I see various catalogues, but does anyone know a source/catalogue that has products with prices and ideally availability/lead times ? I don't want to waste time looking at something only to find that is unavailable or is over-budget.
I'm looking to renovate the bathroom. I know that there are manufacturers such as Gerberit who make basins etc.
We were quite happy with Getaz https://www.getaz-miauton.ch/fr/prod...les-de-bains/# when we did our bathroom
They have lots of online resources such as planning tools, pricing etc
I would suggest Bauhaus in Lörrach. They have low to high end including Gerberit, and most things should be in stock so you can see before you buy.
I’ve found the employees in the shop in Etoy to be less than interested in the retail trade giving very poor advice and contradictory information. The shop in Nyon is better, but still showing bias towards the wholesale customers.
Locally, Getaz are known as Getaz-Gourmond for the prices they charge !!
They are good to look at for ideas and such like, but they are expensive.
Planning tools : plenty on line.
Suppliers :-
Grohe
Duscholux
Villeroy
Laufen
KWC
Hornbach (be very careful about quality)
Ideal Standard
Fust
The list is long.....it all really depends on what you want to do and spend
The online retailer Reuters in Germany has a wide selection and delivers to Switzerland. I've bought many items there, such as shower basins, bathroom cabinets, faucets... and can recommend them.
My first port of call, however, is always Bauhaus. On my first bathroom renovation (I now have 5 under my belt) I was a bit insecure because I had to move the toilet drain pipe and it all seemed a bit daunting. I received amazing help from one of their employees. He outlined exactly what to expect, made the rounds with me to pick out the pipes and everything else I needed. It all worked out.
If you get stuck at any point, they also have a service to send someone to you, at reasonable rates, to help get you further.
Do you plan to do the work yourself? Many Swiss plumbers will only do the work if they also supply the fittings.
If it is possible (not too far in a project) just stop working with such a contractor.
When a contractor rejects all other products on a general basis and not on individual case (i.e. he things the product is sub-optimal) means he is somehow compensated from the seller without you knowing it.
It is a widespread problem with new buildings where they are forcing you to pay "penalties" for not using one of their few chosen products. People there are usually too far into the buying process to have any lever left to challenge it, but this doesn't mean you have to accept it when doing your own projects.
I have the Geberit Aquaclean Mera toilet - which cost between 4-5K.
Pluses
- nice looking toilet
- open and close with a remote control - nice, because othewise the lid lifting feels REALLY clunky
- adjustable bidet, with two adjustable wands (one for women)
- seat and water heating
Minuses
- if one has "fat fingers" it's advisable to set aside a budget for remote replacement (~$200/remote) - there is a flaw in the design of the battery removal mechanism which breaks easily when you try to change the battery
- if the aim isn't proper for those standing while using the toilet, or have children, the design doesn't make it easy to clean around and under and in the nooks and crannies
- I have a setup where the toilet could get wet (and did) from an actual shower right next to it = now the electronic mechanism acts up which means that this part isn't water-proof! (or pee-proof! )
- in my opinion, the design is optimum for people between 160cm and 180cm, anyone under or over, there will be issues, and definitely issues in a mixed-hight household.
I received a warranty extension which I didn't want to pay, and in hindsight I should have. Ugh! $$$$
I have no idea how they do it in Japan and other places, but I can't imagine that those millions of toilets get serviced every couple of years, so I think it is because it's still a new product on the Swiss market and they try to milk the customers for all they can.
Bottom line - will I get another one, eg. for my other bathroom that needs to be renovated? Most likely NO. The difficulty to clean it is a big turn off.
Perhaps they stick to the rule that most Swiss men I know use, and that reduces the amount of cleaning substantially: Peeing standing up is for outdoors, peeing sitting down is the norm inside.
This doesn't always work for handicapped or old people. Or for visitors, young and old, with different upbringings.
A toilet must be designed with the one most important thing in mind: to be easy to clean.
Yes, of course. I agree. I was thinking that perhaps, in Japan, since that's the example you mentioned, that might be the norm for the culture as a whole (I don't know). Certainly there are big differences, according to upbringing and each person's sense of courtesy towards others, and also through mental and physical capabilities, on how clean someone leaves the toilet, after having used it.
And such matters are exacerbated if the toilet itself is designed stupidly! Grrrr....
+ one for Reuters.
We got the stuff there for our last bathroom renovation - and a few bits and pieces from Hornbach.
Going with branded items with a specific manufacturer's part number is not a problem and prices are good.
Another good experience from reuter dot com, their website lists the stock levels for each item. I've ordered a bath, shower fittings etc and all the parts too and it all came well-wrapped on a pallet in a truck and they are used to shipping/customs for CH.
I don't really consider branded items as "Hornbach items" they are just an intermediate. A Grohe tap is a Grohe tap, irrespective who sells it
Some Hornbach own products are good, some not so good, you need to know what you are doing .....
I assume where you live you will be able to claim the bathroom renovation costs against income tax which takes some of the pain away?
Presumably, it does not matter whether you buy components in Switzerland or abroad for tax purposes.
Yes on both counts. The tax people requested to see receipts on one occasion and didn't challenge any of it.
Really ? This is an interesting piece of research. Do you claim know a substantial cross section of this target group or is this more wishful thinking ?
This sign used to be seen in the WC on some trains. Of course gender sensitivity issues today would make the PC-conform wording of such signs more complicated.
I’ve checked a few items and they say have 20 available. What was the delivery time? 2 weeks? As it doesn’t say on the website.
Seems most are using reuter.
Peeing standing up is the manly way.
Tom