Good news for Swiss shoppers via Amazon.de

Great news for Swiss shoppers!

Regular BF readers will know that I am not one to buy things at full price – unless there is a diehard need to do so.

I recently wrote about a change in Swiss Law that may come into effect that will see goods bought via the interweb have the VAT from the EU no longer deducted. As a massive Amazon shopper, this was really a kick in the privates as not only does Amazon give just the one option to use their global service which means P&P is quite high and thus cancels out the saving of MWST (VAT).

However, recently, just playing around with an Amazon.de shopping basket full of LEGO, I noticed that over a certain amount – and I believe that it is €40 – P&P is free via the Global service again! Only a few weeks ago, they were charging something like €7 for a €90 shop to ship to Switzerland. Huzzah!!

lego

This is really good news indeed for those living outside the EU. OK, the Global programme automatically slaps on the import charges which they believe are applicable, but you need to be smart about this.

So for example, the Swiss import threshold is CHF62 (around €57). Within the currency converter on Amazon you can see how much your goods come up to in Swiss Francs. If the value of your goods is under CHF62, worry not the import charge as you will get this back. If there is a problem you can always complain to Amazon who will do anything to please you!

So once the order is under CHF62 in value, you should see that you have already got the Amazon discounted price reduced by a further 19% as well as that is the VAT levy on goods in Germany. In theory you can lop off a massive 37% off sets with using a base discount of 20% at the start. I normally subtract 2% off a whole discount for import charges, but 37% is still 37%. Canny grumble with that really.

Of course you can order over CHF 62 and just pay the import charges – and TBH, it actually falls cheaper than ordering to a German Pick up location in some cases.

This is a good time to start getting those sets that you really do want at a very, very good price and I will be checking Brickbadger.com as well as other price checkers to ensure I get the best deal possible.

I have written this before : LEGO is bloody expensive at the best of times, so it is wise to be patient with the discounts that can come up on Amazon and do some sums to ensure you get a good price and not pay full retail. At the moment, I am loving being an expat…….only problem is my credit card does not share the same sentiment.

Author Profile

Keith
My name is Keith and I am a AFOL. Currently an expat living out in Basel, CH, but have a firm footing back in the UK when time permits.

I have had had Lego ever since I can remember - and only until my wee one came along have I re-kindled the flame for building again.

I also run matchbox1-75.co.uk, a resource site for the 1-75 series of miniatures by Matchbox.

There are only three themes that I am get/collect (finances permitting) - City, Creator (Advanced and Expert) as well as the classic Star Wars sets from Eps IV to VI (anything else does not exist). I also keep an eye in Europe with ample chance to see how France, Germany and Switzerland market and offer LEGO.

Keith

My name is Keith and I am a AFOL. Currently an expat living out in Basel, CH, but have a firm footing back in the UK when time permits. I have had had Lego ever since I can remember - and only until my wee one came along have I re-kindled the flame for building again. I also run matchbox1-75.co.uk, a resource site for the 1-75 series of miniatures by Matchbox. There are only three themes that I am get/collect (finances permitting) - City, Creator (Advanced and Expert) as well as the classic Star Wars sets from Eps IV to VI (anything else does not exist). I also keep an eye in Europe with ample chance to see how France, Germany and Switzerland market and offer LEGO.

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