 | | 
02.08.2011, 14:55
| Newbie | | Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: uzwil,switzerland
Posts: 3
Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
| | higher price of laptop in Switzerland
can anyone help me to understand: why is the laptop and tablet prices in Switzerland are higher than Germany, and in Europe higher than U.S.?
e.g. acer iconia tablet 32gb:
in switzerland 599 chf,
in Germany 499 eur= 575 chf!!
in U.S 499 $= 333 chf!!!!!!!!
p.s.: prices are from acer websites in U.S and germany and switzerland.
| This user would like to thank samirabsol for this useful post: | | 
02.08.2011, 14:57
| | Re: higher price of laptop in Switzerland
Have you noticed the EUR/CHF and USD/CHF exchange rates of late? Just a little clue ...
Oh yeah, and welcome to the forum. Stay a while, you may find a thread or two on Swiss prices. And Swiss salaries, and tax rates.
| The following 5 users would like to thank for this useful post: | | 
02.08.2011, 15:00
|  | Senior Member | | Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Lausanne
Posts: 322
Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanked 225 Times in 125 Posts
| | Re: higher price of laptop in Switzerland
And also USD/CHF exchange rate? | 
02.08.2011, 15:12
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Zurich
Posts: 4,150
Groaned at 33 Times in 29 Posts
Thanked 4,955 Times in 2,235 Posts
| | Re: higher price of laptop in Switzerland | Quote: | |  | | | can anyone help me to understand: why is the laptop and tablet prices in Switzerland are higher than Germany, and in Europe higher than U.S.?
e.g. acer iconia tablet 32gb:
in switzerland 599 chf,
in Germany 499 eur= 575 chf!!
in U.S 499 $= 333 chf!!!!!!!!
p.s.: prices are from acer websites in U.S and germany and switzerland. | | | | |
I'm by no means a pro on this, but Switzerland is known to have strick import/regulations and such.
Although I'm not surprised at the prices, are there mandatory battery recycling charges applied?, maybe taxes and tariffs on specifics in the hardware or manufacture or raw goods.
Not that I really care, but if you're looking for justification...
| 
02.08.2011, 15:33
| Newbie | | Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Zurich
Posts: 8
Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
| | Re: higher price of laptop in Switzerland
Maybe VAT makes the difference between EU and US?
| 
02.08.2011, 15:35
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Basel
Posts: 9,131
Groaned at 170 Times in 153 Posts
Thanked 25,643 Times in 6,892 Posts
| | Re: higher price of laptop in Switzerland
Because in Switzerland some of the core components of a laptop need to be removed and replaced with replicas made out of cheese. This is labour intensive.
| The following 10 users would like to thank adrianlondon for this useful post: | | 
02.08.2011, 15:38
| | Re: higher price of laptop in Switzerland | Quote: | |  | | | Because in Switzerland some of the core components of a laptop need to be removed and replaced with replicas made out of cheese. This is labour intensive. | | | | | Yes, that too. And it's not like they can employ nannies at CHF 12 per hour to do this -- it's specialised work.
| 
02.08.2011, 15:44
| Forum Legend | | Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Vaud
Posts: 4,518
Groaned at 491 Times in 320 Posts
Thanked 4,099 Times in 1,952 Posts
| | Re: higher price of laptop in Switzerland | Quote: | |  | | | can anyone help me to understand: why is the laptop and tablet prices in Switzerland are higher than Germany, and in Europe higher than U.S.?
e.g. acer iconia tablet 32gb:
in switzerland 599 chf,
in Germany 499 eur= 575 chf!!
in U.S 499 $= 333 chf!!!!!!!!
p.s.: prices are from acer websites in U.S and germany and switzerland. | | | | | Because it's different... MARKETS?
The "selling price" is not necessary equal to the "manufacturing cost"...
Take apple's craps for example: you also pays for the marketing, etc...
And yes, Switzerland being a different market with client profiled as rich, they are putting a higher price to get more from you.
| 
02.08.2011, 15:45
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zürich
Posts: 2,390
Groaned at 128 Times in 76 Posts
Thanked 3,488 Times in 1,377 Posts
| | Re: higher price of laptop in Switzerland
Short answer: They usually aren't more expensive but due to the strong currency appreciation in a short time you're currently better off buying abroad.
| The following 3 users would like to thank simon_ch for this useful post: | | 
02.08.2011, 22:49
|  | Member | | Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lausanne
Posts: 137
Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanked 67 Times in 32 Posts
| | Re: higher price of laptop in Switzerland
I disagree, when I first arrived the Franc/ Dollar exchange rate was flipped relative to now and I found electronics still more expensive here. | Quote: | |  | | | Short answer: They usually aren't more expensive but due to the strong currency appreciation in a short time you're currently better off buying abroad. | | | | | | 
03.08.2011, 01:24
| | Re: higher price of laptop in Switzerland | Quote: | |  | | | I disagree, when I first arrived the Franc/ Dollar exchange rate was flipped relative to now and I found electronics still more expensive here. | | | | | That's because Swiss electronics have to deal with twice as many volts as their US counterparts.
And yet, even with the current exchange rate, they're less than twice the price! See, Swiss electronics are a BARGAIN!!
| The following 3 users would like to thank for this useful post: | | 
03.08.2011, 01:40
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Verbier
Posts: 21,376
Groaned at 461 Times in 352 Posts
Thanked 23,091 Times in 11,824 Posts
| | Re: higher price of laptop in Switzerland
US price is without sales tax
CH 8% VAT
DE 19% ?
Also there is a requirement for a much longer guarantee, in California I understand there is no legal requirement for any guarantee, many companies offer 90 days.
| 
03.08.2011, 09:12
| | Re: higher price of laptop in Switzerland
There is a simple marketing rule. Set the price as high as possible until the buyers stop buying, then offer the rest as a special offer.
Why did Croc shoes cost CHF 150 two years ago? Because people were buying them.
The Swiss shop pays very high rents, the Swiss sales clerk earns twice as much as in De and US
| 
03.08.2011, 09:50
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zürich
Posts: 2,390
Groaned at 128 Times in 76 Posts
Thanked 3,488 Times in 1,377 Posts
| | Re: higher price of laptop in Switzerland
I can assure you that digitec.ch had very similar prices in cameras and notebooks as Hong Kong & Tokyo, two places I've been to last year. Granted, I only compared about 10 models but the difference was always <10% so I didn't bother. Switzerland has no import taxes on electronics and lower VAT, that's why they're usually cheaper than in France or Germany.
| 
04.08.2011, 14:26
| Newbie | | Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: uzwil,switzerland
Posts: 3
Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
| | Re: higher price of laptop in Switzerland
Thanks every one,I was really confused, now because of tax rates, VAT, or just marketing,...I'm not a reach swiss and I'm gonna buy from Constance! Although I did't accept such these shoppings from there before, but now I can save good money; buy cheaper there, and also I can get the VAT back!
| 
04.08.2011, 14:44
| Senior Member | | Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Rheinfelden
Posts: 485
Groaned at 3 Times in 3 Posts
Thanked 183 Times in 121 Posts
| | Re: higher price of laptop in Switzerland | Quote: | |  | | | can anyone help me to understand: why is the laptop and tablet prices in Switzerland are higher than Germany, and in Europe higher than U.S.?
e.g. acer iconia tablet 32gb:
in switzerland 599 chf,
in Germany 499 eur= 575 chf!!
in U.S 499 $= 333 chf!!!!!!!!
p.s.: prices are from acer websites in U.S and germany and switzerland. | | | | | Switzerland has a highly customised keyboard layout for a realtively small market. This pushes up the price of these units
| 
04.08.2011, 15:30
| | Re: higher price of laptop in Switzerland | Quote: | |  | | | Thanks every one,I was really confused, now because of tax rates, VAT, or just marketing,...I'm not a reach swiss and I'm gonna buy from Constance! Although I did't accept such these shoppings from there before, but now I can save good money; buy cheaper there, and also I can get the VAT back! | | | | | Don't forget to declare the laptop to the Swiss customs folks at the border, and pay your 8% Swiss VAT. | This user would like to thank for this useful post: | | 
04.08.2011, 22:38
|  | Member | | Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lausanne
Posts: 137
Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanked 67 Times in 32 Posts
| | Re: higher price of laptop in Switzerland | Quote: |  | | | That's because Swiss electronics have to deal with twice as many volts as their US counterparts.
And yet, even with the current exchange rate, they're less than twice the price! See, Swiss electronics are a BARGAIN!! | | | | | I stand corrected | 
04.08.2011, 23:44
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: May 2008 Location: Kt. Zürich
Posts: 11,810
Groaned at 611 Times in 517 Posts
Thanked 21,741 Times in 11,421 Posts
| | Re: higher price of laptop in Switzerland | Quote: | |  | | | can anyone help me to understand: why is the laptop and tablet prices in Switzerland are higher than Germany, and in Europe higher than U.S.?
e.g. acer iconia tablet 32gb:
in switzerland 599 chf,
in Germany 499 eur= 575 chf!!
in U.S 499 $= 333 chf!!!!!!!!
p.s.: prices are from acer websites in U.S and germany and switzerland. | | | | | in U.S 499 $= 333 chf!!!!!!!!
Where do you buy your US$? I have to pay around 384CHF for U.S 499 $.
| This user would like to thank marton for this useful post: | | 
05.08.2011, 10:27
| Newbie | | Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: uzwil,switzerland
Posts: 3
Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
| | Re: higher price of laptop in Switzerland | Quote: | |  | | | in U.S 499 $= 333 chf!!!!!!!!
Where do you buy your US$? I have to pay around 384CHF for U.S 499 $. | | | | | I've calculated wrong, thanx
| This user would like to thank samirabsol for this useful post: | |
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Thread Tools | | Display Modes | Linear Mode |
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | All times are GMT +2. The time now is 03:08. | |