Hi All,
So basically I'm opening an online store selling custom jewlery, and I need to import from a Chinese manufacturer 100 pieces of a stainless steel product. The total cost does not exceed 200 fr, including shipping via FedEx (DAP).
Now, it's a real nightmare trying to understand how much I will pay in importing taxes... The only thing I found is that if my order is under 300 fr AND for personal use (not my case), it should be exempt from taxes.
Has anyone gone through something similar before that might know how to move forward? Last thing I want is ending up paying a hefty fine due to me being naive.
Thank you in advance
Only if you bring it with you across the border.
All the information you need is here: https://www.post.ch/en/business-solu…ustoms-and-vat
So 200 francs value, will cost you 22 francs. It’s all done when the goods come into the country. So long as the value is declared correctly, there’s no chance of a fine.
Just out of principle I won't knowingly buy anything from China. I'd rather pay more than support human rights abuses.
Thank you very much for your input, definitely not the point. Good luck with not buying anything in Swiss stores or anywhere in the world.
Thank, your comment has just reinforced my resolve.
Whole CH government dedicated to that issue: https://www.bazg.admin.ch/bazg/en/ho…rif-tares.html
Banned and restricted products: https://www.bazg.admin.ch/bazg/en/ho…rif-tares.html
Some metal parts (stainless steel) should be no prob at all. You pay VAT (7.7%) and customs processing by Swiss Post (16CHF + 3% or order). Similar costs with DHL, FedEx, etc.
But, it all depends on competent is the seller to fill out the form to be read by customs here in CH. If the form is poorly filled, customs will open the package and charge you for it. Don’t remember the exact price, around 15-20 CHF. So, bit of due diligence from your side to avoid buying from an idiot who doesn’t know how to fill out documents for export properly.
If you look at the banned products, there’s a special mention of piracy and counterfeit. It’s your duty to make sure what you’re buying is not too similar to protected intellectual property around here. Under customs’s eyes, seller has zero liability, it’s all on you. So, pay attention to this.
Maybe it’s time you start looking for a new country to live in
https://www.eda.admin.ch/countries/c…agreement.html
Hey, it’s joke similar to start looking for a new apartment after small issues with neighbors. Only goal is to rise the point that no human is an island.
Feeling a bit snarky today?
We've got a new poster with a genuine question. Let's be respectful.
Thank you for your detailed answer.
Unfortunately it seems that the company I'm working with has little to no idea on how to fill a declaration form, telling me that they would only disclose the goods value but not the material.
It's not the fee that worries me once they will open the package here in Switzerland, is the risk of them wanting to do lab analysis to ensure the material quality and charge me for it (even though apparently the producer has its own in-house testing and is compliant with ISO standards).
Unlikely that will happen in the "stainless steel" parts are evidently what you state on packing list and invoice.
For first time, bit the bullet and go with DHL/FedEX/UPS to see how it works out and where the problems are.
Maybe try just 10 pieces to start with ?
Set an account up with one of the courier services, you'll get 60-70% discount on published prices.
I order quite a lot of things from abroad for personal use - just phoned Swiss customs and they said an order under Fr 65 attracts no customs charge - I know Amazon.de get you to prepay a customs charge if there is any - with Amazon.de, orders from 50-60 Fr are great as they attract no postage or customs charge.
A while ago, our son ran a sole trader business for a while, importing from China and then on-selling. Not sure what the tax free limit is for sole traders or businesses.
The MOQ is 100 pieces so I can't do less.
This also is not a possible because they take care of the shipping, so I imagine they already have some agreements with them.
It almost seems more convenient for me money wise to make them ship to Italy (I live near the border) and then declare the goods as I return to CH.
If you negotiate properly, sure you can explain they are just samples
You may pay more per piece, but this is not an exercise to save money it is an exercise to see how things work, where the problems may lie as you obviously have no idea right now.
If MOQ is 100 pieces, then i guess they are fairly small insignificant items in stainless steel, declare them as such on your invoice & packing list
maybe they can send in 2 separate packages?
Sure, what you are proposing is definitely a valid idea.
Time is unfortunately a constraint for me as I need to roll out the product asap... I definitely underestimated the importing hurdle, but here we are.
I will order the 100 pieces and will give an update here when I receive them, might be helpful information for future users too.
Thank you all for your contributions and for sharing your insights so far, very appreciated
Please reread my comment, which was polite and just stating a fact. Not snarky ar all. Responses were less respectful than my comment.
Apple have been moving their production to India quietly for a while now, and some of their computers are already made in US.
Sure you pay more
out of curiosity, it's a e-commerce store right, why are you holding inventory in Switzerland? Are most of your customers here?