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01.09.2011, 17:13
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| | Re: Why I think sales at the stores in Switzerland suck | Quote: | |  | | | I've realized all to well that 'sales' in Switzerland are usually very sparingly and when they do have sales, they usually end up selling more stuff that isn't on sale than what is actually on sale. * Occasionally* you can pick yourself up a good deal if you are in the city on that certain time and place - and then you just chalk it up to good luck, plaster it all over FB about how proud you are to find that one good deal and then go on with the rest of the weeks of no sales and buying at huge mark up prices.
I've almost got some of my shopping down to a science. I know what is not worth spending the extra gas money to go across the border, what is not worth spending the extra time to get on a tram and go into the city and when I should do one or both. I guess when you move (especially to a different country) then you have to do the same thing with the new surroundings. Good luck and I hope you find yourself some soft nice towels better priced eventually!  | | | | | I don't buy towels on sale. I did it that once and never again. (Unless I see good brands on sale which I haven't.). Thanks anyway. | Quote: | |  | | | Everything is still overpriced compared to <INSERT SHOP FROM HOME OR TRAVEL COUNTRY OF CHOICE>. Everything is so much better in the <INSERT HOME OR TRAVEL COUNTRY OF CHOICE> that I moved to Switzerland.
The end.  | | | | | Beautiful assumptions. All opposite to how I feel about the country where I came from.
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01.09.2011, 17:17
| | Re: Why I think sales at the stores in Switzerland suck | Quote: | |  | | | Both sales and the limited choice sucks in Switzerland big time. I never shop for clothes here but stock up when I travel to the US or the UK. I think it makes sense to make a big shopping trip once a year to the US if someone needs to buy lots of clothes. The price of the ticket will be covered by 2-3 more expensive buys here. | | | | | It would probably be much cheaper for you to buy a direct ticket to China since mostly all you're going to find in US and probably UK too is "Made In China". At least in Switzerland you can find labels "Made In Switzerland." I couldn't even find a decent 100% cotton bathrobe in USA they are all pretty polyester designs that don't absorb water! Just tacky...LOL
Last edited by ProsperityJoy; 01.09.2011 at 18:02.
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01.09.2011, 22:53
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| | Re: Why I think sales at the stores in Switzerland suck | Quote: | |  | | | Best sales *ever* was in the Spanish chain El corte Inglés about 2 years ago. They had on sale the models from that year (I had seen/swooned over some of the pieces during normal times) with 50%-70%. And the prices even went down during the time I was shopping (I confess, was inside a couple of *cough* hours *cough*). | | | | | | Quote: | |  | | | That may be true, but Corte Ingles still often has a lot of nifty stuff that you can't get elsewhere. I've never bought clothes there but the kitchen stuff for example is quite amazing. If you don't have competition you can get away with highish prices (and they're not that high). | | | | | I really like Les Cortes Ingles. I got some gorgeous spanish designer shoes for a very good price, and some dresses that make my husband completely gaga!
If you want something from there, let me know, I am sure I could send it over to you! | This user would like to thank Nil for this useful post: | | 
02.09.2011, 09:56
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| | Re: Why I think sales at the stores in Switzerland suck
The towels here are horrid and expensive... Though I may be biased, the best quality and value are in Canada (try The Bay) or any Kohls in the U.S. (house labels with a bit of bamboo rayon mixed in...roughly $10 or so for what would easily be chf 60 or more if you could find it here).
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02.09.2011, 10:03
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| | Re: Why I think sales at the stores in Switzerland suck | Quote: | |  | | | If you want something from there, let me know, I am sure I could send it over to you!  | | | | | Ah thanks Nil  I'm going back home for Christmas, and already have a shopping tour programmed with my mother. We are beating the El Corte Inglés like a SWAT team hihihi
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02.09.2011, 10:03
| | Re: Why I think sales at the stores in Switzerland suck | Quote: | |  | | | A neighbour of mine used to work at Loeb in Bern many years ago while she was studying and she told me that during the Ausverkauf or sale time, the store would receive a shipment of t-shirts for example, that they paid maybe 1 SFr for and it was her job to stick price stickers on to them. First, one that says 70 SFR crossed out, then 50 crossed out and then 25 SFR as the final price, then it would be put on display. She felt awful about doing this since it's a total rip-off, and asked what the point was. She was told that nobody wants to buy a cheap t-shirt and feels better about getting a good deal on an "expensive" one! | | | | | Isn't that illegal here? In the UK, a product has to be on sale at its original retail price for certain time (14 days?) then can be marked as a sale item. I can't imagine it being that much different here.
The original mark-up from CHF 1 to CHF 70 is just plain cheeky and is probably normal for items being produced and shipped for peanuts from Asia but I don't think illegal.
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02.09.2011, 10:06
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| | Re: Why I think sales at the stores in Switzerland suck | Quote: | |  | | | Ok no to defend Globus but I got my first BRITA jug there are the reduced price thing, paid 20 CHF and it came with three extra filters... | | | | | kind of like printers... cheaper to buy a new printer than buy the cartridges.
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02.09.2011, 11:05
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| | Re: Why I think sales at the stores in Switzerland suck
Just when I was about to cave in and just accept the Swiss price system, I stumbled across a pair of nice dockers I really liked. Was on sale at a store in Zurich. Decent mens store as well. Sale price was CHF 200. Luckily, I decided just for old times sake, cross check with good old UK mens store. Well well well, would you believe, the same pant was Ł65.83 after deducting UK 20% sales tax + the store had a nice free international postage offer which I duly took advantage off  . Oh I did not get any custom charges as well.
Summary - I just go into Swiss shops to try stuff on and I buy them online from Uk or when i go home for the weekend.
I just ignore the sales really, like most have said, i have noticed mostly junk in the sales although you can find some gems e.g. SchuhCafe have a nice sales.
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02.09.2011, 11:08
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| | Re: Why I think sales at the stores in Switzerland suck | Quote: |  | | | Isn't that illegal here? In the UK, a product has to be on sale at its original retail price for certain time (14 days?) then can be marked as a sale item. I can't imagine it being that much different here.
The original mark-up from CHF 1 to CHF 70 is just plain cheeky and is probably normal for items being produced and shipped for peanuts from Asia but I don't think illegal. | | | | | This was many years ago. But I've been in Switzerland long enough to know that when they have "Ausverkauf", you usually end up seeing tons of stuff that was never on sale in the shops up til that point- and they always make it out to be amazing bargains. Now I totally avoid the shops in January and July (?). I'm sure there is also stock that has been marked down, but there's a lot of junk too that has been brought in just for this sales period. I even remember there being a report on it in Kassensturz a couple years ago. And apparently it is illegal. http://www.kassensturz.sf.tv/Nachric...den-Ladentisch
Sorry, this is in german, but it basically comfirms what my neighbour told me.
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03.09.2011, 10:13
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| | Re: Why I think sales at the stores in Switzerland suck | Quote: | |  | | | About few years ago I bought some towels on sale at Globus. I thought "Coolio, these towels are way cheap and they have to be good quality as they are being sold at Globus!"
Yeah yeah, whatever! Crappest towels I have ever purchased!
Since then, I check the so-called sales out and all the things that go on sale are junk! It's like they purposefully buy cheap rubbish and when it's 'sale time' they just haul it all out from the dark dungeon basement and stick it on some shelves.
I know at Jelmoli (in ZH anyway), they ring a bell when better stock goes on sale for a few minutes, of course we don't have time to hang around in the shop all day and wait for the bell to ring. Although, a friend of mine did this (took a day off of work) and scored herself some gorgeous Schlossberg bed linen. | | | | | Yes they are specially kept for sales. Its pure customer trickery-and they are gullible enough to believe it.
Sometimes in Jelmoli you might get a good purchase but the prices are 25% more in Jelmoli anyhow so you never really get much of a deal.
These store's assume that the consumer is stupid.
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03.09.2011, 17:19
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| | Re: Why I think sales at the stores in Switzerland suck
This is indeed very common practice - even some of the labels like TF have done it/do it. A huge clue is normally the considerable amount of the same stuff on sale along with the pre-printed stickers.
Best to go to the section where they are selling off "the last of" as this is usually the merchandise that was not sold if you buy on sale and if you can find your size, you will probably have made a good deal.
Alternatively go to France or Italy.
I personally prefer to buy at the start of the season - I buy less clothing but get to choose exactly what I want. : ) It is a better strategy in the long run: the clothes fit, the quality is usually good and they can be worn for more than a season. The stuff that goes on (true) sale, especially near the end is often the really seasonal stuff nobody can get away with wearing a year later anyway.
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05.09.2011, 13:41
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| | Re: Why I think sales at the stores in Switzerland suck
Does everybody know that JCPenny now ships here? I hate to admit that I very rarely shop here. It is either JCP, LL Bean or Lands End. They are not out to "rip you off" with the shipping and there are always coupons available.
We were quite happy with a recent JCP order where we got everything ON SALE and a 20% off coupon. Plus the dollar vs franc is great now.
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05.09.2011, 15:06
| | Re: Why I think sales at the stores in Switzerland suck
I also buy stuff from Sierra Trading Post in the US. Mostly overstocks. It's an online retailer, so of course you have to pick through the site. I've bought a lot of rather nice Calida underwear at really inexpensive prices. It's worth the cost of shipping and duty for what I save - and of course, given the strong franc, it's doubly a bargain.
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05.09.2011, 16:22
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| | Re: Why I think sales at the stores in Switzerland suck
Well, I can't comment as to whether the sales suck - I only go for entertainment purposes only ('what? people think this is a normal discounted price? what did it cost before the sale? etc etc') vs. actual acquisition and consumption...
My household is a testament to international logistics and cross-border imports  And with addresses and mailboxes in the US and UK, I somehow struggle through | This user would like to thank Quax for this useful post: | | 
05.09.2011, 16:23
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| | Re: Why I think sales at the stores in Switzerland suck
Set up a box with myusa.com and they can receive all your us mail and bulk ship it. you are still responsible for import duties but somehow still works out cheaper  tried and trusted!
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05.09.2011, 17:03
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| | Re: Why I think sales at the stores in Switzerland suck
Well, I have to admit I did find a fantastic bargain last week at a Vögele Shoe store. Being new to Switzerland, the kiddos didn't have hiking shoes and this is just not acceptable for Waldtag in Kindergarten (or so I was told by a very helpful 4-5 year old!). So I go in looking for some shoes and got some for my 5 year old for 45 CHF - not too bad, as I was thinking I could do much more damage (of course, no fancy brand, but at 5 years old I was just happy she picked out a color that her brother could wear in 3 years time). However, the real bargain came when I went into the Fundgrube section to look for my 7 year old - I found 2 pairs for her - one in her current size and 1 in the next size for 9.90 CHF each...again, not Salomon (although they did have a pair that was just too boyish from that brand) but both with Vibram soles and marked down from 99 and 79 CHF...and I don't think that these were fake mark ups. These are truly the last pairs of shoes they have and you have to be lucky to find something in your size. Anyhow, I was ecstatic and look forward to finding more bargains there in the future!
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05.09.2011, 17:24
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| | Re: Why I think sales at the stores in Switzerland suck | Quote: | |  | | | That made me think of one of my favourite places in Porto: 
* | | | | | Off-topic: this food market is amazing, but on the day I was there was an incredible amount of vicious pigeons . They were doing coordinated bombing runs on tourists.
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05.09.2011, 17:29
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| | Re: Why I think sales at the stores in Switzerland suck | Quote: | |  | | | Well, I have to admit I did find a fantastic bargain last week at a Vögele Shoe store. Being new to Switzerland, the kiddos didn't have hiking shoes and this is just not acceptable for Waldtag in Kindergarten (or so I was told by a very helpful 4-5 year old!). So I go in looking for some shoes and got some for my 5 year old for 45 CHF - not too bad, as I was thinking I could do much more damage (of course, no fancy brand, but at 5 years old I was just happy she picked out a color that her brother could wear in 3 years time). However, the real bargain came when I went into the Fundgrube section to look for my 7 year old - I found 2 pairs for her - one in her current size and 1 in the next size for 9.90 CHF each...again, not Salomon (although they did have a pair that was just too boyish from that brand) but both with Vibram soles and marked down from 99 and 79 CHF...and I don't think that these were fake mark ups. These are truly the last pairs of shoes they have and you have to be lucky to find something in your size. Anyhow, I was ecstatic and look forward to finding more bargains there in the future! | | | | | Sounds like you need a trip to Konstanz in Germany, also look at what Aldi and Lidl have on offer in Switzerland, although the German stores are cheaper. Kik in Germany / Austria is also a favourate of ours for kids clothes http://www.kik-textilien.com
Last edited by telandy; 05.09.2011 at 17:50.
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05.09.2011, 17:35
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| | Re: Why I think sales at the stores in Switzerland suck
Shoes in Switzerland Germany and France always seem significantly more expensive that UK. I have never understood why, maybe it is a VAT (imposed) thang.
You can get a good pair of Goodyear welted brogues in UK for about 120 GBP (non sale). The cheapest compatible I have seen is 200EUR plus in Germany/France and even more in CH.
In the sales the same shoes are about 80quid (August or January).
Doc Marten boots are 89GBP UK London vs 189CHF Zürich
AYB | Quote: | |  | | | Sounds like you need a trip to Konstanz in Germany, also look at what Aldi and Lidl have on offer in Switzerland, although the German stores are cheaper. | | | | | | The following 2 users would like to thank AhYesBut for this useful post: | | 
05.09.2011, 17:37
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| | Re: Why I think sales at the stores in Switzerland suck | Quote: | |  | | | Sounds like you need a trip to Konstanz in Germany, also look at what Aldi and Lidl have on offer in Switzerland, although the German stores are cheaper. Kik in Germany / Austria is also a favourate of ours for kids clothes http://www.kik-textilien.com | | | | | Sounds like the perfect day out. Shoes, visit Sea Life and lunch at Tolle Knolle.
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