On December 30, 2014 we ordered furniture from a Swiss 'outlet' furniture store for CHF6,600.00.

The items are made in the Netherlands and delivery will be in March 2015. We paid a deposit and the only 'contract' was a bill detailing the products and costs.

Since the value of the euro has fallen, we asked for a 15% discount off the invoice price, or are agreeable to paying the euro equivalent when the goods are delivered. We were offered only CHF100 as a guesture of goodwill.

We have not accepted this and are pushing for a realistic discount as the retailer stands to make over CHF1000 more from us.

What do you think??

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Would you have paid an additional 15% if the CHF would have lost value compared to the euro?

We have bought furniture in Germany last Saturday. In order to avoid such surprises, I have paid the whole amount instead of a 25% payment and secured the 1.00 exchange rate.

I cannot recall when the euro rose 18% against the CHF, or imagine when it is ever likely to. I have bought furniture before here and asked to be invoiced in euros. Should have done that this time too.

As an importer the retailer should have bought euros forward to avoid fluctuations. This would be understandable, but not a reason they have used. They are simply pocketing the rather plump difference...

Well, it did go from 1.4 to 1.6 before falling again some years back.

It was up to over 1.6 in 2007.

Tom

It rose by around that when the SNB put in the cap.

If you win this case, do tell us. Maybe it will work with the Pensions office in the UK

Or for the ski holiday booked for the family last year from the UK, in Adelboden later this year. (hmm hmm computer says NO).

To your question, you had a deal and I think accepting the goodwill gesture is enough. Unless you have the right to cancel, in which case, maybe you can cancel and look elsewhere.

As another poster said, if the FX rate went the other way, you probably wouldn't be happy to stump up more, so I think it is not fair.

I cannot imagine many Swiss importers on this scale hedge, partly they don't understand, partly it is too small as you never really know wha tyou need from one day to the next, but mostly complacency. They all heard SNB say peg wasn't going to change and beleived them and just carried on, biz as normal.....

As you bought in CH, paid in CH, when you placed your order i guess the importer did the same and maybe he also paid up front 100% for whatever reason.

I think you'll have difficulty, probably as much difficulty as you will have going back to him to buy something else....

Brent crude oil has fallen by about 10% since you ordered, which at this point would reduce transport costs. Why don't you demand a rebate for that too?

You agreed and signed, that's it. You should be thankful for the 100CHF goodwill offer.

Presumably there are some T&C lurking somewhere. Do they say anything relevant to this? The outlet store must have to cover themselves in case the Dutch manufacturer goes bust before delivering the furniture, for example.

Nope, just an invoice sent by email.

How would it be if one had a new car on order and then saw the current "euro bonus" offers...

A deal is a deal, a promise is a promise, a word is a word and a contract is a contract, so you'll have to stick to your agreements if it goes for or against you.

However, if there is a clause in the in the contract that you can cancel within certain days, then you're within your rights to cancel and reorder, otherwise take the 100 CHF goodwill gesture and stick to the contract you both agreed to.

I hope you're not considering a career in law.

Story of my life. If you want to buy something, wait until after I've bought it and it is bound to be on sale for 50% the next day.

What you don't know is whether the store purchased the items from the manufacturer immediately, and in what currency they ordered, and what rate they were given. Maybe they are also stuck with a higher rate as per their purchase order. So the items have been purchased for you already. I assume your invoice is in Swiss francs but does it show the Euro prices? (usually it won't). Then I think you are well within your rights to pay in Euros.

We recently ordered an item made in Germany from a Swiss furniture store, also with a delivery lead time of 8 -10 weeks. The store manager had the price list open in Swiss francs, and he used the current rate on that day, which was a very good deal for us. He takes the risk if the rate changes.

It was interesting to note that many items already for sale in inventory were discounted. A Swiss furniture shop such as this located near the German border is under tremendous pressure now to be competitive particularly on items ordered from outside of Switzerland.

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I think that you are very optimistic to hope for a discount from a Dutch company. You're funny. Even your 100 francs discount qualifies as historical event by Dutch standards. Good luck.