If Switzerland were really expensive compared to other countries it would simply not survive. If you want to ask question on prices, you should take a look at countries like Finland. (Swiss prices and Australian salaries and tax that makes the UK look like a tax haven.
For one, they pay my salary...
I will start with one: petrol/gasoline
Silly me
DVDs/CDs are cheaper than in France, and generally UK
eletronics seem to have lower prices too.
as long as i agree with all of you, that salaries matter, it is just plain stupid to pay higher prices only because you earn more, if the reason for higher price is lack of competitiveness or some archaic laws that were made for 19 century not for now... There is a reason why switzerland had so many years of recession or very slow growth, and why it only used to be richest country in the world and is no more so. The reason is it is too slow to change, but thanks god , it is changing that's why it is still very nice country to live in (and will be for quite some time)
I agree with you also that just because the salaries are higher the prices should be SO high as well.
Last week I had to buy a little cart for grocery shopping ( I do not have a car, obviously) the cheapest one was 65 CHF, I ended up buying the one for 113 CHF because it looked a little better quality. Two days after I go over the border to Germany and find the same thing for 15 euros. I do not need to say I felt like an ass (read donkey).
i don't know though. when i was in amsterdam i paid this price. (it was 4 months ago)
anyway... yes, price differences are huge, but if you think about it, you can use this system for your benefit, instead of being used by it. so Swiss love to pay more for same or lower quality, that's ok. they pay their hard earned money and support swiss economy, which in the end, pay you salary.
on the other hand, foreigners who know how it really is, buy the exact same products (really, with the same packaging and all), cheaper - for example they go outside switzerland for shopping, or they are not afraid of going to lidl/aldi and choosing high quality/cheap price products (not all are like this of course, especially in aldi/lidl)
so.. in the end, swiss should feel like you mentioned, not foreigners. and since they like the way it is, we should be happy just use this system, it will take them quite a few years to realize what's the truth.
The one thing I do like about Swiss shopping is that they are very fair - albeit overpriced. A shirt that costs 25 CHF at a local shop costs the same as the tourist shop on Jungfrau, and watches are remarkably the same price everywhere. You don't have to hunt all over to make sure you got a good deal like you do back in the US before buying anyhing.
Roughly 80% of parallel import barriers are protectionist measures, 20% qualitivative differences. A one-sided implementation of the cassis-de-dijon principle will soon be implemented, however let's not forget that EU agriculture and transportation is heavily subsidized (like ours..)
Others reasons for price differences are salaries, smaller and more fragmentised internal market, higher rents etc... Sweeping, uninformed generalisations are not very helpful in such a discussion as it's a very complex matter.
people here sound like they have difficulties to manage to survive while blowing the whole money for food?! anyone of you starving?
ask refugees in marocco how they manage to survive off one hand of rice/day.
if here is somebody with 100% job having at the end of the month less savings than in his country he came from, please raise your hand and you have all the right to be the king/queen of complaints!
ill go n print a medal for you including a crown (apart from that i think you have a sh!tty contract and/or problems with money/spendings in general....)
For many, it is a real option to shop over the border and each person has that choice.
For me, it's not practical to expect savings going over the border due to the expense in getting there and the time involved to do my shopping. I do, however, enjoy the variety of a certain over-the-border supermarket - usually once a month - because it suddenly is a lot closer and more convenient.
Some things are not that much cheaper, some things are. And of course there is the exchange rate to be factored-in as well as the nothing-to-declare white lie to be told
Sorry but the cassis-de-dijon made me think of syrup, jam and mustard.
Yes, it's a complex issue. To the average consumer, I'd say: "If you have the time and inclination, shop around for the best prices and quality that's acceptable to you." Market forces, etc, etc.
In case anyone's interested:
The Cassis de Dijon principle
Under the principle, goods lawfully produced in a Member State of the European Union (EU) can also be sold in any other EU state. The principle is based on a judgment by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) from 20th February 1979 on case number 120/78.
The German food manufacturer REWE had been prevented from importing the French liqueur known as Cassis-de-Dijon (20% alcoholic content) by the Bundesmonopolverwaltung für Branntwein (federal monopoly administration for spirits) as German law required a minimum alcoholic content of 32%. This prompted the company to appeal to the ECJ. The Court of Justice concluded that the import embargo imposed by the federal monopoly administration infringed Article 30 of the EC Treaty and upheld the appeal. Article 30 stipulates that barriers to the movement of goods produced according to different rules on the manufacture and sale of alcohol are only admissible if they are necessary to satisfy mandatory requirements.
Such requirements are effective tax regulation, the protection of public health, the purity of traded goods, and consumer protection. The requirements regarding the purity of traded goods and consumer protection could be adequately met by the less extensive measure of compulsory marking. As such, a complete ban on the movement of the goods was not necessary. The ECJ judgment proved critical in terms of making the free movement of goods inside the single European market a reality.
It is funny because since I have been living from time to time in Switzerland for the last three years, I actually will pay a little more for Swiss food than say Italian. I even pay more for Ticino produced food (e.g. cheese) than other regions of Switzerland from time to time.
I don't complain. I came here knowing the prices were high, I don't even earn much at the moment, but the standard and way of life is worth it.
I'm happy with my cervale and lindsetorte and a piece of lindt chocolate with a drink of mint tea (bought in Sainsbury -UK ) in the evening.
We were speaking to a German women in Switzerland at the pool the other day. She said that the milk, cheese and coffee is a lot better in Switzerland than in Germany.