Free Shipping to Switzerland

Nanda · #1 12.07.2006, 10:06

Hi,

I thought I'd start a new thread for companies that ship free to Switzerland or for a very small fee.

I'll update this post whenever I can.

List:

http://www.choicesdirect.com => (uk) Dvds & games. GBP3.00/order to CH
http://www.dvdboxoffice.com/ => (canadian) region 1 dvds, games
http://www.play.com => (uk) books, dvds, cds
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk => (uk) books

Pashosh · #2 12.07.2006, 10:39

www.amazon.de ship books for free to Switzerland - I've bought books from them, and they arrived within a few days. According to their site they also ship CDs, DVDs and Games free if the order is over 20 Euros

Dee · #3 12.07.2006, 14:40

Try www.strawberrynet.com/ for big brand skincare and cosmetics with free shipping. They also refund customs taxes, so an additional incentive!

muze7 · #4 12.07.2006, 19:26

the books that come from the US via Amazon marketplace via www.amazon.de are shipped for 3 Euro per book usually.

What I do not know is whether books (single and multiple) attract customs fees in practice. Anyone have experience with this?

Nanda · #5 14.07.2006, 14:39

Someone wants told me that Books are exempted from custom duties. I've never had to pay for any myself. But I've not looked into this officially. ~ Nanda.

muze7 · #6 23.07.2006, 16:45

ok, I checked. Books are taxed at 2.4% plus a possible handling fee of 10 CHF.

Problem is if they come from the States they are cleared as private handling via General Parcel and you can get a fee of 43 CHF for that alone, plus tax.

Only thing is, I do not know if this is enforced in practice, as it seems USPS shipping might be exempt from private clearance while other couriers are not. Anyone ordered books from the US yet, specifically Amazon?

From http://www.swisspost.ch/en/index/uk_...htm?viewId=722
or try this one if it disappears again:
http://www.post.ch/en/index/uk_ueber...infuhr_von.htm

	Quote:
	Importing parcels: What do you need to know? Generally speaking, there are two types of customs clearance: items sent to Switzerland via traditional postal channels are subject to postal customs clearance. Items imported via private forwarders such as General Parcel Switzerland are subject to private customs clearance. In both cases, customs clearance takes place in accordance with the federal government's customs regulations; the charges for the recipient and the method of collection vary. Basic information:All parcels sent to Switzerland from other countries have to clear Swiss customs. The accompanying papers (customs forms or stickers) must list the information relevant for the customs authorities (content, value, etc.). Swiss customs law determines whether customs charges apply and what they should be. The value of the goods to be stated is the customs duty value, which comprises the actual value of the goods plus the transport costs. There are two different types of customs clearance for imported parcels: •Postal customs clearance: parcels sent to Switzerland via postal channels •Private customs clearance: parcels imported by private forwarders

For the rest of this document please see the link at the top

For more info custom duties see the link that is now in English, i.e., http://www.ezv.admin.ch/zollinfo_pri...x.html?lang=en

smbuzby · #7 24.07.2006, 10:50

With repect to Amazon and Play - PLAY is brilliant. My usual habit is now to use amazon to do the search/read reviews and order from play. They may appear a tad more expensive, but when Amazon adds the delivery fee, then its not.....

Of cousre, I only order stuff in English......

mark · #8 24.07.2006, 11:13

	Quote:	muze7
	ok, I checked. Books are taxed at 2.4% plus a possible handling fee of 10 CHF.

I often order books from the US via amazon. Comparing with the other amazons (.co.uk, .de) it is often faster and cheaper. If you are ordering quite a few books at a time then the shipping cost per book comes down.

Tax is not 2.4% on books - I've always paid 7.6%, and always a 10 franc handling fee.

smbuzby · #9 24.07.2006, 11:15

When I order stuff from play there are no additional taxes added ;o)

mark · #10 24.07.2006, 11:32

	Quote:	smbuzby
	When I order stuff from play there are no additional taxes added ;o)

Just had a look. When you say no additional taxes added, that is because you aren't getting a deduction for the 17.5% UK VAT right? What should actually happen is because books from play.com are being shipped outside the EU the 17.5% should come off the price, then you pay your 7.6%, so the difference goes in your pocket. Looks like they are happily paying the Swiss tax for you so you don't notice that they put the 17.5% in the THEIR pocket!

I haven't compared play for all books but I did put in a recent purchase of mine (CCIE Security study guide, Benjamin) and it came out at GBP 57.99 vs USD 50.37 on amazon.com. In CHF thats 133 vs 62! Even with shipping and taxes from the US, I'd still be way ahead! If you combine several books into one order the savings (re: shipping) would be even greater. Play would probably work out better for buying single small items as the price difference wouldn't be so great and the free shipping would probably tip the scales. Bottom line - it pays to shop around!!

smbuzby · #11 24.07.2006, 11:34

Play operate from the channel isles, so UK VAT is not included.

for books, UK do not add VAT in any case....

But I agree with the fact that one should shop around

cheesenonion · #12 22.10.2006, 13:36

	Quote:	mark
	I often order books from the US via amazon. Comparing with the other amazons (.co.uk, .de) it is often faster and cheaper. If you are ordering quite a few books at a time then the shipping cost per book comes down. Tax is not 2.4% on books - I've always paid 7.6%, and always a 10 franc handling fee.

Amazon.com won't deliver to me for some reason. I go through the whole process or ordering then at the end it tells me they can't ship to this address. Anyone know why this is?
Vanessa

AbFab · #13 22.10.2006, 13:44

	Quote:	cheesenonion
	Amazon.com won't deliver to me for some reason. I go through the whole process or ordering then at the end it tells me they can't ship to this address. Anyone know why this is? Vanessa

Is you name on the letterbox?

mark · #14 22.10.2006, 14:18

	Quote:	cheesenonion
	Amazon.com won't deliver to me for some reason. I go through the whole process or ordering then at the end it tells me they can't ship to this address. Anyone know why this is?

Nope. But I bet the most likely people who would know the answer would be amazon.com.

Ella · #15 22.10.2006, 15:03

I hate Amazon. Last time they lost my package and I had to request a replacement. It took almost 2 months for me to finally receive my books, by then I could already easily get them here in Fnac.

Diem · #16 22.10.2006, 19:53

	Quote:	cheesenonion
	I'll be interested in the answer too.

I know the answer. Gosh, I can hardly wait for an official thread so I can give it.

=DM=

nksyoon · #17 22.10.2006, 22:49

I've never paid import duty or VAT for books from Amazon. But if there are CDs or DVDs in the same package, Swiss customs will charge VAT on the order.

mark · #18 23.10.2006, 08:52

	Quote:	nksyoon
	I've never paid import duty or VAT for books from Amazon. But if there are CDs or DVDs in the same package, Swiss customs will charge VAT on the order.

I think it's actually the luck of the draw. I've had the opposite experience to you - I've *never* managed to avoiding paying the VAT. People seem to give varying accounts on this so I can only assume that it is the luck of the draw - you've always been lucky, and I've always been unlucky.

meloncollie · #19 23.10.2006, 10:49

	Quote:	mark
	I think it's actually the luck of the draw. I've had the opposite experience to you - I've never managed to avoiding paying the VAT. People seem to give varying accounts on this so I can only assume that it is the luck of the draw - you've always been lucky, and I've always been unlucky.

I order from Amazon weekly...

I've never paid MWSt on book orders under CHF 100 including shipping charges - as long as I send them as gifts to myself .

DVD orders the limit seems to be about CHF 55-60, again sending the items as gifts.

Any order over those amounts always gets hit with MWSt and administrative fees.

mark · #20 23.10.2006, 10:56

	Quote:	meloncollie
	DVD orders the limit seems to be about CHF 55-60, again sending the items as gifts.

I had a single DVD gift from amazon (value 30-40 francs). Got hit with 2 francs tax and 10 franc charge for raising the tax. It would be nice if there were some limits or predictable behaviour with this stuff so you could know how to get around it, but that doens't (at least with me) seem to be the case. Or perhaps I am very unlucky, or get singled out for "extreme taxation" by customs