Whenever someone points out that a product is dramatically more expensive than in neighboring EU countries, there is always a crowd rushing in to explain why it’s supposedly justified. Take Nivea as an example. If a cream costs around 3€ in Germany but CHF 10 to 12 in Switzerland, the explanation isn’t simply “higher Labour costs“. Manufacturing costs don’t suddenly triple because the product crossed the border. In many cases, companies charge those prices because the market accepts them. The most silly is when people defend different prices in online stores. People often argue that Swiss prices have to be much higher because of wages, rent and operating costs. But when you order from a global brand like Adidas, Nike or similar companies, the product is frequently shipped from the same European distribution (often in Czech, Poland etc) center that also serves EU customers. The warehouse isn’t suddenly located in Switzerland just because you selected the .ch website. So why do people accept defend that this pair of Adidas shoes costs CHF 180 to CHF 250 in Switzerland, where VAT is only 8.1%, while it costs €100 to €120 in the EU, where VAT is often around 20% or more. What surprises me even more is that many people don’t just accept those prices. They actively defend them. It’s almost as if criticizing obvious price differences is seen as a personal attack on Switzerland. Oddly enough, I’ve found that expats are often the biggest defenders. You guys got a humiliation fetish or what? Real question. submitted by /u/Electrical_Region741
Originally posted by u/Electrical_Region741 on r/Switzerland