Delivery times by country — 2026 observed rates
These are real times from our 25,000+ parcels since 2019, not marketing quotes. Range accounts for weather, holidays, and customs randomness.
| Country / Region | DHL time | Cost estimate | Customs pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States (all coasts) | 6-10 days | $28-35 | ~99.5% |
| Canada | 7-11 days | $32-40 | ~99% |
| United Kingdom | 7-11 days | $30-38 | ~98% |
| Germany | 8-12 days | $32-40 | ~97% |
| France | 7-11 days | $32-40 | ~99% |
| Netherlands | 7-11 days | $30-38 | ~97% |
| Italy / Spain | 8-12 days | $34-42 | ~98% |
| Sweden / Denmark / Finland | 8-13 days | $34-42 | ~99% |
| Poland / Czech / Hungary | 9-14 days | $38-46 | ~98% |
| Australia | 7-13 days | $38-48 | ~99% |
| New Zealand | 9-14 days | $42-52 | ~98% |
| Japan | 4-7 days | $26-32 | ~99% |
| South Korea | 4-7 days | $26-32 | ~98% |
| Singapore / Malaysia | 4-7 days | $24-30 | ~99% |
| Mexico | 10-14 days | $36-46 | ~98% |
| Brazil | 12-17 days | $42-55 | ~96% |
| Argentina | 13-18 days | $45-58 | ~98% |
| Chile / Peru | 13-18 days | $44-56 | ~98% |
| UAE / Saudi Arabia | 7-11 days | $36-44 | ~99% |
| South Africa | 10-14 days | $46-58 | ~97% |
How we declare packages at customs
Every parcel is declared as one of:
- "Digital sport wrist device" ($25-35 declared value) — Apple Watch reps, smart watches
- "Metal wrist accessory" ($25-35 declared value) — traditional watch reps
- "Fashion timepiece" ($30-45 declared value) — Chanel, Gucci, Cartier fashion pieces
Never declared as: Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, or any branded description. Never at retail value. This is standard for the category — customs seizure rate is under 0.4% because the declaration doesn't trigger flags.
Customs seizure — what happens
If your package is seized (about 0.4% of parcels), you'll receive a letter from your country's customs authority (usually 5-10 days after the parcel would have arrived). The letter states the reason for seizure — usually "suspected trademark infringement."
Options at that point:
- Don't respond — package is destroyed by customs after 30-60 days. No further action against you. This is the standard buyer response (customs won't come after a $150 rep watch buyer).
- Respond to appeal — sometimes packages can be released with a fine. Not recommended for rep watches (you'd be paying customs to admit intent).
- Forward the notice to us — we offer 50% credit toward a re-ship. Industry standard split of the risk.
Alternate couriers if DHL not available
DHL Express is default. Alternate options for specific destinations:
- UPS Express Saver — for buyers in US who prefer UPS over DHL. 1-2 days slower, similar cost.
- FedEx International Priority — for buyers in Southeast Asia and Middle East. Sometimes faster than DHL to these regions.
- SF Express International — for buyers in East Asia (Japan, Korea, Hong Kong). 3-5 days, cheapest.
- EMS (Chinese postal) — cheapest option, 14-25 days. We only use this for buyers explicitly requesting it (usually price-sensitive Latin America).
Insurance and damage claims
Every DHL Express parcel is insured up to $500. UPS and FedEx similar. In our 25,000+ parcel history, we've had 2 damage-in-transit claims — both paid out by DHL, both re-shipped by us. Damage claims are our problem, not yours — we handle them.