I have seen old post from some years ago but I would like to ask how it looks now.
Is it recommended to buy on it and how much are the customs cost? Which limit shouldn't I reach in the purchasing?
Thanks
Hi,
Haven't had any problems as of a few months ago, as long as you stay under $200, should be ok. I've only paid customs charges once - when I exceeded that amount, the customs charges were about CHF 35 - service and tax. In theory, you're only supposed to import a one month's supply of stuff to Switzerland, though I've bought 2 or 3 items at a time.
I believe there are quite recent posts regarding this as well...
I've ordered food and supplements from them several times in the past months and take the Global Priority mail by DHL option (which limits the weight).
I've never had to pay customs charges, and the packages usually arrive within 7-10 working days.
Thanks... Did you buy directly here: www.iherb.com and they send the items from the US? Or do sell they directly from Europe in any other way?
As long as the purchase does not exceed 65 chf you are not object to import tax.
I have been using them for years and never had a problem.
There will be not added tax as long as the total value including shipping is below CHF 200.- This is the limit for nutritional supplements (and not CHF 65.-).
Here the shipping infos to Switzerland:
DHL Express- International — $8.00
Flat $8.00 for 8 pounds! $1.00 for each additional pound
Usually Takes 2-4 days, with tracking number
Please don’t use a P.O. (post office) box. Max 150 lbs.
Estimated Delivery Range: November 29, 2013 - December 03, 2013
Global Priority Mail by DHL — $4.00
Flat $4.00 Read more
Orders up to $80.00, and 4 pounds (1814 grams)
Usually 10 days to Europe/ Pacific
2-12 weeks to Russia and Brazil
Reliable, But No Tracking & Non-refundable
Estimated Delivery Date: December 07, 2013
International Airmail with Tracking — $8.00
Orders up to $80.00, and 6 pounds (2720 grams)
Usually Takes 1-4 weeks to Europe and Pacific, 2-12 weeks to Russia and Brazil, with tracking. non-refundable.
New Discount! $8 for 1-2 lbs.; $10 for 3-4 lbs.; and $12 for 5-6 lbs.
Estimated Delivery Range: December 04, 2013 - December 26, 2013
UPS - International — $24.00
Usually takes 2-5 days
Please don't use a P.O. (post office) box. Max 150 lbs.
This method offers order tracking
Estimated Delivery Range: November 29, 2013 - December 04, 2013
My sister used them regularly for stuff when she was in Korea, and just last month I purchased a few things (under 65CHF since I thought that was the limit--good to know about the 200CHF limit for nutritional supplements) and I was quite happy with the delivery time and the items I got. Well packaged, etc. Unfortunately I wasn't home to receive it and the other options for pickup locations/times were not that convenient for me.
"Global Priority Mail by DHL — $4.00
Flat $4.00 Read more
Orders up to $80.00, and 4 pounds (1814 grams)
Usually 10 days to Europe/ Pacific
2-12 weeks to Russia and Brazil
Reliable, But No Tracking & Non-refundable
Estimated Delivery Date: December 07, 2013"
How does this work - if the order is upto CHF200 (not USD 80) and the weight is below 4 lbs? Do you still pay $4 or more?
You pay more. Depends on value and weight.
Just wanted to share my experience of using iHerb. It was my first time...
1.Up until now, I had ordered supplements etc. from either Amazon UK or BIOVEA. The prices on Amazon, while much cheaper than BIOVEA, were still considerable. Compared to these, iHerb prices are much, much more reasonable. This made a huge difference since we require stuff for four adults.
2.Since my order was over USD60.00, I got a 5% discount from iHerb.
3.Based on the advise given here, I had kept the total value of my order under CHF200.00. (Thank you very much once again, all you noble souls!)
4.Right now they have a promotion going on for shipping. Under this, they offer DHL Express shipping (delivery within 4 days in CH with tracking etc.) for USD8.00 for packages weighing upto 8Lbs.
5.I placed my order on-line on the 8th Dec around 2100hrs and the package was delivered earlier this afternoon around 1500hrs. I was able to track the package through out its journey.
To sum up, I am extremely impressed with iHerb for the entire experience. Not only did I get great prices, the speed and efficiency with which it all worked out has been quite amazing.
Just in case anyone is interested, my invoice says the following "Savings for Them: Coupon code.....was created just for you. Pass it on to friends and family for an instant $10 off on their 1st iHerb purchase of $40 & up and $5 off on smaller orders, and you will earn credit too!" I may add that I am not looking for earning any credit since I am quite happy with what I have already got. However, if anyone here wishes to benefit from this code, please PM me so that I can pass it on.
Cheers.
Used frequently.
To CH price including postage is very good. Some things are more than say bodybuilder.com but postage ends up being less in total and as others said it is quick and fast.
I also like the choice of products eg fish oil with very high EPA/DHA content and multivitamins you simply cant get here.
As others said, for VAT keep it under 200chf incl postage. But, also keep under 5kg or there is duty. This is gross weight, not 11lbs as per the sites calc. I try to keep it under 6-7lbs to allow for packaging.
Referer code ZRG608 will get you 10usd of the first order.
IHerb is REALLY good and I had no problems so far ... except that I received an order I hadn't placed ... I exchanged emails with them to try to find out who was the legit order recipient, but they said DHL wouldn't take the order back. So I got stuck with 10 of these bottles of this "calorie free" Pancake Syrup.
http://www.iherb.com/Walden-Farms-Pa...5&sr=null&ic=1
The taste is not bad, you have to get used to it. But they replace the sugar with an artificial taste enhancer, and I am not to keen on that.
There are 8 bottles left, free to be picked up in Zurich. PM if interested.
I also have been using them without many issues--they did make a mistake and sent me a different supplement once, but they fully reimbursed me (and that supplement was more than twice the price than the one I had ordered )
With shipping included, they are cheaper than other alternatives in Europe or the US
Just one note to all ordering supplements: there are swiss regulations governing what is "legal" to import as supplements, with respect to the daily allowed dosage. Check here , Appendix 13
They do not of course check all packages, but if they do and the supplement's daily content is more than what the above link specifies, you may get hit with a fine (unless the total number of doses is less than a month's worth, I believe)
Haven't you lot read in the newspapers recently about how worthless supplements are?
I really don't know how the rest of us who never take vitamins etc are still alive.
We must be magical beings. (I guess you believe in magic too?)
No magic here. Just science.
There are quite a big number of studies indicating benefits of supplements (creatine, for example, has been extensively researched, same for vitamin D or fish oil, etc.) for specific target groups (e.g., people with deficiencies) or for specific goals (e.g., strength output, sleep quality, stamina, etc.)
Saying that "supplements are worthless" is therefore a gross oversimplification, wouldn't you agree?
What you're most likely referring to are studies (and meta-studies) about the effectiveness of multis (neither good or bad, i.e., a waste of money in most cases) or the effectiveness of supplements for cancer and Cardiovascular issues prevention (there was one study cited recently here on EF, though not many people actually saw that the results referred to cancer and CV issues prevention only ). Most recent studies tend to agree on this, it's true. But just because they're not proven to be good for these two issues, does not prove they're useless for everything...
Vitamin D supplements in the winter are probably the only ones worth taking if you can't get to any sunny places and of course there are the proven ones such as folic acid before and during pregnancy but the rest?
What happens to the people who don't take all these supplements compared with the ones that do. Where are the studies that show increased longevity or whatever you are implying they improve?
I am interested in the same thing too.
I read that the body needs the sunlight to take benefit of vitamin D.
I consider iherb a good option as well.
Incorrect. The body creates Vitamin D itself on exposure to sun.
Children who don't get enough vitamin D can develop rickets.
Adults don't.
iHerb make money (lots of it) from the worried-well.
I use iherb for natural cleaning supplies, for natural sweeteners, for epsom salts, hard to get baking soda in CH, even for grocery and also makeup. It has become far more than just a shop for vitamins.
I doubt all of this is because I'm well-worried - there are enough studies linking deodorants and other day-to-day chemicals to cancer.
This place sells far more than just supplements. I don't see the point in derailing this thread to discuss the possible benefits/lack thereof.