Hi

If you buy in Germany and plan to bring the item back to Switzerland you should be able to get a form from the company selling the goods to you to refund the German MsWt (VAT). I'm told that you should be able to do the same with US firms to avoid local sales taxWe've brought furniture, food and Amazon stuff in Germany on via the internet and this is very straight forward. If the shop you're buying from is close to the border, then they should be clued up on this.

The duty rates are the same if you buy from the US or Germany since Switzerland is not in the EU. There is some info availble on allowances etc in english at
http://www.ezv.admin.ch/zollinfo_pri...x.html?lang=en

Normally if you get items delivered to you by post, the Swisspost charge you about CHF30 to admin the customs charges on top of the duty payment. You pay this at the postoffice on reciept of the goods.

I wouldn't advise trying to avoid the duty cost on such a large expensive item on re-entry to Switzerland. The border guys always seem to be fairly clued up to me, and anytime we have ordrered goods via amazon.de which are liable for duty, the goods have been checked and we've paid it.