The World's money end up in swiss banks.. we're talking billions/day .. do u think a non-swiss banker, for example, earning 6 digit income, would give a dang about this ? I'm just playing the devil's advocate here, but no matter how the average consumers spend their money, the money gets back to the alps projects.

That's just my opinion.. so I may be wrong!

I'd say the Highest salaries.. If your income is around 1500chf/month, you're already among the top 1% of the world's income.. sad, but true!

The amount quoted here can merely pay for your monthly rent in Switzerland and in bottom end price range.

I work for a big multinational, we buy the same equipment from the same suppliers as all the other countries in Europe, only that we pay somthing like 10% - 80% (!) more. My Swiss colleagues' reactions? "That's just the way it is..."

No name/lowest price 200m/g ibuprofen tablets:

10 pack Switzerland: chf 8 - 12
16 pack UK: £0.36

B post . I just sent a package weighing bugger all (less than 500g) back to Oz, and it cost over 25Chf. What's that all about!?!?!

My exhaust recently went on my car, a simple Fiat Marea. I was in France at the time, but the differences in costs for exactly the same item were staggering. This is just for the pipework and boxes, and not the catalytic converter, and from recommended local garages not dealerships:

France: 1000 Euro
Switzerland: 500 Euro
UK (ebay dealer): 90 Euro

Even my UK fiat dealer quoted me 240 Euro.. including fitting. He said all the parts come from the same factory in Italy, so the wholesale price should be virtually the same everywhere in Europe.

As it was, I cut it off and drove back to Switzerland without it (apologies to the residents of Geneva).

I also spoke to the RAC European office in Lyon who also rang around on my behalf. They assured me 1000 Euro was a good price for France. Nice work if you can get it.

Another example: black folding umbrellas.

Asda, UK: GBP 1.99.

Globus (or pretty much any shop), Switzerland: CHF 25. I don't think I've ever seen an umbrella in Switzerland for under CHF 25.

Another example: rectangular pillows... GBP 3.99 in M&S, and (it seems) at least CHF 50 in Zurich...

folding umbrellas at the Coop for CHF 7.50

Its not all bad.

The last computer I bought.

2800CHF in Switzerland
2800Eur plus VAT in Ireland!

There are some things that are ridiculously priced here, and I shop abroad for a lot of that stuff, but there are things that can be fairly good value here too.

I think this financial crisis will make many in Switzerland become more price sensitive. While many Swiss would refuse to shop at an Aldi, the local Aldi which only opened recently is now consistently full of shoppers.

I think the high margin way of doing business may be slowly dying as it's becoming untenable as the ridiculous banker pay packet will soon be a thing of the past. With far lower pay will come price sensitivity and the need to be more price competitive.

I think Aldi and Lidl's entry into Switzerland has already brought much lower food price in Switzerland even if the list price is still the same because of the heavy discounting done by Migros/Coop to fend off the discounters.

In my view, it is okay to pay extra when you are dealing with a local merchant. There is a certain level of trust and service that you can expect from say a local bike shop, local butcher or local furniture maker (and I can accept keeping them in business by paying a little more - a societal good model). This model total breaks down for me though when the high prices are charged by a faceless corporate entity, whether this faceles corporate entity is a Swiss one or a German one or an American one is irrelevant.

I noticed all the 70% OFF sales right after Christmas. Made me realize how large the mark-ups are on all those shoes and clothes. And to think they probably pay some child in a sweatshop a few pennies for each piece.

Broadly agree, electronics is competitive here, almost everything else is expensive and you need to shop around and/or import. My better half says luxury clothing can be good value here vs UK. We have bought in Germany and Italy, , diy sauna, skis etc.

Of course CHF strength helps right now... got email today from ebay.ch suggesting I buy lots of stuff in the UK at crazy low price.

Daniel

I have no problem paying 10% more when it serves the local economy, but 50% or 100% or more? Heck no. Certain shopping is better done in Germany, and I just got back from a 2-week trip to the U.S. and loaded up on kids' clothing, Optifree Express, Advil and tons of other stuff.

Petrol is comparatively cheap here too (at least it was until the CHF went through the roof). You won't find a petrol station anywhere in Italy within 30 miles of the Swiss border. I know, I ran out of petrol.

Cheers

Jim

Okay, my turn.

I can buy a large cage for my parrot in Germany from a well known German cage maker (Montana cages) for 500 Eur.
http://www.parrotshop.de/products/de...ana-Cages.html
We would need to pick it up. From my house 1.5 hours. They won't tell me on the phone what models they have on display for me to see.

In Switzerland, the same cage sells for 1250 chf. Delivery is not included and the shop recommends picking the cage up, so I have to drive and pick it up. From my house, 1.5 hours.
http://www.parrotshop.ch/showart.php...1419397ff9b7ee

Or I can get a cage from Delphin Amazonia, a Swiss company, from the same shop in Switzerland, but delivered to my house for 890 chf. The cage is a little smaller than the German model.

For me I like to see what I am buying. The shop in Switzerland has many cages on display but it is far. So I wrote to Delphin Amazonia and asked them if they have a showroom I can visit (they are in Basel which would be closer to me) and if they sell directly. No reply yet. There is a shop near me where I can order the cage but they have none on display.

I keep looking on all the German language websites to see if I can find anything - there was one seller on Ricardo, he imports the cages from China, and it was 500 chf, excluding delivery. I asked for an MSDS Sheet . THere was none. I asked about the guarantee. Nothing.

If I buy the cage from the locals shop in Switzerland, or even the shop futher away, there is a guarantee and I know who to call if there is problem.

Shopping on price only is not always the better way depending on what you are buying.

There was a discussion a while back on the TV programme "Kassensturz" about exactly this type of thing.
Example: Denner has to pay a higher purchase price for (bulk quantities of) a certain type of Nivea cream than the retail price for exactly the same pot of cream is in Germany. They've tried negotiating with Beiersdorf with no luck. Swiss consumers are viewed overall as fair game for milking

Well, it is the country of flowing milk and honey, Heidi and rich bankers, no?
Maybe after our banks go bust, we will have the same prices as everybody else? Hope we can still afford it by then...

This isn't a complaint, it's just another example of what Velofellow asked for. I recently purchased a Bosch car battery from the local Bosch Service Centre, 276 Chfs. after a 20% discount. I phoned a Bosch Service Centre in Britain and was quoted £79 (approx 170 Chfs) for exactly the same battery with the higher, UK VAT included. This seems ridiculous for a product made in Germany, next door. We have made a choice to live with these discrepancies though.