Hi, I'm moving from Frankfurt to Zurich in the next few weeks. The destination company will pay for re-location and an initial apartment until I find my feet.

Given that I own *very* few household items I'm wondering what I should buy now here in Frankfurt when I have the one-time offer of a very convenient removal service. I guess I will take an unfurnished place so I'm going to have to buy a huge amount of 'stuff'.

From browsing this great site I've concluded that electronics like a local mobile phone, fancy TV, new computer (this one is ancient) would be best bought in Switzerland. I understand that the costs are about the same or even better in .ch ?

Electricals like kitchen equipment, washing machine, microwave, : my reading is that Germany would be noticeably cheaper.

Pots, pans, plates etc: I'm guessing Germany is cheaper.

Bedding, towels and the like: Germany cheaper ?

Real furniture (tables, chairs, sofa, bed, wardrobes): my understanding it that Swiss prices are really much higher than Germany in this sector. For Swiss quality, naturally.

IKEA: Not my favourite but probably the economic option. Is this about the same cost in Zurich as Germany ?

For 20 years I've wanted an Eames Lounge Chair and this may be the right time although prices in DE seem way higher than UK for this article.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eames_Lounge_Chair
I guess in Zurich that people only have the original at about 8k CHF. I'm happy with a decently constructed replica (widely available in UK).


Are these conclusions correct ? Should I start buying up everything I need apartment-wise here in Frankfurt ? I haven't even started looking for a place yet so it seems a bit funny to procure all the kit without a place to live in yet.

From reading many threads here it seems moving from Germany to Zurich is a well-trodden path so any pointers would be truly welcome.


Thank you.

Hi, anyone have any comments ? Moving in a few weeks.

Moving to an unfurnished apartment: is it wise to buy furniture and bits here in Germany before arriving ?


Thank you.

C

Hi Captcha,

Yep, you're pretty right on all your assumptions, make sure you buy everything there, and put the new stuff at the back of the removalist's truck and mark it as used household goods on your official papers, otherwise you'll have to pay the VAT at the border. Also, if you have a BBQ - the gas bottle fittings are different here, too - making the one you bring with you redundant.

If you run out of time to get what you need before you leave - don't worry, this forum is full of bargains, with people leaving and selling everything very cheap.

Good luck with your move.

If you buy everything in Germany, do you know where you can store it all? In your initial appartment? Because if that's on the smallish size, then separate storage may become very expensive.

Will you get help in finding an appartment - and will you have the budget to choose whatever appartment you want? If so, then go ahead. If not, I'd be more careful.

We just visited Germany last weekend to get some replacement kitchen lights. I'd also planned on buying other stuff there, like carpets for the kids bedrooms, lights etc. and had hoped for more choice. I must say I was disappointed, especially after being in a huge furniture store. Prices were generally not cheaper - and the cheaper things? - had 19% vat stuck on them at the till... I can't say it was worth the drive - we could have sorted it on the phone and had the kitchen lights sent.

I would suggest getting a few choice items that you really want, such as your lounge chair (if it's cheaper) and then see what your new appartment needs when you get here. Personally, I'd hate to clutter up a new place before I had even seen it, just to get the most out of a relocation package.

Just my 2 raps.

Thank you to both of you.

Crumbs, the company will provide a flat hunting service. The place I take will be entirely paid for from my salary so definitely has to come under budget.

I need to buy every bit of furniture and to save a few pennies I thought to do it in advance given the alleged better prices in DE. Ideally I'd use them if only for a few weeks so that when I cross the border I can safely say they are 'used'. From reading other threads it could be an issue if in 6 months I was to rent a van (cost) drive to Stuttgart (fuel) and pickup a sofa/table etc which would then very clearly be new and have to pay import taxation. Maybe still cheaper than

I don't even own a TV so I would buy one in the next month in DE or CH .... need to check online if prices vary widely. Maybe better to wait until I have Swiss papers so that I can re-claim German VAT ?

Sorry for being such a newbie.

Another thing to consider is that rented flats are generally well-equipped. The kitchen appliances incl microwave, fridge, oven, dishwasher etc will all be built in - unlike in Germany or in other parts of Switzerland. Washing machine will likely be communal and if you want to install your own, you'll have to get landlord's permission first.

I can't say tax-wise what the best bet is for you as I don't have relocation experience per se.

The only reason for me to go to Germany is a larger choice than available here. However, as mentioned, the range of furniture we saw last week across the border did not impress me in the least.

Check out Swiss sites to compare prices for furniture: ikea.ch, interio.ch, pfister.ch, micasa.ch, fly.ch, toptip.ch come to mind. Note that Swiss furniture companies can have longish delivery times.

Hope you find what you want and good luck with the move.

- Unlike in Germany, kitchen equipment, washing machine and dryer are often provided by the landlord in an unfurnished apartment. Nobody owns the build in kitchen furniture here (for all non-Germans: you quite often do there...)

- VAT is lower, so not everything, especially electronics as TVs are not cheaper in Germany or only once you moved here: If you are registered here and then go shopping in Germany, you can claim the difference of the VAT back (DE: 19%, CH: 7.6%!). That is a 12% savings at the Media Market in Konstanz!

- Nice furniture is expensive here, Ikea costs the same. So furniture does make sense if you would know the size of the place...

- Electronics need a different plug, which is annoying.

The furniture/electrical companies along the Swiss border are used to Swiss residents buying stuff there (Seipp has a good rep) and will transport it for you and assemble it in Switzerland. A German furniture company will give you 20% off the asking price but so, we discovered, will for instance Zing Lamprecht.

There is an Italian company that makes copies of designer furniture - and I can never remember their name - but Swiss customs has started confiscating the stuff so it can be a bit tricky.

As Treverus says its difficult to find an appartment without a kitchen. Whilst you usually get a communal washer/dryer and a timeplan, the number of people adhering to that timeplan is proportional to the ammount of rent you pay and the willingness of people to jack up the temperature of your wollens to 60 degrees. We brought our own washing machine - and fridge - and freezer - and dishwasher (which hasn't been used in a while).

11.4% - Mr. almost MBA

And that is why I major in marketing and not in finance. The upside is that you can then afford an apartment with an own washing machine... a dream come true.

Be careful with bedding: some sizes are the same some are not, e.g. I use a duvet 160 x 210 cm, in Germany the size would be 150 x 200 or 150 x 220 cm if I remember right. Also standard pillows and pillow cases are 80 x 80 cm in Germany whereas they are 60 x 60 or 60 x 90 cm in Switzerland.

Also you have a much better choice in Germany than in Switzerland. Maybe that doesn’t apply to the Zurich area but it certainly does in areas close to France like Geneva.

I always try to go to Germany with empty suitcases and come back with full ones.

Last not least, if you need certain food supplements you should bring a supply with you. Since Switzerland ist not part of the EU, transport costs can be enormous if you order anything from Germany - even for small items.

If you have any specific questions, I may be able to help you. I have done a lot of comparing qualities and prices between Germany and Switzerland in the course of the years.

But to not buy
- photographic stuff
- TV sets
- stationary
in Germany as these things, just as tobacco, is cheaper in Switzerland with at least the same choice, but DO buy wines in Germany as also French and Spanish and even Italian wines tend to be much cheaper in Germany (not to forget the nice German wines like "Spätburgunder Weissherbst" (Rosé here) and "Trollinger Rotburgunder" etc. ). Sprinkle a bit of dirt from the Vorgarten over the new bottles so that you can say it is your "Lager" from the cellar !