Border shopping for baby gear

Family, Education, Health and Pets
1
Does anyone know of any big baby stores located in France or Germany (or even Austria) near the Swiss border?

We are in need of a couple large items (car seat, bouncy seat, swing) and several small items (crib sheets, plush toys, mobiles, etc) and I am hoping to find a store similar to a Babies R Us but without having to pay Swiss prices.

I went to Mac Baby in Biel today and was blown away at how expensive the baby gear is! They wanted 50 chf for a soft teddy bear that plays music

2
Babywalz. We bought our son's baby furniture there. They have a store in Weil am Rhein, just minutes from the border, which is convenient for getting the tax sheet stamped (to reclaim the 19% German tax).

Their shops:

http://www.baby-walz.de/L/0/Filialen.filialen.0.html

We're in Zurich. I'm not sure if any of their other shops are closer to you.

3
Baby Walz are very good. The other big chain is Baby One , they have branches in Binzen (near Basel) and Laufenburg (near Frick).

dm drogeriemarkt not only sell nappies at about 30% of the Swiss price, but larger stores have surprisingly good baby clothes.

4
Around Mulhouse, you can find a Toys/Babies R Us:

http://www.poussettes-bebe.net/magas...se-Illzach.php

In the same area, the large Carrefour supermarket has a pretty good selection too at decent prices:

http://www.carrefour.fr/magasin/mulhouse

If you strictly want a baby store, Germany might have better prices. We're stroller shopping too and France "baby-only" stores have "average" prices from 600 - 900 euros!!!

Also, you might want to check out a flea markets coming up by the BCT (Basel Children's Trust) on Sept 3rd:

http://www.baselchildrenstrust.ch/cl...ea-market.html

5
Thanks for the replies. We are going to drive up to Baby Walz and Baby One this weekend and load up on gear. Someone mentioned being able to reclaim the 20% german tax at the border... how do I do that? And is there a limit on the amount of things I can purchase in Germany and bring across the border? I imagine we will spend several hundred dollars...

6
Baby One/Walz will give you a green form at the check out, fill in your name and address and present to German customs on leaving the country for their stamp. Return to the shop within 6 months and they will give you the cash there and then. I think your tax free limit is CHF 300 per person, but if you present your receipt to Swiss customs they will be more than happy to help.

7
We've stocked up on all kinds of things for baby with a few trips up to Baby One in Binzen and Baby Walz in Weil am Rheim (they are about 8 km apart so easy to do both). The Baby Walz is in a mall with an aldi and Muller as well - for whatever reason we actually never have gone into the aldi, but it is probably a good stop but the Muller has diapers and all kinds of other things for baby for way cheaper than you will find here or in either of the baby stores up there, so take a look through their section first.

Good luck...and I warn you - it becomes a bit addictive to make the drive up so bring a list so you aren't going every weekend

8
as there will be 2 of you, then make sure to split the transactions into 2 if you will go over 600 chf. each person buys 300chf of goods then its fine.

check the exchange rates. 1.2 at the moment so 250 euro per person.

take an extra friend if u need.

you can go to the any border point to have the form stamped, just remember your permit.

oh and it does not have to be a green form, the store may have their own type of form - just ask them.

9
What Castro says is correct. Each person may spend not more than Sfr300 per day.

Remember to ask the shop for an "AUSFUHRSCHEIN" (tax receipt) showing the amount of tax you paid.

You fill in your name and address - and present it, with your visa and passport at the German Zoll for stamping.

Then you go over to the Swiss Zoll guys and tell them you are paying your Swiss tax on purchases (if over Sfr300).

They will smile and be gracious and kind and happy.

You pay the 7.5% ... and get back from the shop 19%.

If you do not declare your purchases, and it`s over Sfr300 ..... you will annoy the Swiss Customs guys and get a big fine.....

10
Anyone who does not have the time or luxury to head over the border. Pro Baby are giving a 35% discount on car seats, 30% on strollers, children's furniture, playpens and various other items. Due to the EUR exchange. We just bought an awesome car seat from them for a staggeringly good price on the weekend.

http://www.probaby.ch/

11
There is also a Baby Walz in Konstanz -- just a one-hour drive from central Zurich.

We just bought a stroller, baby bed and car seat from there. The prices are MUCH cheaper, compared to what you would otherwise pay here in CH.

But the store there is actually not as big as I was expecting, and they don't carry a lot of things in stock that they have on their website -- so many things have to be ordered and then picked up a few weeks later. We're still waiting for our baby stroller to come in, and it's been 4 weeks.

I think Baby Walz may also deliver here to CH.

P.S. I've been told/read that the limit is not 300 CHF per person at the border but is actually 300 CHF per car .

12
never needed a passport - just the residence permit

http://www.ezv.admin.ch/zollinfo_pri...x.html?lang=en

per person depending on on the items eg 4 car tyres, model sets etc are classed as 1 unit and can not be split between 4 persons

13
Thanks for all the information. Does anyone know if my 3 year old also counts toward the 300chf per person limit? If it is myself, my husband and our 3 year old, could we then have a 900chf allowance? Also, I imagine we will be back to the store within 6 months to reclaim our 20% tax, but is it also possible to get the stamp at the border and then drive right back to the store to get the reimbursement the same day?

14
oops .... I`m non-EU so I need my passport as well as the permit.

Yes, you are correct ...... depending on the items. So a whole bunch of baby equipment totalling Sfr300 would be the limit for that day.... if you are not wanting to pay the swiss tax.

I doubt you`d get 4 car tyres for under Sfr300?

You may buy as much as you like - as long as you declare it and pay the tax.... and have not exceeded the limit per person on foodstuff and alcohol.

.....................

To Lucenjenny .... yes you can go back the same day for the tax refund.

Remember to allow for paying the 7.5% swiss tax - if it exceeds your allowance of Sfr300.

Before entering Germany you can park off and go ask the Swiss customs for an information booklet with all the details of what you may and may not bring back.

15
But not with the stuff that you have just purchased or there is the risk you will get stopped by German customs as you are re-importing something on which you have not paid duty.

16
THe kid counts for the CHF 300 (but not for the specific duty-free amounts for tobacco products and alcohol )

17
Oh yes ... gosh there is so much to think about!

I have seen border control guards stop cars here in Switzerland and do searches. I asked a friend what that was all about .... he said it was people shopping over the border, they come thru, stash their purchases, go back and buy more ....... pick up the lot (from a friend/relatives house?) to take home. And then get stopped and checked.

Border guards are not to be trifled with - they are VERY experienced, and will notice cars coming thru two or three times.

I have to always check our car boot in case someone has left a case of beers or other stuff in there - before I go over to DE.

18
wow! who might leave a case of beer in your car? you must have good friends

19
You can try http://www.buebchen-maedchen.de/ in konstanz a 2 floor

store, next to mediamarkt

In Singen you can found also a big baby store.

20
Someone in the house, hoping it gets refilled And sometimes it gets refilled and forgotten until Thirsty Dirsty goes looking for it.......