have to return the goods, you can simply ask the seller to collect or send a return label.
The reason I suggest you don't pay the seller directly is that if you pay over the phone you are trusting a stranger several thousand miles away with your card details. You cannot prove what you have agreed to so you're taking quite a risk. Don't even think about taping calls. Recordings cannot be accepted as proof. If you pay by western union or similar then they are merely being paid to transfer cash to an individual. Your card issuer cannot help you if you then don't get your goods. Paypal is not considered to provide the same service as western union or other funds transfer services so they have to cough up.
Time limits apply to when you can make claims so you should get onto your card issuer straight away if any problem.
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 I bought mine from jksupplies and they are definately the cheapest in the UK - good service and free delivery.
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Are the Suunto watches 'better' or just the same features but more money?
Also how thick is the Casio - look ok from the front but I have seen some of these watches that really stand off the wrist so much so that it makes cuffs tight / hard to wear with gloves etc.
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 I've had the Casio Pro Trek triple Sensor watch and thought that it was the mutt's nuts until I came to replace the battery after 14 months which cost £95 as it had to go back to casio. I then sold it on e-bay and brought a Suunto Advizor as you can buy the replacement battery for around £10 and fit it yourself without losing the waterproofing. Both watches are about the same size in diameter but the Suunto is slightly thinner which made it better when wearing gloves.
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 Just took receipt of a Protrek PR 70 from a Hong Kong source with something like 8000+ positive feedback.Same as the bigger ProTreks but in a smaller case.Excellent service..cost me £76 inc P&P. Was my first purchase and well happy with it.
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Thanks for all the advice. Great stuff.
Paul, £95 to replace the battery? You are kidding?
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Harry, unfortunately no, the watch requires three very thin lithium cells which are about the diameter of the case. All the jewellers I went to said that the batteries could only be replaced by casio as they did not carry them. I had no choice but to pay the bill but vowed that I would only do it the once. I did consider the Pro Trek that is solar powered as Trail was doing a special on them at the time about 18 months ago I think. However, a mate of mine who belongs to one of the RAF MR teams showed me his Suunto which he raved about and lent it to me for a weekend in the hills. The Vector is around £150 and would be equivalent to the Casio Pro Trek. Personally I would recommend a Suunto to anyone. The barometer and altimeter are accurate and the digital compass, whilst a bit gimmicky, is ok to + or - a couple of degrees and you can add or subtract mag variation as well. There are user reviews on the OM site as well which are favourable. Thing is watches are a very personal item, one person's must have is another person's reject so it's down to personal choice.
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Think I will get also the Suunto rather than the Casio - that battery cost alone is enough to put me off!
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£95 aaarrgghh! Thankfully mine hasn't run out yet!
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The one I'm thinking of getting is solar-powered. I presume that means it will NEVER need batteries replacing
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Harry
My PRG 70 Pro Trek is solar powered.After opening my old G shock,changing the battery it was never the same.After much thought I decided to try the solar powered option.Its all worked out well I reckon.Bought off Ebay from Hong Kong,brand new etc..delivered in 7 days...
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